When the Snow Thaws

I've got my club... I've got my Iron pan...

I-I've got my knife... A-And...

This doesn't look good. She seems pretty worried... Do you think something's happened?

Yeah... We might be too late, but maybe we should ask what's going on.

Good thinking.

Excuse me... Is something wrong? You seem to have a lot of dangerous items here...

S-Sorry about this. I must look so suspicious...

Truth is, while I was out of the house, my son snuck off to the Serena Coast all on his own...

It's not safe for him with all those monsters out there. So I thought I'd better get myself geared up and bring him back!

You can't go to the Serena Coast on your own! It's way too dangerous.

And you won't stand a chance against the monsters with just a kitchen knife, a club, and an oil stained pan...

But I'm so worried about him. I've got to go to the Serena Coast...

Urgh...

What's wrong, Yukino?

It's nothing... Don't worry about it...

Tell you what, why don't we get your son back for you? You just wait here.

Really?!

Just leave it to us, it'll all be okay. We're worried about him, too.

Th-Thank you so much!

Do you ever stop helping people, Aldo?

This pan... Can I borrow it?

Huh? Oh, sure...

You're not actually gonna fight with that thing are you?

With this? That wouldn't be easy...

Don't worry about it, Aldo. Let's go to the Serena Coast.

......

So that's where you were. It's not safe here on your own!

What?! Wh-Who are you?!

We're here to bring you home. It's too dangerous to be on the Serena Coast all alone, there are monsters here!

Your mom's really worried about you. Won't you come back to Rinde with us?

Did Mom ask you to come here?

I'm not going back! I want to stay here!

......

Look at this...

Huh?

This is an oil stained pan your mom uses for cooking... But she was gonna use it to fight against the monsters, just so she could get to you.

Huh?!

This thing couldn't withstand a single blow. But she was so worried about you, she was absolutely set on doing it... Urgh...

Yukino? You okay?

Don't worry... I'm fine.

Mom was gonna use that pan...

So why did you want to go to Serena Coast so bad?

You see... Granny Tome... She's my favoritist in all my family... And she's coming back on the next boat.

I really wanna see her.

So your granny's coming home?

Yeah. Granny Tome got ill, and there's no cure for it on this continent.

So she went far away by boat to get treated by the doctors over there. It was so difficult for her to walk by herself when she was in Rinde. It was so painful to see.... But I just know she's all better now and she'll be coming back on today's boat.

......

But... Mom. She said she might not be coming back today. She said her health might not be up to it. That Granny Tome's quite old now, and she might not be able to take such a long trip. That's why she told me to wait at home. But I still believe she'll be coming back...

I see... So you were worried about her, that's why you wanted to go meet her.

That makes sense...

I've been so lonely without her... I have to be there to meet her when she comes back!

I get it. But it's not safe for you on the coast. You won't be able to greet her if something happens to you out here.

She's right. So why don't you come back to Rinde and wait there?

But...

I understand all too well that feeling of wanting to do something for your family. But maybe you should think of something else you can do for her, other than going to greet her? What do you think?

Yukino... That's a really good idea.

Stop it! I hate being complimented!

Huh? Sorry...

Something other than going to greet her?

Thanks, Miss! I'll get something for Granny Tome I know she's gonna love!

That sounds great. What do you think, Yukino?

Yeah... Sounds good.

I wanna buy her something from the store in Unigan...

Then we'll take you. But first, let's go back to Rinde and let your mom know you're safe.

Okay... Thanks!

Not good... I'm getting close to my limit here.

I'm glad your mom doesn't have to worry now.

She wouldn't stop saying thank you... She even gave us handmade sweets to take with us...

Mom's sweets are the best! Money can't buy sweets this good!

Are they? I wanna eat them little by little so maybe I'll freeze them...

Haha... This has made you really happy, hasn't it, Yukino?

Urgh...

Cool down, Aldo. There's no need to make fun of me.

I wasn't making fun...

Let's go to Unigan. Come on, quickly now!

Look at him, prancing around... We don't want him to get lost.

He looked so anxious when we met on the Serena Coast... But he seems a little brighter now. I'm glad he's feeling a bit better.

Anyway... I wonder if his granny really is coming back.

I'm sure of it. If he believes she will, she will.

It will happen if you just believe in it... Is that how you think, Aldo?

Yeah, I do.

When you're waiting for your family, for someone you cherish, the uncertainty can make you anxious. Even if they are coming back, it doesn't change how anxious you feel.

So... When we're waiting for someone, we have to believe in them and keep looking ahead.

Aldo... I guess you're right.

Yukino... You must've felt anxious waiting for Tsukiha, right?

A little... I'd think to myself, perhaps I'm the only one who cares about her... She might not ever come back, no matter how long I wait.

I'd look up at the sky every day, worrying.

Yukino...

I... I'm also waiting for someone I care about to come back.

So if his wish to see his granny comes true... That would be so amazing.

Yeah, it would.

I've decided on a present!

That's... A fruit from Karek Swampland?

Yeah! It's her favorite food! It's gonna make her so happy! We used to relax in the sun eating this fruit together.

That's... A nice memory. You've chosen a great present. Someone I care about once gave me these carrots.

Urgh...

Yukino, you okay? You look like you're shaking again.

A long-awaited family reunion...

A present imbued with memories...

*sigh* Don't think too hard. Calm yourself, Yukino...

Miss?

Ah?!

I-It's nothing, I'm fine. Sorry, I was lost in thought.

If you've chosen your present, let's go back to Rinde. The boat might've come in by now.

Newsflash! A yellow flare's been spotted off the coast of Rinde!

Huh?

What? From the boat due for the port?

Aye! It appears some monsters have turned up, stranding the boat out at sea...

The boat's stranded? Could it be...

The boat Granny Tome's on?

Oh no! You mean it can't get to the port?

It sounds like some monsters are blocking its path.

This is terrible.

Yukino?

It's nothing. Let's go defeat them, Aldo.

Miss!

Right! We'd better hurry to Serena Coast!

Urgh... It's no use! If we don't defeat it quickly, the boat won't be able to dock!

There are so many knights... This must be a big deal.

Huh? What do you want? There's monsters here, it's too dangerous for you. Go back to Unigan.

This kid's granny might be on board that boat! Will you let us help you defeat the monsters?

Of course! We'd really appreciate that! We'll be counting on you.

What type of monsters are blocking the boat, then?

The water monsters around here have been acting up this year. Not enough food I hear. They surrounded the boat as it was approaching the port, forcing it to wait further out.

That's horrible! Can't you defeat them?

We'd like to, but they're underwater, so the odds are against us.

So unless we lure them to the surface, we can't stop them?

N-No way...

Is there anything I can do? I'll do whatever it takes to save that boat!

I appreciate the thought, kiddo, but there's nothing even we can do.

Oh... *sniffle* But... But Granny Tome might be coming back 'specially!

It's too soon to cry. Cry now and it'll freeze.

Huh?

Yukino... Have you got a plan?

Water monsters are weak to the cold. It stops them from moving. So... If I do this...

Whoa! It's gotten so cold!

Brrrr...*shiver* It's so cold! Is this ice magic?!

If we freeze the area closest to the sea like so...

They'll have no escape, and they'll have to jump out... Yep, exactly as I thought.

Well done, Yukino! That's how you lure 'em out!

Yep. And now I'll freeze them, right down to their cores!

You've done well! The port's safe and secure now, thanks to you!

Let's contact the boat. We're truly grateful!

That was quite something, Yukino!

It's not a big deal.

You can meet your granny now. Shall we go to the port together?

Yeah...

You seem down. You still worried about something?

I... I got so worried all of a sudden...

Worried?

Is she really coming back? Is she really on that boat? If Mom was right and she isn't on the boat... If I wait and wait and she never gets off...

Someone once said this to me...

It will happen if you just believe in it.

The more you believe, the more you wish, the better you'll feel. And I'm wishing with you...

Miss...

If you believe like you did when we first met, you'll head in the right direction. So let's put on a smile and go to meet her!

Okay! You're right! I've gotta smile first.

Thanks. Because of you, Miss, I...

You can stop right there!

I-I don't like being praised. You don't need to thank me. Let's meet your granny first, okay?

Miss?

Look, now the monster's been dealt with, that boat'll be here soon. You should go on ahead.

Okay... I'll be waiting in Rinde!

Yukino... Why'd you go so cold all of a sudden?

I didn't mean to be unkind. I just...

Something wrong?

Anyway, we should head to the Rinde port.

Is that everyone who was on the boat?

I didn't see any old ladies pass by...

She wasn't on board... What do I do? If I can't see her again...

Ugh...

Huh? What was that sound? Is there someone still...

Ah!

That woman!

Granny Tome!

Phew! She was on board...

Nope?

Huh?

She's... She's not Granny Tome.

She's not? Then...

Meeeow...

It's a cat. Must've snuck on board.

Granny Tome!

You what? Granny Tome?

Meeeeow!

Wait?

What?! You mean, Granny Tome's...

Yeah! Granny Tome's my family cat!

Yaaaaay! You came back! This is amazing, you're walking on your own four feet! You're cured! I'm so glad!

Meow!

Th-Then who's this lady?

Huh? Oh, I'm Plum, I live next-door.

Granny Plum, thank you so much for bringing Granny Tome back for me!

I'm so glad you were able to reunite. Well, now I've escorted her safely, I'll be on my way.

......

Ah, you were talking about your elderly cat, not your granny. I'm glad you got to see her again.

Yukino?

It caught me off guard...

What's wrong, Yukino? You look so annoyed!

You can't be this angry because it was just a cat?!

It's... It's...

It's too warm!

Whoa! What the, ? What happened, Yukino?!

Aaaaaaah! No, no, no!

It's so hot! This is terrible! It's not fair!

What?! Yukino?! Seriously, what's going on?! Why'd you turn into a snowman?

Wait, aren't you gonna melt?! Are you okay like this?!

Urrrrrrgh! Aaaaaaah! I couldn't stand it! T-T-Truth is when I get too warm, I can't keep hold of my human form and I melt! Once I've gone back to being a snowman I can take human form again, but... Ohhhh... Now isn't the time for that... But I'm glad...I'm glad he got to see his cat... His Granny Tome...again!

Miss!

Thanks! I wouldn't have gotten to see her without your help!

Aaaaaaaah! You're a good kid! Such a good kid! I'm melting even more...

More?!

Ohhhhhh... I've been holding this reaction back the whole time... I've been about to melt ever since I saw his mom holding that iron pan, so resolved to save him... It's no use...

Huh? Oh!

But I'm so worried about him. I've got to go to the Serena Coast...

Urgh...

What's wrong, Yukino?

It's nothing...

Oh! You were about to melt! That's why you turned away and started shaking?!

Uuuuurgh... I'm so weak to that sort of thing. And being praised makes me feel happy, which makes me warm, and then I melt... And if I cry I melt...

That's terrible!

*sigh* Oh dear... I've gone and said everything I was thinking... I was trying to be cool...

It's great. I like this side of you, Yukino.

Me too!

Eeeeeeep stop it! You can't! You can't!

......

Please, forget about what happened...

There's nothing to be embarrassed about. When you're melting, you're so honest and easy to talk to.

No! When I'm like that, even my thoughts feel like they're melting away! The things I really think, that I want to keep hidden, they start spilling out all over the place!

Haha, I think that's a good thing! It's way more natural than pretending to be tough and hiding them away.

Urgh! I'm so embarrassed by my snowman form! My cheeks feel so flushed and hot just thinking about it...

Hot? Then?!

Aaaaaaaaaagh!

Yukino!