#sorry sakitty

[flovverworks]

me being adamant about akira not having a pet vs me who reaallyyyyy wants to adapt sakitty into non-isekai verses

[zzzenmui]

Sorry, sakitty, the sage is straight up going through it. and by "it", haha, well. let's just say. a mental breakdown.

[mirikitakato]

[Translation] Reflections of the Moon in the Teardrops of Pavone: Episode 10

Keith: I'm utterly cowardly and despicable. I regretted it, but I didn't have enough courage to let go of the fame and career I had acquired. Angelo might even reveal my crime when he comes back. The possibility of the truth coming out haunted me. In a desperate attempt to control the situation, I found myself wandering in the Foster Research Institute. I thought if I asked Sage’s wizards for a favor, I might be able to find out how Angelo was doing. …And where the antidote for the Taboo Peacock is.

Mr. Keith bit his lip, looking at the Taboo Peacock.

Keith: ...I was afraid to face him, to accept the fact I was the reason for his disappearance. ...Angelo, I was such an idiot.

Mr. Keith crumpled to his knees, his face contorted in exhaustion.

Keith: ...I'm sorry, Angelo. I'm really...sorry…hic...

Cain: ......

The Taboo Peacock leaves rustled silently. Keith's tears were the only thing that shone quietly in the sunset, falling where poisonous nectar dripped.

---- oOo ----

A few days later. With Sakitty on my lap, I was playing cards with Cain and Bradley.

Akira: (Good feeling, good feeling. All I need is a 7…)

Bradley: Heh...

Cain: Now...

Akira: (Good! 7!)

I desperately tried to hold back the grin on my face and spread my cards.

Akira: Ahhhh...!

Cain: Bradley won again...!

Bradley: Heh, think you can beat me? Not a chance in six hundred years. The one who lost the most pays. Western pipe-man, get me a drink.

Shylock: Right away. But I must ask... how is the Sage’s wallet doing?

Akira: Not in the best shape, but I'm holding up!

The intense card game continued. I sipped my non-alcoholic cocktail, thinking about the inside of my wallet.

Cain: I thought this time I was going to win... But Bradley won everything...At this rate, it will be difficult to challenge Murr again.

Bradley: Speakin’ of that guy, I haven't seen him hangin’ around the Magic Manor lately. What's he up to?

Shylock: I have no idea either. He once barged into the bar, drunk and in a good mood, which was unusual for him... I wonder what he's been doing during his recovery.

As if cherishing a free-spirited stray cat, Shylock chuckled and placed a glass in front of Bradley.

Shylock: Speaking of which, have you gentlemen read the newspaper on the counter?

Cain: No...Any interesting articles?

Shylock: Dr. Keith Bird made a shocking confession. He said that the Taboo Peacock antidote research was actually Dr. Angelo Foster’s.

Bradley, Cain, Akira: ...

Akira: Mr. Keith told the truth.

Cain: ...What will happen to him now? It will be difficult for him to continue his career after this...

Bradley: What's with that sympathetic look? He's the one who brought all this upon himself. It was his own decision to end it. It's not our business to worry about.

Cain: ...You’re right.

Bradley: Seriously. Both you and Angelo are too kind.

Shylock: Indeed. Of course, that kindness is your charm as well... But sometimes, it feels like you shoulder burdens that even aren't yours to bear. I understand why Bradley is worried.

Bradley: Hey, who said I was worried?

Shylock: Oh, so you weren't?

Cain: ...Haha, thank you both.

Cain laughed and sipped his purple cocktail, as beautiful as the Taboo Peacock. Bradley shrugged and the glass clinked in his hand.

Akira: ...Oh, right. So what happened to the Foster Research Institute in the end? Since the owner, Mr. Angelo, is trapped inside the Taboo Peacock...

Cain: Now you mention it. The anomaly has been resolved, but there is no one to take care of the institute.

Murr: You wanna know?

Akira & Cain: Murr!

When we heard the voice, Murr was floating upside down. He was somehow wearing the same clothes as the last time we went to investigate the institute. He spun around and landed in front of me, holding out his hand.

Murr: Sage, let's go!

Murr took me to the Foster Research Institute. The Taboo Peacock tree, which had returned to its original form, was glistening in the orange sunlight. However, what caught my eye first was what was under it.

Akira: ...That's...

Murr: Someone must have left it here. Go ahead and read it, Sage!

Mur handed over a large stack of papers.

Akira: (……Amazing. It's full of writing.)

I couldn’t read it, but I understood what it was. This must be the fruit of Mr. Angelo's blood and sweat as he researched on the Taboo Peacock.

Akira: ...Mr. Keith returned it... ...Huh? There's another piece of paper on the ground here?

Murr: Oh, that's mine! It's a summary of the aftermath of when I was given the antidote last time, and also a summary of when I tried it out on Keith!

Akira: M-Mr. Keith?!

Murr: Keith asked me to do it. He said he wanted me to test the antidote on him, and that he didn't mind how much he suffered from the Taboo Peacock’s poison. Apparently, it's Keith's way of making amends!

Akira: ...I see...

Murr: If we repeat the tests and announce the results, scholars and nobles will be amazed! I'm still in the process of verification, but the efficacy seems to be fine. The day the antidote spreads to the world may not be far off!

While saying that, Murr was painting something on a wooden board he brought from somewhere.

Akira: ...I hope the Taboo Peacock is accepted by people, little by little.

Murr: Ahaha, as expected, the Sage also wants that.

Akira: Yes, that was Mr. Angelo's wish, and...I really like the tree too, I'm going to be sad if people rejected it.

Murr: I see! So that’s your honest answer to your own feelings!

Akira: ...But when Murr asked “Do you want us to sacrifice our true selves in order to be good kids and loved by humans?" I was hurt. I think of all the Sage’s wizards, as friends. I also want everyone to stop doing things that will make others hate them. But maybe there are more important things to everyone than being disliked by others. For instance, what if a medicine existed that could neutralize Murr's magic, rendering him harmless to humans? He could become a "safe-for-human Murr." But if he became this new Murr, loved by everyone, would it come at the cost of his happiness? In that case, is it always right to force acceptance on something that everyone fears?

Murr: ......

Akira: Ugh…this is difficult… ...I'm sorry. I couldn't give you a definitive answer to the question you asked then.

Murr: No, that's enough! It's charming to see the Sage thinking about something!

Murr laughed and flew up into the sky, proudly holding up the painted board.

Murr: ...Alright, completed!

Akira: Letters on the wooden board...Is it a sign?

Murr: That's right! Murr Hart Research Institute! This research institute is mine from today on!

Akira: Huh?!

Murr: I bought it because I didn't want it to be taken away by someone else due to the owner's absence!

Akira: W-w-what…? You, you bought it!? Where on earth did you get the money for that!?

Murr: I told you. I'm good at finding patrons. I even took care of a mouse that snuck into the salon and meow at them, while I was at it!

Murr said it nonchalantly and proudly. As soon as he recovered from the Taboo Peacock's poison, he kept disappearing somewhere. Without a word, no explanation. He did the impossible with ease.

Akira: (...Murr is amazing) You’re truly a genius of the century. So cool!

Murr: Meow! I got praised! Trees with Dryads are rare! I want to see it for hundreds of years! With this, I can observe it whenever and as much as I want!

Murr: ...So, Angelo. I'll borrow your research institute for a while. Maybe in a few decades, maybe in a few centuries... Until I see the end of your dream.

The Taboo Peacock leaves rustled softly, even without a breeze blowing. Maybe it's my imagination, or I'm just being overly positive…. But the sound of its rustling seemed like a word of gratitude.

Episode 9

P/s: I'm pretty sure the "mouse" Murr mentions is the con artist that tricks both Angelo and Keith.

[arbitrarygreay]

Maro is pro and facilitating, Yuukarin is idol-inappropriate, and Dawa doesn't even realize Nakazawa having to run damage control on her babies and Misono wants popcorn

[shiningstages]

GASP! First the adorable little creature interrupts their talk and makes Tsukasa just stop in his spot, but then the name Akira starts to say makes the teen pause completely ( a rare chance at shutting up the world's star?! ). Cute cape, the little marks of "eyebrows" and tiny socks, the mysterious ring around the messy and bushy tail -

"Oh...Ooooooooooh - !!" Instead of petting it, like a normal person, Tsukasa lets out a yell of thoughts clicking together. Like atoms colliding, he was explosive, dazzling eyes gazing on the creature. "A preposterously adorable, magic-made kitten?! Made with a similar sounding name to my beloved sister?! Oooooooooh, she would adore this little creature to bits, prodding your toe beans and making so many comparisons or puns!! If only your were similarly blonde to match, then you'd be part of our family instantly!!" He makes so many hand gestures at the magical thing, and moved around so much in the room, that there was no wonder that some called him insane too much of an extrovert.

@shiningstages

"Ah, that's Saki— ...Um, it's a...sacri-something, I-I forgot the name...it's something the twins made, here, if you look at its cape, it kind of looks like theirs, doesn't it?" a finger pointing to the back of the small, kitty-like being, the addition sounding somewhat in-between a distraction and genuine affection (a mother wanting to show off their child's good points). "...It likes being pet, so if you want to...it's alright."

[flovverworks]

Chrom looks at his hunter watch and back at the young man in front of him. Was he the client? "Akira, right?" he got closer to check. "I'm Chrom, a hunter from the hunter association. Sorry, I know you were expecting Yeong but she got an urgent mission to take. She transferred your mission to me. How can I help?" [hi~]

They knew it was going to happen, but this still was bad...! Heart beating loudly in their chest upon being called, the man in front of them not only handsome but also carrying a rather serious face, and...perhaps this was for the better. Yeong might've been able to figure them out. If it was a stranger, then...ugh, but their jacket was torn and while Sakitty was staying in their arms obediently it was obvious it was still rather agitated. 'Sorry, it must've been a false alarm...'. 'I thought I saw something, but it looks like I'm wrong. Sorry for wasting your time'. Things like that...

Their gaze shifts to a side alley, the one Bradley had been dashing through a moment before, with Akira none the wiser if he was escaping the hunters or chasing after someone. "Um...yeah. I'm Masaki Akira, thank you for responding", and then there was the part of Yeong having an urgent mission. The nervousness of knowing they're about to withhold information now mingled with the concern for what she's doing. If it was urgent, then it was dangerous...or maybe not...

"There-there was a wanderer, that's why I called", so far the truth. Alerted to it first by Sakitty's reaction, even though it had taken them a moment longer to notice it themself, the surprise and fear quickly overwhelmed by Bradley's sudden appearance and rescue. But admitting they knew a wanted criminal was hardly something that would go well. "I thought I'd call and try to escape, but...someone saved me and defeated it. I-I've never seen them before and they left before I could ask for their name, though", it's slightly rushed, and they pray it would be excused by the very clearly stressful situation they had been in. "So...that's why...um, I hope I haven't wasted too much of your time..."

The pause that follows isn't long enough to give him a chance to speak, however. "I understand you might not be able to tell me, and that I'm asking for too much, but Yeong's my friend...um...is her mission dangerous...?"