Will Sprout | Other Side Heroes 4★ Card Story | Stray Cat in the Lost Garden

Will Sprout | Other Side Heroes 4★ Card Story | Stray Cat in the Lost Garden

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Jude: ......

Will: What’s wrong, Jude-san?

Jude: It felt like I was being watched just now...

Guess it was just my imagination.

Will: Being watched?

Asch: I’ve been feelin’ it too, ever since we got here. But every time I look around, there ain’t nobody there.

Jude: If it were residents of the Lost Garden, we should be able to drag ‘em out pretty easily. Whoever they are, they’re too good at staying hidden.

Asch: Easier to just say it’s in our heads.

Jude: True. This isn’t the time to be worrying about them, anyway.

Bianchi, are you doing okay?

Bianchi: ...I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.

Jude: We’ll find your family, don’t worry. All we can do is believe in that and keep looking.

Bianchi: Right...

Jude: I’m gonna go look over there. Call for me if something happens.

Bianchi: Okay. Then I’ll go this way...

———



Will: Bianchi-san.

Bianchi: ...!

Will-chan... What is it?

Will: Well... I haven’t found any leads or anything yet, but...

Are you really okay, Bianchi-san?

Bianchi: Huh?

Will: You look pretty pale is all... I’m sure you’re feeling a little restless because you’re worried, but please don’t overdo it, okay?

Bianchi: ...Thanks, Will-chan. Sorry to worry you.

It’s not just my family I’m worried about...

Will: What do you mean?

Bianchi: What I... did to Sei-chan...

Will: Bianchi-san?

Bianchi: ...I always thought Heroes were a lot more powerful.

A symbol of justice, always able to make the correct choice...

No matter what predicament they find themselves in, they can demonstrate miraculous powers in order to protect what’s important to them.

Will: ......

Bianchi: But I guess that’s not true. Then again, maybe that’s how Heroes always used to be...

...And I’m just a half-baked Hero.

I’ve got to get stronger.

Will: Bianchi-san...

Bianchi: Sorry, I said some pretty hideous things just now. I should just shut my mouth—

Will: I want to get stronger, too. Get stronger and protect those I care about.

Even if I were being forced to pick one to save, I’d still want to save them all.

I find myself wondering how I could possibly amass a power that great...

Bianchi: ......

Will: Ahaha, sorry... I’m only a rookie, but here I am spouting off like I understand how you feel...

Bianchi: That reminds me, Will-chan... When Sirius invaded the Tower before, you—

Bianchi & Will: ?!

———



Bianchi’s Younger Brother: Waaaaaah! Bianchi!

Bianchi’s Younger Sister: Bianchi, you came... thank you...

Bianchi: I’m so glad you’re safe...

Jude: I’m happy for you, Bianchi.

Will: I’m so glad they were found safe. To think that there were this many Tronis members hidden down here...

Asch: Yo, save your sappy little reunion for later.

Will: H-He’s right. We don’t know when this place might collapse, so let’s get above ground.

Jude: How are we supposed to get back?

Will: That’s... a good question...

Um, is there anyone here who knows where the exit is that leads to the surface? Any and all ideas are welcome, so if you have any guesses, please speak up.

Jude: Looks like we struck out.

Asch: There seriously ain’t a single person who knows?

Will: No way... After we came this far...

Jude: Should we just keep pushing on and hope for the best?

Asch: And how do you plan to make things right if we just end up wandering around lost forever?

Jude: Well, we won’t know unless we try—

Will: (What should we do?)

(We have so many people here...)

Bianchi: Hey, wait! Where are you going?!

Will: Bianchi-san? What’s wrong?

Bianchi: My brother said he saw a cat and took off that way...

Will: A cat?

Bianchi: Wait! Don’t go running off on your own!

Asch: What the hell’s goin’ on?

Will: Apparently there’s a cat over there...

Asch: A cat?

Will: ......

Asch: Hey, hold up...!

———



Bianchi: —Honestly, I can’t believe all that happened.

Will: I feel you.

Bianchi: It’s strange to think we were just in the Lost Garden a little while ago.

Will: I couldn’t believe that following the cat led us to the exit!

Bianchi: No kidding. Nothing short of a miracle.

Will: ......

Bianchi: Something the matter?

Will: Oh, it’s nothing... I just feel like it wasn’t a mere coincidence is all.

I think someone was guiding us...

Bianchi: ...And who might this someone be?

Will: ......

I think I’m imagining something too good to be true, so I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.

Bianchi: ...Suit yourself.

I won’t ask if you don’t want to tell, but if you ever do decide you want to talk, then I’ll be here to listen.

Will: Okay. Thank you, Bianchi-san.

...I hope I can repay you someday.

———

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Will Sprout | HERO CHRONICLE | Chapter 1: First Step Towards Becoming a Hero

Will Sprout | HERO CHRONICLE | Chapter 1: First Step Towards Becoming a Hero

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Kitten: Meow, mrow

Ren: Oh wow...

Will: How cute! I’m glad it’s eating the food you brought.

Ren: Me too. I saw in a book that adding milk to it makes it soft so kittens can eat it!

Will: You’re so nice, Ren, taking the time to look that up. Look, Akira, isn’t it cute?

Akira: Yeah, it’s cute and all... but if it’s out here in a box like this, doesn’t that mean it was abandoned?

Will: Probably... Has it been like this since you found it, Ren?

Ren: Yeah, at first the box had a lid on it, too... I noticed it because I could hear it crying.

Akira: Who the heck would do something like this...

Shop Owner: Hey, you kids! What’re you doin’ over there?

Akira & Ren: Huh?!

Shop Owner: Don’t go feedin’ strays right by my shop! Then it’ll never leave.

Will: S-Sorry about that! It’s just... this little guy was crying because it was so hungry...

Shop Owner: Are you gonna come feed it every day, then?

Ren: If it doesn’t get food, then it’ll...

Shop Owner: What a thorn in my side.

Will & Ren: Ngh...

Akira: Hey gramps, did you know it was here?

Shop Owner: ...Yeah. But it’s a black cat. They’re nothin’ but bad luck.

Will: So you just ignored it?!

Shop Owner: So what? If you’re gonna lay the blame on someone, lay it on the piece of work that abandoned it here. I’ve got nothin’ to do with this.

Will: ......

Ren: Poor kitty...

Akira: Let’s bring it home with us, Ren. You’ve always wanted a pet cat, right?

Ren: I want to, but I have to ask my mom and dad first.

Will: I’ll ask my parents, too. If yours say no, I’ll try asking if it can stay with us instead.

———

Will: (...They told me no.)

(I figured that’d probably be the case, but still...)

———

Will: ......

(Huh? Is that thunder...?)

(Whoa, the sky is pitch black over there. It was clear just a minute ago...)

(...It looks like it’s raining over where the kitten is.)

(Its box is wide open, too...)

———

Will: Huff... Huff...

(Wow, it’s really coming down... An umbrella would be completely useless in this downpour.)

(Where’s the kitten...?)

(...Huh? It’s not in the box?!)

(Where did it go? Did it run into the street...?!)

Shop Owner: Aren’t you the kid from before...?

Will: Mister! The kitten... The kitten disappeared!

I came to check on it since I was worried about it being caught in the rain... What should I do? It’s completely defenseless...

Shop Owner: If it’s the black cat you’re looking for, then...

Kitten: Mrow!

Will: ...Huh?

———

Will: You brought it inside... thank goodness...

Shop Owner: It’s not like any more customers are comin’ today thanks to the rain, so I brought it inside. Cleaning up after it is gonna be a pain.

Will: Um... I asked my mom if I could keep it, but she said no.

I get sick and fall asleep easily, so she said I can’t be responsible for an animal...

Shop Owner: That’s too bad...

Will: Achoo!

Shop Owner: H-Hey now, you should dry off before you get sick. Jeez, hold on a minute—

Will: Mmm, toasty... Thank you for letting me borrow a towel and for making me milk tea.

Shop Owner: I can’t have you passing out here, now can I?

If you’re sickly like you say, you should think a little more before you act. Your parents are gonna be worried sick.

Will: But I was worried about the kitty...

...Someday, I wanna be a Hero.

Shop Owner: A Hero?

Will: You might think it’s impossible for a sickly kid like me... But I’ve made up my mind.

I’ve only just admitted that dream to Ren and Akira too - the boys that were with me earlier. They fully support me; they never told me it’s impossible.

That’s why I just couldn’t turn a blind eye when I thought the kitten might need saving.

Shop Owner: ......

Kitten: Meow, mrow~

Will: Hehe, it’s completely let its guard down around you, Mister. It looks right at home there on your lap. ♪

Shop Owner: If I leave it alone for even a second it starts whining at me. It gets on my nerves, so I just let it stay.

...If it’s already this attached to me, maybe I should just keep it and take care of it myself.

Will: Really?

Shop Owner: Besides, I don’t need kids loiterin’ around the shop every time somethin’ happens.

Kids like you... and your little friends over there.

Will: ...?

Akira? Ren?!

Shop Owner: Looks like you were all thinkin’ the same thing...

Good grief, they’re soaked to the bone, too... Watch the cat for me, will ya?

Will: Sure...

Shop Owner: Hey, you kids!!

Will: Hehe, he ended up being a good person.

You’re pretty lucky to get picked up by someone like him. Enjoy your new life, okay? ♪

Kitten: Mro~w ♪

———

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Will Sprout | HERO CHRONICLE | Chapter 2: Andante

Will Sprout | HERO CHRONICLE | Chapter 2: Andante

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Bizele: Meow ♪ Mrow~♪

Hannah: Hehe, Bizele looks so happy! ♪

Will: He sure does. He really seems to enjoy the sunshine.

Bizele: Mrow~, meow~

Hannah: Huh? Why is he running toward the flower bed?

Will: Maybe something caught his eye?

Hannah: Bizele, what’s up?

Bizele: Mraaw!

Hannah: ...!

Will: Hannah-chan? What’s wrong?!

Hannah: B-B... Bug!!

Will: What?!

Hannah: W-W-What do I do, Will-san?! Bizele has it in his mouth!

Hannah: Wait, Bizele! Don’t come any closer! Please, Bizele!!

———

Gast: Hannah, Will!

Hannah: Big bro!

Gast: Sorry I’m late. Thanks for watching her, Will.

Will: I-It was nothing...

Gast: You havin’ fun with Bizele, Hannah? Couldn’t ask for better weather. The breeze feels great, too.

Hannah: Y-Yeah, I am, but... Just a little bit ago, Bizele had his sights set on a bug.

Gast: Did he? Makes sense, bein’ outside ‘n’ all. Everything end up okay?

Hannah: Yeah, Will-san took it somewhere else for me. All I could do was yell... I’m sorry.

Will: You don’t have to apologize. I understand why you were freaked out...

Gast: Wait, you good, Will? I coulda sworn Akira told me once that you hate bugs...

Hannah: Wait, is that true, Will-san?!

Will: Oh, haha... Yeah, it’s true. But I couldn’t show it with how scared you were, Hannah-chan.

Hannah: Did I force you to do something you don’t like...?

Will: I’m fine, don’t worry. Bugs are an inevitable part of caring for plants, so I know how to handle them.

Gast: Thanks, Will. I owe you one.

Will: I-It’s fine, really...

Hannah: I didn’t think you had any weaknesses, Will-san.

Will: Huh?

Hannah: I just seem like you can do anything, so I’m a little surprised... but also a little relieved.

Will: Relieved...?

Gast: Aah, I know what you mean. Will gives off that diligent, perfect honor student vibe, so it’s nice to see he’s as human as the rest of us.

Will: What are you talking about... Of course I have weaknesses. I actually think I have more than the average person.

Will: I don’t like bugs, I’m bad at cooking, and I can’t swim, either...

Hannah: Really...?

Will: There are a lot of weaknesses I’ve carried with me since I was a kid. It’s embarrassing to admit, though...

Gast: Ain’t nothin’ to be embarrassed about, is there? I mean, I’ve got my fair share of things I’ve never been able to get over... Okay, maybe it is kinda embarrassing.

Will: I’m not hung up on them or anything, though.

Will: The other day, Oscar-san told me it was okay to focus on what I’m good at instead of what I’m not... and that made me feel a lot better.

Will: I decided I was going to learn more about plants than anyone else, which would help with my Substance, too.

Hannah: Interesting... Sometimes I get overwhelmed by how many weaknesses I have, but maybe I’ll start thinking the same way as you, Will-san.

Will: Go for it. Working hard to overcome your weaknesses has its own merits, but it’s just as important to keep a positive mindset.

Gast: Is that why you’ve been training your abilities so hard, Will?

Gast: It seemed like you were putting more work into that than weight training and stuff lately... Hero abilities really are personal to each of us, huh?

Will: ...You noticed, huh?

Gast: ‘Course I did. That’s pretty amazing though, to be able to utilize your plant knowledge for your powers...

Gast: Maybe I should take a page outta your book and study. ...But how the heck would I study wind? I ain’t got a clue.

Will: I could help you, if you wanted.

Gast: Really...?

Will: What comes to mind immediately are things like meteorology and wind engineering... Oceanography might be good to study, too. I think there are plenty of fields you could dive into.

Gast: ...You’d really help teach me?

Will: I prefer to hone my strengths while also tackling my weaknesses head-on.

Gast: ...!

Hannah: Hehe, good thing you’ve got such a wise friend on your side, right big bro? ♪

Bizele: Mrow~♪

———

T/N: "Andante" is a musical term that means "moderately slow". My personal interpretation is that Will is taking a "slow and steady" approach towards becoming a Hero and overcoming the things that have always held him back.

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