#c:nero

Card story – a pro at caring

Chapter 1

[We enjoyed a short vacation after arriving at an uninhabited island in the Southern Country]

Akira: (I wonder if I should take a short break for now….oh? The person there…)

Akira: Nero, what are you doing?

Nero: Hey, Sage. I thought of whippin’ up something cold for the kiddos since the sun is so bright out here, so I used the juice from this island’s fruits to make drinks.

Nero: If you like, wanna have a try?

Akira: Thank you. I’ll have a cup, please! Wow, it has a sweet and sour smell!

Akira: I already know it’s going to taste delicious before even trying it. Well then, I’ll have a taste…

Murr: Did the drink give you chills? Or did it give you a shock?

Akira: Wah, Murr?! Shino and Mitile too. Weren’t all of you enjoying yourselves in the sea?

Shino: We came over to bring the fish we caught. Look at this.

Akira: Wow, that’s really huge! I hardly ever see fish so big it needs both hands to carry.

Shino: Fufun, it’s fat and looks yummy, right?

Mitile: We were talking about asking Nero to cook this fish for tonight’s meal. Is this fish edible though?

Nero: Yep, this fish is plenty tasty. It’s white fish, so it has a refreshing taste. Lemme add it to tonight’s dinner menu.

Shino, Mitile, and Murr: Yay!

Shino: I bet just one won’t be enough. Mitile, Murr, let’s go catch one more.

Nero: Wait up. It’s fine if you lot play around, but rest is also important. Here, drink this.

Mitile: Thanks, Nero. …it’s cold and so tasty!

Shino: Yep. As expected of Nero. You catch on fast.

Murr: The heat in my body is quickly melting off! It’s like the heat and the cold are playing catch!

Figaro: I could hear your happy voices all the way from the forest. Mind telling me what you were up to?

Nero: Figaro….

Akira: We’re just in the middle of a short break. Nero made drinks for all of us.

Figaro: That’s great. I’m glad to hear you all had drinks.  

Figaro: The sun is scorching hot on this island, so do your best to hydrate yourselves. We wouldn’t want anyone to collapse or anything like that, wouldn’t we?

Shino, Murr: Understood!

Mitile, Akira: Yes!

Murr: Alllright, for our next fish, let’s catch one that makes this kind of face, as Oz does!

Shino: Does a fish like that even exist? Catching a strong fish sounds good though. Let’s go, hurry.

Mitile: Agreed! Nero, thanks so much for the juice!

Nero: No prob. The three of you, watch where you’re goin’, alright?

Figaro: Isn’t it great that all the kids are so energetic? Perhaps it’s the effect of your drink, Nero.

Nero: Haha… would be nice if that was the case. Want some, Figaro?

Figaro: Thanks, I’ll help myself to it. Hm…this is truly the perfect drink to cool the body down.

Figaro: …

Nero: Huh, what? Why’re you suddenly staring at me?

Figaro: Nope, I’m just thinking about how I get the reason why you’re so well-liked by the younger wizards.

Chapter 2

Nero: Well, kids do love sweets and snacks.

Figaro: You don’t have to be humble. The kids can feel the delicacy of your kindness and consideration for them. It’s precisely why they fawn over you.  

Figaro: As I thought, requesting you to come with us was the correct choice. Once again, I offer my thanks, Nero.

Nero: …haha, likewise.

Akira: (It looks like they’re having a lighthearted chat, but is it just me who finds the atmosphere a little stiff?)

Akira: ….By the way, what have you been doing, Figaro?

Figaro: I was just taking a little stroll in the forest. It also feels like I’m having my own little summer getaway since the sunlight isn’t as harsh in the forest.

Figaro: Ah, that’s right. I want to show you something I found in the forest, Sir Sage.

Akira: Twin flowers…what beautiful colours they have. Both the blue and red flowers are so vibrant…

Nero: Ah…

Figaro: It’s not just beautiful. Here, touch it for yourself.

Akira: Wa..! The blue flower feels cold but why does the red flower feel warm?!

Figaro: Ahaha, it’s fascinating, right? This is my gift to you, Sir Sage.

Akira: Thank you. I’ll show it to Mitile and the others later!

Figaro: You’re welcome. Speaking of which, it looks like Nero’s pretty interested in the flowers too. The way he’s boring holes with his eyes there…

Nero: …

Akira: Nero, do you know of these flowers?

Nero: Yep. They’re called icy blue blossoms and fiery red blossoms. One’s a flower that is cold to the touch, while the other is enveloped in heat. It’s pretty unusual.

Nero: But that’s not all. It’s widely known that special nectar can be extracted from them.

Akira: A special nectar from those flowers…

Nero: It’s said that the sweetness of one flower will saturate your tastebuds with the finest redolence, while the other is mellow and refreshing.  

Nero: It’s plenty good nectar individually, but if you mix both together it seems like you’ll end up with the ultimate nectar.  

Akira: Wow, what special blossoms they are!

Nero: I’ve only known it through hearsay, so I don’t know if they’re the real deal.

Nero: And ‘cause the nectar became sought after, the flowers thinned out from the overharvesting.

Nero: It’s so rare to find even one half of the pair, so for both to be bloomin’ in here of all places…

Nero: (Somehow it feels like Nero’s in higher spirits than usual…)

Akira: So this flower’s not just beautiful and unusual, but you can also get some really good nectar out of it, right?

Nero: Yep, that’s it! There’re even rumours about fights over this nectar in the streets…

Figaro: Haha!

Nero: Ah….I got carried away all by myself, my bad.

Figaro: Nope, don’t mind me. For you to know so much about this…as expected of a chef. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Figaro: If so…

Chapter 3

[A loud crash of waves drowned out what Figaro was about to say.]

Akira: ?!

[Following the sound to its seaside origins, we were greeted by the sight of Murr standing on his broom and gleefully jumping into the ocean.]

Akira: W-will he be alright?

Figaro: I suppose he could use magic should the need arise. I’m more worried about the kids trying to copy him. I’ll go and keep an eye on them.

Figaro:  Ah, that’s right Nero.

Nero: …

Figaro: If you enter the forest from that area, you’ll see a large tree after walking for a while. You’ll find plenty of those flowers behind the trunk of said tree.  

[With that, Figaro sauntered towards where Murr and the others were. Nero’s lips quirked into a slight smile as he watched Figaro’s retreating back.]

Nero: …haa, I really can’t stand that guy.

Akira: Huh?

Nero: Pretty sure Figaro knew how special that flower is. That’s probably why he even showed it to me in the first place.

Nero: That’s not all. For him to tell me where to pick it rather than giving it to me directly…it’s just like him to do that.

Akira: Now that you mention it….

Nero: Having said that, it’s not like I get what kind of game he’s playin’ at.

Nero: Did he want to make me whip something up with that nectar…?  

Akira: Hm…Rather than that, I think he might be trying to thank you, Nero. ‘Thanks for coming along with me to this island’ or something along those lines?

Nero: For real? If so, can’t he be clearer about it?

Akira: It’s Figaro’s way of glossing over his awkwardness, probably.

Nero: For real??

Akira: Ahaha. I’m sure it is. Since this chance is hard to come by, why don’t you go ahead and pick the flowers?

Akira: Everyone’s off doing their own thing right now, so please treat it as your free time.

Nero: I’ll be doin’ just that, then. …Do you want to come along?

Nero: You were interested in the nectar and flowers, weren’t ya?  

Akira: ….

Akira: Thanks, Nero. But I think I’ll just stay here to rest for a while.

Akira: You’ve been working ever since we arrived on this island too, so please take a rest under the tree shade while you’re picking the flowers.

Akira: I think it’s also important to spend time alone and take a break emotionally.

Nero: Haha

Akira: Huh?

Nero: You’re direct, not like Figaro.

Akira: I-I’m sorry!

Nero: Nah, don’t worry. Thanks, Sage.

Nero: I’ll be cooking up lots of dishes using the flowers’ nectar, so look forward to it, yeah?

Akira: Sure!

Nero: The nectar will complement any dessert, so feel free to request what you want. Ah, and one more thing. Help me tell this to Figaro…

Akira: Nero?

Nero: …Nah, I’ll go ask him myself later.

Nero: Gotta thank him for telling me where the flowers are.  

Card episode – As a chef

Akira: Hi, Nero. Are you cooking something?  

Nero: So it’s you, Sage. ‘Was just makin’ some desserts with the nectar we got from the flowers on the deserted island.

Akira: That unparalleled flower’s nectar…!

Akira: Actually, I couldn’t take my mind off the taste of that nectar. I’ve…kind of been wanting to have a taste of it again.

Nero: Sage has pretty good taste since you get just how good it is. Just wait a bit more, I’ve prepped your share too.

Akira: Thanks a lot! You’re making sherbet, aren’t you?

Nero: Yep, yep. If you sprinkle a little of the nectar onto something simple that’s made with milk…

Nero: It’ll turn out so darn good.

Akira: So darn good…

Akira: S-something that good can’t just be enjoyed alone, right? Should I call everyone else to come here too?

Nero: Don’t ya worry, I’ll be bringing some to Figaro later too.

Nero: From the start, I made the sherbert ‘cause he asked for it. See, as I thought I do still owe him one.  

Akira: It’s true that a lot of things happened on the deserted island. Have you been talking much with Figaro after coming back to the Wizards’ Residence?

Nero: Hm…not really. It’s not like we usually talk to each other anyway. It’s just that….

Nero: From then on, sometimes I get requests from him to make food.

Nero: ‘s not like I mind them, but somehow it kinda feels like I’m toast if I say no. Maybe it’s the pressure of his smile…

Akira: Ahaha, I think I can somewhat imagine what you’re saying. But that just goes to show just how much he likes your cooking, doesn’t it?

Nero: Well, maybe. If that’s the case, then as a chef I’d wanna properly rise to those expectations, I guess.

Home line

What’s the most fun I had up ‘till now? Hm, what was it again…can’t think of anything off the top of my head. I probably lived too long, huh. Ah, but talking like this with you is pretty fun, I’d say.

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