My Friend
Hey, what's a "Head Bee?"
You saw something after I shot you with that shindan yesterday, I see.
Just tell me already.
Head Bee is the highest position we Bees can obtain.
So they're like the captain of the Letter Bees or something?
Captain? Well, perhaps...
They say there is no letter they can't deliver.
Currently there is only a single Bee with that title.
Outside of important government deliveries, the Head only operates in the capital,
so we have not yet met face to face.
It's someone we Letter Bees all look up to, I suppose.
You didn't see anything else, right?
What's with that creepy grin?
That Sylvette girl's pretty cute!
How old is she?
She's 7 years old.
Now that you mention it, she's the same age as you.
Wait, you even saw my little sister?
Gauche, you like that Aria girl, right?
Are you guys dating?
Hey, hey! Have ya smooched yet? Have ya?
You rubbed her boobies?
Honestly, this is why children are so hard to handle.
Gauche, you'll make it to Head Bee.
The woman who ran the bread shop used to say it all the time:
"It's the jerks who always get promoted!"
I think I'm gonna barf...
Please bear with it. I don't have any other food.
I can't stand this disgusting soup anymore!
I suppose it can't be helped.
Gauche!
Quiet.
Hey, what if you used a shindan?
Sometimes it's important to train the body as well.
Do not worry! Today, finally, I will catch one!
Huh?
Lag!
Huh?
'Night...
Lag Seeing.
It will be quite cold tonight.
I am not very good in the cold, so would you perhaps sleep together with me tonight?
I don't really mind...
The stars are brighter than I thought they would be.
The rest of this delivery should go smoothly, Lag Seeing.
If we make haste, we might be able to reach Cambel Litus by midday tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
Yes.
Do you have anyone you would like to write a letter to, Lag?
Of course not...
Then, one day, please try writing one.
Why? Who cares about some stupid letters...
Even a single word will do.
As long as there is someone who will shed a tear of happiness when they receive it.
Even just from a single word?
To those people who live apart from one another, a letter contains the heart of the person that wrote it.
It's fluff from the chippa flowers that bloom in Jose's white desert.
It means that we will soon exit the mountain pass.
That light is so far away...
What's a letter anyway?
So what about my mom?
If you can send a letter anywhere, you can send one to my mom!
When we get to Cambel, I'm never gonna see my mom again!
You're gonna start working in Akatsuki after this, right Gauche?
So take me with you to the capital!
Take me to Akatsuki, Gauche!
If I can get to Akatsuki, I can find out who those guys who kidnapped my mom were!
I could find my mom!
Right, Gauche? Why not?
Lag... Unless you are called into service by the government and issued a crossing permit,
those from Yodaka cannot cross the bridge into the Yuusari Area.
And furthermore, only a select few of the upper-class are able to obtain crossing permits into the capital, Akatsuki.
But, if you have one, Gauche...
You did slightly touch my mind and memories from that shindan...
And perhaps that is why you are spouting this nonsense.
But you cannot really understand from just that.
You couldn't hope to understand...
...the burden of carrying this capital crossing permit.
Even I must accumulate more points in order for my own family to enter Akatsuki.
My sister will have to live by herself in Yuusari for a while.
Then why was my mom taken to Akatsuki?
I do not know that.
However if she truly did cross the bridge, perhaps it might not be as bad as you think.
But...
I believe I said this earlier, Lag Seeing...
Your circumstances are none of my concern.
I cannot lend you a hand as if you were my friend.
You're saying that we can't be friends?
I will transport you, a letter, safely and unscathed to Cambel.
That is the entirety of my job.
I hate you!
I hate all of you Letter Bees so much!
I do not need you to like me.
That is not part of my job.
Now, go to sleep.
Tomorrow we will aim to reach Cambel at last.
Rest your body and heart.
Sylvette...
Lag, Roda?
Oh, no! My gun!
Gauche, you cold-hearted bastard!
Work this, work that...
Your job this, your job that...
I'm an idiot for ever trusting that guy!
I'll go crazy with this weird gun and bust right on through that bridge!
"The burden of the crossing pass?" Yeah right!
I'm gonna make it to Akatsuki even without somethin' like that!
Don't follow me, Roda!
Wait, did we pass through this way?
A Gaichuu!
What the heck is that?
Gauche!
Roda...
Stay calm, Lag!
That's the Gaichuu "Buckers."
It will take a bit of time for it to shoot again.
Lag, steady the gun!
I will pull the trigger.
Make sure to hold it up properly!
Okay.
What's going on? The power of the spirit amber is rising again...
Loaded!
Black Needle!
Did we get it?
You've got to be kidding me! It didn't work!
It looks like it will be difficult to shoot a shindan into its joints from here.
But if we barge forward carelessly, we'll end up food for those sickles on its head.
It looks like we only have one shot at this.
We'll jump in at the moment the Buckers shoots the spear from its lower jaw.
There's no way, Gauche!
And you're hurt bad!
Do not worry.
But...
You'll be fine.
I will deliver you to Cambel, no matter what.
Lag, you are a letter. A letter that holds all your feelings and wishes and dreams and heart...
I will risk my life in order to deliver you to Cambel.
Because that is the job of a Letter Bee.
Gauche...
Here it comes!
Lag, if you're a man, then be brave and hold that gun steady!
Shindan loaded!
What is this light?
This can't be...
He has a red spirit amber as an artificial eye?
So the shindanjuu's power rose because it resonated with his eye?
Oh, no!
Lag!
Lag, just shoot!
Lag... Your left eye is a protective charm.
In order for you to live...
Because your life is a gift to me...
It gave me the joy of being your mother.
I want us to stay like this forever...
Just like this...
I don't need a dad or a mom or money or anything, so...
I don't care if I can never walk... Just...
Please don't go!
Stay here... by my side...
Brother...
What are you doing?
I'm a letter. I'm heart.
I'm hope... So...
Lag...
You even resonated with my heart.
Sylvette?
Lag?
Seems like you've finally woken up.
Um, where are we?
The port town of Cambel.
Then...
That's right. This little guy carried you here on his back for who knows how many tens of keels.
Lag saved your...
Excuse me!
Might you be Mrs. Sabrina Mary?
Yes.
I see!
Then, Mrs. Mary, please stamp or sign this delivery slip first!
Get the hell outta here!
First thing off you ask for my stamp?
You heartless man!
How about thanking Lag first, after he nursed you back to health these past three days?!
This is exactly why you city folk are so unpleasant!
Aunt Sabrina, wait...
Hush, dear!
Run off back to your Yuusari or your Akatsuki!
You stupid Letter Bee!
Look, that's him.
He's that government man from Yuusari...
Lucky there aren't any ships in port.
Pardon me, but I'd like some water and some fruit.
Sorry, but we ain't got nothin' today.
Then, those aren't for sale?
Nobody's gonna sell nothin' to you in this town!
It doesn't seem like we are welcome here.
That's because this is an illegal port that harbors pirate ships from the open seas.
They're scared of an outsider learning too much and spreading rumors.
Lag...
Here's water and food.
Aunt Sabrina told me to take it to you.
It's way better than that pukey soup you had, Gauche.
She's a really nice person. She just doesn't know how hard your job is.
She will take great care of my friend, I'm sure.
That's a relief.
Friend?
The delivery is over now.
Lag, you did very well...
You truly got through it...
You and I relied on each other, and we made it through that perilous journey.
You are no longer a letter... You're a man now, Lag Seeing.
So... we're friends now?
Yes.
Friends?
Yes! Roda, too.
Gauche!
Roda, take care.
My red eye is a stone with a mysterious power that my mom told me to always keep safe.
She said it was used to cure a disease I had when I was born.
But she also said not to tell anyone about my eye.
She said only reveal it to people who you trust to the bottom of your heart.
Thank you, Lag.
The power that resides in spirit amber is very valuable.
You must be careful people do not target you for it.
Right.
I will try and look into your mother's whereabouts after I arrive in Akatsuki.
I might be able to find some clue where she was taken.
We have now determined a route to this town.
It will not be too long off when another Letter Bee comes to visit this town carrying someone's precious letter.
Farewell, Lag Seeing.
Farewell, Gauche...
Farewell!
Um... I was thinking...
One day...
One day I wanna be a Letter Bee just like you!
Five Years Later
Finally, I may be able to get a little closer to you.
Mom, Gauche... Wait for me!
I'm gonna become a Letter Bee, and go to Akatsuki!
Next: Crybaby Boy, Letter Girl