★ chapter one
★ chapter two
★ chapter three
★ episode

chapter one

[Wizards’ Manor]

Akira: ...Hm? Oh no, it's already this late? I have to go back to my room...

(Time flies when reading the Sage's manual. If I don't go to bed soon, I won't be able to wake up tomorrow.)

Heathcliff: ...Is anyone there?

Akira: Heathcliff! What are you doing here at such an hour?

Heathcliff: Ah… So it was you, Master Sage. I saw light coming from the library, and since it’s the middle of the night...

Akira: S-sorry about that! I was so absorbed in reading that I lost track of time. I'll wrap things up and go back to my room in a jiffy.

Heathcliff: I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything. We deeply appreciate your hard work, Master Sage...

But please, don't spread yourself too thin. Your health is the most important thing of all.

Akira: Got it. I’ll be careful.

Akira: (Heath is such a good person... He should be upset with me, but instead he's sincerely worried for my well-being... Yeah, I'll be more careful. I don't want to trouble him with my negligence.)

Heathcliff: Shall we go?

I'll take you to your room, if you please—I cannot leave you alone this late at night.

Akira: I'll take you up on the offer then. You are so kind, Heathcliff, thank you.

Heathcliff: It’s only natural, there is nothing to thank me for.

Akira: No, please, let me say it. Heathcliff, you have always been there for me.

Your kindness and compassion have helped me a lot.

Heathcliff: Y-you're giving me too much credit, Sage. Not to mention, kindness and compassion are much more of Chloe's forte, in my opinion...

Akira: That's one of the best things about you, Heathcliff: you're able to recognise and genuinely acknowledge other's strength without afterthoughts.

When I talk to you, I feel just as much at ease.

Heathcliff: That's the first time someone has said that to me. I'm not too comfortable or affable enough to hold a conversation, so...

I'm flattered. Thank you, Master Sage.

Akira: Heathcliff, you’re strong and dependable. I think you should be more confident.

Akira: (Or maybe he'll understand if I express my gratitude in more... Tangible terms...)

Akira: “Gratitude,” huh... Right, White Day is right around the corner! Oh, but I guess they don't have that kind of tradition in this world.

...I've got an idea!

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chapter two

[Central Country—Shopping District]

Akira: I'm sorry for making this request on such short notice. Thank you for coming along, Chloe.

Chloe: Don't worry about it, Master Sage. I'm glad you invited me to help you pick something for Heath!

So, do you have any ideas for a gift already?

Akira: I was thinking of getting him some sweets. Heathcliff has always been so good to me, and I think this will do just to the trick to show him how thankful I am.

Chloe: That sounds great, I’m sure he’ll love it! I was actually interested in the sugar crafted sculptures at this shop too, but I was nervous about coming to the Central Country’s city alone.

I was barely holding in place when you invited me to hang out today—

Woman 1: Hey, did you know? There’s this spell that has been trending lately. It's supposed to be done on the night of a full moon!

Woman 2: I heard that if you eat sugar made by a wizard, your love will surely come true. I wonder if I should give it a try next time. It's in that store, right?

Chloe: Did you hear that, Master Sage? That spell seems to be pretty popular!

Akira: Yes, I was a little surprised. It's kind of romantic for a spell to make one’s love become real, isn't it?

Chloe: I hope their love will come true!

Akira: (Chloe is so sweet...)

Love, huh… With his natural looks, Heathcliff is pretty popular too.

Chloe: Heath is so handsome, he would be all the rage! He can be a little shy in front of others though, I'm not too sure how popularity would actually translate...

Akira: You're right, his nervousness makes him a bit difficult to approach.

Chloe: Shino or the other Eastern wizards may know. I’ll try to ask them next time.

Akira: Let me tag along when you do! ...Huh? Hold on, that blonde head over there...

Chloe: Wow, Heath is in town too! He's surrounded by girls, I wonder what's going on?

Akira: Do you think they're trying to approach him? Looks like they're head-over-heels for him...

Akira: (Are they asking him out for tea, by any chance? He’s, without a doubt, good at making people come up to him…)

Chloe: I expected no less from him! Heath sure is well-liked...!

Akira: We should probably give him a hand, though. As we were saying earlier, he might run into some trouble…

Heathcliff: ...Apologies, ladies, but I have other business to attend. Your consideration sincerely touches me, thank you very much.

Akira: That was a surprisingly smooth way to turn them down...!

Chloe: His manners are both polite and pristine... He kind of reminds me of Rustica.

Akira: When you look at him under such light, he truly is a nobleman. Heathcliff is so cool...

Heathcliff: ...Huh? Master Sage, Chloe?

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chapter three

[Central Country—Shopping District]

Heathcliff: I see you two were in town as well. Where were you heading to?

Akira: H-Hello, Heathcliff. We were going to the shop where we spotted these sugar crafts.

Heathcliff: ...Oh, um, is that so? Actually, I also was on my way there.

Akira: (Knowing him, Heathcliff may have wanted to see such handicraft himself. I should have considered the possibility of running into him…)

Chloe: Getting him a gift will be harder than we thought…

Akira: Right…

Akira: (...Hmm, Heathcliff looks a bit troubled… Something is afoot.)

⁂

Chloe: Wow, amazing! Are those the sculptures you were mentioning, Heath? They are absolutely lovely!

Heathcliff: Yes. I'm always as flabbergasted as the first time I saw them in person. I can’t believe this elaborate work is made out of sugar... That’s certainly the pinnacle of fine art.

Chloe: Arts… Yes, totally! I wonder if I could use these deliciously beautiful designs for clothing?

Heathcliff: I think it would be quite interesting. With the delicacy of your tailoring, I’m sure the beauty of these sugar-crafts would make a wonderful outfit. I’d love to see you try your hand at it someday.

Chloe: Really? I’m glad to hear it! I think the color of this sculpture would suit you, Heath. The jacket’s motif would be like this…

Akira: (Good, Chloe is distracting Heathcliff! It's my time to strike…)

Excuse me, I’d like to take these macarons as a gift…

Chloe: ...Master Sage? What are you...

Akira: Thanks for backing me up, Chloe.

Chloe: Huh? …But of course, you're welcome!

Heathcliff: I’m sorry for having interrupted your shopping today, Master Sage. You two have indulged me with your company, and I cannot thank you enough for it.

Akira: Pleasure is mine! ...Actually, I have a present for you, Heathcliff.

Heathcliff: ...What? For… Me?

Akira: Yes, we were shopping precisely for that purpose. It’s a way to thank you for everything that you’ve done for us.

Chloe: Isn’t that nice, Heath!

Heathcliff: Thank, Thank you so much… Well, I got beaten to it…

Akira: Those are macarons, but perhaps they're not to your taste?

Heathcliff: Ah, that’s not it! Truth is, I… I wanted to give these to the both of you.

Akira: Ah…!

Chloe: It’s the same wrapping paper… Does that mean that you were also buying sweets at that shop?

Heathcliff: Yes. Master Sage has always been of great help to me, and I’m really happy to have made friends with you, Chloe, even if you're from across the country. Consider it as.. My way of showing my gratitude for being with me.

Akira: So we had the same idea all along!

Heathcliff: It seems so. I can’t believe such coincidence happened…

...Master Sage, Chloe. Thank you for everything you did. Will you accept my gift?

Akira: Of course. Thank you so much, Heathcliff.

Chloe: Thank you, Heath!

Akira: Heh, looks like this whole shopping trip turned into a gift exchange.

Heathcliff: It sure did. It’s a bit embarrassing when you think about it, but I’m delighted.

...That being said, would you like to share these macarons with me?

Chloe: Aw, yes! Totally!

Akira: Yes, I’d love to!

episode story

Akira: Those sweets were delicious: beautiful and tasty, a true sugary masterpiece.

Heathcliff: Indeed, I'm glad Chloe also enjoyed them.

Akira: You’re good friends with Chloe, yes? Do you also get along with the other Western wizards?

Heathcliff: All of them are very sociable, so they talk to me quite a lot.

Among them, Chloe is the easiest to talk to. He speaks in a way that suits my speed, and never brings up topics that I would be uncomfortable with.

He’s bright, kind, proud of his skills, dreams big... Quite honestly, I admire him.

Akira: You’re an expert at praising everyone's qualities, Heathcliff. I wish I could take a page from your book.

Heathcliff: T-Thank you, Master Sage.

Akira: That reminds me... When we saw you on the street the other day, you looked very handsome. Chloe even complimented you.

Heathcliff: Handsome?! Just what did you see...? I don't think I was doing anything that would make me particularly stand out…

Akira: (While the contrast between your noble facade and the Heathcliff I know is quite charming... I wish you could find confidence within yourself.)

Akira: (So I'll keep praising you, and I'll keep showing you my gratitude, until you believe in yourself the way I believe in you.)

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