I first retrieved a cool stick from under the bed.
โFukuro, I need your help. Grab Luria by the shoulders and lift her up a little.โ
โHoo?โ
โThereโs no time to explain. Please.โ
Following my instructions, Fukuro grabbed my shoulders and lifted me into the air. Despite flapping vigorously, its wingbeats were as quiet as ever.
โWow, Fukuro, youโre amazing. Thanks.โ
It would be difficult to explain why my shoulder area was so worn out if someone asked. So, it was better to avoid being asked in the first place.
โIf I do this, no one will ask, โWhy is it all worn out?โโ
The reason it was in such a state was obvious to anyone looking, leaving no need to inquire.
โHoo!โ
Fukuro seemed impressed. I am, after all, a strategist.
โKyuu.โ
Carro looked at me with an exasperated expression. Perhaps the real intent of my plan hadnโt been conveyed.
โโฆLady Luria, why would you do such a thing?โ
โThatโs what this is for.โ
I swung the stick around.
โWith this, it just looks like Iโm practicing aerial combat.โ
โโฆI see.โ
โKyuu kyuu.โ
Kuro and Carro seemed exasperated, but maybe I was imagining things.
โHa! Ha! Haa-chaah~~!โ
I immediately started swinging the stick. If I didnโt get a little out of breath, it might seem suspicious.
โFlap, flapโ
As I swung the stick, Fukuro flapped its wings in time with me.
โAre you okay, Fukuro?โ
โHoo!โ
Fukuro seemed to say, โIโm fine, leave it to me.โ
โIf itโs too much, you can let me down, okay?โ
โHoo!โ
I kept swinging the stick, recalling the swordsmanship practice I always did.
Swordsmanship without your feet firmly on the ground was definitely difficult.
(So this is what the teacher meant when they said weight shifting is importantโฆ)
The swordsmanship instructor always emphasized, โWeight transfer is key. Donโt neglect footwork.โ Swinging the stick in an unstable, airborne state made me realize the importance of footwork.
โFlap, flap, flapโ
โHyah! Hah!โ
Swinging the stick started to feel fun.
While I was fully engrossed in swinging the stick, my mother came into the room.
โPut Luria down!โ
She rushed toward Fukuro in a panic.
โFlap, flapโ
Fukuro easily dodged her.
โFukuro! Let me down!โ
Fukuro gently set me down on the floor.
โThanks, okay?โ
I patted Fukuro affectionately.
โLuria!โ
Then my mother hugged me tightly.
โMother?โ
โOhโฆ You had me so worriedโฆโ
โSorry. I was just practicing with Fukuroโs help.โ
โIt looked like you were being abducted.โ
โSorry.โ
I hadnโt thought of that. But it might be natural to think a large bird of prey carrying a small child looked like an abduction.
โโฆHoo.โ
Fukuro approached my mother apologetically.
โMother, I asked Fukuro to do it. Itโs not Fukuroโs fault.โ
โโฆAlright. Fukuro isnโt to blame.โ
โYeah. Mother, Iโm sorry, okay?โ
โโฆReally, Luria, youโre always so good with animals.โ
โYeah, theyโre all good kids.โ
Then Sara came into the room, toddling over to pat Fukuro.
โFukuro is cute.โ
โYes, he is. Though I was startled earlier.โ
Sara and Mother petted Fukuro together, and he looked pleased.
โFlap, flap, flapโ
โCluck.โ
At that moment, Koruko entered through the window.
Since Koruko was a chicken, it couldnโt fly for long. But chickens can manage up to the second floor.
As a guardian beast, Koruko could probably fly longer than ordinary chickensโmaybe even up to the third floor.
โWelcome back, Koruko.โ
Koruko had left earlier while we were discussing Loaโs meals.
โCluck.โ
Koruko greeted us softly and walked to the far side of the bed. Then, it moved back to the window, as if about to leave again.
โWait, Koruko.โ
โCluck?โ
Mother stopped Koruko as it was about to fly out the window.
โโฆYou were holding a bug when you came in, werenโt you?โ
โCluck?โ
โWhy arenโt you holding it now?โ
โโฆCluck.โ
Koruko averted its gaze.
โโฆDonโt tell me!โ
Mother got up and ran to the far side of the bed.
โEek!โ
She let out a small scream and collapsed to her knees.
โMother, whatโs wrong?โ
Sara and I rushed over to her in a panic.
โWhoa!โ
Startled, Saraโs tail swished.
โAh, well, this isโฆโ
Behind the bed, there was a basket filled with wriggling, live caterpillars.