Heathcliff - (SSR) Bonds More Beautiful than Flowers

[shinolemonpie]

 

Card Story: If You Were to Call Me a Friend
Card Episode: With Feelings
Event: Valentine's Day 2021 - Chocolates and the Magical Blue Bird
Raws: promisingmoon

CHAPTER 1

[Location: City of Glory, morning]

 

Akira: Thank you for waiting, Arthur. Is coffee okay?

 

Arthur: Yes. Thank you so much, master sage.

 

Heathcliff: I’m glad we finally found a quiet spot… There’s so many people wherever we went.

 

Akira: The coffee shop was also really busy but at least everyone looks like they’re having fun.

 

Heathcliff: I agree. By the way, it looks like we got some latte art in our order.

 

Arthur: That’s amazing. Can I see yours?

 

Heathcliff: Of course. I got… a dog. How about you, Prince Arthur?

 

Arthur: I got a rabbit. It’s really cute.

 

Arthur and Heathcliff were laughing while showing each other the latte art they got.

Especially Heathcliff, who’s very fond of detailed crafts like this.

 

Arthur: This must be some kind of special service for this festival.

 

Arthur: I heard that they do this for friends or lovers who visit their shop.

 

Heathcliff: I see. So that’s why…

 

(start of flashback)

 

Heathcliff: I want three cups of coffee, please.

 

Store Owner: Coming right up! You guys don’t look like siblings. Friends, perhaps?

 

Heathcliff: Huh? Um…

 

Akira: Yes, we’re friends.

 

Store Owner: Alright. Just wait a bit, okay? Today is a special day, so make sure to have fun!

 

(end of flashback)

 

Akira: Oh… That’s an interesting special service.

 

This festival is about celebrating and praying for fertility and prosperity but it’s also a tradition to “express your feelings to a special person” on this day.

It’s a day to cheer on those who lack the courage to confess their feelings, as well as to thank families and friends.

 

Akira: It’s nice how everyone tries their best to convey their feelings to their loved ones on this day…

 

Arthur: City of Glory’s citizens are well known for being bright and caring. This kind of festival suits them very well.

 

Heathcliff: Cheerful and caring… That definitely sounds like Cain.

 

Akira: Ahaha, you’re right!

 

Heathcliff: ...Oh, that reminds me. Cain told me there are items that are only sold during this festival.

 

Arthur: Then should we look for them?

 

Akira: Good idea! Let’s go!


 

CHAPTER 2

[Location: City of Glory, morning]

 

Akira: This shop is more popular than I expected…

 

Heathcliff: Prince Arthur, will you be okay? What if they find out you’re the prince?

 

Arthur: Hopefully this outfit will help me blend in with all the festival celebrants. It’s good that everyone looks like they’re too busy to even notice me.

 

Arthur: Also, Heathcliff. Today I go by the name Artie, a disciple of Cain. You can speak to me more casually.

 

Akira: (Oh, that’s right. They came up with that persona in case anyone recognizes Arthur…)

 

Heathcliff: Ah, of course… I mean, yeah. Well then, let’s go, Artie, master sage.

 

Arthur: Ah. I smell something sweet. Candy, maybe? Where is this flower-like scent coming from?

 

Akira: What’s this…? A cookie made from a what? A talkative rose?

 

Heathcliff: Apparently, it’s a flower that, if eaten, makes you confess your love…?

 

Arthur: It’s perfect for this festival.

 

Akira: It looks cute too. Eating it almost feels like a waste.

 

Store Owner: That cookie is popular for its effectiveness. How about you have a bite?

 

Heathcliff: But won’t eating this make us, um...?

 

Store Owner: I don’t add roses into the free cookies, don’t worry. If you want to experience the rose’s effects, then you need to pay up!

 

Arthur: ...This tastes good. Maybe I’ll buy some as a souvenir for Master Oz. How about you, Heathcliff?

 

Heathcliff: I think I’m more interested in those chocolates over there…

 

Store Owner: Huh? Wait, you…

 

Arthur: Hm? You mean me?

 

The shopkeeper stared at Arthur’s face as if to study him.

Arthur is the prince of this country. It won't be a surprise if anyone recognizes him even if he tries hard to blend in with everyone.

 

Akira: (Oh no, don't tell me...?!)

 

Suddenly, Heathcliff moved to stand between them in an attempt to take the store owner’s attention away from Arthur.

 

Heathcliff: Are you the owner? The knight Cain told us about your store.

 

Store Owner: Ah, so you know Cain!

 

Heathcliff: Yes. All your products are wonderful. Thank you for making this festival more exciting by selling these sweets.

 

Akira: (Heath managed to distract him. Then we should be okay…)

 

However, the store owner turned his eyes back to Arthur and said:

 

Store Owner: I knew it… You…

 

Arthur, Heathcliff and Akira: ……!

 

Store Owner: ...You have something on your hair.

 

Arthur, Heathcliff and Akira: Huh?

 

Store Owner: Oh, it’s a petal. It’s cute. Are you wearing it as some sort of hair decoration?

 

Arthur: ...Ah, no. Thank you for telling me. I must have looked funny…

 

Store Owner: Haha. Well, don’t forget to say hi to Cain for me, okay? Take your time looking around the store.

 

Heathcliff: What was that…? I really thought he found out…

 

When the tension finally eased, the three of us looked at each other and giggled.


 

CHAPTER 3

[Location: City of Glory, morning]

 

We thanked the store owner before leaving.

 

Arthur: I’m sorry we had to leave earlier than planned because of me.

 

Heathcliff: No, no. I’m also embarrassed for immediately assuming the worst. I’m just glad he didn’t discover your real identity…

 

Arthur: Thank you so much for distracting him, Heathcliff.

 

Heathcliff: There’s no need to thank me, it’s not like I did a lot… But as your fellow sage’s wizard, it’s only natural for me to help you out in times of need.

 

Arthur: ...Sage’s wizard, huh…

 

Akira: Arthur?

 

Arthur: I’m glad and honored to be your fellow sage’s wizard, of course, but… I think I’d be happier if you would see me more as a friend.

 

Heathcliff: Huh? But that’s…

 

Akira: (Now that I think about it, Heath also couldn’t answer when we went to the coffee shop earlier.)

 

Akira: Heath, I also want you to see me as a friend.

 

Heathcliff: ……Would that be okay?

 

Arthur: Of course.

 

Heathcliff: Thank you! You’re one of my important friends, Prince Arthur. And you too, master sage.

 

Akira: Yes!

 

Arthur: I’m glad. Thanks to this festival, I think I got closer to you, Heathcliff.

 

Heathcliff: Yes, likewise.

 

Salesman: We have a contest coming up! Gather around, everyone!

 

Akira: Huh? What’s that?

 

Salesman: Take a leaflet! We are holding a “Confession Contest” in front of our store! Yes, yes, it’s a contest for confessing your honest feelings to a special person!

 

Akira: Confess your feelings? A contest?

 

Heathcliff: W-What kind of contest is that…?

 

Akira: I think Cain mentioned something like that before we came here. There’s an event where a person will be asked to confess their feelings to a loved one in public... I guess it’s also a festival tradition?

 

Arthur: Master sage, Heathcliff, what do you think about joining in?

 

Akira: Huh?!

 

Heathcliff: But is it okay for you, though? You might actually get found out this time…

 

Arthur: It’s fine, I’ll just tell them they got the wrong person. My name is Artie, remember? Besides, even if the worst happens, I trust that you will be there to help me again like you did earlier?

 

Arthur laughed like a child who just thought of a really good prank.

He waited for us to say something as we stared at his teasingly sweet smile.

And then, with a big bright grin, Heathcliff responded:

 

Heathcliff: ...Of course, just leave it to us!


 

CARD EPISODE

With Feelings

 

[Location: Common room, morning]

 

Akira: Heathcliff, who would you express your honest feelings of gratitude to, if given the opportunity?

 

Heathcliff: Hmm... I guess I would choose Master Faust, Nero and, of course, Shino. I’m indebted to all three of them.

 

Heathcliff: Cain too, for always taking care of me ever since I came here, and Chloe, for always making beautiful clothes for us.

 

Heathcliff: Also my parents, and all our servants and craftsmen in Blanchett…

 

Akira: You sure cherish a lot of people.

 

Heathcliff: I can do my best right now because everyone around me has always been supportive.

 

Heathcliff: And, of course, you too, master sage. Thank you so much for always doing your best for us.

 

Akira: No, I should be the one thanking you. I’m always grateful to you and everyone else here.

 

Heathcliff: I always try my best to properly convey my feelings, but most of the time I just don’t know the right words to say.

 

Heathcliff: So instead of words, I wish there’s something I can give you…

 

Akira: Hmm, then how about chocolates? In my world, people would give chocolates as an expression of positive feelings towards the receiver.

 

Heathcliff: That’s Valentine’s Day, right? If that’s what you want, then I’ll find a shop that sells delicious chocolate.


Previous: Heathcliff - (SSR) I'll Pave Your Way
(Heathcliff - (SSR) Serenity Within the Rainfall [redirects to yumemory])
Next: Heathcliff - (SSR) Looking Up at the Sky Full of Falling Flowers

Heathcliff's Card Stories