Hero Yusaka's Statue

Kurose, Cecilia, and Kurose’s Family faces were lit with laughter and smiles as they walked beneath the warm decorations on the village road.


“Mother,” Kurose said. ”I want to eat mushroom pie for dinner!” looking at Hely, his face eased.


“I see,” Hely remarked, her eyes curved with warmth. .”Then, I will make mushroom pie. Okay?”


A pause lingered as his mouth slightly widened and a hint of color crept on his cheeks.


“Yes!” face laced with light warmth.

They went home.

The night ended.

After a month.


“Mother,” Kurose remarked, sitting on a chair, eating breakfast.”Can I go to buy honey bread, I haven’t eaten it in a few days.” Looking at Hely.


“Hmm,” Hely murmured, a finger touching her lip as her face wandered. After a pause, she continued .”Yes, Here’s twelve copper coins.” She puts the coins on the table.”Bring ten honey bread home and buy two for yourself!” She said, her head slightly tilted as a smile touched her face.


“Yes!” Kurose remarked as he smiled, his cheeks lightly flushed.


After a while.


“Then,” Kurose said while wearing his shoes.”I’m going to see you later, mother!” He slipped on his shoes and straightened, and faintly smiled looking at Hely.




“Yes,” Hely remarked, a faint smile on her face.”Come back home safe!”


Kurose opened the door, and left the house.


In the middle of the path, he looked behind and waved at Hely as he smiled.


Hely waved back at him, her hairs fluttering due to strong but calm winds as she softly smiled.


He passed the front gate.


A moment passed.


Kurose was headed towards the village gate.


“If Mother gives me an allowance enough for two honey breads.” Kurose murmured, his finger on a lip, his thoughts stumbling.. “Hmm… It’s not enough.” After a brief pause. “Yes,” He tapped his fist lightly into his palm.
”I can have two more copper coins from father, then i’ll have enough coins to buy four honey breads.

“How intelligent I am!” He mused, while grinning.


“Well right now,” He sighed, placing his hands on the back head. “I should buy two honey bread, i’ll ask father for more coins tommoro-”


“Kurose!”
Someone shouted from behind him.


He stopped.

“Hmm?” He murmured.

“Kurose!”


“Did I hear something?”


“Kurose!”


He noticed, and looked behind him.


“Kurose!” Cecilia shouted, heavily breathing, signaling a hand to him while some papers tugged around her chest closely with her hand, running towards him.”Kurose!”


“Cecilia?” He mused quietly while slightly tilting his head.

After a few seconds.


Cecilia reached Kurose.


“K-kurose,” she murmured, heavily breathing, her posture stretched.”W-why d-didn’t y-you n-notice?”


“What did you say?” He said.

She calmed her breath.

“I said,” Cecilia looked at him, her face lightly warmed with traces of sweat.”Why didn’t you notice?”

“What?” Kurose said, sweat dampened on his face.

“I was signaling you from behind when you left your home,” She said, clenching a fist around her chest, her eyes sparkling.”I thought, we could walk together to the village, talking along the way!”

“Ehh,” He said, having an awkward expression on his face.”Then, why didn’t you come talked to me while I was leaving home?”



A wave of warmth spread across her face as she heard those words.
She searched for words..


“W-well,” She said, her eyes darting around..”I was trying to approach you while you were leaving home." Twisting her fingers together, a thought crossed her mind. She was standing far away from Kurose's home. “What should I do,” Cecilia murmured. “Should I call him?” Her thoughts stumbled. A few seconds later.
“Yes!” She softly pressed her fist into her palm. “I should signal a hand to him!” her eyes shone. She signaled to him. But, he didn’t notice.
“Why is he not noticing?” She mused quietly. “I should make myself more noticeable and clear!”
She moved in the center of the road, signaling even more clearly. He left the house, and was headed towards the gate. “Huh?” Cecilia mused, unease crept in.”Now what should I do?”
A pause lingered. “Huhhhh,” Cecilia mused, her hands touching her back head, her thoughts stumbled as she darted around. ”I-i-i-i-i-i-i-i m-missed m-m–m-y c-c-chance…..”

“Then,” Kurose remarked, his grip slightly slipping.”Why didn’t you come to me when I was leaving home?”

“W-well.” she murmured.

A silence…

“Well,” He sighed.”It doesn't matter now.” A smile appeared on his face.”Let’s go to the village together!”



“Yes!” She softly nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed.


After a while.


They were walking on the village path while talking to each other.


He noticed.

“Cecilia,” He remarked, looking at the papers in her hand. “What are those papers?”


“Oh,” Cecilia said, looking at the papers.”These papers?”


“Yes”

“After trying to approach you,” Cecilia said, looking at Kurose, her posture relaxed. ”A caretaker called me back to take these papers to Secretary Helvein.”



“I see.” He said.

A few seconds later..

She realized.

“H-have I s-said s-something e-embarrassing?”: She mused quietly as her cheeks reddened.


“What’s wrong?” Looking at Cecilia.


She stiffened as she heard those words.


“N-n-nothing.” She murmured, looking down, her cheeks reddened.


“I-i see.” Kurose said, slightly tilting his head.


“Have I said something I shouldn’t have? He mused, he felt oddly pressured.


Some moments passed.


Without realizing it, they reached the village.

They were walking on the village path.


“Yes,” Cecilia asked as she slightly tilted her head while looking at him."Kurose, What’s the reason you were coming to the village?”


“Me?”
”I’m just here to buy honey bread for my family and for myself.”

“I see..” She murmured as her eyes sparkled, her expression warmed.


After a brief pause.

She cleared her throat.

“Then,” Cecilia said as her clenched fist tightened.”How about we go again together to my trainin-”

“Oh!” Kurose as he headed towards the honey bread shop, his eyes sparkling.


She looked down, narrowing her gaze…

A silence.

She realized.

She softly pinched her cheek with her hand, and walked to the honey bread shop.


“Granny,” Kurose said, while smiling.”Give me twelve honey breads!” a thought crossed his mind, and added. “Ten honey bread into another bag!”


“Okay!” Granny remarked.


After a while..



“Here,” Granny said, handing out honey bread bags while faintly smiling. “Your twelve honey bread, thank you for purchasing every time, kurose!” she realized, and added. “Yes,” Granny said. “Can I ask you for something, kurose?” looking at Kurose, a hand on her cheek.


“Hmm?” Kurose murmured, slightly tilting his head while picking up the bags.”What is it, Granny?” He remarked.



“I want you to clean her-” Granny noticed Alen and Kein walking behind Kurose.
“Alen, Kein,” Granny shouted. “Come here!”


Alen and Kein noticed.



“Ehh,” Alen and kein murmured, traces of sweat appeared on their faces as they heard granny.”Again, Granny?” Alen noticed Cecilia and Kurose standing there. “Hmm?” He mused, narrowing his gaze. “Who are those two?”


They went to the Granny’s shop.



“W-what is it?” Kein asked as he forced a smile.

Kurose stares at them.

“Have I seen them before?” He mused, slightly tilting his head.


“All four of you,” Granny calmly said, smiling faintly. “I want to ask a favor.”


“Four of us?” Kein murmured, slightly tilting his head.


“I want the four of you to clean.. The Hero Yusaka’s Statue.” Granny remarked.


Kurose realized.

His eyes slightly widened while his mouth slightly opened.


“T-the H-hero Yusaka’s Statue?” He mused as he looked towards Granny.