「We need to talk about what will become of us fairies—what we should become from here on out.」
With the distant sound of laughter from the Hatano household—Mint and Chocola playing together—Four Seasons gave a faint smile.
「For the past half a year, ever since we met Sui-kun and the Hatano family, the world around us has undergone a drastic change. 『Tir na Nog』 was recognized by humans, Color was able to leave the boundary, and both of us regained our memories of the past. On top of that, we even reunited with an old friend—Alice.」
「That’s true, but…」
Just as Color raised a doubtful voice, Four Seasons cut in.
「And changes in our environment have inevitably influenced the way we exist.」
——He continued.
「Color, do you remember? When you reunited with Alice, the two of you embraced and cried like children. At that moment… what happened to your tears?」
「Ah…」
Color’s breath caught.
Alice, too, finally realized.
「Kaoruko cried normally. I remember it well—my chest got completely soaked.」
The warmth—no, the heat—of those tears was nothing like the cold, unyielding touch of stone.
「That moment has been on my mind. Later, I discussed it with Sui-kun, and I think his hypothesis is quite accurate. So, I’ll borrow his words. He suggested… 『Color-san’s gem might be the sorrow of the ethereal world, made manifest in the mortal world.』」
「…What does that mean?」
「Color’s tears turn into gem. That is simply a biological trait of the Fairy Queen. I used those gem to create 『points』—anchors for passageways all over the world. I’ve given some to the Hatano family as protective charms, and they also serve as the power source for the observation device in this forest—the familiar they launched into the sky. But more importantly, those gems are pure crystallized magic, imbued with Color’s unique magic attribute. Essentially, they are condensed magic power, materialized spells in physical form.」
「…I see.」
Hearing that, Alice understood.
Having lived for two centuries, she prided herself on her deep knowledge of magic—one of the foremost in the world.
「So when the Fairy Queen, a being of the ethereal world, is moved by emotions for the mortal world, her tears become spells, imprinted onto reality—like a stamp.」
Her eyes glowed with the color of magic.
And if the eyes of the Fairy Queen could manifest magic, then surely—along with the sorrow she felt—they would overflow with it.
Kinoue Kaoruko’s all-attribute composite magic—『(All Things Four Seasons, Flowers, Wither and Bloom』. A peerless enhancement spell that doubles the target’s magical output.
If Color’s tears were a physical manifestation of that very spell, then they would serve as both a keystone to activate magic and a medium to amplify its power.
「For two thousand years—Color’s tears have always been ones of sorrow, shed by a fairy bound to the ethereal world, longing for the mortal world.」
Four Seasons spoke, recalling the span of two millennia.
「We, Alice, have traveled the continent, settling in each land for roughly two hundred years before moving on, as the children’s memories reset. And before we departed, we always buried Color’s tears in that place—leaving behind traces of Color’s lingering desire to step outside.」
And now, where their long journey had led them—
Four Seasons turned his gaze toward the Western-style house nestled within the forest.
「But half a year ago, at the end of summer, Color finally set foot outside the castle. At first, we still saw ourselves as a being of the ethereal world. But then… Alice, after reuniting with you, we took another step closer to being creatures of the mortal world. Not physically, but in spirit. To put it simply, our hearts are beginning to return to those of humans.」
「So that’s why… Kaoruko’s tears didn’t turn into gem?」
「That’s what Sui-kun and I believe. Most likely, Color will no longer create 『Fairy’s Tears』. If she consciously try, she might be able to, but… she won’t simply harden and drop like before, the moment they fall.」
Hearing that their heart was shifting from fairy to human, Color seemed bewildered.
「…I don’t really feel any different. And as for my tears, I wouldn’t know unless I cried. It’s not like I can just do it on command.」
「It’s your own heart, after all. Even I didn’t realize it until I heard Sui-kun’s theory. But… 『a change of heart』 is a significant thing. Especially for beings like us, who exist beyond this world. A shift in the heart changes awareness. A change in awareness shifts perspective, alters the way one lives. And in time… it transforms one’s very nature.」
For instance, a person who firmly believes they are healthy may rarely fall ill.
Or someone who constantly dwells on their misfortune may end up inviting more bad luck.
If even humans experience such things, then for fairies—beings shaped half by magic—such changes would be even more profound.
「Half a year ago, when Sui-kun found us, our very nature began to change. And not just for Color and me—it affected the children as well.」
Four Seasons once again reached out toward Color.
As a husband, he took his wife’s hand and spoke.
「Our children… Peacock, Drizzle, Hanaikada, Bonfire, Magpie. Their individual longevity limits are extending.」
「What…」
This time, Color was truly speechless.
Meanwhile, Four Seasons’ smile took on a mischievous edge.
「It seems that my shifting awareness is influencing their very being. After all, their pseudo-immortality stems from my affinity with dark attribute. And perhaps, witnessing Sui-kun’s impossibly advanced magic played a role as well. I never imagined that after two thousand years, we would still be capable of growth.」
「No way… Then, those children…」
「Yes. Even two hundred years from now, they will not simply fade away. They will not be reborn, losing all their memories. They will remember everything—our time together, Alice, Sui-kun, and all the days we have yet to build as a family.」
And then—
「Color, do you understand? This is only the beginning… Our beginning.」
Four Seasons—Toshiya—
Held Color—Kaoruko—tightly in his arms, stroking her head.
「You said earlier that once a thread is severed, it can never be rejoined. That there is no place for us in this world. And… in some ways, you may be right. We are beings who have fallen between the cracks of existence. Even if our hearts change, even if our way of being evolves, our biological definition and spatial coordinates will not. We remain fairies—children with wings, forever apart from humanity. And yet…」
He grasped her shoulders, turning her gently to face Alice.
「Your tears no longer harden into cold, lifeless gem. Our children will continue to grow, day by day, shaping their hearts. And more than anything… we have escaped two thousand years of stagnation. We have encountered both our past and our future—our friends from Japan, and a long-lost companion.」
Toshiya—Four Seasons—
Ran his hand through Kaoruko’s—Color’s—hair and gave her a reassuring push forward.
「Even if a thread is severed, a new one can always be spun. And now, our place is no longer beyond reach—it is woven into this world itself. Do you see, Color? My beloved wife… Go on, see it for yourself.」
Alice—
Watanuki Arisu—Alice Athenak—
Stepped forward to meet her dearest fairy friend.
「Ei.」
「…Hya?!」
Alice gave a light chop to Color’s head.
「Alice…」
「Color, you’re overthinking things. And—」
Next, she turned to the figure behind her.
「Ei.」
「Ow!」
She delivered another chop to her husband, who had been standing there with an insufferably smug look on his face.
「Four Seasons, your speeches are always long-winded and roundabout. You’ve been like this forever.」
「Wait, what… You’ve always thought that about me?」
「Not just me. That’s the consensus among all of our friends. Even my husband said, 『That guy talks so much, at least he won’t bore my little sister.』」
「Wow… That’s harsh.」
Four Seasons furrowed his brows and gave a wry smile. Alice only shrugged and stretched her arms.
「Seriously. I was planning on taking my time, enjoying the world one place at a time… but this turned into a full-speed express tour. Hardly any time to take in the wonder of it all.」
「That’s on me.」
「Well, we can take it slow next time. …Anyway, it’s still early afternoon, right?」
Right on cue, the sound of a sliding window opening came from beyond the concrete wall ahead—from the house standing there.
「Oh, perfect timing.」
With a light bounce in her step, Alice placed her hands on the wall and peered into the Hatano family’s garden.
She spotted Sui stepping onto the porch and called out.
「Hey, Sui-kun! Are you free right now?」
「Ah, good afternoon, Alice-san. …Why are you over there?」
「Are you free? Is your family home? Then how about we have a flower viewing in 『Tir na Nog』? It’s spring, and I thought it’d be nice to relax under the cherry blossoms.」
「That sounds like a great idea, but… isn’t it a bit sudden?」
「No problem, no problem. I’ll have Four Seasons and the others prepare food and drinks.」
「Hey, don’t just—」
「Come on, Four Seasons, stop standing around! Get moving!」
She spun around and barked at him, prompting a resigned chuckle and a nod of agreement. Beside him, Color laughed softly, eyes crinkling with amusement—
And in their corners, tears shimmered.
Not tears of sorrow.
Not tears longing for a world beyond reach.
These were tears born from the happiness right beside her.
Tears can come from joy, from laughter.
And they are so common, so simple—so much more precious than any gemstone.
As Alice reflected on that simple truth, she waved enthusiastically at the Hatano family, who were beginning to gather.
「Alright, thirty minutes from now! Let’s meet under the cherry trees!」
「Understood. Then we’ll whip up something quick on our end as well.」
Spring marks the beginning of four seasons.
A time when color blooms.
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