Chapter – 23
Wakaba’s Inner Conflict and Her Gaze Toward the Future.
As the summer sun grew stronger and the forest deepened in color, peaceful days flowed gently around Akio and the children’s cabin. Yet, within that tranquility, the hearts of the older children—Ayane and Arto—were beginning to stir with new, complex emotions.
Ayane was fourteen. She managed daily chores and looked after her younger siblings, becoming a dependable presence for both Akio and Sylvia. But each time she saw Sylvia naturally standing close to Akio, their deep bond of trust and affection visible even in silence, something bittersweet welled up inside her chest—an emotion that carried both warmth and a faint, stinging ache. It wasn’t jealousy. Rather, it was a tender mix of admiration, longing, and a touch of uncertainty—an innocent yearning of a girl wondering if she, too, might someday become someone’s irreplaceable companion.
(I want to be more helpful to Akio and Sylvia. I want to become strong—someone who can truly support this family…)
Ayane held deep respect for Sylvia’s knowledge of herbs and her wisdom for living in the forest, and she began to yearn earnestly to learn those skills herself.
Meanwhile, thirteen-year-old Arto was growing steadily stronger as he helped Akio with woodworking and learned forest skills from Sylvia. Yet, alongside that growth came a frustration with his own inexperience. Every time he watched Akio handle heavy logs with ease or saw Sylvia instantly sense the presence of distant animals, he burned with the desire to be recognized as a capable man—to have the strength to protect his family.
(I need to get stronger, smarter… I want to be like Akio and Sylvia—someone who can make everyone feel safe…)
With that determination, he resolved to ask Akio to teach him more advanced trap-making and the basics of tool repair and woodworking.
One day, one of their large wooden buckets for carrying water developed a crack in the bottom, causing it to leak. Akio planned to make a new one, but he was tied up improving the bread oven.
“Akio looks really busy… Do you think we could fix that bucket ourselves?” Arto whispered to Ayane.
Ayane, who had begun to feel a growing urge to rely less on the adults, smiled. “Yes… Let’s try it. It’d be nice to surprise Akio and Sylvia!”
The two decided, in secret, to make a new bucket. It would be their first true project together—the start of a small but meaningful adventure.
Arto carefully selected wood, recalling how Akio had once crafted a bucket, and tried bending the side panels using Akio’s tools. Ayane, remembering how Sylvia mixed clay and resin when working with herbs, experimented to find a waterproof seal for the seams.
The work proved far harder than they’d imagined. The side panels didn’t fit right; the bottom board wouldn’t stay in place; the seal leaked repeatedly. They failed over and over, sometimes nearly arguing out of frustration.
“I can’t do this anymore, Ayane… It’s impossible,” Arto muttered, disheartened.
“Don’t give up, Arto. Akio didn’t get everything right on his first try either. Let’s think about what went wrong and fix it,” Ayane encouraged him gently.
They shared ideas, supported one another, and continued working late into the night, keeping their project a secret.
Several days later, at last, the bucket was complete. Compared to Akio’s handiwork, its shape was uneven and the surface rough—but it held water without leaking. It was, without question, a proper bucket.
With a mix of pride and shyness, they brought it before Akio and Sylvia.
“Akio, Sylvia! We made this together—all by ourselves!”
For a moment, both adults widened their eyes in surprise. Then, understanding everything, they smiled warmly.
Akio picked up the bucket, examining every detail carefully before breaking into a broad grin.
“This is amazing, Ayane, Arto. You made this all on your own? For your first time, it’s more than impressive. You two can do anything if you keep this up.”
Sylvia traced the seams with her fingers, her expression calm but her words sincere.
“Hmm. Not bad. Especially this joint—it’s cleverly done. You even thought about how the water would flow.”
Ayane and Arto’s hearts swelled with pride. They had achieved something with their own hands—and, more than anything, their beloved mentors had recognized their effort. That feeling was worth more than any praise.
This small success sparked a new determination in both of them. That very day, Ayane asked Sylvia to teach her more about herbal remedies and forest plants, while Arto began training with Akio in trap design and advanced woodworking, throwing himself into his lessons with renewed focus.
Their eyes shone clear and bright—like the crisp sky at the end of summer—firmly fixed on the future. And as Akio and Sylvia watched over their growth, sometimes with sternness but always with deep affection, the season of autumn’s rich harvest drew ever closer.
