Chapter Text
Dear Takamine ,
I wish I could have written sooner. Unfortunately, the journey to Nii-chan’s estate—Nii-chan is how I am supposed to address the man Hibiki-senpai has sent me to stay with until it is safe enough to return, I do not know his real name—took longer than I expected. It is quite remote, but exceedingly beautiful. Never before have I seen the world so completely and utterly green. It is warmer than Port Deusale, as well. You would love it. I no longer have access to the Marquis’ doves, and for some strange reasons the only animals I have seen in my time here are white rabbits, but I have charmed one of them, and given them the scent from your jacket, so I can only hope this letter will reach you.
I have been well here, though lonely. After living in the city—if one could call Port Deusale a city—the countryside is quiet. Almost too quiet. There are two other boys here around our age, Mitsuru and Hajime, to keep me company and they are good people, Hajime especially. You would like him. He is more thoughtful than either of us, and makes the richest tea I have ever tasted. Mitsuru is noisier, athletic, and—if I may speak to you completely candidly, a bit of a simpleton, in my opinion, but kind nonetheless. He bakes fresh bread for us every day, though he eats most of it himself.
It is idyllic here—do you remember when we hid behind the herbs and pickles in the Hall storeroom, and read A Midsummer Night’s Dream by candlelight? If you hadn’t been sleeping—I’m only teasing, Midori. It feels as though I am caught in that dream, in this beautiful garden estate, and not at all like war is knocking on our doorstep. It makes me feel guilty, really. I wish I could join the rest of you back in Port Deusale, if only as moral support, but the Marquis says that I must “wait in the wings a while longer; at times even the most important of characters do not appear until after intermission”. I feel like he is only trying to placate me, and will keep me here until the war is well and over—you know how he smothers me.
If this message does reach you, please send a reply with the rabbit that delivered it. It should know how to find its way home, but if not, one of my hair-ribbons is in the envelope, and it should understand after smelling it. I have cut my hair shorter since I am not around the Marquis anymore, so I have no need for such fanciful accessories. If the rabbit runs away, you can ask Hibiki-sensei for help contacting me, though I really would prefer if he didn’t know about this. I know you will hate to hear it, but I do miss you. No one else is so good at sitting still and listening to my lines as you are, even my new friend Hajime. Please tell me how life is continuing on in Port Deusale without me.
I considered ending this message the way I would have if we were together, in person, but—you know who I am, after all, and the Marquis insists that there are reasons my life is the way it is. Please send my regards to the rest of your family, and to the others under Morisawa-san’s tutelage as well.
Yours,
Tomoko
P.S.
I put a drawing of Mitsuru’s I found on the patio table the other day in the envelope too. I think it’s supposed to be a bunny? Anyway, I thought you would appreciate it more than I ever could.