Violet Evergarden Ever After: Chapter 3Please feel free to message me about possible corrections. If

Violet Evergarden Ever After: Chapter 3Please feel free to message me about possible corrections. If you can, consider supporting the creators by purchasing the official releases. In case anyone is feeling generous: Ko-fi | PayPal. ( ╹◡╹)っ’･*← Previous || Index || Next →No one would imagine that a singledrop could be the start of something so big. However, it would earn itselfgreat meaning after a while passed. Should it continue pouring, it could alsosummon boundless blessings and curses.Love was almost like rain. The Journey and the Auto-Memories Doll That one was a rain of betrayal.It started with a calm morning, thesky unfolding without any hints of being enshrouded in dark clouds. Regardless,it did not take too long for the capricious rain brought by the heavens to turninto a downpour rarely seen in recent years.There was no longer any sign of therain that had started to fall like gentle kisses from paradise on the blackhats of gentlemen walking around town, over the backs of cats dozing under thesun or onto the cheeks of children who opened their mouths and burst intolaughter. The current season was the end of summer, and it was raining for thefirst in a long while in Leidenschaftlich, where the skies were constantlyclear in summer, but had the god that controlled weather gone crazy? With time,as if a bucket had turned over, the city was hit by a flood.This story is about an uneventfulday, which did nothing but pass, in the lives of people who worked at a certainpostal company. The rain and wind struck the entirebuilding as if attacking it. The doorbell rang loudly because of this, a manstanding in place and staring at it with unease.Creak-creak, the door moved.Ring-ring, the bell resounded. Since it was ringing despite there being no customers,he had become concerned and found himself coming down from his residence in thetop floor.In the previous year, the buildinghad been shot with rocket artillery, and not only had it earned an enormoushole but a fire had also occurred – however, thanks to the quick skills ofworkmen, the hole was now closed and the walls had been neatly rebuilt.The man was a stylish redhead. Hewas the president of this company, which he had named after himself.Claudia Hodgins had been left allalone in the empty postal office. Still, it was normal for him to be there, asit was both his home and workplace. However, since he was by himself at a timethat would usually still be within business hours, no matter what, he lookedlike he had been abandoned.The postal office had been in greatturmoil because of the storm. Surely, so had its peers. With the deliveriesstagnated, complaints were coming from the clients. Nevertheless, thetransportation was not carried out by machines devoid of feelings. It wassomething done by humans, who had been given birth to by someone and who hadfamilies waiting for them when they returned home. In lieu of the unprecededdisaster, as the president, he had notified all employees that business wouldbe closed for today.To begin with, the customers hadstopped coming in the middle of the day. If he had to say so himself, thismight be the expected. Deliberately going outside amidst such strong wind andtorrential rain was an act of sheer madness.Curious about what was going onoutside, Hodgins had approached the entrance from the side. He felt likeattempting to open the large doors just a little. He wanted to see how inundatedthe ground was. Just when he slow and carefully reached a hand towards it, thedoor opened with force despite him not doing anything.“Ow…!”“Oh, my bad. More importantly, we’rescrewed; it’s just impossible, Old Man!”Hodgins was teary-eyed as hisprecious nose took a hit. He was lightheaded for an instant due to the pain,but soon regained consciousness. After all, one of his employees had come back dripping-wet.Hodgins pulled him – whole body wrapped in rain gear – by the arm, bringing himinside and closing the door. Although it was only open for a few seconds, theentrance was already drenched.The visitor took off the hood overhis head, allowing his face to be seen. He was a splendidly handsome and fineman of sky-blue eyes and sandy-blond hair.“Benedict…!”Benedict Blue. One of the postalcompany’s postmen, who had been working in it ever since its founding.“It’s impossible – actually, it’sabsurd! Working under this rain is absurd! I look like I’m in the bath already.I wouldn’t have come here if I weren’t soaked… Making the staff pull out wasthe right choice,” Benedict said as if angry-yelling, shaking his head in thesame way that a dog or cat would and splattering water splashes at Hodgins.This wetted most of Hodgins’s shirtand face, but he was unable to reprimand his employee, who had been doingstrenuous effort. He accepted it in resignation, wiping Benedict’s face withthe sleeve of his shirt. “Okay, stay put.”“Uoh, what’s with you? Stop.”“Welcome home. I was worried. Goodthing you’re all right.”“O-Oh. What, hum… I’m back… Youwere worried about me?”“Of course,” Hodgins said, to whichBenedict turned away with an obviously embarrassed attitude after a moment ofbewilderment.Outside, vases and planters that mayhave been at the eaves of people’s houses, as well as shop signs, had beenturning into weapons for a while now, dancing around the city along with thewind. Managing to come back unharmed and safely amidst this weather, where onecould not know what would come flying their way, was something to be happyabout.“I’m just fine. This job’s easierthan running around shooting guns. Anyway, I was left with the letters andpackages of a guy who fell from his motorcycle and came back by myself. Wasbest to do that, right?”“Aah, so someone got hurt?”“That newbie, Clark. But he onlyscrapped his knees. He fell lots of times when he was learning how to ride, butfor real, it’s surprisingly depressing when you fall off other than duringpractice. He was crying, y’see.”“Aah~.”Knowing who the person in questionwas, Hodgins pitied him. He was the youngest postman to join the company as oflate. It was difficult to find human resources for postmen as they were quickto quit.“He’s young, after all…”“You call him young but… he’salready a grown man. I wonder if he ain’t lying to us about his age… Ithought he was a baby or something.”“You can’t compare him to a city boyfresh from the battlefield like yourself. I’m gonna get you a towel and achange of clothes now, so don’t move from there.”“Why?”“You’d wet the floor. Don’t tell meto go around cleaning up where you walked.”“Clean it up,” he said whilelaughing, to which Hodgins’s shoulders slumped. He was a reliable companion,but also a young man who knew not how to show respect for his elders.——Well, guess I’m a so-called doting parent for thinking that’s cute –no, doting boss.Anyhow, they needed towels, Hodginsthought as he went back to his room. He grabbed a few large towels and held apair of trousers and shirt that Benedict would apparently fit into under hisarm. Then returned to the ground floor. By the time he did so, the number ofpeople had increased.“Uwah… Amazing, it’s likesqueezing a rag.”There were three more other thanBenedict. If they were to be separated by types, one of them had evacuatedafter receiving a report of work, one had evacuated after finishing work, and onehad been ordered to clock out, but all had come back halfway through, as theirbodies were about to be blown off by the overwhelming storm.“Please stop.” There was VioletEvergarden, whose golden hair was in Benedict’s grasp.“Why? You said your hair was wet.”“You just want to touch Violet’shair, Benedict. Isn’t that right?” Lux Sibyl, who had given up on wiping herglasses and was glaring at the empty space.“That’s not it. Don’t say weirdstuff, Lux.”“You knooow, my hair’s just as long asViolet’s.” And Cattleya Baudelaire, who scowled at Benedict with her armscrossed.The members who had been there eversince the founding were Violet, Cattleya and Benedict, but Lux, having joinedmidway, was now a skillful secretary who covered up the schedule of theemployees and president and moved them around like chess pieces. As the fourpeople whose ages were close to each other’s came together, the conversationnaturally livened up.“You—You’re that kinda thing. If I touch you in a place like this, it’d be that kinda thing. This is our workplace,so there’s all that kinda thing. Morallyspeaking, it’s that kinda thing.”“What do you mean ‘morally speaking’?!”“I wish you wouldn’t say thosethings even if you think about them. Right, Violet?”“‘Public morals’…? Benedict, whatam I from your point of view?”“V, you’re like a little sister tome… Aah, Old Man, gimme another towel.”It was a terribly joyful thing thatthe company’s young aces had returned to it safe and sound.“Everyone, don’t move from that spotno matter what. Hey, Cattleya! Don’t move!”However, wiping all the water offthe bodies of those four turned out to be a bone-breaking work. Out of kindness, Hodgins invited thefour people who had gathered up at the postal company to his residence in thetop floor.The whole floor was his apartment,thus it was quite large. A family of five could live comfortably in it. Thefurnishings were arranged in wooden items and serene shades of dark brown andgreen. It was a relaxed, adult atmosphere, where was nothing particularlyfunny. It had a faint scent of the perfume that Hodgins always wore.The invited four let out sighs ofrelief. The biggest reason for it, although there was also the fact that thiswas Hodgins’s apartment, was that they were able to escape the horriblesituation outdoors. With the exception of Lux, three of them were tough enoughto take part in the act of physically crushing other postal companies, buthuman beings could not win against natural disasters.“Hey, what do we do? We can’t go homeanymore, can we?”“There’s nothing we can do. We gotno choice but stay in Old Man’s place.”“First time something like thishappens, huh. But we’re all together, so… might be imprudent of me to saythis, but… it’s a bit fun. Violet, are you worried about your home?”“Yes, about the flowerbeds.”“You should say ‘about the peopleback home’, V.”“The two went on a trip, so they areaway. I promised that I would take care of the flowers in their absence, whichis why… I am worried about the flowerbeds. Besides, if that house were to bedestroyed by this storm, this place would meet its end much sooner… We havelittle time left to live.”“Don’t go from talking about yourfamily to destroying the company, Little Violet. Hey, hey, everyone, you’llcatch a cold so get changed first. Put the towels in the laundry basket.Benedict, don’t throw the towels wherever!”As told by Hodgins, the employees firstlydecided to change their clothes.Violet and Cattleya had justreturned from a work trip of two days and one night, thus they had a change ofnightclothes in their bags, but Benedict and Lux did not. Although there was aheight difference between them, Hodgins had no issues with lending clothes toBenedict, who was also a man, but there was a need for careful selection whenit came to Lux.“Shirt… shirt, shirt; all I haveis shirts.”“Hum, President, I’m fine withanything.”“Eeh… that okay?”As a result, the boy and girl cameinto the scene wearing baggy clothes. Benedict looked almost the same as whenhe and Hodgins first met. When he was left to chance completely naked in adesert, he had borrowed a shirt and trousers just as he was doing now. Heseemed pleased with it, however…“Feels kinda naughty…”…the problem was Lux.“Benedict’s fine, but maybe it won’tdo for Little Lux? Is this okay?” Hodgins asked everyone with a meek face.They all had at last settled down,each seated in a place of their preference while sipping tea. The employeeswere relaxing as if they were in their own homes. Contrary to the peacefulstate of the situation inside, there was still a sound of rain hitting thewindows and a troubled noise of something colliding against the buildingoutside.“What is ‘okay’ supposed to mean?”Sitting on the sofa, Violet tilted her head. Being comfortably dressed in adusty-pink nightwear gave her usually disciplined self a slightly soft andgentle air.“Little Violet.”“Yes.”“Your nightgown is cute, huh.”“The people from the householdbought it for me. Well, what is ‘okay’ supposed to mean? Was there anyproblem?”“Little Lux’s clothes.”For whatever reason, they had theperson in question standing in the center of the room. With everyone’s eyes onher, she seemed uneasy.“Hum… why do I have to stand inthe middle?”“Little Lux, stay like that anddon’t move.”“All right.”“What is wrong with Lux’s look? Youmean to say it lacks adornment?”“Why would that be the case, LittleViolet?”“You are the one who chooses attiresfor us Dolls and you have particularities regarding the clothing andaccessories, so I concluded that you might deem the plain shirt as not enough.”“No, no.” Hodgins flailed bothhands. The things he was saying had a moral value to them, out of fear that heroutfit was perhaps vulgar.Benedict had dealt with it by securingher trousers with a belt, but as Lux had too thin a waist, the outcome was thebelt falling off. In short, she was not wearing pants. Inevitably, she wasdressed in nothing but a shirt. However, her short stature fortunately made itlook like a shirt-dress.As Hodgins explained his concern,everyone said, “I see.”Showered with their stares more andmore, Lux began to blush.“It gives off a dangerous feelingwhen you think she ain’t wearing any, but on second thought, isn’t that thesame for skirts? There’s actually an open hole in them, but it’s not visible,so they’re classified as clothes. No big deal, is it?” Benedict had beenstanding with his back against the wall just a moment ago, yet had suddenlydrawn close to her and started examining her fixatedly.“Don’t say ‘not wearing any’!”“Well, I mean, you really ain’twearing any… but that’s okay. No biggie. You’re probably not an option forOld Man, so no worries. Right?”“That’s rude!”“I’m saying you don’t need to worryabout that kinda thing… Should I take mine off, then? I see; I’m fine withit. I’ll be the same as you. That all right? I’m gonna take it off.”“Stop, stop, stop!” As Benedict puta hand to his belt while laughing, Lux repeatedly hit his chest with her fiststo stop him. Lux was red up to her ears. “I can’t take this anymore! Violet!Take Benedict to over there!”“Understood.”“Owowowow, V, ouch, that’s not it;it was the Old Man who said weird stuff first. We’re friends, so I was showingthat she doesn’t have to get hung up over something like…”Caught in Violet’s arms, Benedictobediently sat on the sofa. Perhaps in order not to allow him to escape, shegripped his hands and sat next to him.Cattleya cut through the silence,“The tea is delicious.” She was scattered over the bed. She must have beentired from returning from the Doll business trip. Her eyes were downcast. Shemight be sleepy.“Cattleya, do you not have anycomments to make? I want to hear lots of opinions.”“Eeeh, me?” Cattleya joined theneedless debate as if it were a bother. “Hmmm… if someone were making herwear this because it’s their taste, it’d be gross indeed, but there’s no otherclothes for her… It’d also be horrible to leave her with just a towel wrap,so I think it’s valid. Speaking of which, President…”“Hm?”“You’re saying that even though youpick open-chested clothes for my Doll outfits? And the times you were choosingDoll attires for me, y’knooow, you were never so considerate to say ‘not this,not this either’ when discussing it with the people from the made-to-orderstore…”Her manner of speech was somewhatthorny, but Hodgins did not make much out of it. “That’s because they look goodon you.” Rather, he said decisively, with an earnest gaze and excessiveconfidence, “Because they look good on you. Is my judgement wrong?”“E-Eh?” Being replied to sounapologetically, Cattleya’s reasoning jumbled up, to the point she foundherself wondering if she was the one in the wrong.The Doll outfit that Cattleyausually wore was composed mainly of a crimson dress-coat, so there was nomistaking that one could not wear it unless the person was remarkably stylish.In addition, there was also no doubt that it was lascivious. Whoever looked ather would find their line of sight momentarily going to her chest. Still,whoever looked at her would remember the woman named Cattleya Baudelaire atonce.“No… it’s not like your choicesare wrong… but I only forgive you because you’re the boss. I was shocked whenyou first showed me that outfit! I didn’t use to wear something like thatbefore.”“Well, but y’see, anhourglass-shaped person looks more slender when the area around theircollarbone is exposed, and it’s pretty.”An evident question mark floatedabove Violet’s head at the unfamiliar word. Benedict pointed a finger at thetea set arranged on the nearby table. An hourglass used to measure the time ittook to steam the tealeaves was lying there. Perhaps finding the similaritybetween it and a plump chest and dainty hips, Violet nodded as if convinced.“You’ve got an hourglass-shapedfigure with that slim waist, so I gave you a coat-dress that puts this ondisplay. You can adjust it with the ribbon, so it’s not a pain, right? It has awonderful line in mathematical terms, y’know? Plus, you also have a cheerful character,so it doesn’t look vulgar. That’s important. It means that outfit takes intoconsideration even the personality of the one wearing it. And the owner of thatmade-to-order store is famous not just in this country but abroad. The outfitsof our Dolls are on a whole different level in comparison to other companies,aren’t they?”“Y-Yeah.”“I don’t want to bring this up, butthey’re very expensive.”“Eh, I’m sorry. S-Should I pay youback? Either that or you can dock my salary…”“No, you’re my Doll, after all.Nobody waters a flower to get money off it, right? It’s fine, Cattleya. Juststay pretty. It’s exactly because I have obsessions over clothes that I don’twant to make a girl look vulgar. And it’s exactly because I like girls that Iwant to have them shine wonderfully. That’s also why I have a few complaintsabout Little Lux’s usual plain clothes, though…”“I don’t know why you decided to runa mail service, President, but I accept that passion of yours. I’ll wear thoseclothes with care. But, President, I’m doing my best, so I want a new outfit. Acute one.”Listening to the conversation of thetwo in silence, perhaps tired of going along with her superior, Lux looked atViolet and Benedict’s direction with a gaze that quietly asked for help. Therewas a gap on the sofa that seemed enough for one person to sit. Having lockedeyes with her, Violet told Benedict to scoot over after a brief moment andpatted the open spot. Lux sat next to them, looking happy.“Violet, what’re you drinking?” Luxpeeked at the teacup that Violet was holding.“I wonder. I took the tealeaves thatwere in the kitchen. I do not know what type of tea it is.”“Darjeeling.”“Benedict, how did you know?”“‘Cause that guy likes Darjeeling.All the tea cans he has are nothing but that.”“Guess I’m gonna drink that too; mybody got cold from the long time under the rain.”“Heeey, the three of you who endedthe talk before we noticed! Listen to what I have to say.” Hodgins put hishands on his hips, pretending to be angry.“We were deviating from the mainsubject. We deemed that it was not a necessary conversation and took actionprioritizing Lux’s rest,” Violet expressed with a clear voice tone.“Besides, this talk’s about bedroomwear, ain’t it?” Benedict added a two-fold retort. The blond, blue-eyed duothat looked like siblings stared at Hodgins with questioning eyes.“Ugh, I comply with you two nomatter what you say when you both look at me at the same time, so cut it out.But I’m not giving up. I think she needs one more article of clothing.”“Hum… President, I’m okay withthis. I’m already thankful that I could borrow your clothes. Besides, when youmake such a big fuss about it, things that weren’t lewd in the first placestart to seem lewd, so to say,” Lux said, wanting to end this topic as fast aspossible.“The solution has come to me.Wouldn’t it be best if I took the shirt and trousers and had Lux wear thisnightgown?”However, Violet wound up rewindingit.——Violet!Lux hit Violet repeatedly in hermind.“Ah~, that’s right. If that’s thecase, I can do it too. But maybe my nightgown is too big? It’s a negligee justlike Violet’s. The shoulder length might be the problem for this one…”“Old Man, you gonna die if you don’tobsess over the stuff we wear? You ain’t. Give up.”“No way. Days like this one don’tcome by. All five of us are trapped in the company and we can’t get out. You’vegot no choice but stay here in my house, right? We’re having the best ofparties, a pajama party. I want it to be a good one. But I can’t enjoy it whenI’m worrying over Little Lux’s clothes.”Benedict contemplated a reply toHodgins’s words for a few seconds, but soon stopped. He was probably tired. Helooked Violet’s way and asked, “Hey, you not hungry? I’m gonna take a look at thekitchen.“Hey, don’t ignore me.” As Benedictstood up, Hodgins chased after him.“Benedict’s gonna make something?Yay! You guys probably don’t know this, but he’s good at cooking.” Cattleyalined up behind them.“I didn’t say I was gonna makeanything, though… Well, if you’re hungry, I can do it.”“I shall assist you.” Violet raised herarms, rolling up her sleeves. Her prosthetics made a creaking noise.“V, you can cook?”“To some extent. In the military, Iused to make preparations for the cooking. Mrs. Evergarden… Lady Tiffany alsotrained me on it.“M-Me too… I can peel the potatoes,and stuff.” Lux hastily went after everyone. In a trail, a big move to thekitchen began to take place.“Lux. You don’t usually cook, doyou? I can already tell by just that statement. I’ll teach you.”“Most things get solved just bypeeling the potatoes… Benedict, you’re making fun of me, aren’t you?”“Am not, Potato Demigod.”“Violet, Benedict insulted me!”“Benedict.”“Owowow! V—! Don’t poke my sides! Ahit from those crazy-ass prosthetics of yours ain’t no cutesy way to pokeanyone! It just hurts like it normally would!”In the end, Hodgins was able to finda light feather-print sweater in his closet and gave it to Lux. As she put iton, with her short stature, its length became the same as that of a longcardigan, which Hodgins was awfully pleased with for how adorable it was. The madder-red sky was not visibleat dusk, the outside morphing into evening with no changes in the rainyweather.Benedict made a soup at random withthe vegetables available in Hodgins’s kitchen, which had seasonings inabundance, while Violet and Cattleya supplied it with cookies that they hadbrought back as souvenirs from their ghostwriting business trip. Lux broughtover small candy marbles that she kept stored in her desk at the company, andBenedict, instructed by Hodgins, reluctantly took an expensive bottle hidden onthe liquor shelf of the latter’s room.“Hey, let’s rummage through thedesks of everyone in the company. There are probably gonna be other ingredientsin them.”“If it’s Mr. Anthony’s desk, I thinkthere’s definitely something in it. Mr. Anthony always gives me sweets… We’rein a state of emergency so I’m sure he’ll forgive us for it.”“There were sweets in the receptionguys’ desks. Would they get mad if we took them?”“Definitely seem like they would.But this sweet… is one of the tasty ones… I wanna eat it.”Lux, who was still growing, andBenedict, who had missed lunch and did not have enough with just the vegetablesoup, procured more food. The sweets that the hungry thieves sneaked from thecompany employees’ desks turned out as what could be considered a big catch,and so, the five people trapped inside during a day of usual rain commenced anight party.The five of different ages, gendersand positions were already at a state where they could be deemed as a singlefamily through the many incidents they had overcome and the time they had spenttogether. They laughed a lot, talked a lot.“You remember when Violet broughtLux over? She went to negotiate it directly with Old Man with so much might,like, ‘I have picked up a puppy. Please give me permission to raise it here.Now, hurry’. They were holding hands and she wouldn’t let go of Lux, explainingthe situation all at length as if to say she wasn’t gonna move until he gavethe permission. The way Old Man acted so suspicious back then was a realblast.”“I remember~! He was like, ‘Eh,“demigod”? Eh, “abduction and confinement”? Have you told the military policeabout that?’… President was so troubled, walking in circles around the two.It was the funniest thing of that year.”“Hum… I’m sorry.”“No, no, don’t apologize, LittleLux. You’re our main player now, so you did what you could to get where you are.You really exerted yourself in this unfamiliar land. Work for us forever, ‘kay?Rather, for me. Little Violet does some unbelievable stuff sometimes, but shegenerally doesn’t do anything wrong, so back then, her first-time deed shook upeven someone like me, with plenty of life experience. Saying no didn’t evencross my mind.”“I knew that President Hodgins wouldgive you a generous treatment. If I had not concluded so, I would not have donesuch a thing. Thank you very much for that time, President.”“Little Violet… Little Violet’sall grown up too, huh; you’ve become a wonderful lady…”“Well, she’s got you as her exampleof guardian figure, after all.”“I was raised by both Benedict andPresident Hodgins. You are my examples.”“Eh, so I’m Old Man’s son…? Gimmethe whole company.”“No way! Actually, you’re taking apart of the company in the future, so that much should be fine, right?”“You were serious about that? If yousplit the company…”“Yeah, I’ll be the vice-president.V, call me Vice-President Benedict.”“Benedict will be… thevice-president?”“Violet, you haven’t been to thecompany too often because of work, right? I’ll stay as President Hodgins’ssecretary, but some of the employees will go to Benedict’s side. That’s gonnabe pretty lonely… Still, the company will be built inside the country, soit’ll be close in terms of distance. But it won’t be the same buildinganymore.”“Other people… will also be gone.”“Did I tell you that my role’s gonnachange too?”“I have not heard about that.”“I’ll be transferred to training thenewcomers. Violet, you’ll stay as you are. Well, between you and me, if we wereto debate on which one should be the instructor, it’d have to be me. I’m goodat looking after others.”“Cattleya will be… an instructor…”“I’ll be here like always. The Dolldepartment that Little Violet and the others are in will stay in the mainoffice and you’re largely in charge of the numbers in our Doll department, so yourrole won’t change.”“Sounds like I don’t make money whenyou put it like that.”“No, it’s not like that… I’ve beenkeeping the right people in the right places since long ago, right? I asked youto do this because I thought you could be everyone’s big sis. Besides, wasn’tit you, Cattleya, who immediately replied that you’d to it when I said your paywould increase if you became an instructor?”“Well, that’s because I don’t knowhow long I could keep on being a Doll. It’s a job you can do even when you getolder, but walking up mountains has been hard lately. Probably because of myhigh heels.”They truly laughed a lot and talkeda lot.In their feel-at-home looks, theyplayed card games, discussed memories of their trips and laughed holding theirstomachs at silly stories. The night went on and on and the heavy rain outsidegradually subsided, but no one said, “Let’s go home, then”. Days like thesewere a rarity. They all knew this much.“I’m having lots of fun today. It’dbe great if it were always like this.” The words that Cattleya muttered with abig smile spoke for everyone’s feelings.Whenever a fun feast reached itsclimax, the loneliness towards the fact that it was going to end would crossthe corners of people’s heads. That applied not only to this day that God hadgranted them but also to matters in the long run.Perhaps the company named CH PostalCompany itself could also be considered a feast to the people gathered in it. “May this dream, this fun time go onforever,” they wished.The dream had begun with ClaudiaHodgins. He then picked up Cattleya Baudelaire, Benedict Blue and VioletEvergarden.“Make sure to just lick it. So,how’s that?”They had built the company officebuilding in Leidenschaftlich and started it together. As the postal businesswas a privatized one and the competitors were many, nobody could predict atfirst for how long this company would continue to exist.“This stings.”A local customer then came, earningthem a large-scale contract in the delivery business.“Eh~, you okay, Violet? You’rebetter off as someone who can’t drink…”Their Auto-Memories Doll activitiesbegan to stand out.“But everyone is changing.”“Doesn’t that have nothing to dowith drinking alcohol? I drink ‘cause I like it. If you don’t, then stop.”“That’s right, Violet.”“No… Major has a taste for drinkingduring meals, so I had been thinking of learning to do it one day as well. Youare all changing one after another whenever I blink. I have started eating withother people quite often at work as well. I, too, shall adapt…”Along the way, a girl who would laterbecome a brilliant secretary joined them.“I see… Then I want to trydrinking too. I’m a secretary, after all. I have to eat out with other people.What kind of taste is it, if you had to compare?”Despite the major changes in thepersonal life of each, all of them had contributed to the development of thecompany, to the point that they spent every single day being busy.“Close to that of a perfume. In thatit is hard to swallow.”There would surely be many, manymore changes.“Hey, I can’t approve that opinion.Big Sis here will introduce you to delicious drinks. Rather than being taughtby a man, you should learn from me. Lux, you can’t yet.”Surely, their fates would twistfurther.“Eh~?!”“Benedict, bring another one. Andsomething to crack it open with.”For people to gather up, anencounter had to have happened. That was what it meant.“Aight, aight…” Benedict stood upfrom the sofa. He had been dragged into Cattleya’s scheme, in which she hadplanned the conspiracy of attempting to make Violet Evergarden consume alcohol,because he himself had complied with it.“O-Owah. Old Man. You were here?”“‘Were here,’ you ask… this is myhouse.”As they came across each other inthe kitchen, Benedict had let out a brash voice without thinking. The reason mightbe that he perhaps was seen grinning as he walked in. Despite his nihilisticattitude, he was happy to spend time with his friends.“I-I know. I was thinking you weretaking too long in the toilet…”“Cigar.”With the kitchen’s small windowopen, Hodgins was smoking a cigar. All of the women despised the smell, so herarely ever let them see him smoking. Just when Benedict was thinking about howhe had suddenly stood up and disappeared, there he was, smoking in secret.——He only smokes when he can’t calm down, though.There was no better day to relaxwith their companions, and yet.“Hey, take a look outside. It’s soquiet after the storm… like the wind. Even though it was so loud before.”Perhaps due to him being a little drunk, Hodgins’s face was red.“True… Hey, need more booze. Ain’tthere anything easier to drink?”“Eh, why? You can’t give it toLittle Lux.”“Cattleya wants to make V drinksome. Well, ain’t it okay? I think it’s about time she learns the ropes. Dunnowhen we’ll get to drink with her again… and it’s better to have people youget along with teaching you this kinda thing, right?”“Eeh… it’s still too soon. If youinsist, isn’t it enough to drip a drop of rum into her tea?”“Can you even call that a drink?Make it a degree higher.”Hodgins gave a strained smile. “Hey,hey, her big brother figure shouldn’t be saying this…”“I say it because I’m her big brother figure. I mean, we’re getting morerookies. She’s the highlight of our Doll department. Eating with people is partof having a big job. Before she gets involved with someone who wants to makeher drink…”“Does this have anything to do withme telling you to be the branch manager?”Hearing a slightly icy voice comingfrom the president, Benedict blinked. “No… sorta.”“She’s still a child, and I’lldefinitely always be with her in those kinds of places, so it’s okay. It’sstill early to teach her how to drink. Nope, nope.”“A ‘child’, you say… well, she’sgot a childish side, but she ain’t one anymore.”“She is – you, Cattleya and LittleLux, too, are all kids to me. Because you’re quick to do this kind of thing ifI don’t keep an eye on you… My, my,” Hodgins said, blowing out the tobaccosmoke. Mismatched as it was for someone with such a mature appearance, Benedictcould get a glimpse of childishness in him.“You’ll keep trying to do that fromnow on too? That’s impossible; face the reality,” Benedict bit out incidentally.Silence.Benedict’s words were not wrong. TheCH Postal Company was growing rapidly as a business. The fact that the postalcompany led by Salvatore Rinaudo had withdrawn from the postal industry in theprevious year had a major influence in this. They now reigned at a pivotalposition in Leidenschaftlich’s postal service. The CH Postal Company would soonaccount for nearly all of the commissions from the people living inLeidenschaftlich. Other than being busy with work affairs, there were evendiscussions about relocating the head office because of problems with waiting areasand break rooms due to securing new employees.“Like, you and I are gonna get damnbusy. The Auto-Memories Doll department is gonna be the main organ of the headoffice and my place will be ordinary mail, right? We’ll be teaching people howthings go, and I’ll be doing deliveries too. You’re the one with the busiestrole. Anything and everything’s gonna be relayed to you. Getting to be close toyour employees like until now while doing all that is just…”It was natural for a company thathad become bigger to do a corporative split-off and for one of their employees tomanage the branch office. Benedict was still young but had the power to bringpeople together. The task would not be an impossible one if they put a veteranof the head office in charge of taking over it. They could do this, Hodgins haddecided, thus he came up with the proposal.“The regular meetings and otherstuff that I take part in happen in the head office… It’s not like we won’tget to see each other.”“Everyone will have a different postand position. We won’t get to see each other. Same for you, Old Man.”“If it’s work, I can adjust it. I’lldo my best to administrate everyone so that the employees can get a time everynow and then to relax like this…”“Old Man, even if you do your best,V’s dating that nasty-ass military officer, so won’t they get married someday?Dunno ‘bout it, but… that’s why it’s impossible to always watch over us inthe first place…”Silence.“Hey, don’t clam up.”What was being thrust at Hodgins nowwas something that he did not want to look straight at, despite thinking aboutand readying himself for it. That was what he was being told.“Hodgins – hey, Old Man.”It was something that Benedict Blue hadthe right to say, exactly because they had been doing everything together fromthe start.“Hey, don’t take it in a weird way.I ain’t saying this to be malicious. You left the Auto-Memories Doll departmentin the head office ‘cause your wish to watch over V is a big deal, right? I getit. She’s special to you.”“That’s not it; I—”“But she won’t be a kid forever.She’s different from back when she started working, with you teaching hereverything. She’s someone who’s gonna let go of your hand one day. She ain’tyour real daughter or your girlfriend. Then, if you had to say what she is, atthe end of the day, she’s your employee. You’ll part ways one day. If you don’tget ready for that now, will you manage to get over it if she marries into thatbastard’s family and he makes her leave the company?”“Will you manage to get over it?” The question ruminated in Hodgins’s heart.Benedict had shot him where it hurtwithout mercy. He was a gun expert. His aim was precise and the bleeding madeHodgins want to hold his own chest down.——Will I recover if I ever have to be separated from Violet Evergarden? Hodgins pondered earnestly over thequestion. ——I don’t know.He truly did not know.Bonds were things that could noteasily break off once they had connected, yet reality, time and busynessunpityingly caused the existence of “friends” to grow far apart.——To the point that I don’t know, I…Surely, a day like this would nothappen five years from now. Their place to return to amidst the rain would besomewhere else.——It’s not just her, but also you and everyone else.To begin with, they might not evenbe working in the company itself anymore until then. More of them would fallfor someone, nurture their love and move their places to be in life to their“homes”.Twenty, thirty years from now, itmight be hard for them to even work. Or they would not be alive – there wasalso that possibility.The one who was more aware of thisthan anybody else was Hodgins, the oldest of them all.——I’m the one who’s farthest apart in age.That was exactly why he did notknow.“I have no idea.”He did not want to see it. Did notwant to think about it.“I have too many things that matterto me, so I can’t make a move anymore. Y’know, you… you might aught at this,but… rather than when you’re young, getting hurt becomes scarier when yougrow older. You start losing the energy to do your best and heal. It’s tiring.Still…”Hodgins had thought that the youthin front of him, who referred to him as “Old Man” on a daily basis, wasprobably going to laugh, yet Benedict was expressionless.“Still…”He did nothing but listen. Hisposture of properly listening at times like these somewhat…——…looks like Little Violet.“Still, I know I’m the one who hasto get moving the most. I’m getting everyone involved in the things I wanna do.That’s why I do what I have to. I also counted on you, because I trust you. Ileft it in your care. But… that and my feelings for her and you guys…”“I get it.”“…are different things, right?Y’know, you’re… mean. I’m like a foster parent to you, and yet… Even if youunderstand my loneliness…”While Hodgins spoke as if burstingout, Benedict put a hand to his mouth as though to stop him. “I get it.”Time halted completely.Was he supporting the flusteredfigure of the one who was like a parent to him?“My bad.”Before he had noticed, he wascarrying a load of things he must protect. Was he doing this due to realizingthat he had left Hodgins to chance, thinking, “That’s because it’s him”?“My bad. That just now was on me.”Silence.“I didn’t have to pick today to saythis. Isn’t that right?”“You think I’m being lame right now,don’t you?”“Nah, you ain’t all that cool in thefirst place.”“That’s a lie; I’m agenerally-acknowledged beautiful young man… no, beautiful middle-aged man.”“You might not be cool, but well,that’s what’s good about you. Right?”Silence.“The cool thing about my ClaudiaHodgins is his uncool side.”Since Benedict was speaking as if tocomfort a child, Hodgins told him to “shut up”, slightly annoyed, yet burstinto laughter nevertheless. The rain caused all sorts of thingsto pour. The way that people were drowned by the drops trickling down from thesky inevitably made them think about something.As dawn broke, Claudia Hodgins satup, body heavy from not getting much sleep. When he peeked at his room’s bed,Violet and Cattleya were sleeping wrapped in the same blanket. On the sofa,Benedict was scattered about, snoring in a way that made him want to laugh.Hodgins looked for where Lux Sibylmight be. He went down from the third to the second floor, and then from thesecond to the first floor. She was nowhere to be found.While thinking it could not bepossible, Hodgins opened the front door, and sure enough, he could see thefigure of a girl walking down the street towards him.The clothes she had put to dryyesterday were surely half-wet. What was it that she wanted to do outside sobadly to the point of going this far? He understood when he saw what she had inher arms.“Ah, President.”Lux was holding a paper bag with alot of bread in it. The amount was enough that the small girl’s face could notbe seen.“Little Lux… could it be you wentto buy us breakfast?”Thinking back, this young woman wasthe kind of person who was always quick to act when she was trying to dosomething for someone. That was all it took to be a considerate person, butwithout kindness in their heart, they would not turn out this way. The reasonwhy Hodgins had nominated her his secretary was not just that she could do anysort of work.“That’s so nice.”“Yes, the bakery owner is very nice.I woke up a bit too early, and when I went on a walk to see how things wereoutside, the bakery was just about to open and they were getting ready… Iwent to take a look ‘cause it seemed so delicious and they told me to come in.”“Ah, hm…”“I was so touched when they saidthey baked bread for people who were hungry early in the morning, so I toldthem many thanks for selling them and bought lots of it. It’s the bakery fromthat street around the corner.”“As expected of my secretary. Didyou properly get the receipt?”At those words, Lux showed him asmile that resembled a blooming flower. “Huhu, of course.”For Hodgins, who had spent the nightdeep in thought about all sorts of things, that smile was a soothing one. Itwas like the water of a lake for someone who was feeling thirsty.Hodgins wordlessly took the bag fromLux. “Little Lux, I’m seriously glad you came to us.”“Only in this kind of situation,right?”“All the time. Always. Little Lux,you’re still young, will probably keep working with us… and you’re such agood secretary… I’m the happiest CEO in Leidenschaftlich.”“Are you going to hire me for life?”“Eh?”“Is that a no?”“No, I could. But that’d meanworking with me for life, y’know?”“Is that bad? I have nowhere else togo.”When asked with such an innocentlook, Hodgins faltered.“I won’t say the stuff Benedictdoes, like wanting the company for me.”“Well, I might… end up giving itto you if you say that, so don’t ever. Hahah… Of course, keep working for usforever and always at my place. Huh, this is kinda like a marriage vow… Wannatake this opportunity and marry me in the future? Just kidding…” Uponthinking that the jest that came out incidentally was an unsavory one rightafter saying it, Hodgins looked at Lux’s reaction, only to find her staringback at him blankly. He had made himself into a caricature of an old manbothering a girl. “No, it was a prank! But hey. Little Lux, you might be theonly one who can go along with me, so having this kind of small talk is…I-I’m not looking at you with dirty eyes, really! We’re too far apart in age,after all! We’re c-close enough that we can crack this kind of joke to eachother, right?”Lux pretended to think for just afew seconds. “Huhu, I can tell. That it’s a joke, at least. But not happening.We’re not getting married.”And then, she flat-out rejected him.“Ah, yes.” Although Hodgins wouldhave been at loss if she had accepted it, his shoulders dropped somewhat.“But President, I’m prepared to nurseyou if you ever become unable to work.”“Don’t… suddenly thrust such a cruelreality at me.”“Eh, is it? From my point of view…this is quite a deep form of love. President, you’re the first decent adult whoaccepted me. I’ll devote my whole life to you.”“Little Lux, you sure like me a lot.Gonna marry me after all?”This time, Lux actually grinned andreplied, “I’ll take that one home and consider it.”“Amazing; that answer’s like thebusiness talk at the company.”“Because you’re teasing me… eventhough you’re well-aware that I don’t even know love yet.”“Don’t know love yet”. Thedestructive power of those words caused Hodgins to regret his lightheartedproposal a little.“Then, I’ll ask again in about fiveyears. I should be at a nice middle age by then.”“You say that, President, but you’regoing on a trip with some hottie next week. I know it.”The duo, who somehow seemed likethey would or other be hanging together for a long time, returned to the officewith bouncing chatter. In order to make breakfast foreveryone together, Hodgins and Lux stood in the kitchen by themselves.Besides the already-baked bread,they would need drinks and vegetables. Those were merely simple preliminarypreparations, but Hodgins felt that just this was somehow enjoyable, unlikedoing the work on his own.“President, you have yours with onesugar cube and a slice of lemon, right?”“And for Little Lux, it’s two sugarcubes with milk, yeah? I know it.”While arranging the bread on aplate, they also poured water over the tealeaves and left them to steam.Perhaps due to the scenery that could be seen from the kitchen’s small windowbeing a blue sky with not a single cloud in it, it was awfully dazzling.“Good morning.”The next person who appeared amidstthe morning sunlight was Violet. Her soft golden hair was just a bitdisheveled. Hodgins’s hand naturally reached out to it.“Morning… You’ve got a bedhead,Little Violet.”“Excuse me…” Violet looked back atHodgins as he caressed her head, seeming a little embarrassed. Her eyes werejust slightly red. She might have not been able to sleep very well.“Morning, Violet. Are Cattleya andBenedict also up?”“Benedict was awake until a whileago, but when I got up from the bed, he began sleeping again by Cattleya’s side.”“Morally speaking, it’s that kinda thing. I’ll go give him awarning.”Hodgins laughed a little, seeing Luxoff as she walked away while rotating her tiny shoulders. He then turned hisgaze back to Violet. Her bedhead, which he had supposedly fixed with thecaressing, had returned. For some reason, both of them being alone like this ina kitchen bathed in morning sunlight struck him as extremely peculiar.Just the two of them, having such atender time. How many more opportunities would they have for that?They were already at it. He shouldtalk about something. That was what Hodgins thought, but the words did not comeout of him. Not because he had no topic to discuss. He could come up with asmany things to talk about as he wanted, such wanting flowers to decorate thetable or that they would surely have many customers today who were unable tocome yesterday.But he did not want to spoil thismorning. He felt that it might crumble if he spoke even one sentence.Violet was there. She had her blueeyes directed his way, looking at him. It was no longer awkward for the two ofthem to stay silent. That was their relationship.Perhaps still sleepy, she was in ahaze. He wanted to watch her standing amidst this gentle time for a littlelonger.As she would usually always seemwide-awake, Hodgins believed that she was laidback to this extent due to beingin the presence of people with whom she could be at ease from the bottom of herheart. That he had played a part in this feeling of security of hers.——Will you forget one day?One day, the position that ClaudiaHodgins occupied in the life of Violet Evergarden would become smaller.——She only gets bigger on my end, though.Going to the hospital numeroustimes. Pushing her wheelchair. Giving her a notebook and teaching her how towrite.——I for sure can’t forget. These moments, days, everything like thiswith you.The fact that he had not stopped herfrom fighting in the war. That he had thought they could use her.——I can’t forget.Delivering to Violet an outfit thatcould hide her prosthetic arms, yet that would also make her look her mostbeautiful.——I’m sure I won’t forget about this morning either.About that quiet morning, which wasmuch like the one from before everyone was caught in the great storm and bargedin.Hodgins touched Violet’s hair again.Although she had told Benedict not to touch it, with Hodgins, she all butslightly left a strand in his hand’s care and let him take it, almost like howa cat would do.——Aah, I want to hug you.He was not in love with her. Thatwould never be the case.However, if she were his realdaughter, on days like these, mornings like these, he would have easily said,“Good morning, precious” and embraced her.“I had a dream, President Hodgins,”Violet whispered out of the blue with a freshly awake, faintly hoarse voice.“Dream…?”The stunning young woman, who was nolonger a girl, talked about her dream like a child, “Yes; in the dream… youowned a clothing store.”“Huhu, that so?”“I cannot make clothes. You told methat you did not need me, President Hodgins, if I could not make clothes…”“That’s horrible of me, huh.”“Even when I said I could polish theshoes, clean up or do anything, you did not listen…”Unlike the real one, the dreamversion of Hodgins had apparently chosen to part ways with Violet.“Little Violet, what did you doabout that?”“I asked countless times. However,you rejected it countless times. I thought about standing in front of the shopuntil you allowed me in, but it started raining like yesterday.”“Hm. And then?”“Major Gilbert came to pick me upand told me to come home with him, but…”“Hm.”“I waited for President to come outof the store even as the lights went out.”“Hm.”“Despite waiting and waiting,President Hodgins did not come out, and at some point, a passerby told me,‘This shop has moved’.”“Even though it was open until justa moment ago?”“It was a dream, after all… Andthen – and then, I asked where it was and went after it. Benedict and Cattleyaalso appeared in-between, but they seemed to have other things to do, sayingthey would come after me later… As for Lux, she was the only one who had beenhired by you from the very beginning, so she also asked you to hire me again,but in the end, you said no could do.”“Hm…” Suddenly, Hodgins felt sopained about everything that it was hard to breathe. “And then, Little Violet,what did you do…?” His hand reached out to Violet.“I kept looking at the interior ofthe store beyond the shop window from outside.”Not towards her head, but towardsher eyes, where her golden lashes fluttered like the wings of a fairy.“Inside it, many people – peoplethat I know and do not know – came and left… showing how lively the shopwas.”A sea had silently formed in them,which dissolved and disappeared once Hodgins’s index finger touched it.“Major came to pick me up for thenth time and said you had told him that my standing there was causing himproblems. But, for whatever reason, I at the very least knew that if I steppedaway from there even for a moment, you would never let me in… therefore, I couldnot comply. But I did not want to trouble you, President, so I was unable tomake a decision… I attempted to ask Major for instructions, but he was alsogone before I realized.”The sea – the teardrop – turned intoa pearl and slipped down her cheek.“I… I… ended up crying.” Violetstared at the sky, the look in her eyes seeming almost as if the scene from herdream was there at this very moment. “To think I would cry like that…”“Hm.”“That was why President Hodginswould not hire me, I thought… And also why Major had grown tired and left.”“Hm.”“Then, without my notice, you came outside.You looked the same as that post-war day when you went to visit me at thehospital. You were very surprised with my appearance, as I was soaked with mudand rain. And so, you said this: ‘Guess we’ll start with how to hold a needle’.You told me that you had not invited me for the new job because it would surelybe difficult with these hands of mine, so I was extremely relieved… Then,then…” Violet’s words cut off at once.Unable to hold himself back, Hodginspulled her into an embrace as if shoving her little head into his chest.While being embraced, Violet saidwith eyes that looked as though she was still dreaming, “…with some effort, Icould still be helpful. I was able to confirm this, after all.”Hearing her let out a relieved sighin his arms, Hodgins forgot about both his and Violet’s positions, clasping herto his chest very, very firmly. “You sure are helpful… Was there anythingabout me that made you feel uncertain?” Upon realizing that his voice soundedtearful, Hodgins allowed the tears to overflow at the truth.——Aah, I’m such an idiot. Got caught up in it and ended up crying too.As the girl whom he thought of ashis own daughter, despite her being an actual adult, had shed tears, he foundhimself crying along with her. Almost like a child. Even though he was supposedto conduct himself as an elder in this situation.“I do not know.”“But, has anything like that everhappened until now…? You had that dream because you were uneasy.”“‘Uneasy’… That might have beenthe case. Yesterday night, I came to know that many things were progressingwhile I was away, so I have the feeling that I was quite agitated.”“Sorry; we were doing things on ourown accord. Even though we’ve been together since the founding.”“No, I am often absent, and it isonly natural for some things to be decided in the meantime. I am an employee. Ifeel that your judgement is correct. Employees must correspond to the changesof a company. My surroundings are about to change significantly. I am gratefulto you, President, for letting me be here like always. However…”“‘However’…?”“However, I do not know if I cancope with it. With the matters regarding Major, the ones regarding thecompany… with the fact that Benedict will be going to a different officebuilding. When I think about these things…”“It’s okay.”“When I think about them, I realizethat the number of things I should prioritize has increased too much.”“Little Violet.”“The order of priorities…”“It’s all right.”“I have to deal with situations ofevery kind as I live, and yet…”——Surely, Violet Evergarden wouldn’t be alive if she didn’t do that.Always, at all times.She had been living throughcorresponding to her surroundings despite being at loss regarding itscircumstances, putting everything she could do to use while looking for a placeto belong and an adult who would take care of her. She was not allowed towaver. For beasts, hesitation was death.Violet did not know unconditionallove. She now had at last earned herself this warm place through her efforts, butit was about to suffer a rapid change with the course of time.After running, running and running,Violet – previously one such beast – was watching the nest she had finallyfound crumble down. Even when people knew they had to prepare to start runningagain, there would come a time when they would be short of breath and unable tomove.Violet had gone from wild animal toperson.Her human parts and animal partsco-existed, occasionally revealing themselves. When she was the animal, shesimply did not mind how much a place changed as long as she could live in it.However, it was difficult to live while holding something better, moreimportant.Now that she had become a personthrough the increasing of her emotions…“I shall fight. I can always be ofuse. President Hodgins, please forget this aspect of me that I just showed you.”…she had turned into just a girlwho was a little bit scared of the future.“Please… forget about it.”Who had made her this way? Gilbertwas likely the first, but the ones who had done the finishing touches were definitelyall the people in this place.“No way, I’m not forgetting.”At Hodgins’s words, Violet loweredher eyebrows, looking troubled.“Don’t make a face like that; I’mnot teasing. I meant to say that you don’t need to worry about it. You indeedmight’ve gotten weak. But is that a bad thing? You had nothing when you met mefor the first time. Not even your brooch, right…? But now you have lots ofthings. You went on a journey for a long time and got more stuff to shoulderwhile you were at it, so it’s no wonder that you’d end up in a dilemma.” Albeitknowing that Cattleya, Benedict and Lux were looking at them in shock from theshadows at the doorway, Hodgins went on, “You know… life is a journey. LittleViolet, you’ll go on this journey, won’t you?”He had already forgotten about hisanxiety. The feeling of frustration at such things and the overwhelming wish tocling to someone were now gone.“You started your journey with alittle less luggage than other people, so you’re staring at your bag now thatit’s gotten a bit heavy, wondering what happened to it. You don’t know what tothrow away anymore.”He was able to think, from thedepths of his heart, that he had returned to his usual self. While embracingher, who was indeed still young and confused in the middle of her journey, he wasfinally able to think so.“You need clothes and money, ofcourse, and good shoes are vital. Right, and an umbrella too. When you lookinto your bag and realize that you actually have nothing that you can get ridof, it’s indeed a problem. Even though it’s a hassle because it’s so heavy.What do you think you should do?”He could still be useful.“Train… my physical strength…No, calibrate my prosthetics…”He was still needed.“You’re such a fool… Either leaveit in someone’s care and continue the journey or have someone take half of it.”Even if it were only -- source link

More pics about