I've been living in the woods for as long as I can remember. I don't know if I was abandoned or if I wandered into the woods and got lost. I don't even know who my real parents were.
I don't know these things, and I don't really want to know them. Even if they looked different, even if they didn't speak. I had many friends in the forest.
That’s where I grew up. In a large forest in Hule, the country of woodlands. Of course, I didn't know the name of the country at that time. Hule was a kingdom made mostly of forestlands, and there were many animals and spirits there.
We were all good friends.
KOROKURU : Kyu~!
NOAH : Woo~!
Korokuru is my oldest friend. He was always by my side, whether we were playing or sleeping. I spent my days collecting nuts and fruits with my animal friends, sharing with them, playing with them, and so on.
In the forest, there was this mysterious fire called the bonfire.
The spirits and members of the royal family guarded this flame with great care, for it was said that if it were extinguished, the life in the forest would die as well.
And standing at the head of them all was my father, a spirit and the great king of the forest.
NOAH'S FATHER : Wooooooo!!!
Big horns, strong body, beautiful fur. Everyone in the forest bowed their heads at the sight of my father lit by the bonfire. I can still see his magnificent figure in my mind's eye. He always protected the forest, everyone, and me.
One day, a loud noise caught my attention and I rushed toward the sound.
MAN 1 : Oh. This ought to be a good sign of things to come!
MAN 2 : Yeah, that's quite a catch for our first day of hunting!
I didn't know what they were talking about, but in front of the laughing humans, was a dead rabbit.
NOAH : Ngh......UUUUGH!!
MAN 1 : Whoa! What the hell is up with this guy!?
MAN 2 : A child!? What are you doing here!?
NOAH : Aah! Aah!
MAN 1 : Does this kid not speak a word of anything? You think he grew up in the forest?
MAN 2 : Maybe. It's not impossible. He might be an abandoned child. Anyway, let's take him to town.
One of the humans carried the rabbit on his shoulder, and the other one pulled me by the hand and started to walk.
Just then, as I was filled with fear, a huge shadow jumped at the humans.
MAN 1 : Whoa!?
MAN 2 : What the hell is this thing!?
Standing in between us, protecting me, was―
MAN 1 : Is that a giant deer or something!?
MAN 2 : No! That's one of the spirits who protect this forest一
NOAH'S FATHER : Woooo......
MAN 2 : Just run!!
The humans who faced my father fled, trembling.
NOAH : Woo...Oooh....
When I hugged him, he rubbed his fluffy cheeks against mine to soothe me. He was kind, strong, and the best father I could ever ask for. With him, I was sure I'd always be able to live in peace with everyone in the forest.
......That's what I thought until that day.
Shadows gather around a warm bonfire.
Echoes of happiness and nostalgia resounding in people's voices.
Voices so pleasant, I find myself wishing I could listen in forever.
……But all at once, I find those soothing voices twisting into a cacophony of sound and I--…
NOAH : ………..!!
I jolt awake in my bed. In my room. Outside the window, I see the sun shining high in the sky.
NOAH : (I remember now……. I was so busy at work yesterday, I ended up going to bed at the crack of dawn.)
Lively voices. I hear them coming from downstairs.
NOAH : (…… Shut up)
With a small sigh, I leave my bed.
NOAH : Come on, Korokuru
KOROKURU : Kyu!
CROW : Ah! Hey, Itsuki! You ate all the fritters!
ITSUKI : You also ate six, you crook! So what's the problem?
CROW : I only had four!
GRANDFLAIR : Both of you are acting like children. Can't you even eat like adults!?
EMMA : Well, Gran's food IS delicious. I can see why they'd fight over it.
ROUGE : My wine is perfectly good, too! Hey, hey, hey, guys, are you even listening to me? Are we going to go through this again today?
NOAH : (… Too noisy.)
Emma was the first to notice me, her voice dragging me out of my lost train of thoughts.
EMMA : Oh. Good morning, Noah. Would you like to have lunch with me?
NOAH : No, I'll eat alone.
CROW : Oh! Noah, what took you so long? Gran's food's here, eat up!
ITSUKI : He made enough for everyone. We're a little short on fritters, though.
GRANDFLAIR : That's because you guys eat so much.
ROUGE : Well isn't Noah a sleepyhead-~♪
NOAH : I'm not in the mood, Rouge… Gran's food is good but I'm just not very hungry.
ROUGE : Haha. Gran, Noah's acting the same as usual, today.
GRANDFLAIR : Noah, I'm not going to force you to eat it, but please at least try. It's nutritious and energizing. I even made some for Korokuru.
KOROKURU : Kyukyu ~
The food is delicious and I have no complaints. I eat in silence, listening in to everyone else's conversation.
ITSUKI : Huh!? I was saving that Quiche for later…! Crow, give it back …!
CROW : Hah! If you're gonna blame anyone, blame yourself for taking your eyes off me!
GRANDFLAIR : Enough fighting at the table! Eat quietly!
ROUGE : All this clowning around, and the one thing they don't knock over is the food.
EMMA : Fufu, that's true.
Every day is so noisy, lively, and full of laughter.
NOAH : (.....I'm just not good at..... These kinds of things.....)
NOAH : (.....What am I even doing here?)
But... For some reason, I also feel kind of relieved. It's got me choking up. And I can't shake these sudden memories of my dad...
