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odorekijin“Romance Blossoms With A
Snow-White Bloom”
chapter one
[North Country, Mia’s Castle—Balcony]
Akira: I hear someone on the balcony… Isn’t that Bradley and… Murr?
Bradley: Look, he got berries this time.
Murr: That’s an offer worth considering, but will it be enough to convince her?
I peered out onto the balcony.
Bradley and Murr were entertaining a spirited conversation, their attention set on the balustrade.
Akira: I see you don’t have time for boredom around here. What are you two doing?
Bradley: Nothin’ outta the ordinary, jus’ seein’ through a li’l bet we made. Here, see those two tiny squirrels on the rail?
They’re Snowmelt Squirrels. It’s a species that lives in these parts of the North, but what’s real’ special about ‘em is their courtship behaviour.
Murr: To put it short, their love language is gift-giving!
For the suitor to be invited into the female’s nest, she first must take a liking to the gifts.
In the case where she doesn’t, she will ignore her counterpart for as long as his offerings do not tickle her fancy.
Bradley: Observing ‘em would get borin’ at some point, so Murr suggested we throw in a bet to spice things up.
We’re waitin’ to see how their story unfolds—is he gonna win her over, or is she gonna ignore him ‘till he gives up an’ leaves?
Akira: Well, colour me surprised…! There are more heartrending stakes at play than what I imagined.
My curiosity was piqued. I followed their gaze with my own to the bannister.
Now curled into a ball, the female had not spared a glance at the fruits brought to her.
Bradley: Welp, looks like she didn’t like that either.
Murr: Oh, but look! He’s climbing the wall now! Maybe he’s off to look for a new gift.
Bradley: Heh, he ain’t goin’ down easy. How many times as she turned ‘im down since we started?
Murr: Ten times. I suspect he’s at the end of his rope.
Akira: Right, I forgot to ask: who is betting on what?
Bradley: My coin ‘s on the li’l guy’s success. She’ll give ‘im a chance.
Murr: An’ I bet he’s gonna throw in the towel!
Akira: That’s… Not the kind of play I expected from each of you, to be honest.
Bradley arched an eyebrow.
Bradley: …Oh yeah? How so?
Akira: Weeell, you know, with Murr’s unconditional love for the moon, I feel like he’d be more inclined to support a passionate love still in the bud…
Whereas you… You’re more acquainted with the ruthlessness of the North.
Murr: Your assumptions aren’t wrong. My love for the moon is indeed unwavering and eternal, but this isn’t me we’re talking about!
You see, Snowmelt Squirrels are not an endangered species. There are many, many females out there to nest with. He could easily find another partner to mate with if he wanted.
Pursuing his futile desire and looking for offerings in a hostile environment is the same as purposefully throwing himself into a pitfire.
Bradley answered Murr’s pragmatism with a placid smile.
Bradley: That’s plausible, ‘specially fo’ someone that relies only on the facts.
Akira: …Hey, look! He’s back!
The male Snowmelt Squirrel scurried along the bannister, holding in his tiny mouth the stem of a flower as white as snow.
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chapter two
[North Country, Mia’s Castle—Balcony]
The squirrel placed before her a delicate flower, one so pure it looked like snowflakes flocked together into a pearly bloom.
Bradley looked more intently at the small gift.
Bradley: Hm? Wait, I feel like I’ve seen that flower before…
Akira: Do you know what it is?
Bradley: Yeah, it’s tradition in some parts of the North to offer this flower to officialise yer romantic feelings.
Take it as our way to make our moves on someone, so to speak.
Akira: (I know we propose with a bouquet of roses back in my world… I guess both traditions are quite similar.)
Murr: Mhm, well aren’t you familiar with the subject! I wonder who could have given you such a flower—or perhaps you went out of your way to pluck it for someone, hm?
Murr returned him a contemptuous grin.
Bradley simply replied with a relaxed smirk:
Bradley: Keep wonderin’ then, if that’s what gets you goin’.
Murr: Really? I can imagine whatever I please? You’re overfeeding my imagination now! I need opinions… Master Sage! What do you think? Is he the giver, or the recipient?
Akira: Me? Hmm… I mean, knowing him? It could go either way.
Come to think of it… Bradley strikes me as someone that knows very well how to keep someone sweet with a few compliments, like that time he had to seduce a Northern witch to get our hands on some Olivia Laeticia…
Murr: Whazzat? I never heard that story before, I wish I’d been there!
Spill the beans, Brad! How’d you woo her? I wanna hear it from the artist himself!
Bradley: Hah, in yo’ dreams, I won’t give it to ya easy. Come back once you’ve become the kinda wizard I’d wanna hit on.
Murr: Ahaha, at least I tried! Alright, then you do it, Master Sage!
Akira: What!? M-me!?
Bradley: Whatcha kickin’ up a storm for? Just do what I did back then. I’m sure you remember.
Akira: I, I mean… I do remember some bits, but…
...Fine. Ahem… L-Lady Olivia, Queen of the Night, you… Though the night keeps you from my sight, I know you’re still as extraordinarily gorgeous as ever.
Bradley & Murr: … …
Murr: I like the youthful innocence you showed off! A+++ !
Bradley: Ya get a penalty for lookin’ away the whole time: B+.
Akira: (We’re grading each other’s performances now!?)
Hrm, anyway, you know what I mean now… With pick-up lines like those, Bradley could easily be on the giving and receiving end.
From the way he carries himself, I’m sure he’s popular among some. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s as much an expert on the subject as he sounds…
Murr: It’s a no-brainer, really: Brad naturally attracts those around him, regardless of gender.
He managed the impossible, after all—he united wizards into an organised force, solidifying their bond over the centuries, solely because his subordinates were drawn to their Boss’ charisma. Correct?
But captivated as they were to his charms, he only cared to have more people under his spell. You dirty man-eater!
Bradley: That’s rich comin’ from our Mister Philosopher.
I’d bet my shirt there’s as many stars as there're people you’ve driven to madness—hell, I’m pretty damn sure there ain’t enough stars to count ‘em all.
Between us, who’s the real dirty bastard? Me, or the guy that offered his heart, body an’ soul to the Great Calamity, but played a ton o’ people instead?
Murr: I did all that? Oops, I don’t remember a thing. …But we can ask my old self about it, he should know all the spicy details!
Akira: (That’s one loaded conversation, I feel like I’m in the middle of a minefield… It’s exactly what I imagine falling for either of them would be like…)
Snowmelt Squirrel: Squeak!
Bradley, Murr & Akira: !
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chapter three
[North Country, Mia’s Castle—Balcony]
A squeal snapped us out of our conversation.
After giving her suitor the cold shoulder for what felt like eternity, the female Snowmelt Squirrel had finally perked up.
Akira: Look...!
Just then, both animals skittered away, the female closely following the male, leaving the offerings behind.
Murr: No way! I can’t believe he managed to coax someone so obstinate!
Looks like you forgot to mention this flower worked on humans, wizards, and squirrels’ love life alike.
Bradley: Heh, gotta say, I wasn’t expecting that outcome. I mean, I dun’ see you lose bets too often either.
But a win’s a win. You owe me a drink at Shylock’s next time, an’ you better stand the rounds.
Murr: Sure! I’ll even request a cocktail inspired by that flower just for us!
(Murr takes out his broom.)
Akira: Murr!? Where are you going?
Murr: After the newlyweds, of course! We had the honour to witness the precious moment where budding feelings blossom into love. I can’t simply leave it at that—I must see where their love story is headed with my own two eyes!
Eyes lit up with excitement, Murr took off from the balcony, tailing the couple from the skies.
Akira: …Off he goes, gone with the wind…
Bradley: At the end of the day, ‘t was the devouring obsession of a Northern beast that really signed off his defeat.
The guy listens to his instincts more than he uses his brains; he never knows when to quit, for better or fo’ worse.
The offerings scattered left and right by the male squirrel were like evidence illustrating Bradley’s remark.
Akira: …Hm? That’s strange, they didn’t take the white flower back to their nest.
I assumed she took interest in him thanks to it, so why would they leave such a gift behind…
Bradley picked the delicate flower from the bannister.
Bradley: …I’d say it wasn't the gifts that did it for her.
Maybe the daredevil fool he was ready to become for her sake is what really won her over.
Bradley chuckled, his crimson gaze still resting on the blossom.
The content smile that slightly creased his features looked as peaceful as the quietness of snowfields after a blizzard.
A breeze swept through the balcony, the snow-white petals shivering in his palm.
Akira: ...Which one was it, in the end?
Bradley: What d’you mean?
Akira: The flower. I just remembered you didn’t tell us if someone offered one to you before, or vice versa.
Bradley: … …
Bradley simply smiled at me.
Without taking his eyes off me, he inched closer and tucked the flower in my hair.
Bradley: I know I can be rough, but you dun’ just talk about that kinda stuff like it’s matter-of-fact.
Whoever I loved an’ who I might have fallen for are my treasures alone to keep.
An’ I don’t spill the beans ‘bout my precious treasure trove to anybody, feel me?
The allusive smile playing about his lips held a tender invitation—
As if he was offering a bouquet he had been hiding, now for my eyes only to see.
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episode story
“Outcome of a Sweet Bet”
[Wizard’s Manor—Lounge]
Bradley: Sage, come here. We made extra chocolate, so go ahead an’ pick whichever ya fancy.
Akira: (Extras? But there’s only two of them. Why is he even offering me chocolate all of the sudden? It’d be rude to refuse though…)
Hmm… Can I have the flower-shaped one over there, please?
Bradley: Ah, the one on the right? Gotcha. …Here, enjoy.
Akira: Thanks, I’ll take a bite then! (Munch.) …Woah, that’s delicious!
Bradley: … …
Akira: Not only that, its design is also precious! The other chocolate is… A squirrel, correct?
It reminds me of the couple Murr and you bet on the other day. Speaking of, do you often make bets on a whim with him?
Bradley: Yeah, in a way, though it’s mostly t’ kill time—like right now. We’re in the midst of a bet.
Akira: What? Like, right now… Right now? This very second?
Bradley: …Damn, no change huh. Welp, guess it’s my loss this time ‘round.
Akira: I don’t really get what’s going on but, uh, I’m sorry for your loss…?
Bradley: …See the chocolates I offered ya? One of ‘em ‘s under a spell an’ whoever eats the rigged chocolate ‘s gonna be speakin’ cat tongue.
My goal was to have you pick the rigged chocolate to win, but looks like I missed my target.
Akira: Pardon!? What does “speaking cat tongue” even mean? You can’t just involve people in your shenyanigans–
… … !?
Bradley: Hm? Didja just… Meow?
Akira: N-Nyothing, I said nyothin’!!
(Gosh, I knew this would put me in an embarrassing spot. Gah, make it stop…!)
home line
“Sweet-talk ‘s not all there is to strike yerself a deal. Gotta spice it up, y’know? Take this chocolate fer example: it’s all about balancin’ hints of bitterness to really bring out the sweetness.
…Gets over yer head a li'l, yeah? Dun' worry, I'll explain when you're a smidgen older.”
