Chapter 59: Souta Arrives with Pakura
Pakura immediately shook her head, quickly and firmly. "No. I don't want to know."
"Huh? Why?" Souta frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "If you want to know, I can tell you right now."
Pakura smiled—not a wide smile, but enough to make her face look softer than usual. "Because I want to graduate on my own abilities. I want to know how far I can go… without shortcuts."
Souta fell silent for a moment, taken aback by that answer. Their eyes met in a brief silence that felt somewhat heavy, then slowly Souta nodded, this time deeper, more sincerely.
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...
...
That afternoon, the sunlight began to slant, forming golden lines along the warm and tranquil sandy streets of Sunagakure. A gentle breeze blew, carrying the savory aroma from food vendors in the distance mixed with the distinctive scent of dry earth.
In the softly yellowing dusk, three figures walked side by side—Souta in front, his steps light yet purposeful; Pakura walking on Souta's left, slightly lagging with her hands clenched anxiously; and Makima on Souta's right, cheerfully humming a little tune of some song.
Although the three of them were heading in the same direction, in reality, only Makima was truly going home. Souta and Pakura had another destination—a place that, while not unfamiliar, still held a mysterious aura: the Puppet Arts Performance Theater.
The building stood tall at the end of the street like an ancient palace emerging from the desert. Its walls were made of compacted sand, gleaming golden in the afternoon light. The roof was shaped like a large dome, surrounded by wooden puppet statues that seemed to gaze down at visitors with secret smiles.
"It looks like we've arrived," Souta murmured as he looked up. His eyes reflected the orange sky falling on the dome's roof. Souta's face appeared calm, but there was a hidden flash of pride in his tone.
Makima stopped, turning around with a wide smile. "Alright! Then I'm going home! See you tomorrow, Souta! Pakura-chan!" Makima's voice rang lightly, her wave reflecting the fading afternoon spirit.
As Makima skipped away, her hair swayed like gentle waves in the desert wind.
After Makima's figure disappeared around the corner, Souta glanced at Pakura, who was now staring at the theater building with wide eyes.
"Come on, let's go in," Souta said briefly, but there was warmth in his tone.
Pakura swallowed, then nodded. "Yeah… let's go." Her voice was slightly shaky, but still steady. Pakura's fingers pressed against the edge of her clothing, an old habit of hers when nervous.
As they stepped inside, the atmosphere changed drastically. The bright and warm outside world was replaced by a cool, dim, and... luxurious interior. The front hallway was covered in an old red carpet with patterns of clouds and stars.
On the sandy walls, there were paintings and reliefs of puppets in various poses: dancing, fighting, even crying. Authentic wooden puppets were displayed in long glass cases, each with expressions so realistic that they sent shivers down Pakura's spine.
Pakura's eyes caught sight of a small female puppet, wearing a red kimono and a pale porcelain face with glossy black eyes that seemed to follow anyone passing by. Pakura couldn't help but stare at it longer until Souta turned back and gave her a small nod, prompting Pakura to hurry after him.
After passing through what seemed like an endless hallway, they arrived at the main hall. The high ceiling was supported by large wooden beams coated in golden sand. Here, the atmosphere was bustling.
Dozens of people were moving about: some carrying documents, others carrying large puppet parts—heads, arms, torsos, all looking half-finished. The scent of freshly cut wood mixed with a light oil smell and the aroma of burning incense.
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Chapter 60: Tsukimi
Unlike yesterday, this time the hall was filled with a bustling crowd. Souta raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the commotion that he hadn't experienced when he first arrived.
Someone approached them. The woman walked with a steady yet graceful stride. She was a woman, but—not Chikano—dressed neatly in contrasting colors: a long-sleeved white top and a deep black skirt that hung down to her heels. Her hair was dark black, tied in a high ponytail. The woman's eyes—deep dark blue, as if holding remnants of winter.
"Hello, siblings. What brings you here?" the woman asked. Her voice was soft but had an underlying strength. The slight smile on her face did not hide the authority behind her gaze.
Souta immediately stood up straight. "Hello, Sister! My name is Souta. Yesterday I applied to be a cleaner. I took the test from Miss Chikano and passed. Today I came to start working. This is my friend, Pakura, who also wants to apply. I'm not sure if Pakura is allowed, but I brought her along anyway."
The woman then turned her gaze to Pakura.
Pakura bowed slightly, her soft voice coming out, though a bit nervous. "My name is Pakura. I also want to apply as a cleaner. Is there still a chance?"
The woman smiled, now more sincerely. "Of course. Everyone who intends to work deserves a chance. But whether you pass or not depends on you. And you, Souta, I will take your friend to the testing room first, then come back to take you to your workplace."
"Okay, thank you very much, Sister!" Souta said, bowing slightly, his eyes radiating respect.
"Just call me Tsukimi," the woman said.
"Alright, Sister Tsukimi," Souta replied, this time with a slight smile.
Tsukimi then turned to Pakura. "In that case, follow me."
Pakura glanced back at Souta, and the boy responded with a calm smile and a confident nod. The smile wasn't big, but it was enough to ease some of the tension building in Pakura's chest.
Then, Pakura quickly stepped forward to follow Tsukimi.
Souta remained standing at the edge of the hall, near a large pillar facing the entrance corridor. He leaned against the wall, observing the bustle around him. A man passed by carrying a doll head the size of a human, with a grim expression and tightly closed lips. On the other side, two staff members were speaking quickly while pointing at documents—likely scripts or performance outlines.
Souta let out a quiet sigh. A small smile appeared at the corner of his lips. Amid all the chaos, Souta felt... calm.
After a moment of waiting, light footsteps approached from the corridor. From the shadow of the pillar, Tsukimi finally reappeared. Tsukimi's black hair looked slightly disheveled by the wind sneaking in from the high windows of the hall, but her smile remained soft and controlled.
Seeing Tsukimi's arrival, Souta, who had been leaning against the wall, immediately straightened up. He smiled slightly and stepped forward, his voice now calm yet enthusiastic as he said, "So, Sister Tsukimi? Are you going to take me to my workplace now?"
"Of course," Tsukimi replied, nodding briefly with a light but firm tone. "Come, follow me."
Tsukimi turned and began to walk, her steps graceful and measured. Souta followed behind her, his steps a bit quick as his curiosity began to grow wild. They passed through a long dim corridor, the faint light from the low-hanging chandeliers casting moving shadows on the sandy walls.
They passed several closed doors—each adorned with intricate carvings shaped like dolls or theater masks. The smell of wood and burning candles grew stronger in this corridor, as if whispering that they were entering the heart of a deeper, more personal place.
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