Return To The Island

"So you guys do this everyday?"

A blonde teenager walked alongside a man as the two carried a pile of wood on their backs. The forest that surrounded Chocolate Village had always been a good source of resources that helped feed, clothe and protect their little village. It was especially so when pirates land without knowing the path to the village, as the forest was littered with beasts that hunt those stragglers when they make the wrong move.

"Well, yeah, unless you want to shiver to death in the cold of the night."

The older man then gave the young man a gentle smile while tossing him a canteen. The blonde teen took a sip of the canteen handed to him, only to spit it back out as soon as the bitter taste accompanied by the burning sensation filled his throat.

*spfft* *bleghh*

"What is this?"

"Oh, wait, wrong canteen."

Ferrero took the canteen from the boy's hand, afraid that some of his spit might enter the container as he passed the other one in his possession to the kid.

"Sorry about that, this one's for your big brother."

Ferrero shook the canteen filled with cocoa Liquor, the specialty of the village. It would have tasted very delicious if it was properly filtered, but Akatora asked for an unfiltered batch for who knows what.

"It's so bitter! That tastes horrible! Big bro actually likes that?"

"It's not meant for drinking, it's to attract the beasts. Speaking of beasts, we should run."

"Beasts?"

*growl*

"Run!"

A terrifying sound came from behind the two as the ground shook. That was when the two started running for their lives without caring if the wood on their backs fell off on their haste.

The beast that came for them turned out to be a giant wolf with brown hair. It looked insane while giving its all in chasing the two as the smell of the concentrated cocoa wafted into its nostrils. It was about to get a swipe in when a figure suddenly appeared right if front of its black nose.

*bang* *thud* *whimper*

"Slow down! You're wasting the wood."

The wolf landed on the ground as it tried to lessen the pain on its nose. No thoughts of revenge lingered as the man's aura had already given the beast a suffocating dread. A man suddenly appeared behind the two, his face containing an ever present smile that gave a reassuring feeling. This was especially prevalent in the two who were currently lying on the ground in exhaustion.

"Sorry about that, I should have collected the liquor myself."

"Don't *gasp* worry *gasp* about it *gasp"

"Hahaha, never change Ferrero. Never change."

Akatora lent his old friend a hand, lifting him up from his lying position. They were currently a few kilometers away from the village proper, far enough that it would last them a good fraction of a day if they went by with just walking. Even so, they just walked anyway. What's the need to rush when there was nothing to do?

It was when they were walking around, savoring the beautiful nature around them as they talked about stories of their lives in the past three years.

"You're saying you still haven't asked Malinda out?"

Ferrero placed his hands behind his back as he looked up in the sky. His eyes reddened in suffering as he tried to remember everyday that he tried to ask her, but his little heart never had the courage to do so.

"It's not that simple, you know?"

"Why?"

It was then that Rosinante walked in on their conversation. He was only hearing on the side as he had no stories to tell. At least none that he thought was appropriate for the mood. He had nothing but sad stories after all.

"Cause you know, she's..."

"*pfft* I get it, you're scared."

Rosinante had seen that look before. That look of having hesitation on whether or not to do something, that's the same look he had on his face just a few years ago. But now that he was older, he knew that he should push him to do something about it now rather than let it keep him in fear forever.

"No, I'm not! I'm just... *sigh* Yeah, I'm scared."

"Then I dare you! Ask her out and I'll promise to make you two a good house!"

"You'll build us a house? Are you a carpenter or something?"

"Yeah! I'll be the best house builder in the Marines! Isn't that right, big brother Akatora?"

"Of course! He's even helped dad build a small cottage in his island."

"Hmmm... I don't know. It's not like I can just do it whenever I want."

"Of course you can! That's what life's about isn't it? When there's nothing to hold you back, that's when you're truly free!"

"Whahaha, you sound like dad right now Rosinante."

"Yeah! That's what I want to be! I want to be like dad!"

Akatora and Rosinante walked gleefully as they walked back, only to realize that Ferrero had stopped walking for a while now as they looked back only to see him have a strange expression.

"You ok, Ferrero?"

"... You think she'd say yes?"

"Do I look like I'm a fortune teller?"

Akatora pointed at himself while Rosinante just laughed at the side. This made Ferrero furious though as he felt that he was being messed with by the two of them. He was about to leave them behind when he felt a hand stop him as he felt his shoulder being stuck to it.

"If you knew the answer, would you have hesitated?"

"..."

"If you never ask, how would you know?"

"?"

A thoughtful look was in Ferrero's face as he watched the two walk in front of him. He remembered how Akatora's back used to look like a sad child that had no place in the world. Now, now it looked much more reliable. Like he could carry the world, like he promised to carry the village to prosperity all those years ago.

"Hey! You coming?"

Akatora looked back to see that Ferrero's face now had a smile, but this smile was unlike anything he had before. It was a confident smile.

One he remembered having for the first time all those years ago.