Rikka, Roland, and Shane had probably become friends, but Eugene still was not completely okay with Roland. Would they eventually become friends too?
Meanwhile
Eugene: "Hmm."
Shane: "(Snoring) hhhh..."
The next day
Rikka: "(Yawns)..."
Roland: "Rikka?"
Rikka: "Huh?... oh... Roland, are you feeling alright?"
Roland: "Yes... I'm fine..."
Rikka: "Hehehe... is your cold gone?"
Roland: "Yes..."
Rikka: "Good..."
What must it be like to live your whole life as a lonely rabbit? As a rabbit that people see as a bringer of bad luck?
Roland: "Hmmm..."
Shane: "Roland... come eat!"
Roland: "Oh... yes... okay."
The food was not ready yet, but they were already sitting at the table.
Shane: "What are we eating today, Rikka?"
Rikka: "Chicken with cream pasta..."
Roland: "Wait, Shane, aren't you a sheep? Do you eat meat?"
Shane: "I'm not an ordinary sheep. I'm from the Dorsen Forest. The animals there eat meat... even insects..."
Roland: "Ughh... hhh... I've heard about that..."
Shane: "Don't worry, I won't eat you. You don't look tasty."
Roland: "(Sweats) Does that mean if I looked tasty... you would eat me?"
Shane: "I think so."
Roland: "You can't be serious, and you say it like it's nothing..."
Shane: "Hmm..."
Rikka: "Hehehe... relax, Roland. Should I make something without meat for you?"
Roland: "What?... please?... I was raised by humans... so... I... know about meat... but... I don't really like eating it..."
Rikka: "Oh... hehehe... no problem. Then I have the right noodles for you. A pesto pasta would be good for you."
Roland: "Hmm?"
Rikka: "But you'll have to wait a little longer, is that okay?"
Roland: "You're too kind. You don't even have to make it. I can eat meat."
Rikka: "It's alright... I'll make you pesto pasta... it will just take five minutes longer..."
Roland: "Ugh... sorry, everyone..."
Shane: "Oh, it's fine..."
Eugene: "As long as we eat."
Rikka got the ingredients.
Roland: "So... how do you make it?"
Rikka: "Alright... first we cut the chicken into small pieces... while the noodles are in the pot of water..."
She cut it into small pieces, fried it, then put it into the pot.
Rikka: "Garlic... then cream... stir it in..."
(Splash!)
Rikka: "Season it and then... mix..."
(Splash!)
Rikka: "Okay... while that cooks, I'll make your pesto pasta now, Roland. If it doesn't taste good, I'm sorry... it's only the second time I'm making it. The noodles are cooking..."
(Splash!)
Rikka: "...good... luckily I had plenty of noodles already in the water, so we don't have to wait much longer. Now... pesto and a little olive oil... mix..The pesto is made of ..3 bunches of basil 200 ml olive oil 50 g Parmesan or Pecorino cheese 30 g pine nuts 2 cloves of garlic 1 pinch of sea salt
(Splash!)
Rikka: "And now we wait... hehehe..."
A few minutes later
Rikka: "Alright... done... here."
(Clink!)
(Whhh!)
(Steam)
Shane: "Wooowww..."
Eugene: "Fantastic..."
Roland: "Hmm."
Rikka: "And of course this one is for you, Roland."
Roland: "Ughh..."
She placed his plate in front of him.
Roland: "Thank you very much... sorry for the extra trouble..."
Rikka: "Oh come on, Roland... just eat..."
They began to eat.
Shane: "Mmmmmmm..."
Eugene: "Ohhh... amazing how good this tastes. Rikka, you're the best."
Rikka: "Hehehehe... and you, Roland... what do you think?"
Roland: "..."
He said nothing... but tears began to fall from his eyes.
Rikka: "Oh dear... was it not good, Roland?"
She stood up and walked over to him.
Eugene: "Hmm?"
Shane: "Roland?"
Rikka: "Hey... did I do something wrong?"
Roland: "No... no... it's just... so delicious..."
Rikka: "But... why are you crying?"
Roland: "Mmm... I don't even know myself... maybe it's because for the first time... something good is happening to me..."
Rikka: "Ughh..."
Rikka smiled softly and stroked his head.
Rikka: "Oh dear... poor Roland... you must have suffered a lot... been lonely... but hey... you're not alone anymore... you're in Cloverclock now."
Shane: "Exactly... you're with us... with me, Eugene, and Rikka."
Rikka: "We're here for you, Roland... you don't have to pretend to be strong... emotions are important. No one has the right to tell you how you should feel..."
She hugged him.
Rikka: "My Roland... you can cry as much as you want here... you can eat as much as you want... play as much as you want... travel and have fun... Shane, Eugene, and I... will be there for you..."
Roland: "Okay..."
Rikka: "Hehehe..."
Her warm hands stroked his ears... his ears that were injured, one even missing a piece.
Rikka: "You have beautiful fur, Roland..."
Roland: "...Hmm?... my ears are ugly..."
Rikka: "That's not true."
Shane: "Hmm... Shane, your food will get cold. You too, Rikka, eat something quickly or I'll eat your plate."
Rikka: "What... hehehe... no..."
They started eating again. After the meal, Roland stood on the balcony.
Roland: "Hmm."
Rikka: "Here... something to drink."
Roland: "Oh..."
It was Morgiana plant drink again, slightly cold from the slime.
Roland: "Thank you."
Rikka: "You're welcome."
They stood on the balcony. The sun was gone, but the moonlight made the world beautifully blue. The owls and birds made the atmosphere even better. It was quiet, and only the owls, night birds, and the blowing wind could be heard. It was peaceful.
Rikka: "Roland... may I ask you something?"
Roland: "Yes..."
Rikka: "Those three owners... were they the ones who treated you badly?"
Roland: "Yes..."
Rikka: "The ones who did that to your ears?"
Roland: "Yes... Mr. Jackson, Mr. Herrman, and Ms. Jennifer."
Rikka: "Did you kill them because of that?"
Roland: "...Mhm..."
Rikka: "I understand..."
Roland: "Ugh..."
She held his head and gently pulled him to her shoulder.
Roland: "Ughh..."
His head rested against her shoulder. She gently placed her head against his and softly stroked his head.
Roland: "Mmm..."
Rikka: "You didn't deserve to be hurt, Roland... you are safe here... and please, if something is wrong, if we can help you, tell us... tell Shane... tell me... Eugene needs time, but I'm sure he will understand you eventually... now that he knows how much you suffered..."
Roland: "Hmmm... (She is so warm...)"
Rikka: "Hehehe... you know... my parents died when I was young... and the last words my mother said were... I wish you would die instead of me... she was sick... very sick... and even though I did nothing wrong... she said she wished I would die instead of her..."
Roland: "Ugh... that must have been hard..."
Rikka: "Hehehe... my father was even crueler. He died a year earlier, and the last thing he did..."
She showed the wound on her hand.
Rikka: "He stabbed my hand with a sharp knife... just because I wanted to help him stand up..."
Roland: "Ughh..."
Rikka: "I know what it feels like to be lonely or to suffer... but you must know... many suffer more than we do... I never understood wars... and I never will..."
Roland: "Wars exist so the rich can sit comfortably while the poor fight. The nobles lose nothing... but the poor lose their health... their children... or their parents... I saw it... my three owners were nobles... Mr. Jackson, Mr. Herrman, and Ms. Jennifer..."
Rikka: "Oh... so those were the names of your three owners."
Roland: "Mhm... they were wealthy magicians."