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“Mamoruuu!” Kensuke called out loudly outside as he was walking through the fields. “Where is he?” Kensuke scratched his head in confusion.
Mamoru said he was going out for some short training so that he could build his muscles in order to help work even though the other three, especially Koki, told Mamoru that it wasn’t necessary for him to work too hard with labor work in Asagi and that he could focus on his music for his next performance. Mamoru insisted that he didn’t want to sit around, but when he didn’t return for some time Koki started to worry. Kensuke assured Koki that he would go out and search for Mamoru to bring him back home in time for dinner.
Kensuke didn’t see Mamoru working out in the fields, or by the river. Kensuke wondered if he should check the town village again.
“Kensuke-san?” Ren and Nozomu saw Kensuke standing by the path.
“Oh, Ren! Nozomu! Perfect timing! Have either of you seen Mamoru around?” Kensuke asked his friends from Seiran, who were currently visiting.
“Mamoru-san?” Ren thought for a moment.
“Ah! If you’re looking for Mamo-chan, I saw him!” Nozomu answered.
“Really? Where did you see him?” Kensuke inquired.
“He went into the forest over there!” Nozomu pointed. “Ren and I tried calling out to him, but he seemed to be really focused as he was running.”
“I see, thanks for the info, Ren, Nozomu! See you later!” Kensuke waved as he started to run to the forest.
“Good luck finding Mamoru-san!” Ren said as he and Nozomu waved goodbye.
Kensuke entered the forest and tried to figure out which winding path Mamoru might have gone through.
“Mamo–” Kensuke called again, but then he heard a shout.
“Help!” Mamoru shouted.
“Mamoru?! Where?” Kensuke asked as he looked around more alert, trying to locate the source of where Mamoru’s voice was coming from.
“Ken-kun, is that you? Over here! By the cliff!” Mamoru exclaimed.
Kensuke searched and spotted a rocky cliff past the trees. He ran as fast as a horse towards the cliff through the trees until he halted to a stop when he finally spotted Mamoru.
“Mamoru?! How did you get all the way up there?” Kensuke questioned.
Mamoru was currently hanging on to some rocky ridges halfway up the cliffside. His feet weren’t dangling, but they weren’t well supported either on the thin edges.
His eyes were also shut.
“Ken-kun! Help! I’m stuck!” Mamoru pleaded. “Should I go up or down?”
Kensuke quickly observed how high up Mamoru was. “It would be better for you to climb down! You look like you won’t have enough stamina or ledges to climb up!”
“But my legs won’t move! I think they’re cramped!” Mamoru said.
“Ah, that would explain why you’re stuck,” Kensuke realized. “Okay! Then let go and I’ll catch you, Mamoru!” Kensuke told Mamoru as he ran up to stand below Mamoru with his arms open.
“Eh? Should I let go?” Mamoru sounded doubtful.
“Yeah! I’ll catch you in my arms!” Kensuke said.
“But I’m heavy! What if I hurt you?” Mamoru worried.
“Compared to Ryo’s punches, I can handle catching your weight! Trust me, Mamoru!” Kensuke reassured Mamoru.
“M-Mm! Okay!” Mamoru said as he let go and let himself fall down towards Kensuke.
Kensuke positioned his feet and legs to maintain proper balance as he held out his arms and caught Mamoru in the next few seconds.
“Gotcha! Whoa!” Kensuke caught Mamoru safely, but due to Mamoru’s weight it caused an imbalance and they both fell backwards on the ground.
“I’m sorry! Ken-kun! Are you okay?” Mamoru asked as he got up from landing on top of Kensuke.
Kensuke laughed. “No worries, Mamoru! I’m really happy I caught you!” Kensuke said as he sat upright. “What about you, Mamoru? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Mm-mm! I managed to make it back to the ground safely thanks to you, Ken-kun!” Mamoru said with a smile.
“Good! Kou would have my head if I found you injured,” Kensuke said with relief as he stood up and helped Mamoru stand up. Then Kensuke noticed Mamoru’s balance was still a bit wobbly with his legs as he supported Mamoru. “Are your legs still cramped?” Kensuke asked.
“Ahh, maybe a bit, but I’ll be okay! Our home isn’t that far from here, I can walk–” Mamoru answered, but when he tried to take a few steps, his balance was off again and he tripped right into Kensuke’s arms.
“Hmm, I should have brought a horse,” Kensuke said to himself. He could run back home to get one of the horses, but Kensuke would feel bad leaving Mamoru in the forest waiting. “Then I’ll be your horse, Mamoru!” Kensuke decided.
“Huh?” Mamoru looked confused.
“I’ll carry you on my back!” Kensuke offered.
“Eh? Is that okay? I told you, I’m not exactly…light weight,” Mamoru mumbled with embarrassment.
“Don’t worry, I can think of it as muscle training! And I’m pretty sure I’ve carried sacks and boxes that equal your weight,” Kensuke commented.
“O-Oh.” Mamoru was impressed by Kensuke’s strength.
“Let’s go home, Mamoru!” Kensuke encouraged Mamoru.
Kensuke brushed his long ponytail over his shoulder in front of his chest so it wouldn’t get in the way. Mamoru took a deep breath and got on Kensuke’s back. After some adjustment, Kensuke lifted Mamoru off the ground.
“Mamoru–” Kensuke started to talk as they were walking back home.
“I’m really sorry I’m heavy! Once my legs are fine, I’ll walk the rest of the way home!” Mamoru insisted, but Kensuke laughed and shook his head.
“No, no, I was going to ask, what were you doing trying to climb up that cliffside anyway?” Kensuke asked out of curiosity.
“Oh, that is, um…” Mamoru’s voice got quiet for a moment. “I also wanted to train my muscles,” Mamoru admitted.
Kensuke was quiet for a moment before he let out a long sigh.
“Are you mad?” Mamoru worried.
“No, I’m not mad, but…” Kensuke tried to find the right words to say. “Mamoru, I admire your desire to work out and train, but if Kou or Ryo found out you attempted to climb up a cliff wall and nearly fell, they would be beyond worried. They would panic,” Kensuke told Mamoru seriously.
“Yes, I’m sorry, I won’t do something like that again,” Mamoru reflected.
“Good boy! Well the important thing is you didn’t get hurt,” Kensuke said kindly.
“That’s because Ken-kun was there to catch me from falling!” Mamoru said in a cheerful tone. “It reminds me of when we first met when I fell from the sky, except you didn’t catch me back then, haha.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?” Kensuke asked, confused.
Mamoru stopped his words and realized he spoke of his past memories of his past life, which the Kensuke in the present wouldn’t know of. Only Koki, who also regained past memories, knew about their previous lives many years ago.
“Ah, nothing! I think it was a dream I had! Kind of like a nostalgic dream!” Mamoru covered up his story.
“Ohh, I see! Even if it’s a dream, I’ll make sure to catch you if you ever fall, Mamoru!” Kensuke assured Mamoru.
Mamoru warmly smiled. Even though the present Kensuke doesn’t share the same memories, Kensuke was still himself like Mamoru always remembered. It was better that way for Kensuke, Ryota, and their friends from Seiran. For Koki, some nights when it was hard to sleep with the moon shining in the night sky among the stars, they would talk of the past like peeling off an old bandage and reapplying a new one. The painful memories can’t be fully erased, but they can be accepted and treated with care as they move on in the present and future living each day to the fullest.
“Mm! I’ll be relying on you to catch me, Ken-kun!” Mamoru was happy.