13 Amatsuki

Author Notes: Pacing be damned

"It's finished! Stella, Stella, what do you think of this?" I showed Mistella the content of the paper I had been scribbling and asked for her opinion.

Ever since I named Hereru, I began to develop a fondness for coming up with nicknames for people. I thought that the 'Mi' part of Mistella's name was unnecessary and 'Stella.' sounded cooler to me.

I considered calling her Misel, Stem, or Misera, but in the end, Stella just felt right.

"What's with that new name... Is this your drawing? Hm~..." Mistella contemplated my drawing and had an ambiguous opinion.

The scribbling I've shown her was clearly that of a child, but it was an honest representation of how I perceived the two of them. That is why, Mistella didn't say anything negative about my drawing. It might not have been great, but she didn't hate it.

"When did you start drawing things? Coming from you, that is a surprising hobby," Mistella said, still observing the paper.

"It's called 'drawing?' It's surprisingly fun," I responded to Mistella, satisfied with her reaction.

Then, I continued. "About your question earlier, it's probably related to Toki finishing her training and discussing her departure with Ban."

"What, how did you know? Before you started drawing, you only said 'something not good,'" Mistella replied in confusion at the sudden change in my response.

"Because instinct!" I said nonchalantly. 

My skill [Moment Capture] which I unconsciously used combined with the trait [Other Understanding], I had an uncanny ability to understand others to a creepy level.

Though, as a child, I thought it was normal. By the time I became an adult, I would probably look back on this moment and cringe at my stalker-like behavior.

I observed the two and when the time came, Toki approached me, smiling but unwilling to share the details of her discussion with Ban. We exchanged a few words, and without receiving the answers to Toki's anxieties, the night fell.

Throughout the night, Toki smiled and tried not to show her worries so as to not sadden me but she did, in fact, underestimate two aspects of mine. Firstly, in an urban story, a child is said to be able to sense danger, ghosts, and supernatural things that go unnoticed by adults. Not to mention, I had the personality to be observant and experience to be cautious.

My trait; [Others Understanding] is not there for show.

Even if I didn't know how to make words of what I understood through looking at her expression, I clearly understood how Toki felt in truth, when she directed her smile against me.

Under the wooden roof, the moonlight filtered through the tiny gaps and gently illuminated my body. Countless thoughts and opinions naturally flowed, and I faced my future for the first time, as the silent night slowly passed by.

The next day has arrived.

Still not fully awake, but slowly understanding that the morning has came, I greeted the sun.

---

April 16.

Stretching his body, Heylail looked up from the gap where the sunlight streamed in. The sun was already at its peak, indicating that the day was well underway.

Upon understanding that he had stayed up late and woke up midday, Heylail mindlessly headed to water sources and washed his face menacingly.

The eyes that had lost their focus, had woken up like a dragon from its long slumber as it began to be filled with newfound determination.

"Heylail, you woke up? I've prepared your lunch, so let's go back," Toki's voice rang out.

Just as Heylail was about to turn back to search for the woman in his mind, his destination had found its way to him, and the high-pitched voice echoed in his mind as unconscious thoughts raced through.

'What if I just stayed quiet? Would she stay with me? I don't want her to leave.'

'What if she's just concerned about unrelated matters? I don't want her to leave.'

'Am I so unimportant that you would choose your dream over me? I don't want her to leave.'

'I don't want mother to leave me alone.'

Amidst the silence, countless thoughts that even Heylail himself didn't understand swirled, but in the end, such thoughts ultimately lead to a single, unwavering decision. 'To hell with that!'

Never dare to underestimate a kid's honesty. The child who was once lost had found its way and directed its eyes—that gave one hope and determination—to a single woman reflected in his lens.

"Toki, have you finished your training? Are you leaving soon?" Heylail threw a straight word, hiding all his indulgence behind.

Heylail rather Toki leave the place to chase her dream happily than have her unwillingly stay on this island of nothing to take care of him.

She was the only person who gave him motherly love and taught him love and kindness. Heylail obviously only had best wishes for her happiness. However, not even god knows if this answer is the correct one.

"Why-..." Toki stopped the words that were about to escape from her mouth and offered a helpless smile.

"I can't hide anything from you, huh... it would've been easier for me if you weren't so intuitive," Toki said in a feeble tone.

Toki didn't give an answer to Heylail's question and silently approached him before crouching and hugging him tightly. 

''Are you leaving soon?' huh...' Toki recalled what Heylail said and closed her eyes in peace.

'So you have chosen my dream over yourself'

'Silly child, when you convey something to a girl, be clear about your intention or they might misunderstand you.'

'You also need to place more importance on yourself. Don't give up your own desires.'

'...Ah, I want to stay with you a bit longer...' such was the silent wishes of a girl who chased her dream.

A serene time quietly passed.

---

After her short yet long time with Heylail, Toki had made her resolution to leave the island today. Given the short notice, Mistella and Ban hurriedly prepared a farewell gift for her for half-a-day.

Ban had prepared a handmade bag filled with food supplies for her journey. As for Mistella, she had personally crafted a flower crown. Despite the limited variety of flowers on the Island of Nothingness, Mistella gave her best to make the flower crown for the person who took care of her for many days.

"Ban, this bag is going to be helpful in my journey, I was worried about traveling empty-handed, but with this bag, I can go for longer without starving!" Toki checked the bag that wasn't too big or too small.

Ban scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Don't go destroying that backpack too quickly."

"Mistella, this flower crown is wonderful! you must have given a lot of thought to making this and I am sorry for informing you abruptly. I swear to treasure this," Toki happily wore the flower crown made by Mistella.

Amidst the flickering torchlight that lit the night, Toki's gaze fell to Heylail who had his head turned away from her. Amongst the three, he was the only one who couldn't prepare the farewell gift.

Toki smiled gently and placed her hands on Heylail's cheek, turning his face to look at her.

"Heylail, remember to never forget kindness and treasure your own opinion," Toki advised him before her farewell. Heylail noticed her eyes growing wet as she spoke.

He could only nod as he suppressed the tears that threatened to flow.

"Also, remember to convey your word properly... if... it was... a different girl, they might misunderstand it... and may think you want them to leave..." Toki's sentences stopped from time to time.

"If you were in trouble and think that you can't do anything by yourself, don't hesitate to ask for help..." Toki said a lot of things for the children in front of her.

"Although I cannot give anything great... could you... receive my surname, and promise to never forget... and find me in the future?" 

Amatsuki Heylail remained silent.

Toki smiled at his reaction, and for the final time, she hugged him before kissing his forehead. "See you next time."

A single word from Toki provided a trigger, easily shattering the facade Heylail had built as he lost his composure.

At the same time, it triggered a luminous light from Toki.

"Mom-..." Heylail began, but before he could complete his sentence, Toki's slender body had disappeared along with the flickering illumination that had bathed the surroundings.

In the end, Heylail was left with emotions related to sadness, excluding regret, as he desperately collected the remaining light.

After a while, Ban and Mistella left the spot, leaving Heylail alone, who had formed his dream. 

'If a farewell is predestined, I... want to at least be the person who can treasure the moment I spend with the person I love...' Heylail instinctively understood what he wished for the most at the moment.

[The Player Name Leon A. Heylail has been changed to Amatsuki. Heylail]

A year later, Toki appeared on an unfamiliar island out of nowhere, her face finally releasing the tears that she had been suppressing. 

"Haa... That was close, if I stayed there for a few more seconds, my heart may have wavered," Toki mumbled with a haggard expression, the feather that emitted rainbow luminance by her chest went unnoticed.

It was at this moment that a voice rang out. 

"Whitebeard, a woman just suddenly appeared! Can the island of this people appear out of nowhere?" A strong, samurai-like voice filled with curiosity pierced the air as if fate was mending its course.