IPBD CHAPTER 16
by ScarletEmilina playfully spoke while patting Kir’s head.
Kir alternated his gaze between the sketchbook and her, then finally broke into a bright smile.
And with determination, he declared,
“I’ll treasure it, always.”
Kir couldn’t take his eyes off the drawing for a long time until Emilina urged him to head home.
That evening.
Because of the drawing, lunch was delayed, and Emilina ended up serving something resembling sweet and sour pork for dinner.
Fortunately, it turned out tasty, as she had done her best.
“But sweet and sour pork is meant to be dipped!”
“Huh?”
“Like this, like this… if you pour it all over… ugh…”
It gets soggy and loses its flavor.
It’s a side note that Emilina was quite upset because Kir, not knowing any better, poured the sauce all over.
* * *
The seasons flowed, and summer was approaching.
Emilina thought of gathering the last of the spring greens before the season ended.
Early in the morning. After waking Kir up and feeding him breakfast, Emilina hurriedly prepared to go out.
Fortunately, today, even Katie had left early, so there was no one to stop her from going to the forest.
“Let’s see. I’ve got the cushion, snacks, and lunch. Hmm. Perfect.”
Emilina finished checking her supplies with a satisfied look and turned to Kir.
“All set! Kir, let’s go now!”
“Where are we going?”
“Hehe. It’s a secret.”
Emilina playfully smiled, placing her index finger on her lips.
Kir tilted his head, looking at her.
But he didn’t question it.
Just being together was enough to make him happy.
“See, even the weather is perfect! Right?”
Emilina looked up at the clear sky, seeking agreement.
Kir didn’t quite understand but nodded, thinking it was about the nice weather.
“In that spirit, how about a race?”
“A race?”
“Yeah! The first one to reach the northern forest gets a wish granted. How about it?”
“So we’re going to the northern forest?”
Emilina realized her slip.
She had called it a secret, but now she was suggesting a race. She awkwardly laughed it off.
“Anyway, you’re in, right?”
“Okay. Got it.”
“Great, then. Ready, set, go!”
Emilina cheekily shouted and dashed off first.
Left alone, Kir stared at her retreating figure.
Emilina, running with a joyful expression, seemed so free.
Even though they lived in the same space and shared the same daily life.
It felt like she was living in a different world.
Thinking that, a sudden sense of anxiety washed over him.
The further Emilina got, the more it felt like the distance between them was growing, and it didn’t sit well with him.
Kir vaguely sensed it.
That they couldn’t go on like this forever.
But for now, he didn’t want to be apart, so he chased after Emilina with all his might.
“Huff… huff… I-I give up!”
Emilina collapsed to the ground, feeling as though her lungs were about to burst.
It was unbelievable. She was so out of breath that she could barely speak.
“Are you okay?”
But Kir, on the other hand, looked completely fine.
He had arrived first and was now casually extending a hand to her.
‘Is the difference in stamina really this big?’
Emilina felt a pang of guilt for cheating by starting first.
Even though she had slowed down and tried to pace herself.
“I-I’m… huff… fine.”
“Catch your breath, sis.”
As Emilina gasped for air, Kir spoke in a worried tone, trying to calm her down.
Emilina took a moment to steady her breathing, then turned to Kir.
“I lost, Kir. What’s your wish?”
“Can I tell you later?”
“Later when?”
“Hmm, I can’t think of anything right now.”
Emilina nodded.
It was understandable that he might not have a wish in mind immediately.
“Alright. But it has to be something I can grant, okay?”
“Okay!”
Kir answered eagerly, as if he’d been waiting for this.
Somehow, Emilina felt like she was being tricked, but she decided to let it go.
There was something more important to do first.
“Alright. Now, let’s go gather some paya berries!”
“Paya berries?”
“Yeah. Let’s hurry. They disappear once the shade falls.”
Emilina tugged at Kir’s hand.
It seemed quiet in the forest today, with few people around.
Thankfully, there wouldn’t be any fights over spots, so Emilina leisurely began inspecting the trees.
* * *
After finishing their gathering, Emilina and Kir were enjoying some leisurely time.
Using the grass as a pillow, they basked in the warm sunlight and gazed at the cloudless blue sky.
“Kir. Do you remember?”
“Huh?”
“This is where we first met.”
“…Yeah.”
Emilina closed her eyes, lost in the memory.
Though quite some time had passed, she still hadn’t forgotten their first meeting.
It had been that intense.
Kir’s wounds, his condition—it had been indescribable.
The further Emilina got, the more it felt like the distance between them was growing, and it didn’t sit well with him.
Kir vaguely sensed it.
That they couldn’t go on like this forever.
But for now, he didn’t want to be apart, so he chased after Emilina with all his might.
“Huff… huff… I-I give up!”
Emilina collapsed to the ground, feeling as though her lungs were about to burst.
It was unbelievable. She was so out of breath that she could barely speak.
“Are you okay?”
But Kir, on the other hand, looked completely fine.
He had arrived first and was now casually extending a hand to her.
‘Is the difference in stamina really this big?’
Emilina felt a pang of guilt for cheating by starting first.
Even though she had slowed down and tried to pace herself.
“I-I’m… huff… fine.”
“Catch your breath, sis.”
As Emilina gasped for air, Kir spoke in a worried tone, trying to calm her down.
Emilina took a moment to steady her breathing, then turned to Kir.
“I lost, Kir. What’s your wish?”
“Can I tell you later?”
“Later when?”
“Hmm, I can’t think of anything right now.”
Emilina nodded.
It was understandable that he might not have a wish in mind immediately.
“Alright. But it has to be something I can grant, okay?”
“Okay!”
Kir answered eagerly, as if he’d been waiting for this.
Somehow, Emilina felt like she was being tricked, but she decided to let it go.
There was something more important to do first.
“Alright. Now, let’s go gather some paya berries!”
“Paya berries?”
“Yeah. Let’s hurry. They disappear once the shade falls.”
Emilina tugged at Kir’s hand.
It seemed quiet in the forest today, with few people around.
Thankfully, there wouldn’t be any fights over spots, so Emilina leisurely began inspecting the trees.
* * *
After finishing their gathering, Emilina and Kir were enjoying some leisurely time.
Using the grass as a pillow, they basked in the warm sunlight and gazed at the cloudless blue sky.
“Kir. Do you remember?”
“Huh?”
“This is where we first met.”
“…Yeah.”
Emilina closed her eyes, lost in the memory.
Though quite some time had passed, she still hadn’t forgotten their first meeting.
It had been that intense.
Kir’s wounds, his condition—it had been indescribable.