Episode 8: Snotters, unite!

Thanks to sister Sunny’s care, Taro was going through his snotter like he would a normal cold. It was still annoying to be weakened, but he was grateful that it wasn’t worse

as Taro was mopping the floor, he heard the door knocking, then an unfamiliar sneeze, shortly after, sister Sunny came in with a sniffling Nagye

sister Sunny: first Taro gets it, then you. I thought the snotter attacked mostly children and elders, I guess I was wrong

Nagye: perhaps because I’m n-not used to going ou…o-aaa—-

she was interrupted by her own sneeze

sister Sunny: I’ll prepare you a place to lay down, you’ll have to stay here for the time being, I hope that’s not a problem

Nagye: no, its fine, th-thank you for taking me in

Nagye followed sister Sunny to help prepare her a place after exchanging waves with Taro from across the hall

Taro: (I probably infected Nagye yesterday, I hope the snotter is not too contagious, or I might end up causing an epidemic in this small town)

someone was knocking the door while Taro was almost done mopping

priest guy: hey, Taro, what are you waiting for? go open the door

Taro’s patience had been diminished too by the snotter

Taro: I, mopping, you, nothing, you go, I bizy

priest guy: huh? tch

the little jerk just walked away pretending to be busy, the door continued to knock, leaving Taro no choice but to go open it. he was surprised to see Ari carrying Shizuka on her back

Ari: oh, Taro, good morning, I'm here with Shizuka, she fell sick and needs treatment, huh? you’re sick too?

Taro: yez, snotter, uhh come in, g-goomornin (uh-oh, the snotter got her too!, at this rate, Ari will be infected as well, it’s better if I cover my face with something to reduce the chances)

Shizuka: goo’ mornin’ Taro—, the pond messed us up didn’t it?, hehe–

Shizuka’s voice was nasal and strained, definitely the snotter again. they all walked into the church hall, a nostalgic sight for both girls, who hadn’t been there in a while

Ari: how did you guys even get caught by the snotter?, it only grabs weak people

Taro: we uhh, other, worl, snotter, new, uhh, yez. wait here, I go zister zunny

Ari: (...why did he cover his nose? do I smell weird?)

as Ari sniffed the air to find the supposed bad smell, the priest guy walk past with a rather crunchy-sounding stride

sister Sunny: Shizuka too? by the goddess, is this a sign of bad times to come?, may we be blessed with fortitude to weather the storm. Taro, go prepare Shizuka’s bed, I’ll be there after I finish treating this girl

Nagye: g-girl?. I'm umm, a little older than that…

sister Sunny: did you say anything? I didn’t hear

Nagye: umm, n-no

as Taro made his way back, he wondered, how old exactly?, schools didn’t seem to exist, and units of measurement were different or nonexistent. he arrived to Shizuka trying to do a cartwheel and falling, Ari rubbing her forehead, and muddy footsteps on the area he was mopping earlier. Taro covered his nose and mouth again before speaking

Taro: Shizuka, we go, your bed, prepare, zister zunny, soon here

Shizuka: my bed?, haaaa, so nostalgic, it feels like forever

Ari: Wait, don't just leave me behind

Taro: Ari you, go now, tank you, for Shizuka, go go (now I just realize that might come off as dismissive, but I’d rather have her upset for a bit than to infect her)

Ari? huh?, why do you want me to leave?, hey!, what are you planning? and why are you covering your face like that?

Taro: (I don’t have the words to explain dammit) sorrri Ari

Ari: don’t just “sorrri” me, you brute

from afar, the priest guy observed just how many girls were interacting with Taro. Ari picked up on his spiteful gaze

priest guy: Taro! you haven’t finished mopping, don't think you can just shirk your holy tasks just because you’re sick, quit playing around and get back to work

Ari: he’s busy right now, and you seem pretty healthy, can't you help us out with that?

Ari’s tone was assertive, but just charming enough to convince the priest guy to pick up the mop and clean the mess he himself made. Then she followed Taro to Shizuka’s room and helped them set everything up

Taro: tank you Ari… you go now

Ari: I’m not leaving until you tell me why should I, if you can, brute

sister Sunny: dear goddess, Shizuka, blessed be the sight of seeing you again

sister Sunny had walked in hastily, Ari didn’t notice her silent strides. Shizuka and sister Sunny shared a heartfelt hug, like mother and daughter

Shizuka: sister Sunny, it's good to see you again too!, sorry for giving you problems again

sister Sunny: don’t worry about that my child, treating you guys is the least of my worries

Taro: (I guess it is true that older people still see younger people as kids, even if we’re grown up. I wonder how old is Shizuka, I guess I’ll know when she recovers her memories)

the sacred meal tune of the flute could be heard, it had been such an unusual morning that they didn’t notice time had passed so fast

sister Sunny: Taro, go call the other girl, it's time for the sacred meal

Ari: umm, I guess I’ll get going then

Shizuka: nooo, don’t go yet, come eat with us hehe–

Ari: is that ok?, I mean, Taro was telling me to go (and acting like I’m smelly)

sister Sunny: Taro don’t be rude; you’re ruining your chances. of course its ok, blessed be the sight of having you with us

Taro: (chances of what?, I just didn't want her to be exposed to the snotter) sorrri

Shortly after, the long table was more lively than usual. Taro and Nagye, Shizuka and Ari, all sitting together face to face. It was strangely fun and exciting for them all to share a meal with their friends

Sidra: Has the goddess blessed me with punctuality?, I came as fast as I— oh, yes I have indeed made it

sister Sunny: Sidra!, what a blessing!, you’re back already, this day has been full of surprises

as both priestesses shared a hug, Sidra noticed how lively the table was today, also decorated by the occasional sniffs of the snotter patients

Sidra: by the goddess, what a surprise indeed

Shizuka stood up and jumped to hug Sidra as soon as she was done with her previous hug

Shizuka: Sidraaaa! haaaaa! I missed you so much

Sidra: I had you present in my heart a lot too Shizuka, blessed be our reunion

Shizuka: you still speak like an old lady hehehe—-

Everyone sat down to eat. There was a lot of briefing, chatting, giggling and sniffling. Taro wished he could take pictures to immortalize the moment, but all he could do was enjoy it

Taro: (it’s been a while since I felt like this, it’s like a family gathering)

Nagye: (it’s the first time I'm sharing a meal with so many people, I hope I don't embarrass myself… but it's also nice, they all seem like good people, and eating next to my friend, am I allowed to feel this happy even though I'm sick?)

After eating, the group of friends was resting in the green grass of the main hall. Sidra and Shizuka were catching up with each other’s lives, Ari was awkwardly sitting between her and Taro, just listening to the conversation, Nagye was on Taro’s other side, feeling even more awkward, and Taro knew it was better to stay there as to not make them feel more uncomfortable

sister Sunny: the water is heating up for bathing. Remember to dry and cover yourselves well when you’re done

sister Sunny just walk past while she said that, with her hands full both literally and rhetorically

Shizuka: should we take a bath together? hehehe–

Sidra: like children do?

Nagye shrunk shyly, that proposition was too much, too soon

Ari: Shizuka, you might be even dirtier than mister dirty brute (perhaps I should take a bath too, just in case I am smelly)

They all went to bathe at the same time, but not together because there were enough bathrooms. Taro took his time to relax and reflect on what had happened, he also paid attention to the soap, which was used both as body soap and shampoo

Taro: (come to think of it, they have soap in another world, and it doesn't smell chemical, I wonder what it is made of)

they all got out almost at the same time, feeling both refreshed and warmed by the hot water, the snotter patients quickly put clothes on, except for Taro, who for some reason couldn’t find his

Ari: get dressed quickly you dirty brute, you heard the priestess right?, it’s getting cold already

Taro: yez but, shirt, I no zee (I’m sure I hung it at the door, where is it?)

Shizuka: shirtless again Taro?, are you sure that's not a hobby of yours?, heheheheh

Nagye immediately looked his way out of curiosity when she heard that, and quickly looked away in embarrassment

a cold breeze made Taro shiver, after a bit of searching, he found his shirt on the grass, half wet, half dirty

Sidra: I suggest you don't put that on

Taro: yez, this, bad… I know, wait

Taro went to his room quickly, meanwhile Ari was suspecting the person that walk past the bathrooms had something to do with the shirt incident, the footsteps sounded familiar to her, crunchy

Taro returned triumphantly, wearing his hat and wrapped in his robe

Sidra: goodness gracious, are you ready to go on an adve—heheh, adventure?

Taro: my neem iz Taro, I, prinz!, faraway

Sidra was weak to that humor combo, she bursted out laughing, Shizuka followed. Meanwhile Ari and Nagye thought he looked kinda cool.

Nagye: w-wow…

Taro then flipped his robe back to turn it into cape mode and hit a “cool” pose

Nagye: T-Taro?!

Ari: what are you doing brute?! don't just show us that, get covered!

Taro: show, wha?

underneath, he was properly wearing a shirt

Shizuka good grief Ari, get your mind off the gutter hehehehe

Nagye: (I think I should also do that) …