Nagai Koto c14

Nagai Koto Chapter 014
The Long Journey Until I Reunite With You

Full Of Resolution

They day after I dropped out of school, teacher came to the counter at the shop, sat down, and started crying.

「*Waaaaaaah*, why, why did you leave, Velt-kun!」 (Teacher)
「Like—I—said, I realized what it is that I really can do.」 (Velt)
「Even so, don't go deciding on your own to leave without even talking to anyone! Now, I won't be able to face Aruna in heaven like this~」 (Teacher)
「It's fine. I've been telling mom how you've been taking care of me in various ways.」 (Velt)

It's not like I up and quit. I properly turned in the withdraw form, and asked the king for a word since he helped me enter the school. He seemed busy, so we couldn't meet, and I wasn't able to obtain approval.

「Veeeeeeeeelllllllltttttttt!」 (Forna)

The angry roar I'm used to hearing. Well, I thought she would come.

「What are you thinking! Dropping out of school as you please, how big of an idiot are you? You haven't even graduated grade school, what do you plan to do in the future?」 (Forna)

It's Forna. Somehow, she's been talking like my mother lately about my future, and frankly what I want to do hasn't changed.

「Forna. The thing is, I didn't quit without thinking about anything. I quit after I thought about the future.」 (Velt)
「What are you saying? You who can't even use basic magic, what kind of future are you thinking of? You can only sit on a chair in a kitchen!」 (Forna)

Sitting on a chair across the counter, Forna stopped shouting at me for a moment. However, she doesn't know yet.

「What are you saying, Forna. I'm working aren't I?」 (Velt)
「Ha?」 (Forna)

As proof, the gla.s.s and plate that the customer had finished with floated back to kitchen.

「This is...」 (Forna)
「What do you think, it's levitation. Last night, I broke a plate and sensei got angry, but I've improved this much now you see?」 (Velt) (TN: Sensei = Melma, Teacher = from school)

I puffed out my chest, full of confidence. That's right, I've finally learned how to use levitation magic this much.

So, now what? Trembling Forna...

「YOU BIG DUMMMMMMMMMMMY!」 (Forna)

...went berserk.

「Carrying it by hand is plenty efficient, why are you wasting magic on it? Speaking of which, quitting school after only learning levitation magic, what are you thinking!」 (Forna)
「What are you talking about. I wasn't able to make anything levitate a bit before right? Now I can make things move.」 (Velt)
「That's something that anyone in this world can do! It's only good if you hurt your hand and have to move something heavy yourself!」 (Forna)

Yep, she's mad. I thought I had improved plenty, but there seems to be a long way to go.

「Hey, Velt-kun. Are you planning on working at this shop from now on? Aren't there other things you can still learn at school before you quit? Techniques useful for cooking, there are many things still you know?」 (Teacher)
「Certainly. Though sensei is a chef, he has various useful abilities.」 (Velt)
「That's right~ And yet, what are you planning on doing quitting school this early? If you've decided what you want to do in the future, you can learn magic that's useful for that at school you know?」 (Teacher)

That might be so. You would think that, normally. But, my thinking is exactly the opposite.

「That's not it. I quit school so I don't learn any more magic. In other words, I'm retreating.」 (Velt)
「E, ehhh? Wh, you, are you planning on living by only using levitation magic?」 (Teacher)
「You, stop being irresponsible, Velt! This is the limit of my tolerance you know?」 (Forna)

Not good. Forna looks like she's about to become violent and hit me at any second. Well, from the start, I was satisfied just learning math so I was fine quitting. However, it's not like I just quit on a whim.

「Forna. We might not think or understand the same way, but I'm thinking in my own way.」 (Velt)
「What's that, suddenly having a serious face.」 (Forna)
「Even about mom and dad, it's not like I haven't been thinking. Quitting school, people may think I'm just a fool, but I think I want to be different. Results might come faster that way, but on just this, I want you to trust in and watch over me.」 (Velt)
「...」 (Forna, Teacher)

Lately, I've realized that, while Forna has her annoying moments, she's truly been thinking about me even though she's only ten years old. Therefore, if my earnestness is truly transmitted, she'll believe in me.

「Hmm~~~~~~~~~~ Don't come crying to me later.」 (Forna)

She really will become a good woman in the future. A splendid princess, too. I think I'll be tossed aside when the day comes.

「*Sniff*, I understand. It's hard for sensei, but I'll watch over you for a while. But, if you have anything you want to talk about do come talk to me? Ok?」 (Teacher)
「Yeah, got it, sensei.」 (Velt)

I can't afford to betray the expectation of those two who were so worried about me. However, ever since that incident happened, I might have actually changed. As Asakura Ryuuma, during sports and culture festivals and such, starting with Kamino, my overly familiar cla.s.smates pushed me to partic.i.p.ate. It was troublesome, but I didn't hate it. I didn't want to betray their trust. Those feelings faded when I was born as Velt Jeeha, and contrary to my current situation, those feelings were forgotten. I feel like I've finally been able to remember those feelings.

「All that yelling has made me hungry. Give it to me thick.」 (Forna)
「Hah? I put out front that we're on break right now didn't I? Sensei isn't here either.」 (Velt)
「Though I can see something was made over there.」 (Forna)
「That's my practice. I can't let you eat it.」 (Velt)

Forna pointed at a small pot hidden in the kitchen where I was putting together soup. Teacher was surprised as well.

「No way, Velt-kun cooks?」 (Teacher)
「The thing is, sensei had a condition. If I were to quit school, I need to be able to cook, not just do odd jobs in the kitchen. This is proof of my resolution, so to speak.」 (Velt)
「Like—I—said, why didn't you consult me as a teacher! *Mou*, I'm mad. Give me that!」 (Teacher)
「Like—I—said, I said it before. That's proof of my resolution. It's a subst.i.tute for my resolution, so can't eat it. That's not something I can give to you or Forna to eat.」 (Velt)
「Just, let me have it! I am not teacher right now, I'm a customer! Your customer is hungry! Now, give it here!」 (Teacher)
「*Guh*, what a demanding customer. I got it, if you want it that much then eat up! Be moved by my conviction!」 (Velt)

Putting in my all, I boiled and drained the noodles. I then stirred up the pure white tonkotsu soup, and combined the two. To be clear, I haven't cooked since my days as Asakura Ryuuma, and this was more real than magic. This is the first time in my life that I've given something I was proud of making to someone else.

「Speaking of which, this is my first time eating something made by Velt.」 (Forna)
「That's right. Let's see what he's got.」 (Teacher)

Forna with chopsticks, and teacher with a fork, they tried the ramen I made. And, what happened next was,

「*Bleeehhhhhh.*」 (Teacher)
「H, horrrrrrrrrible!」 (Forna)

They threw up.

「What, what's with that disgusted reaction! That's my best dis.h.!.+」 (Velt)
「Your sloppy cooking is what's disgusting! The stock and ingredients don't go together at all, and the ingredients have been boiled too much!」 (Forna)
「To begin with, Velt-kun, did you taste it?」 (Teacher)
「What?」 (Velt)

I took a spoon and tried the soup.

「*Ur*, it really is bad. I really shouldn't have let you try it.」 (Velt)
「Velt, if you're trying to make poison, I won't forgive you.」 (Forna)
「...Speaking of which, Velt-kun's resolution... can't be trusted...」 (Teacher)

My resolution is firm, but the road ahead is long.