Chapter 14 – I’m Back
09-14 I’m Back
Elsa, Barbara, and Hannah were gathered in Gheebeck’s house and talking.
"So… Where did we leave off?"
Barbara said and tilted her head, then,
"…We were talking about the person who left the village."
Elsa replied. After hearing that, Hannah said,
"You mean about Onii-chan?"
This time Elsa tilted her head,
"Onii-chan?"
She said, and didn’t look to understand. Noticing that, Barbara elaborated.
"Hannah-chan is talking about someone called Jin who said he had come from, what was it? Japan? He’s a Magi Craftsman, you know?"
"Eh? No way, Jin-nii!?"
Hearing that, even Elsa got so surprised she stood up from her seat.
Hannah was also surprised when she heard Elsa.
"Jin-nii? Onee-chan, you said Jin-nii, right? Onee-chan, are you Onii-chan’s little sister?"
"Mm, I’m Jin-nii’s sister."
Hearing that, Hannah lit up.
"Jin onii-chan! He got back home okay! Hey, hey, is Onii-chan well? Where is he now? What’s he doing? How about Reiko onee-chan?"
Hannah threw questions at Elsa at rapid succession, overwhelming her.
"Ji–Jin-nii is at home. He’s well. He’s building all sorts of things…It seems. Reiko-chan’s with him too."
Elsa could barely reply.
"So that’s how it was, I’m glad… I was so worried all this time! Not just me, everyone was!"
"Yes, that’s right, Elsa-san. Because your elder brother is a benefactor of this village, and one of us too."
"Very interesting. Jin-nii never told me."
Elsa said and that surprised Barbara and Hannah a little.
"Is that right? As a matter of fact, …"
"Hey, you know what? Onii-chan, he…"
"Jin-san built us a hot spring."
"Onii-chan built Mint for me!"
They both began talking about Jin to Elsa so she got confused.
"Wa–wait a moment. Please speak one at a time."
Elsa said while smiling awkwardly, then Barbara and Hannah exchanged glances and laughed.
"Hannah-chan, did you have dinner yet?"
After things had calmed down a little, Barbara asked Hannah.
"Yeah, I’ve eaten. I also told granny I’m going to elder-san’s house before leaving."
"I see. In that case, are you going to have a sleepover? If you do then you can talk with Elsa-san at ease."
Barbara said to Hannah. Hannah gladly accepted the offer.
"Yeah! A sleepover!"
Barbara then went to tell Hannah’s grandmother Martha that Hannah is spending the night here.
In the meanwhile, Hannah spoke a lot about Jin. Once Barbara came back the three once more talked together.
That continued into the night until Hannah’s eyelids began to droop, and so they moved to the bedroom.
Hannah ended up sleeping with Elsa on the same bed. Because she wouldn’t have it any other way.
"Eheh. Together with Onee-chan. Good night."
"Mm, good night, Hannah-chan-"
Soon Hannah sounded like she was asleep.
Barbara and Elsa continued their conversation in a low voice so as not to wake Hannah up.
"You see, Hannah-chan has no parents so she’s lonely. And then last year, Jin-san came along, they lived together, and she took to him. And then again, he disappeared."
"…Oh, so that’s what happened."
"Yes. And that’s why because you’re Jin-san’s little sister, she’s so…"
Hannah was clinging to Elsa’s right arm with her small hands.
"Hannah, chan."
Elsa gently stroked Hannah’s head. Hannah’s hair smelled like the sun.
＊ ＊ ＊
Next day, when the sun had risen.
"Half past eight, huh. In Kaina Village that’s half past six. I wonder if everyone’s awake by now?"
Jin couldn’t stay still and was fidgety.
"Father, isn’t what you said that you’d go to Kaina Village to meet her at eight o’clock?"
Reiko reminded him.
"I did say that, I’ll have to calm down."
Seeing Jin like that, Ann had a question.