Welcome back, everybirdie! It’s the end of a school day, and we could use some company as we head on out.
“Umm… sorry, I need to go somewhere right now. Maybe later?”
“Okay! … is something wrong, Ryouta?”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it, Tera.”
That means we have to worry about it!
His smile is incredibly unconvincing. But if he doesn’t want me worrying about it, worrying about it won’t do anybirdie any good. Maybe I’ll go to the arcade…
Well, that’s a little more in character.
Rhythm games seem to be the protagonist’s specialty!
Huh? What’s Ryouta doing over here? And why is he coming out of…
“The hospital…?”
Ryouta spots us as he exits, apparently somewhat alarmed to find us here.
“Ryouta, were you…”
“Tera… …… Tera, I want to talk to you. Is now a good time?”
“Of course! What is it?”
A little uncomfortable and seeming stuck for words, Ryouta wanders with us into the park.
“Sorry, I’m… not sure how to say this.”
“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thanks. … my mother… isn’t doing well. She was never very healthy…”
“She did always used to catch colds during the winter…”
“Ahaha… yeah. Even though doves are supposed to fare better in the cold than heat. She’s been getting worse since the end of September. After a certain point, I couldn’t take care of her on my own… So she’s in the hospital now.”
“And that’s where you’ve been going after school… I hope she gets better soon, Ryouta!”
“She won’t.”
He barely looks up from the ground.
Sh— She won’t…?
He’s crying.
“… sorry for holding you up, Tera. S-see you.”
“Ryouta…!”
It’s too late, though; he’s already long out of sight.
And so he fled into the night.
Sadly, there’s not much we can do but hope he’ll be alright…
Christmas Eve, we find the protagonist at home.
“Meet me in the park at 7”
What’s going on? I hope it isn’t something bad.
“What is it? Is your mother okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine now. Thanks. She said, ‘You’re old enough already, go spend the day with someone important!’ and wouldn’t let me back into her room.
Going home… is too lonely. So I thought maybe if I talked to you I’d feel a little better.”
“So you called me? Do you feel better?”
“Yup. … thank you.”
He offers a weak smile.
“Oh… sorry, sitting out here on Christmas Eve is kind of sad. Want to go somewhere?”
“I don’t mind, Ryouta. Anywhere’s fine with you.”
Just kiss already!!
And so Ryouta and I spent the evening sitting together in the park. It wasn’t very Christmasy, but I didn’t mind.
After all, the protagonist is Shin Buddhist.
New Year’s rolls around, but it’s raining, so we don’t bother visiting the shrine. Soon enough, school has started back up.
Third term means Legumentine’s! We buy some calm corn for Ryouta, and try to catch up with him on the chosen day.
“Umm, do you have a minute?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Here! Calm corn, for Legumentine’s!”
“Woah! Thanks, Tera! Are you sure?”
Ryouta pecks a few out of the package.
“I love these. They’re really good!”
“It said they were easy on birds’ stomachs, so I thought you might! I know sometimes it’s tough, but… I like being around you and helping you, Ryouta.”
“… thank you, Tera. That makes me really happy. You like udon, right? Let me take you out sometime.”
“Okay!”
He seems happy. Yay!
Of course he does. Really, for someone with such refined hunter-gatherer instincts, the protagonist can be so oblivious.
In a week or so, school’s pretty much done, and we take a little time to unwind.
That aside, it’s cold… I need to do something about the temperature in my house before I get sick.
Huh? Someone sent me a text message.
“In the park. Come quick.”
Concerned, we rush out to the park to meet Ryouta.
“Ryouta, what’s—”
… he’s crying?
“It’s still cold out, Ryouta. You’ll catch cold without a coat on…”
Ryouta just nods, not so much as looking over at the protagonist.
“… right. …… Hey, Tera…”
He’s still staring forward, breathing heavily.
“My mother… died, today.”
I can’t find words. I had a feeling this conversation would come, but… I don’t know what to say.
“She was… a dove, but… she… She always got sick when… When it was cold… that’s not right. That… isn’t supposed to happen.”
“Ryouta…”
“I’m alone now, Tera.”
“You still have me, don’t you?”
A weak chuckle shakes Ryouta’s body.
“She said the same thing, at the end. ‘Rely on Tera, and let her rely on you.’ … but I think that would be irresponsible of me.
I love you, Tera. More than anyone else, now.”
”!
I-I love you too, Ryouta!”
“But, I… How can I say this…? My mother was weak, but… It’s not as if she had a short life, for a dove. So…”
“… what are you trying to say, Ryouta…?”
“If… if you were to marry me… I’d die much sooner than you.”
”!”
“We’re different species. We have different lifespans, too. That’s nature. But… knowing that from the start, knowing that I would end up leaving you alone, it… It just seems too irresponsible.”
“That doesn’t matter! It doesn’t mean we can’t be together. I love you, Ryouta! I want to be with you until the end!”
“I know what it feels like to be left alone, now. I don’t want to make you feel this pain, Tera… I think we should… go our separate ways.”
“No! We won’t! That’s what life is, Ryouta! It’s unfair, and painful, and sometimes it seems nothing good will ever happen.
But fighting on, following our urge to seek happiness anyway… That’s what makes us alive! That’s how our ancestors lived and died, and evolved, and brought us to where we are now!”
“But we… birds weren’t meant to come this far. We’ve advanced more than we were ever meant to.”
“That doesn’t matter! Ryouta, I love you. I want to be with you as long as I can, even if it’s just for a little while. I think you want to be with me, too. Where’s the problem?”
“Tera… I’m not as healthy or strong as you are. I’m not smart, or handsome, or rich. But, I’m happy. Thank you.”
“You don’t have to think about it so much, Ryouta. We can worry about the future when it comes. Right?”
“… right. I don’t think I’ll have calmed down for a while yet, but… I’m glad I was born, if only because I got to be with you. It’s like a miracle. … thank you.”
The camera fades out with a little smile from Ryouta.
I don’t care for how long it is. I’m happy enough just being with Ryouta. … but, live as long as you can, Ryouta. Live as long as you can, so that you can carry wonderful memories with you when you return to the sky.
Roll credits.
Thus ends Ryouta’s route. As always, thank you for accompanying me on yet another few updates’ worth of drama, romance and intrigue, with birds. Very shortly, we’ll be embarking on our final route, with Nageki Fujishiro. I hope you’ll all join me yet again. Until next time, everybirdie!