♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢

The children were standing in the open space. One by one, they opened their eyes.

Dabi: “Ah… what is this place?”

Yona: “Hmm… it feels empty!”

Leo: “Yeah… totally hollow~”

Eti: “Feels like we left something behind?”

Amid the murmuring children, Rogi wore a sad expression. Pie noticed this and spoke.

Pie: “What’s wrong, Rogi?”

Rogi: …

Dabi: “Looks like Rogi feels empty too~”

Rogi: …

Leo: “I want to go to the study room… anyone coming?”

Eti: “Yeah! Let’s go to the study room~”

Yona: “Feels like I don’t want to part… I’ll go too~”

Rogi secretly checked his pocket and saw that the healing fruit he had hidden was gone. His heart sank with disappointment. He had wanted to give that fruit to his mother. He believed that if he could give it to her, “my beloved mother would surely rise from bed at once.”

But again and again Rogi reached into his pocket. Nothing was there. As the friends headed toward the study room, Rogi dragged his steps behind them, powerless.

“…Even one would have been enough to give…”

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

From the branches of a great tree hung abundant fruits, each glowing with their own light.

And lying on the many branches, devouring fruit after fruit, was the red chicken, EAT.

Countless OLFINS passed beneath the tree, glaring up at EAT with eyes full of dissatisfaction and anger.

But EAT kept eating. When full, EAT lay down on the side, closing eyes as if to sleep. Yet soon half-opened them again and sighed deeply. A few hours earlier, Rogi’s request had led EAT to recall the past, and memories long forgotten surfaced, leaving a heavy feeling. EAT closed the eyes once more, remembering INA’s incomprehensible actions.

♦ ♦ ♢ ♦ ♦

It was nothing special, just an ordinary day. INA, feeling restless, urged EAT and Enoy, who were resting at home, to go for a walk. Smiling brightly, INA chattered more than usual, saying the trees were beautiful, the flowers lovely, and the air so fresh.

EAT kept glancing at Enoy with eyes that asked, What’s going on? But Enoy only lifted both palms to the sky and shrugged—I don’t know either.

EAT: “Ha ha ha… yes, it’s such a fine day. But is today some special day?”

(EAT widened the eyes, insisting Enoy answer.)

Enoy: “Yeah… what day was it again?”

INA: “Special day?”

INA’s bright smile suddenly hardened. Then INA raised the voice:

“Ah, I want to get drunk. Let’s go drink Bitter!”

(Bitter was a beer, nutty and richly aromatic.)

At once INA grabbed both arms of EAT and Enoy, trying to pull them along. EAT glared at Enoy again, and finally Enoy burst out, frustrated.

Enoy: “INA! What’s going on? Do you have something to say?”

INA: “Something to say? …No.”

Enoy: “…Stop glaring at me, EAT! I don’t know either! You ask!”

EAT tilted the head back, palm pressed to the forehead in distress.

INA: “Bitter! Bitter! Hurry, hurry!”

EAT: “I don’t know either! Fine, let’s go drink Bitter!”

INA: “Yes, yes! Bitter! Bitter!” (smiling)

Before long, they were at the tavern. INA sat beside EAT, with Enoy across the table. Together they enjoyed Bitter and fried dishes.

As INA shared memories with EAT, tears and laughter alternated again and again. Normally INA was strong and hardly cried, and EAT could not even remember the last time INA had wept. Seeing INA cry so much today, EAT finally spoke.

EAT: “NIA… Something’s been wrong lately. Tell me. Maybe I can help.”

(At the same time, EAT signaled Enoy with the eyes: Agree quickly.)

Enoy: “Yes! Tell us. We’ll help with anything.”

INA: …

After a long silence, INA suddenly asked a question off topic.

“EAT… Do you really never age or die?”

EAT looked at Enoy, then answered.

“Hmm? …Ah… yeah. That’s right. Why?”

Forcing a laugh, EAT tried to lighten the mood.

“Ha ha ha. Is it sad that I don’t die? Is that really something sad? Ha ha ha.”

Enoy joined in nervously.

“Ha ha ha. Not dying sounds good. I wish I could be like that too. Ha ha ha.”

But then INA burst out crying loudly.

“Why, INA? Don’t cry. Why are you crying?”

EAT tried to comfort INA as if it were nothing serious. But suddenly INA shouted through tears:

“What will you do when we’re all gone! When you’re alone, what will you do!”

INA cried harder than before, as if the earlier tears had been nothing.

EAT answered in a weary voice.

“…Don’t worry about me. I’ll eat well and live well wherever I am.”

“No one left—how can you live well! How can you live alone!”

INA sobbed uncontrollably. Enoy, about to speak, paused, then muttered softly:

“That’s true… when we’re gone, EAT will remain alone…”

EAT replied,

“Don’t worry. Even then, I’ll keep protecting the ANCs and live happily, I suppose.”

INA answered only with one word:

“Idiot…”

Then INA gulped down Bitter.

A few minutes later, seemingly drunk, INA asked:

INA: “EAT… When were you born? Where were you born?”

EAT: “That… I don’t know either.”

INA: “How… how can you not know! You fool!”

Enoy: “Why doesn’t EAT ever tell about the past? I’ve always wondered…”

EAT: “Hm…”

INA: “Tell us. Quickly!”

EAT: “Why are you curious about that?”

Enoy: “Of course we’re curious. We’re family!”

INA: “Right! We’re family!”

EAT: “If you knew, you’d hate me.”

INA: “Why would I hate you, you idiot! Tell us, quickly!”

EAT: “…I was the worst thug in the universe! A gangster! The bad one everyone feared!”

INA: “Nonsense! You? Scary? Ha!”

(INA jumped up, grabbed EAT’s beak, and tugged at it.)

EAT: “Ugh… help, Enoy. Do something.”

Enoy: “No way… EAT a thug? Well, seeing how you treat Rolan (the Gordic Emperor) and Sage (the Barak Queen)… you really are like a space thug.”

INA: “Really? Then you’re a thug. A bad thug!” (tormenting EAT even more) “Take that!”

Enoy: “So back then, were you called ‘Thug EAT’? Or something else?”

EAT: “Hey! ‘Thug EAT’? Watch your words!”

INA: “You said you were a space thug!” (still holding the beak)

EAT: “Still, don’t call me that. I was a guardian, at least!”

Enoy: “So what was it, then? Just EAT?”

EAT: “Me? …‘Fatty.’ I was called ‘Fatty.’” (very casually)

EAT crossed the legs, arms folded, acting proud.

INA: “What, ‘Fatty’! So you were a total piggy!”

EAT: “Not piggy! It was ‘Fatty!’ You two are mistaken. What’s wrong with you today!”

Enoy: “Why were you called ‘Fatty’?”

EAT: “Ah, no reason. Just Fatty. Stop asking. I don’t want to remember.”

INA: “Harsh… see, you are a space thug. Cold-hearted too. That’s why you’re a thug, ha.”

EAT: “Hey, watch your mouth! After all, I…”

Suddenly INA collapsed forward, body limp.

EAT: “NIA! What, I was talking and—huh?”

INA snored loudly.

EAT looked at INA once, then said,

“Good grief… gone to dreamland. Sigh.”

Enoy finished a glass of Bitter, then stood.

“Let’s go, EAT. Leave INA. It’ll pass.”

“Fine. Let’s go. Guess INA’s troubled. Won’t say. Enoy! You pay.”

“Why me! You should pay, EAT!”

EAT, lifting INA onto the back with the left arm, held out the right hand toward Enoy.

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

On EAT’s back, half-asleep INA muttered:

“…Mmm… you… Fatty… you… thug Fatty…”