Work Text:
The sun was illuminating their journey. By carrying bags filled with things for picnic, they went somewhere when they have a day off.
"Is it still far away?”
Akutagawa looked exhausted at the back. The path they followed seemed endless to him. The winter, along with this long journey, had really tiring his legs.
"Akutagawa-kun, we took a break 10 minutes ago." Kume responded from the front, not looking back at all. "Just be patient.”
"But ...."
"Kume is right." Matsuoka stopped walking so Akutagawa could catch up with him. “Let’s walk slowly together.”
"Thanks, Matsuoka."
What Kume said was correct. Their destination was visible from a distance; a park with a beautiful scenery. They immediately went inside, looked for an empty table for them to occupy, then sat there while stretching their quite sore legs.
This idea was initiated by Natsume. While enjoying the tea party with Miekichi the other day, he heard there was a park that popular among people in the library. He came here not only for the scenery alone. Apparently there’s a shop that sells a delicious manjuu around this park.
Miekichi, who’s aware of Natsume fondness of sweets, invited other people to enliven his teacher’s desire to go to this place. The people he chose were people who would be happy to see Natsume's happy smile. Akutagawa, Matsuoka, and Kume were accepting his offer gladly.
"Even though it's cold, the scenery is really beautiful, huh." Natsume put his luggage on the table. "It's not in vain we come here."
"Souseki-sensei, would you like some tea?” Matsuoka was preparing to open the flask.
"Wait, Matsuoka-kun."
"Natsume-sensei, the manjuu?"
"Ah, please show me the direction, Suzuki-kun." Natsume stood up. His hands reached into his pockets, trying to pull out his wallet. "Akutagawa-kun, Kume-kun, Matsuoka-kun, I want to go somewhere first. Is that okay?"
When they said yes in unison, the two of them headed for the manjuu shop. Matsuoka brewed tea for his friends, Akutagawa still stretched his tired legs, and Kume was busy watching them.
"You guys ... don’t forget about today, right?" Kume suddenly started the conversation.
Akutagawa answered confidently. "Of course. How could I forget."
"Miekichi-san also reminded me before leaving." Matsuoka gave them the teacups. "Souseki-sensei's birthday."
"Masaoka-san and the others said they already prepared the cake," said Akutagawa. "And now Sensei goes to buy manjuu."
Kume glanced at him suspiciously. "Are you ... thinking about giving him sweets?"
"I can’t think of anything else." Akutagawa was confused. "How about you?"
"I've already prepared ink pens," answered Kume. His words didn't match his slightly gloomy face. "But when I was about to buy it, the pens were out of stock. It's still being reproduced, so I can’t give him the present now. I’m afraid he would be disappointed. Why am I this unlucky ....”
“Can we split the price for the pens? It’ll be our present.”
“No.”
"I don't think so." Matsuoka took a sip of his tea. "I'm sure he will be pleased with your present, no matter how late it is.”
"How about you, Matsuoka?”
"Recently I stopped by a pottery shop. There was a ceramic pot that caught my eye, and I thought 'ah, this must be good for Sensei!', so I've already prepared it in the library and give it when we get back."
"Ah, Matsuoka has already prepared, huh."
"And you? What are you going to give to Sensei, Akutagawa?”
Akutagawa was silent for a moment. He’s not sure whether to tell them or not. "I ...."
Matsuoka and Kume waited for his answer, yet Akutagawa didn’t continue his words. Instead, he opened his own bag. When some papers were sticking out of it, they could guess what gift he had prepared. "I wrote a story ...."
"You want to add more work for him?" Kume didn't sweeten his words.
"Ah ... as I thought, I must be trouble him with this.” Akutagawa lost his confident. "Maybe it's better for me to chase after them and buy the manjuu with my own money. Uh, where’s my wallet anyway—“
"However, since it's your work, I think Sensei will be happy rather than feel bothered." Kume cut off Akutagawa's panic after Matsuoka nudged his elbow. "Giving him a half-baked draft is not good, so while there is time, you better check if everything is perfect for him to read."
"Yes." Matsuoka agreed. "Kume and I can be your editor so the checking can be more accurate."
"Eh, I didn't say that—"
"Kume, Matsuoka ..." Akutagawa was moved to tears by their words. "Thank you."
Matsuoka cheered them both. "We have to make today a perfect day for Sensei."
"Yes!"
"The queue was very long." The manjuu box that Natsume brought was a proof of their struggle waiting for orders.
"But worth the taste, right?" Natsume nodded, Miekichi continued. "We were given a tester while waiting, so we didn't really lose anything."
"Suzuki-kun, I haven't said I'm glad you invited them to come here."
"Y-yes, you're welcome, Sensei." Miekichi wasn't ready for Natsume's sudden praise. "From the start I thought they would want to go with us."
Natsume didn't reply his words. They walked in silence for a few minutes until Natsume resumed the conversation. "Before you came to the library, I had a little trouble getting the three of them together."
"Eh? Why?"
"They had a problem." Realizing their journey was short, Natsume slowed down his pace. "Akutagawa-kun and Kume-kun didn’t want to see each other, and Kume-kun felt bad about Matsuoka-kun. The three of them still have memories of the past."
"The past ..." Miekichi imagined the time when he was still alive. "Lots of things happened, huh."
"Right. Lots of them." Natsume looked up to find the sun hiding behind the clouds. "Too bad I was already dead when they had so many problems. Sometimes I regret it a little."
Miekichi stopped. Natsume who was overstepping followed him. The teacher's face looked confused. "Suzuki-kun?"
"Sensei doesn't have to regret it.” Miekichi's eyes looked intensely at Natsume. "What happened to us wasn't Sensei's fault. We were all adults back then, so we should have solve it ourselves. I'm sure they thought the same."
"I still think it might be better if I could mediate them."
"Earlier Sensei said about those who still have memories of the past, right?" asked Miekichi. "The current Sensei is just like them. But, the question is, are they still in the same state as Sensei said?"
Miekichi pointed to their table. "From what I see from here, they’ve made up again. Let the past go. Sensei who is here and gathered with them has made them happy!"
Natsume saw the sight Miekichi pointed at. There he can see the three of them discussing something excitedly (although Kume was more serious than excited – as if he’s an editor who’s demanding for a perfect script from the writer).
It feels like seeing Mokuyokai in my house.
"What I said is true, right?"
"Yes, that's right, Suzuki-kun." Natsume put on a smile. "Come on, we have to be there soon. I want to drink the tea made by Matsuoka-kun while eating this manjuu with you guys."
"Alrighty!" Miekichi followed Natsume's steps towards their table. During their walk, Miekichi said something he had been holding back from the start. "Happy birthday, Natsume-sensei. May Sensei be blessed with happiness!”
END