Published: July 26, 2025
The day of the Star Festival.
Although the sun had risen, it was still early morning when the summer heat had yet to make itself felt. The town was already buzzing with the unique excitement of a festival, and the warmth from the crowd’s movement hung in the air. Despite the early hour before the gates opened, streams of people were flowing toward the South Gate and East Gate.
“Mom, I’m off!”
“Myne, be careful not to get too carried away. Lutz, I know I always trouble you, but please take care of Myne.”
I left the house together with Lutz, who had come to pick me up. Tulli was also leaving the house, but she planned to enjoy the festival with her friends, so we were going separate ways. She ran toward the gate with Ralf and Fey.
“Well then, Myne. Let’s have fun today.”
“Tulli too.”
After waving goodbye to Tulli and Ralf, Lutz and I headed toward the temple, going against the flow of people. Today, I was dressed in my usual clothes so I could play in the water.
Groups of people came out from alleys here and there, walking toward the gates with sparkling eyes full of excitement. Everyone seemed to expect to get wet, and despite it being a festival, no one was wearing formal kimono.
We passed the Central Plaza against the tide of people and continued north. By then, the crowd had thinned a bit. Those heading for the forest at the moment the gates opened had already reached the gates.
“Myne, you’re staying behind at the orphanage.”
“Huh? Why!?”
I looked up at Lutz with wide eyes, planning to go with everyone to the forest to gather Tau Fruit. Lutz hesitated, twisting his face before speaking.
“If I were taking only you to the festival, I’d planned for you to pick up two or three Tau Fruit in the forest and come back. But you’re not going to throw them at the bride and groom—you’re supposed to throw them together back at the orphanage, right? That means we need more Tau Fruit. If I take you there, we won’t make it back to the temple before the fourth bell.”
I had thought it would be like a picnic with everyone in the forest, but I hung my head at Lutz’s reasonable logic. I still hated that I was nothing but a burden.
Patting my head consolingly, Lutz lowered his voice a little.
“Besides, there might be someone coming to check on things. Isn’t it better for you, the orphanage’s master, to stay behind at the orphanage?”
“Ugh... that’s true.”
There was a high possibility that attendants of the high priest or head priest would come to inspect or warn us. If the head priest found the orphanage deserted, not only I but also the high priest who granted permission might be blamed.
“There are probably others who have duties and are staying behind, right? Everyone else will pick up Tau Fruit, so you stay behind. If you can’t do that, I can’t help.”
“…Alright. I’ll stay.”
Just as we arrived at the temple, the second bell rang throughout the town. It was gate-opening time.
I watched with Fran as Lutz led everyone out quietly from the orphanage’s back door, covering their mouths to keep silent. The gatekeeper was trying hard not to laugh, and I almost laughed along with him.
When I saw everyone running toward the gate, shouting, I felt a pang of envy and headed to my room to change into my Blue Robes so I could stay at the orphanage.
“Didn’t Delia want to go to the forest?”
“Going to the forest is unnecessary for me to become a mistress. Besides, I want to learn to read quickly.”
Gil and Delia competed to practice writing on the tablets I gave them, but Gil was a little faster at learning. I guessed it was because he had Karuta to play with at the orphanage.
“So, you’re losing to Gil for now?”
“Hey! It’s only a little! I’ll win soon!”
I left the cooking supervision to Delia, who voluntarily stayed behind, and headed to the orphanage with Fran.
When I went downstairs, I caught a glimpse through the open door of Hugo and Ella cooking fiercely, wanting to finish before the fourth bell when the Tau Fruit would be thrown.