The path to a chained heart (EDITING)

Extra Chapter 2 - Distant Memories

The sun had risen rather early, indicating that summer was on its way. Not only that, but three certain individuals were also beginning to arise from a plainly-furnished wooden table.

"That lemonade from the other day sure was tasty, Mizuki. I'm glad you brought that idea up." Homare took a spoonful of warm porridge, chewing on the fruits he had used for a different flavour.

"But the old guy sure knew how to keep things to himself - it took ages to convince him to let us pick some!" Himari groaned, angrily taking a bite out of her toast.

"It's because he was concerned, as you were the one that was also going to pick the lemons in the first place..." Homare cautiously eyed Himari's furrowed brows.

"What the heck do you mean by he was concerned about me picking the lemons? I didn't do anything to be on his bad side!" Her tone raised, into a hearted response.

Mizuki could clearly sense the atmosphere in the room; it certainly was easy to annoy Himari, even if it was too early to be worked up over grains of sand. She was about to intervene, but she heard the sudden scraping of a chair. Himari's chair.

Hurriedly, they finished eating breakfast and went through the opened door that was letting in a cool breeze, locking the door as they went.

"Himari, why are you going to visit Asahi so early - you just ate breakfast!" Mizuki and Homare quickened the pace of their walking, trying to catch up to Himari's brisk pace early in the morning.

They had only just eaten, the sun barely beginning to show any signs of appearing, covered by loathsome clouds blanketing the blue skies from sight. The air slightly humid, feeling as if it was going to rain eventually. Yet, there was something about this weather that seemed unpredictable, much like the quickening and slowing walking speed of Himari's.

"Don't worry your heads off like the old hens back in the town, " Himari lazily waved her arm, like a dismissive motion, "I'll be fine."

"What if it rains?" Mizuki questioned, sceptically.

"I'm fine, for the sake of all that's bright and holy, I'll go inside when it starts to pour, " she responded, with a twinge of irritation.

With that, Mizuki and Homare swept a single glance towards their friend, before waving goodbye. Except, they didn't seem to head in the direction of the town.

『❀❀❀』

Just a reminder that this is set in the past in third person (no point of view).

Part 2: An Old Friend

Set: 28th March 1261

Himari thought she'd be able to write in her precious little diary at least every day... but so much had happened lately that she couldn't keep up with it anymore. Nor did she realise what she was walking into when she made friends with Lea, it really came as a shock when she first heard the news.

Himari may have been just a small child, but she was doing everything she could to help her. Everything. But she guessed she should try to at least word what had transpired for the last few weeks.

She didn't know it at the time, but Lea told her why she always had to go home early after a few days of getting to know her. It still brought Himari to the verge of tears when she repeated her words in her head.

"I was born weak as a child, and they had to perform a ritual in order to try and make my lungs function again. But... it never did work, and no matter how hard mama and papa tried to fix me, nothing's worked so far. I'm so s-sorry for being such a bother, I just wanted a friend. I felt happy when you introduced yourself to me..."