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Welcome to the Fragaria World! Where virtue, love and friendship all live together.
But for this story, a certain kingdom was livelier than usual, for reasons that seemed quite new for their people. In the Continent of Virtue, otherwise known as the Red Continent for the people of today, had one of their knights facing a familiar yet unnamed dilemma... What could it be? He too, wonders himself as time tells him to still keep going.
At the kingdom, the sun was busy shining and the waves could be seen splashing against the sand. Some were conquering the waves as they surfed over the waters. Some were also building sandcastles that were ruined by the waves, but they instead kept building. Some were laying down on the sand, eating snow cones away as they looked over the people having the time of their lives.
But around this time, it was more special than the rest.
"Sanah-sama! Where do we set up the decorations again?"
Sanah was busy contacting the other Red Bouquet members so they could visit the kingdom for the event everyone at the kingdom were really hyped for. He turned off his shellphone and looked over to where he was called to fulfill his duties as their knight.
"Ah! I'm pretty sure there's already a few of them set up towards at the central area where the stalls are. Come on! I'll help with carrying all of this with you." He responded as he helped them carry the materials and decorations his people were bringing with excitement.
Yes, around this time was one of Sanah's projects of bringing light towards their culture of the U*SA*HA*NA kingdom. In respect towards the Sea Spirit and their new connection through decorating with stickers, Lord Usahana decided to approve Sanah's proposal of a sticker trading festival.
This is because it is already known by the kingdom folk that recently the Sea Spirit was shown love for the first time in ages through decorating their altar with stickers made by the kingdom with all their love. Usahana decided to apply this with the whole kingdom and wanted everyone to share their love through giving and receiving stickers amongst eachother! Many of the kingdom's children were excited for a whole event dedicated to something they already loved before it, and have recently went to ask the knight when was it really going to start.
"Sanah-sama? May I ask a question?" A little girl nudged on the knight's fluffy coat as she shyly asked. She held a book over her chest, looking up towards him. Her glittering eyes seemed like she was hoping for him to take time and answer her, despite his schedule as the knight of the kingdom.
"Nahaha~ Of course! You can talk to me casually to be comfortable if you'd like that too." He responded with joy. It seemed like this kid was also one of the children who were really looking forward towards the festival. Seeing many of his people, including the youth being so excited made him feel really happy that his Lord approved the event.
"Well.. Sanah-kun, how can you use so many stickers on you...?" The girl abruptly asked. He did hear that kids were known to be really honest about what they think and this one was no exception. The blonde's eyes widened, as he didn't expect an odd question as this one.
"Eh? Well I find them really cute! Don't you and your friends find them like that too?" He tried to look around the area, trying to find someone that could've been this girl's friends. He decided to focus on listening to what the kid had to say, as to why she asked something like that in the first place.
The girl took her time to give an answer, glancing at her book before looking back at the knight. "But... isn't it because they're really cute that they should be reserved for something really special? All of my stickers mean a lot to me, and I don't really want them to be used so... impulsively." The girl softly replied, opening her book ang showing the knight the stickers she has taken very good care of. Many were the recent designs the kingdom produced for anyone to buy and use and some of them looked older than the rest, but were still free from tears or wearing.
"I see..." He understood that the kid didn't want to lose the things she liked, even if stickers like the ones they all collected and made in the kingdom weren't even supposed to last long. Sanah felt like he understood this concern too well, feeling that as if he's been in this situation for too many times to be counted. He can't really say why though. Despite that, he still wanted to learn what the girl had to say.
"Did you make these yourself? Or were they from someone else?" The knight placed his hand on one of the book's pages, taking a closer glance at what the girl has been treasuring for what seems to be a really long time. It was also really amazing for him that she had so many with various designs that represented a lot of trends that go by with the kingdom, as if it was a history book.
"No... My friends gave most of them to me. These ones are the one I made with their help..!" The girl slowly moved to an another page to show him. The knight in turn, moved off his hand to let her move on to where she wanted him to see.
From what the knight saw, she was less skilled at drawing at her designs. But the stickers she made still had her charm as a shy yet honest girl. It made him chuckle at how adorable the designs were. She heard him and realized she was getting off track and quickly closed her sticker book, holding it tightly over her heart again.
"A-Anyways, I think they're really precious, because I made them with the help of my friends. Since they're really precious to me, I don't want to use them ever... because maybe I'll regret using them..." The girl slowly went quiet, unsure why was she even taking Sanah's time. She started to remember that the knight was probably really busy today and was so embarrassed that she covered her face with her sticker book.
He knelt down to the ground, tapping his knee to invite the girl to come closer. "...?" The girl took a few steps towards the knight and her eyes met his blue eyes at the same line of sight.
"Hey, I think I haven't gotten your name yet? May I ask what it is?" The knight was reaching towards his pocket, still smiling at her with happiness that she can't comprehend. She does know she likes how he's so kind to her, and decided to respond. "Kuneho... I'm Kuneho-"
Boop! She was a little startled when the knight pressed her cheek. As the knight beamed with a smile, she felt something was on her face. She tried giving it a little touch and felt that familiar texture, tracing its shape with her gentle finger. "Nahaha~ You're very cute with it on you, Kuneho-chan."
She went quiet, realising how it felt nice to have something she likes on her. "But... I'll have to take it off soon... and I can't use it anymore..." The girl started to tear up, but then the knight placed his hand over her head and gave her a little pat. "Then, at least you'll remember this moment, and how you'll get to give and receive more of these moments in the future."
The knight nodded his head towards what's behind the girl, gesturing towards what seems to be her group of friends. How could he not assume when they were running towards them with a glittering look in their eyes?
"Kuneho-chan~!!"
"Kuneho! You were here with Sir Sanah this whole time?"
"Come on! Let's go!! The sun's about to set and we still haven't played together yet!!"
"I call dibs going first at tag!"
"Hey! I wanted to go first! Kuneho-chan, who's gonna be it?"
"I'd like it to be you though."
"WHAT?? How could you betray me after everything we've been through..."
The lively noise began to grow louder from then onwards, letting them live in their moment together. Sanah was happy enough with getting to cheer up someone who seemed to have something heavy within her hands. The knight was about to leave them be, as the knight could only step back in silence. But then he heard a voice calling out his name.
"S-Sanah-kun...!" Still shy as ever, Kuneho tried to catch the knight's attention. Her friends were even surprised at how she could actually get her voice to be louder. "Thank you for your gift... it's really cute! I'll start giving what I love away like you too!"
With his head looking at his back, he waved at her and smiled, "...Mhm!"
The group of friends wanted to ask and discuss with her on what was all that odd commotion all about, that they even earned a few glances by the bystanders around them. While they were trying to clear up the situation with the interested bystanders, the knight found himself stopping his footsteps at shore.
"The sun's about to set... just like they said." He looked over to the sea, feeling the breeze blow through his hair. His sandals sinking and getting wet from being close to the water, and his coat having sand stuck in its fabric.
It felt as if the smile he just made over how cute those children were suddenly went away, drifting off as the waves carried it somewhere far from where he thought he still holding onto it.
He knew wearing all he likes will make it get ruined faster, yet he still keeps wearing them with pride.
Why? The answer he has now, especially when under this sunset, continued to be left unsaid. Keeping it closed to his heart as time tells him to keep going onto tomorrow.
But whether it falls under fortune or misfortune, everything he does has a effect as to what happens in the future. Just like how happiness and sadness come together in turn, maybe even together, for him.
The moon was now at the sky, illuminating the night in place for the sun to rest. The once bright blue waves couldn't seen splashing against the sand anymore. Sanah was left alone to realise on his own that despite the beach being silent, he still has more to do for tonight. He tried to dust off his coat in a hurry, rushing towards the central area of the kingdom where there were many fairy lights, displayed a while ago, guiding his way.
Especially since around this time, it was a time that he knew was worth looking forward to, no matter how it has always been so fleeting.
"Everyone...! Sorry for taking so long!" He panted as he stopped to breathe after suddenly running towards to where the festival is taking place. He tried to fix up his cap before finally noticing everyone getting near him with some sort of paper in their hands.
"Eh? What's going on—" Before the knight could show his confusion, the people started to charge towards him and place what they held on him! Even the elderly and the youthful really came together and started decorating his clothes, his hair, his arms and even his face! Everyone were saying things of gratitude towards the knight, while he was just left with even more confusion.
As everyone started to finish decorating Sanah, they all stepped back to give him space. A little girl, who the knight recognized as Kuneho, came towards the knight and gave him a mirror decorated in the stickers she showed him this afternoon.
He reached and grabbed the mirror and was struck in awe. He was covered with so many stickers and they all had such contrasting yet unified designs. Various flowers, ribbons, fruits, even the Sea Spirit... Each sticker conveyed that lovely feeling of love and he was honored to have so much being bestowed to him.
He raised his head to try and understand why this happened and everyone in turn were beaming with smiles over him. Then, gentle footsteps could be heard approach towards Sanah's direction, belonging to a small colorful figure.
"Sanah-kun, thank you for being my knight. You've made so many people really happy by sharing your happiness. I'm so proud of you!" Usahana jumped as high as she raised her wand towards the knight's cheek. There, with a bit of her magic, she placed her own sticker that carried all her love towards her beloved knight. Sanah glanced over the mirror and saw that it was a hibiscus flower sticker, with colors that matched his beloved Lord.
He couldn't be anymore happier. He's with all who and what he loves, how could he not? Sanah found himself smiling even wider and wanted to see all these people who has made him feel this way, yet his eyes were somehow blurred by something wet that dropped down to his chest.
"Everyone... thank you so much! I'm proud to be the one who gets to carry all your love. I look forward to keep sharing all that I can with all of you!" Despite tearing up a little, he still declared with a wide smile filled with gratitude. The knight went on to give his Lord the biggest hug he could ever give and Usahana was happy to give one back. Everyone else wanted to join in and went to embrace eachother, filling the whole festival with cheerful and familial spirit.
As everyone went on to engage with eachother in the festival, asking for stickers and to decorate one another in their own way of showing love. Familiar knights of the Red Continent finally made it and came to visit in support for their fellow friend.
"Woah, look at Sanah! He's covered with so much... Is he okay?" Rimicha was behind Puruth shaking him so he can ensure his concern was heard.
"Hahaha! Even so, I think he's looks happier with so many on him. It'd be funnier to see how long he'll realise that we've already arrived..." Puruth laughed at the thought as he shrugged off Rimicha to not let himself get dizzy from his shaking.
"Well I think having a ton of stickers on you has potential for being a new fashion trend, especially for this kingdom. Seems pretty interesting to me~" Merold hummed with interest, resting his shoulder on Rommariche as he suggested an idea for the future.
"Sanah has always been such a worrisome guy, it's nice to see him enjoy himself to the fullest. Right, Hallritt-san?" Romarriche placed his hand over his heart, grinning at how much youthful energy was bursting from the their fellow knight.
"Yeah! That's our friend after all, and we all know he's worth to be given as much love as he would give to all of us." Hallritt decalred in assurement. The red knight stood proudly with his flag. He was happy to have always trusted Sanah to have always been a knight who has expected nothing in return for his love, and knew all of it deserved to be reciprocated.
As the Red Bouquet agreed to let Sanah enjoy his special moment, they tried to sneak over towards the festival to enjoy the festivities until they were spotted by the people there. They were also honored to have been also attacked with stickers as thanks for being friends with their knight. Sanah would eventually notice them and went over to welcome everyone to the festival, covering them with his own stickers as well.
After all, the way this event will end tomorrow makes it even more special. The way everything we end up loving will always be fade away from us. Whether we believe that it'll come back eventually in time or now, it's up to us to look forward over the sunset and smile for tomorrow.