The Long Way Home

The morning light slipped through the curtains and spilled into the dining room.

A boy sat on a chair, resting his chin in his palm as he yawned sleepily.

“Tatsuya, did you finish your summer homework?” a woman's voice came out from the kitchen.

“Not yet!”

“If you don’t finish it on time, you’re going to get in trouble again, you know.”

“Tch… she’s so annoying.”

“I know, Mom! You don’t have to tell me everything,” he replied, his voice laced with annoyance.

Without finishing the breakfast his mother had made, he slipped outside. Not once did he feel guilty as he headed to the playground, where two familiar faces greeted him with waves.

“Good morning, Vince. Andre.”

“Good to see you managed to escape again today, Tatsuya.” Andre said with a lazy yawn.

“I-I think you should ask your mom for permission next time…” Vince added nervously, fidgeting with his fingers.

Tatsuya shot a glare at Vince, but he only brushed it off with a weary sigh.

“Anyway, I’ve got something interesting to tell you guys!” His mood instantly shifted into excitement.

Seeing the change, both of them furrowed their brows slightly, though curiosity quickly replaced their hesitation as they nodded in unison.

“My gramps told me there’s an abandoned well behind the shrine.”

“An abandoned well?” They replied in unison.

“According to Gramps, it was sealed off a week ago.”

“W-Why?” Vince asked, pressing his lips together nervously.

Tatsuya paused for a moment, then suddenly snatched the net Vince was carrying. In one swift motion, he caught Andre’s head with it.

“Because it’s haunted!”

Andre whistled nonchalantly while Vince crouched down, covering his ears.

“S-stop… y-you know I can’t deal with horror stuff!”

Seeing how shaken Vince was, Tatsuya smirked and grabbed his wrist, pulling his hands away from his ears.

“Do you know… when people pass by the shrine at night, they say they can hear voices.” he said, his tone laced with amusement.

Vince couldn’t hold back his fear and shouted, nearly in tears.

“S-stop it! You’re bullying me again!”

Andre started walking ahead, casually swinging the net with excitement.

“Come on, guys. We’re going to catch some beetles.”

***

The whistle of birds echoed, blending with the restless hum of cicadas while humid sunlight lingered over the quiet road, pressing down on the summer air.

Tatsuya led the group ahead, planning to take them toward the abandoned well. However, Vince had no idea where they were heading, while Andre had already figured it out from the start.

After walking for several minutes, the cheerful atmosphere gradually faded behind them as the path grew narrower with each step they took. Towering trees blocked most of the sunlight, casting shadows over the area.

Eventually, they arrived behind the shrine.

And there it was.

The abandoned well stood quietly, but for some reason, the air around it felt strangely heavy.

As soon as Vince saw the abandoned well, his lips immediately trembled in nervousness.

“W-Why are we here?!” he said with panic.

“I-Is it really s-safe for us to be here?”

His eyes darted around nervously, as though expecting something to jump out at any moment. But when he looked at the abandoned well again,

Tatsuya and Andre were already leaning over the edge and staring into the holes of the sealing and could see the darkness below. Seeing them, he couldn't suppress his curiosity. Swallowing hard, he reluctantly took a peek below as well.

Andre's gaze shifted to Vince. "You look really scared, Vince."

"O-Of course I am! I told you before, I-I'm not really fond of these kinds of things!" He placed a hand over his chest and took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

"L-Let's just go catch some beetles instead."

As Andre turned around, his eyes widened in excitement. He frantically pointed ahead.
"T-There's a Hercules beetle over there!"

The moment they spotted the Hercules beetle clinging to a tree, thrill lit up their faces. Vince, who had been trembling in fear just moments ago, now wore a wide smile, while Tatsuya could hardly contain himself at the thought of catching it.

Without a second thought, Andre and Vince dashed toward the beetle, leaving Tatsuya behind. Seeing this, Tatsuya puffed up in annoyance.

"Wait! Who said you two could catch it before me?!"

Not realizing that the ground was still slippery from last night's rain,
Tatsuya suddenly lost his footing. And because he had been standing too close to the abandoned well, he fell into darkness below.

“Gwaaaaaaaah!”

He continued to fall.

"Waaaaaaaaah!"

And fall.

And fall.

Yet no matter how long he fell, he never reached the bottom.

Out of fear, Tatsuya squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself for the impact. But the pain never came. Instead, his body sank into something surprisingly soft.

"...Huh?"

A sweet fragrance tickled his nose. Thinking that he had somehow landed on a bush.

Tatsuya slowly opened his eyes, and then his jaw dropped in an instant.

"W-What?!"

He was lying atop a giant marshmallow. Curious, he poked it gently with his finger, and it sank into the soft surface.

"...Eh?"

Then, his gaze shifted.

And soon, his mouth fell open in astonishment.

What stood before him was a gigantic palace made entirely of sweets, while rows of houses made mostly of cotton candy lined the streets of a bustling village.

He swallowed hard and pinched his cheek as hard as he could. To his surprise, the pain was real. His eyes widened in disbelief as the realization slowly sank in. Somehow, he had been transported to a place he never knew existed.

“Where…am I?”

Completely lost in thought, he stood in the same place for several minutes, staring at the scene while his mind wandered aimlessly.

Then he shook his head a few times before finally coming to a conclusion.

“Well, so be it,” he said energetically, starting to walk toward the village made of cotton candy. “If I’m here, my mom won’t annoy me.”

On his way, he found a stick lying on the ground and picked it up. He resumed walking, idly swinging it as he went.

“Now that I think about it…” he muttered. “Vince crying is kinda annoying. And Andre is just too weird.”

He scratched his head and stopped for a moment.

“Well, since I won’t be seeing them anymore, it’s fine!”

He passed through several strange sights along the way, a river flowing with orange juice, and towering trees that blocked the sunlight from reaching the ground. When he looked closer, he realized the trunks were made of chocolate, and the leaves were mint.

For a moment, an urge to take a bite surged through his mind. But he quickly stopped himself. Thinking that, if he ate it, he might get sick… or worse, die.

He shook his head, trying to brush off the temptation before continuing to walk.

After what felt like an hour, he finally spotted a welcome board at the entrance of the village.

The thrill of adventure surged through his veins, and a wide grin spread across his face. Instead of walking, he broke into a skip toward the entrance, unable to contain his excitement.

But as soon as he was about to enter, a sheep made of cotton candy wearing a police cap stepped in front of him, blocking the way.

The sheep looked him up and down with a troubled expression.

“A… human?” it muttered in disbelief.

"State your purpose for coming here!” the sheep demanded.

However, to Tatsuya, the small cotton sheep only made him tilt his head slightly. The sight of a talking cotton sheep seemed absurdly cute to him.

He crouched down and gently poked its fluffy wool out of curiosity.

“Little sheep… how are you able to talk?” He poked it gently once again.

“You’re strange.”

Because of what he said, the sheep turned red with anger and smacked his finger with its horn. But strangely, Tatsuya didn’t feel any pain, which only made him laugh in delight.

“You are trespassing on our land. It is a grave offense in the eyes of the Fairy Goddess!” the sheep growled, trying to sound intimidating.

“You need to leave this land immediately, or I will punish you!”

Despite the warning, Tatsuya only laughed again and kept poking the sheep’s fluffy cotton body.

“You’re so cute, even when you’re angry.”

Without warning, the sheep bit his finger, but he still felt no pain.
At the same time, a sweet scent drifted through into his nose, instantly drawing his attention.

His gaze immediately turned toward the source, only to see a house made entirely of biscuits.

Saliva slowly gathered at the corner of his mouth.

Biscuits were his favorite snack, especially chocolate-flavored ones. The rich cocoa aroma, the slightly crispy edges, and the soft, crumbly texture that melted in his mouth… he couldn’t resist it.

Without a second thought, he ran toward the biscuit house, driven purely by the urge to satisfy his temptation.

“Where are you going, human!” the sheep yelled as it chased after him, only for its eyes to widen in disbelief.

He devoured the door of the biscuit house within seconds. And even after that, he didn't stop. He began tearing pieces off the walls with his bare hands as he stuffed it into his mouth in a disgraceful manner.

“Stop! You’re destroying our village!”

The sheep leaped forward and desperately tried to stop him, but Tatsuya's mind was completely consumed by the temptation of his favorite snack. In his frenzy, he smacked the sheep away, sending it tumbling several meters across the ground.

“This is super delicious!” Tatsuya exclaimed.

Even with his mouth full, he continued to eat like a starving pig. He knew he had struck the sheep, but he just didn't care. As long as he could satisfy himself, nothing else mattered.

The sheep struggled to stand. Biting its lip in desperation, it tried to force its body to move, but it refused to obey.

“S-stop it, you foul creature! The Fairy Goddess will punish you for your sins!”

Completely consumed by the desire to satisfy himself, Tatsuya couldn't even hear the poor sheep's desperate warnings.

After several minutes of devouring the biscuit house, he had eaten nearly half of it, leaving the remaining half in ruins.

Satisfied, he flopped onto the ground and gently rubbed his swollen belly. Then, he let out a long yawn like an old man.

“Mmm… I ate too much… I’m getting sleepy…”

He closed his eyes and gently rubbed them with his fingers.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, a brilliant tiny light suddenly ignited before his face. Its radiance pierced through his closed eyelids, causing him to frown in annoyance.

Thinking that his mother had entered his room and turned on the lights again, he lazily waved his left hand and continued rubbing his full belly.

“Mom… I told you not to enter my room without my permission…” he muttered sleepily.

“Human child.”

But the voice that answered him didn't sound like his mother at all. And with that, he forcibly opened his sleepy eyes and slowly sat up, wiping the drool from his chin.

His gaze shifted toward the tiny light. In an instant, the sleepiness in his eyes was replaced by pure excitement.

“Is my adventure starting now?!” he said, his voice filled with thrill.

The light slowly began to fade, sinking away bit by bit until, after a few seconds, it vanished completely.

In its place appeared a fairy woman.

Her wings shimmered with a beautiful glow, a blend of purple and soft hints of blue. Her eyes shared the same ethereal color as her wings… deep and otherworldly. The white gown she wore contrasted elegantly against her glowing wings, its shining buttons resembling stars scattered across a night sky.

But her eyes sharpened as she glanced at the boy who sat completely stunned by her beauty. Her gaze then shifted toward the ruined biscuit house beside him.

“Human child… do you realize what you have done?”

Her voice was deep, yet beautiful at the same time. But her eyes darkened as they locked onto Tatsuya.

Tatsuya tilted his head in confusion.

Out of nowhere, the sheep that had been lying on the ground suddenly rushed toward the fairy woman and bowed its small head.

“My dearest Fairy Goddess…” it said, its voice trembling with defeat and embarrassment.
“I deeply apologize for failing to stop the intruder.”

Its eyes shimmered with tiny glowing particles, like tears forming from light itself.

“Because of my failure, he destroyed one of the houses you created…”

It bit its lip, overwhelmed by guilt.

“Please… punish me for my sin!”

Tatsuya’s eyes widened in surprise, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.

“Fairy Goddess?!” he shouted.

But the sudden realization sank in, forcing him to tilt his head again.

“Why is the Fairy Goddess so tiny?”

Upon hearing his words, the sheep growled in anger and was about to bite him again, but the Fairy Goddess stopped it with a simple gesture of her hand.

“Don’t bother wasting your time on this brat, Richard,” she said calmly as she gently placed her hand on Richard’s head. Instantly, the wounds on his body began to heal.

She smiled softly. “Also, I won’t punish my precious sheep over this.”

Her softened gaze faded after she looked at the young boy who kept yawning.

“Human child, tell me your name.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Fairy Goddess. I’m Tatsuya,” he replied.

“Let me ask you again… have you realized what you have done?”

Tatsuya shook his head with a carefree expression.

“Nope. By the way, do you know where the exit is? I’m kinda full and want to catch some beetles.”

“There’s no exit in my world,” she declared, her voice heavy with authority.

“Why did you eat the house of my precious people?”

Tatsuya’s eyes lit up, his expression filled with joy.

“It was delicious! I’ve never eaten something that tasty before!”

The Fairy Goddess gently adjusted her hair with graceful composure.

“Is your hunger the reason you ate it?” Her voice softened slightly.

“No, I just felt like eating it!”

Because of what he said, the Fairy Goddess didn’t say a single word. The tense atmosphere around her grew heavier with each passing second, but Tatsuya failed to notice it and continued speaking without a care.

“But I’m full already… It’s kinda sad, though. I wanted to finish it, but I just can’t eat anymore…” He puffed his cheeks slightly and let out a disappointed sigh.

For a couple of seconds, no one spoke. The only sound was the breeze brushing against their skin, pressing down on the heavy silence.

Until finally—

“…You consumed the home of one of my children,” the Fairy Goddess said.

Tatsuya nodded without hesitation.

“Yes! It was very delicious!”

“And you did so…” Her small hands trembled, while her voice slowly rose in intensity.

“…not because of hunger…”

“But because you simply desired it?!”

Tatsuya rested his hand on the back of his head, showing no trace of guilt.

“Isn’t that normal?”

The Fairy Goddess’s eyes widened in disbelief as she pressed her lips into a thin line.

“Tatsuya… to surrender oneself to temptation despite having no need… such greed is a grave sin in my world!”

Despite the warning, Tatsuya still didn’t seem to understand his situation.

He tilted his head. “Sin?”

“You have brought shame upon yourself, Tatsuya.” Her brilliant wings flared with light as she took a deep breath, trying to contain the anger boiling within her.

“And worst of all… you didn’t even finish it all!” she shouted in frustration, pointing her small, trembling finger at the ruined house.

“But… I told you, I’m already full!”

“I don’t want to hear any more of your lame excuses. With that, I will punish you for your sins!”

Then, a light shimmered in the Fairy Goddess’s hand, and out of nowhere, a staff appeared in her palm. Without hesitation, she pointed it toward Tatsuya.

A ball of light gathered at the tip of the staff before shooting toward him and piercing straight through his body.

“Wahhhhhh!” Tatsuya shouted, squeezing his eyes shut.

However, before he could even make sense of what was happening, a strange sensation spread throughout his bones. His fingers gradually shrank and fused together, hardening into tiny black hooves. At the same time, his nose tingled and slowly pushed outward into a round snout.

“W-What’s happening?! My body feels weird… I can’t see anything through this light!”

His ears grew larger and floppier while his body rapidly shrank. His arms and legs became shorter, and his stomach slowly grew rounder and plumper.

Then, a ticklish sensation rose from his lower back. Before he knew it, a tiny curly tail had sprouted behind him.

Tatsuya slowly opened his eyes.

“Oink!”

“W-What was that for? W-Wha—Oink!”

He froze.

“W-Wait… what was that sound?”

Blinking repeatedly, he slowly lowered his gaze.
And what greeted him were no longer his hands but tiny black hooves.

“Whaat! Did I just turn into a pig, oink?!”

“Indeed.”

“Why a pig, oink?!”

The Fairy Goddess gently brushed her hair back, her gaze fixed on him.

“Because among all creatures, pigs are known for their insatiable appetite. You devoured a house despite not being hungry. You surrendered yourself to temptation. Therefore, until you learn restraint and free yourself from the sins…”

She slowly raised her staff, pointing it toward him with graceful precision.

“You shall live as the very embodiment of your greed.”

“Oink! That’s not fair!” Tatsuya argued.

The Fairy Goddess looked at him with a disgusted expression, covering her mouth.

“Silence, pig! You reek of a foul smell. It makes me want to puke.”

“Oink???”

“I will send you to a pig farm instantly, where you will spend the rest of your life.”

She flicked her finger.

In an instant, a portal appeared beneath his feet, and before he could react, he fell into another unknown dimension.

“What is really happening right now, oink?!” he shouted, but in the next second, his voice faded away as the portal closed behind him.

Seeing him fall into the portal, a faint graceful chuckle curved across the Fairy Goddess's lips. She then lightly tapped her staff against her other palm, and it dissolved into countless specks of stardust.

Richard the sheep took a step forward.
“Are you truly certain about placing a curse on him, Fairy Goddess?” he asked quietly.

“This is the only way to teach him,” she replied.

She paused as her figure gradually began to turn translucent.

“And if this punishment fails to change him…” Her eyes softened slightly.

“Then he is beyond saving.”

Her existence slowly scattered into countless purple particles, gently dancing along the wind.

Richard lowered his head respectfully.

“It was good to see you again, Fairy Goddess.” He closed his eyes and smiled softly.

“May you always be well.”

***

After Tatsuya fell into the portal, his long ears flapped wildly like flags in the wind as he plummeted downward. It felt as though he had been falling for an eternity.

There was no light around him, only an endless void that seemed to swallow his tiny round body.

“Help me!” he squealed.

Then, finally—

Bang!

He crashed onto a pile of straw.

Unlike before, when he had landed atop a giant marshmallow, there was nothing soft waiting for him this time. Although the straw cushioned his fall, it felt rough and stiff, almost as if he had slammed straight into the ground.

Tatsuya growled, and a faint groan escaped his lips as he slowly lifted his head from the pile of straw.

Still dizzy from the fall, he instinctively tried to sit up. Only to immediately lose his balance and flop face-first onto the ground.

“Oink?!”

He blinked in confusion and awkwardly pushed himself forward. Before he knew it, his four short legs had already lifted him onto his feet.

“I forgot…” he muttered. “I turned into a pig.”

Thinking about what had happened earlier, he pressed his lips into a thin line. A piece of straw slipped into his mouth, and he bit down on it in frustration.

“How dare she turn me into a pig when I just wanted to eat!”

He stumbled forward in anger, and his clumsy movement sent the pile of straw flying everywhere, scattering the bedding across the ground in a messy heap.

After a few moments of frantic movement, it took him almost five minutes to finally calm down.

Breathing heavily, he slowly lifted his head and looked around. Only then did it fully sink in, he really was in a pig farm.

Countless pigs lay scattered across the ground, lounging lazily as they waited for food to appear as if by magic.

At the sight of them, Tatsuya’s nervousness slowly began to creep in. His tiny four legs started trembling, and his ears drooped as his expression turned uneasy.

“I-I… I want t-to—”

He murmured under his breath, shaking his head as his voice cracked. His eyes grew watery, and for the first time, he looked like he was about to cry.

But then, all of a sudden, he heard footsteps drawing closer. When he turned around, he saw an old, massive black pig glaring down at him. It had a scar across one eye, and its body was heavily built. Its abdomen was carved with thick, defined muscles, and its four legs were completely buff.

“H-How c-can I help you?” Tatsuya stammered in panic.

The black pig looked down at him calmly.

“You must be new here,” it said in a deep voice.

“Welcome to the pig farm.”

Tatsuya could only stare at him nervously. Sensing how terrified he was, the black pig’s lips curled into a faint smirk.

“Come with me… for a while.”

Without thinking, Tatsuya nodded in a frantic panic.

As they wandered through the pig farm, Tatsuya’s gaze darted all over the place, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept wondering what he had done to deserve being treated this way.

“My name is Mathew. What’s your name, newcomer?”

Hearing his voice, Tatsuya snapped out of his thoughts and quickly looked at the black pig.

“I-It’s nice to meet you, Mathew. I’m Tatsuya…” he murmured in a weak voice.

“M-Mathew.”

Mathew suddenly stopped and glanced at him.

“Hm?”

“D-Do you know how to get out of here? I-I want to go home… or else my mom will get mad at me.”

However, Mathew simply started walking again, as though he didn't care about the question.

“I wouldn't be here if I knew the way out.”

Tatsuya let out a shaky sigh, his face twisting into a troubled expression.

“W-What should I do?” he murmured. “I’ll definitely get in trouble.”

“There’s nothing you can do,” Mathew replied calmly.

“You met the Fairy Goddess, haven’t you?” he added.

Tatsuya nodded, pressing his lips into a thin line.

“She turned me into a pig,” he complained, stomping the ground with one of his tiny feet.

“I don’t even know why she did this to me!”

Mathew stopped again and turned to look him straight in the eyes.

“You definitely did something that angered her. What did you do?”

Tatsuya's eyes widened in surprise, caught off guard by the sudden question.

“W-What do you mean?”

Mathew slowly closed the distance between them.

“What did you do…that angered her the most, brat?” He asked again, his gaze unwavering.

Frightened by his sudden approach, Tatsuya took a step backward until his round back pressed against the wall.

“I-I don’t know w-what you’re talking about!”

Their faces were so close that the atmosphere between them grew tense. But the intensity was one-sided. Tatsuya was far too scared to meet Matthew's gaze. Even when he tried to, his eyes instinctively turned away.

“You have to think about the consequences of your actions before you commit them,” Matthew said as he turned his back and slowly resumed walking.

“The Fairy Goddess is a very kind entity. She wouldn't punish someone with such cruelty unless they truly deserved it.”

Tatsuya’s small brows furrowed tightly.

“C-Can I ask another question, Matthew?”

“What?”

“A-Are you human?” he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Matthew stopped walking.

For a moment, he looked genuinely caught off guard. A tense silence followed. The only sound around them was the distant noise of pigs waiting for food.

“Yes,” he said. “I’m once a human.”

Tatsuya took a step forward, his eyes widening in disbelief.

“T-Then… how did you turn into a pig?”

Matthew let out a quiet sigh.

“Just like I said… the Fairy Goddess wouldn’t punish someone who didn’t do anything wrong.”

“What d-did you do?”

He shook his head slowly.

“Enough about me. Focus on yourself. What did you do?”

Tatsuya lowered his gaze, his expression troubled.

“I-I ate a biscuit house… and didn’t finish it.”

Matthew let out a faint smirk.

“That's not what I meant. Before coming to this realm… you did something bad to someone dear to you, didn't you?”

“Huh?”

Matthew could see the confusion written all over Tatsuya's face.

“Think carefully, brat!” he snapped. “What exactly did you do to deserve such a cruel punishment?”

Tatsuya's mind gradually fell into chaos. He unconsciously took a step backward as a sudden realization struck him.

All the things he had done began to surface one after another.

He thought his mother was annoying.

Even though he knew Vince was terrified, he still bullied him. He also had taken Andre's friendship for granted.

He hadn't cared about leaving everyone behind.

He ignored Richard's warnings and even struck him.

He devoured the biscuit house not because he was starving, but simply because he couldn't resist the temptation.

And even after everything he had done, he hadn't shown a shred of guilt. Nor had he ever wanted to take responsibility for his actions.

Those memories hit him deeply. But his pride refused to let him fully accept them. That's why he shook his head in defiance.

“No… no!” he exclaimed, biting his lip.

“How is that fair?! All I ever did was to satisfy myself! How is that even a bad thing?!”

“That’s your problem, brat.”

Not even bothering to turn around, Mathew continued walking, leaving the broken Tatsuya behind.

“Not that I care. You'll spend the rest of your life here anyway.”

He paused for a moment.

“Regret comes much later.”

“And by then…It’s usually too late.”

Tatsuya's eyes grew watery as Matthew's figure slowly disappeared into the distance.

“P-Please…” His voice trembled.

“Please don't leave me alone!”

His ears drooped helplessly while the tears threatening to spill blurred his vision. For the first time since arriving at the pig farm, fear finally overwhelmed him.

“I'm scared…”

***

After days of depression, he lay in the straw. Even though his stomach growled with hunger, he remained still, staring blankly ahead as time seemed to stretch endlessly around him.

He barely moved, the weight of exhaustion and confusion keeping him pinned in place.

And even when he tried to eat, the food in the pig farm was nothing but leftover scraps, unappetizing and foul to his senses.

He couldn’t even bring himself to take a bite.

“I miss my mom’s cooking,” he said weakly, letting out a defeated sigh.

“I wish I could catch beetles with Vince and Andre one last time…”

Tears began to well up in his eyes as he pressed his lips into a thin line.

“I shouldn’t have made fun of the sheep… I should’ve listened to him.”

He paused as the tears finally slipped down his cheeks.

“I shouldn’t have let my temptations win…”

His voice cracked completely.

“I should’ve thought about the consequences before I did anything!”

His sobs echoed through the pig farm, raw and uncontrollable.

Matthew, watching from the shadows, let out a quiet chuckle.

“Took you long enough to realize, brat.”

Moonlight pierced through the small windows, illuminating the damp straw beneath him.

“I wish… I could apologize to them one last time…”

As he cried over and over, he failed to notice the tiny purple particles drifting through the moonlight, softly illuminating the darkness around him.

“You finally understand… and realize the things you did wrong, Tatsuya.”

Hearing the familiar voice made Tatsuya’s eyes widen in surprise. He forced his round body to stand, but his four little legs trembled uncontrollably from days of hunger.

“I-Is that you, F-Fairy Goddess?” he asked, his voice low and trembling with guilt and desperation.

“I-If you're really here… p-please hear me out.”

His watery eyes wandered anxiously before finally lowering to the ground.

“Please… let me see my mom one last time.”

His voice cracked.

“I-I want to apologize to her… for being a bad son.”

Tiny purple particles slowly emerged, bathing the surroundings in a gentle glow.
Tatsuya closed his eyes for a moment. When the light finally subsided, he slowly opened them again.

And there she was.

Her beautiful wings shone brighter than moonlight, while her ethereal eyes gazed upon him with a slightly proud expression. A graceful smile appeared on her lips as she brushed her hair behind her ear.

“Is there anything more you wish to say?” she asked, her voice deep yet beautiful in its own right.

Realizing what she meant, Tatsuya slowly took a step forward.

“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done.” He lowered his head again.

“I’m such an idiot.”

His voice trembled with guilt as he slowly shook his head in defeat.

“I’m really sorry, Fairy Goddess.”

The Fairy Goddess remained silent for several tense seconds, her expression unreadable. Slowly, a genuine smile appeared on her face.

“Tatsuya, there is nothing wrong with desire. Nor is there any shame in making mistakes.

But a person who thinks only of themselves will eventually wound the hearts of those who love them.

That is why one must always think before acting… and cherish the kindness of others while they are still there to give it.

For words left unsaid…”

Her voice softened.

“…become regrets that linger for a lifetime.”

As soon as those words reached his ears, Tatsuya’s eyes softened, a faint trace of sadness flickering within them.

The words sank far deeper into his heart than he could have ever imagined, and before he knew it, tears began streaming down his cheeks.

“I-I’m sorry, Fairy Goddess…”

His voice trembled as he lowered his head even further.

“I’m sorry… for eating the b-biscuit’s house… Oink!”

She gently shook her head, trying to reassure him.

“I am not angry because you ate it. I was angry because you allowed temptation to overcome the righteousness in your heart.

But… seeing you finally understand your mistakes…makes me glad.”

A warm smile spread across his lips.

“For that, I shall return you to your original form and send you home.”

Tatsuya’s eyes lit up upon hearing those words.

“Really?”

The Fairy Goddess nodded. Then, a staff appeared in her palm.

With graceful movements, she traced a circle through the air. In response, a portal slowly materialized before him.

“I hope you will never forget this lesson for the rest of your life.”

She pointed her staff at Tatsuya, and a tiny light shot forth and passed through his body.

The moment it did, he immediately returned to his human form.

Tatsuya stared at his hands in silence. Then, his gaze shifted toward the Fairy Goddess.

“Thank you…for making me a better person.”

Slowly, he walked toward the portal. However, just as he was about to step through, he suddenly stopped and glanced back at her.

“Can you please tell the sheep that I’m sorry?”

She nodded gently. “Of course.”

“And…” Tatsuya hesitated for a moment. “Please tell me your name, Fairy Goddess.”

The Fairy Goddess's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the question.

Then, she smiled once more.

“Everyone in my kingdom calls me the Fairy Goddess…But there was once a human who called me Myles.”

Tatsuya smiled genuinely and waved his hand before entering to the portal.

“I see! See you again someday, Myles!”

Tatsuya’s figure slowly faded from her sight as he returned to his world, and the portal vanished in an instant.

A moment of silence followed.

Then, a black pig stood firmly before her, gazing up at the Fairy Goddess.

“Good to see you well, Myles,” he said.

The Fairy Goddess let out a soft chuckle.

“How about you, Mathew? When are you going to start your redemption?”

“Hmph! After you’re finally done playing the Fairy Goddess!”

He turned and began to walk away, though a faint smile lingered on his face.

The Fairy Goddess laughed elegantly.

“I see… that’s still a long way to go.”

***

As Tatsuya passed through the portal, his consciousness drifted into darkness.

A sudden light appeared before him, forcing him to shut his eyes. When the light faded, he slowly opened them, only to widen in shock.

Before him stood Vince and Andre, both wearing worried expressions.

“Are you okay, Tatsuya?” Andre asked, his voice filled with worry.

Tatsuya slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes as he nodded.

“Yeah… what happened?” he said in a low voice.

“You almost fell into the abandoned well, but thankfully we managed to catch you in time,” Vince said, his brow furrowed with anxiety.

Tatsuya shifted his gaze toward the abandoned well and saw that the sealing was still intact.

He let out a soft chuckle, then suddenly pulled both of them into a hug.

Both of them froze in surprise.

“What’s wrong?” Andre asked.

Tatsuya shook his head gently and released them.

“Nothing. Thank you for saving me… and I’m sorry for always being a bad friend to you guys.”

Both of them tilted their heads in unison.

“Bad friend?”

They looked at each other, confused, and before they could ask further questions, Tatsuya was already running off, waving his hand.

“See you guys tomorrow! And I’ll make sure this time, I’ll ask Mom for permission before going out!”

“What happened to him?” Vince asked, still stunned.

Andre smiled slightly.

“Dunno… but it’s getting interesting.”

After running all the way home, Tatsuya finally arrived.

He opened the door, placed his shoes neatly in their proper position, and walked toward the dining room where his mother was.

As he pushed the door open, the first thing that greeted him was the comforting aroma of freshly cooked food.

His mother was placing dishes on the table, and when she heard a soft creak sound on her back. Her gaze shifted toward the door.

There stood Tatsuya, wiping his eyes as if dust had gotten into them.

“Welcome back, Tatsuya. You came home earlier than I expected,” she said with a gentle smile.

Tatsuya’s lips slowly curved into the faintest, most genuine smile he had ever made.

“I’m home.”