TFOA Chapter 38

4. Late Summer Heat. Beach, Oil Painting, Sunflowers

Heavy rains had poured for quite some time, but fortunately Niksi's sweet potato field was safe. She finished creating the Seine River-style waterway that she'd been putting off, and tended to the pitiful tomatoes whose necks had been snapped by the downpour.

"Is the field repair going well?"

The one who visited her field was the village head, who still had a large bandage mark remaining on his head. He gifted her a long baguette, saying he had just baked bread.

"It'll taste good with jam, and if you want to be a bit more luxurious, you can dip it in soup."

Niksi, who had just received cherry jam from Raul's shop, was delighted at the thought of spreading the baguette with jam.

"But what brings you here so early in the morning?"

"I have something I want to give you."

He rummaged through his pocket and pulled something out. It was a long rectangular piece of paper shaped like a banknote.

"A check?"

"Yes. I got it from the officer. It's compensation for helping catch the criminal. He also said he was sorry for being so cranky all this time."

The check had a quite decent amount written on it. About as much as the compensation for the officer putting a hole in Raul's bar floor.

"I'm giving it to you."

"This? To me? Why?"

Gilbert rolled his eyes around as if deliberately searching for a reason.

"I don't really lack money even without something like this."

It was a truly dirty bourgeois statement. Poor farmer Niksi, with French petty citizen blood flowing to her very bones, firmly pressed down her desire to start a revolution.

"When you put it that way, I feel like I have to accept it even if I don't want to."

"Haha. Please take it. Thanks to you, I was able to get rid of all sorts of things. I should do something for you too."

Huh? He asked back with a sly smile.

He knew very, very well that his eye-smile gave him a slightly more than usual mischievous charm.

"Fine. I'll accept it just this once."

At this rate, it was unclear who was in the position of giving money, but Niksi carefully folded it and put it in the front pocket of her overalls.

After the rainy season ended, the village became much busier. They had to remove the weeds that had grown up rudely tall, and prettily pack down again the soil that had gone crazy from the swollen water.

Niksi also had to move quite diligently. The plants that had survived the rainy season suddenly grew robustly, so she had to do the pruning she had lazily put off.

After she borrowed pruning shears from Edgar at the seed & seedling shop, she was passing by the sheep ranch. The Violet family was giving the sheep, who had become grimy from getting rained on, a refreshing wash.

The sheep that had regained their original color were running freely around the field, while the sheep whose wool was still muddy were huddled together in a corner of the fence, waiting for their turn.

Niksi, who absolutely had to buy sheep wool before winter came, approached the Violet family's fence to build some friendship with the fluffy sheep.

"Hello, sheep. Please grow your fur quickly. That way I can get winter clothes."

Lightly dodging a sheep that suddenly tried to headbutt her, Niksi tapped the sheep's noses.

Then, she noticed someone sitting in the distance, shearing sheep wool. A girl who was staring blankly into space while her hands professionally turned sheep into bald creatures.

It was Greta Violet.

'Come to think of it, when we were stranded, Greta helped rescue us too, right?'

I should thank her! Niksi made her way through the sheep to greet Greta.

"Hello, Greta! I heard you helped us last time, but I was too out of it to say thank you. I was really..."

"......"

"Grateful, but. Can you hear me?"

Greta up close was staring blankly into space. She was so spaced out that she didn't notice even when someone waved their hand right in front of her face.

Meanwhile, her hands had already created five naked sheep.

'Is she sleeping standing up?'

Niksi stood in front of Greta. After staring at Greta's empty eyes for a while, Niksi raised her hand. There was no pupil response.

Niksi bent her finger. And with it, she poked Greta's eye.

"That's how it happened."

Greta said with bloodshot eyes.

"I see. But, are your eyes okay? I didn't know you wouldn't close your eyes. It's my first time putting my finger on someone's pupils too..."

Suddenly Niksi had become a personality-flawed person who stabbed innocent people's eyes. She listened to Greta's words in a reflecting posture.

Fortunately, Greta didn't seem to care much about anything other than her own worries. After saying she was fine, she sniffled.

Greta's worries were like this: One day, she was waiting in front of Raul's bar with a handkerchief to give to Raul, when Raul dressed up incredibly neatly! Stylishly! and went outside the village.

'Raul seems to dress neatly and stylishly every day though.'

How stylishly must he have dressed to confuse Greta's mind like this? If he had dressed like Louis XIV, it would be worth spacing out.

"I was trembling so I couldn't see well, but... Teacher... no, Mr. Raul... seemed to be going to meet someone important. He even sprayed cologne that he doesn't usually spray."

"Aha. Good observation skills."

"Plus, he slicked back his hair, but it looked like he used a different wax than usual. The textured stiffness of his hair looked different. Also, he was wearing cufflinks that he only uses when he has important business, and he even wore a tie and tie pin that he usually doesn't wear because he finds them stuffy."

"That, that's pretty good observation for..."

"Could it be that Teacher Raul has gotten a lover?"

Greta's face was flushed red, almost to the point of tears.

Right. Only then did Niksi remember that Greta liked Raul. Just as sparrows can't pass by a mill, and she can't pass by anything that looks interesting.

Niksi grabbed Greta's hand.

"If something seems to be happening, we have to find out!"

"Something happened to Raul?"

The first place she went was her meal source and the village people's corn on the toe - the painter's house. The painter had just woken up and was sipping coffee while wrapped tightly in a blanket.

He was acquainted with the disaster-like Niksi who always came to find him, but this was his first time with Greta. A combination of a person who could bounce anywhere and a shy young lady he'd never spoken to once.

For him, it was a combination that was difficult to handle in many ways.

'I don't know what happened, but... I should send them back quickly before it gets noisy.'

Come to think of it, Raul had mentioned going to meet someone this week.

"I only know that he went to meet someone."

"Even I, who didn't see it, know that."

If he went outside the village, what else would it be if not to meet someone?

'So Teacher really does have a lover!'

Greta, who had reached an extreme conclusion, sniffled. Niksi, who had become impatient for no reason, whispered in the painter's ear.

"Not that kind of thing, we need more detailed information. This young lady here is very interested in Raul's movements. She hopes his heart will settle somewhere. Preferably somewhere close. Right? You know what I mean?"

'What are you talking about.'

The painter looked completely clueless. How is this artist even more emotionally clueless than that frontal lobe-paralyzed one over there?

Frustrated, Niksi beat her chest.

"So if we just know why Raul went out, our hearts will be very comfortable!"

She said that, but Benjamin's own heart was very uncomfortable. It felt exactly like facing a short-answer question with a predetermined correct answer.

If he got it right, these people in front of him would be comfortable, and if he got it wrong, he would suffer very very much - a problem with nothing good about it.

'Movements? Heart settling?'

He began to ponder deeply.

'Come to think of it, he said he has a student in the village whom he taught Latin. He said she had cute, neat black hair in a bob cut... A very admirable student who thinks so highly of her teacher. Could this be her?'

The painter glanced at Greta.

"......"

"......"

Teacher's heart settling. Admirable student.

'...Does she want the teacher to date someone and settle down quickly?'

A miraculous logic. The painter who concluded like that opened his mouth.

"He's probably going to see a matchmaker or something."

In an instant, the painter saw a vision of lightning striking behind Greta's head.

Benjamin instinctively knew he was screwed. Very badly screwed.

"Ra, Raul Teacher is going on a matchmaking meeting...? Is Teacher... getting married?"

Greta began to cry, her shoulders shaking.

"No, no! The pairing this painter is talking about is... yes, like seeing virtuous pairing! He has a fetish for getting excited when watching virtuous people matching up!"

"That guy does have some perverted aspects."

"I'm not stupid to that extent."

The two, who didn't know how to comfort people whether then or now, began to fluster around.

"I see... Teacher has found someone to love. That's why he dressed up so nicely and went out..."

Suddenly calming down, Greta smiled faintly with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Rather than watching Teacher marry someone else."

And with determined eyes, she pulled out sheep shears from her pocket.

"Whoa, whoa. Let's think of physical methods as a last resort!"

Whether she was planning a head-shaving struggle or to shave someone's hair off, Niksi took the sheep shears away. Greta's huhu laughing face somehow looked like screw-loose grinder.

It was scary. Very scary indeed.

"Right! We'll find out what's going on!"

"We?"

The painter questioned. Niksi linked arms with him and smiled.

"This painter here is friends with Raul! From the painter's perspective, they're very close friends. I don't know about Raul's perspective though!"

"......"

"So we'll find out what exactly is happening with Raul!"

"Really?"

Greta creakily turned her head. Her tone was like a shy girl with a crush, but why did her face look like a doll from a scary summer story?

Both of their spines began to creep up with fear.

"Of course! Haha. Right, painter?"

'This is all because you said weird things!'

Niksi put force into her arm linked with the painter's. The painter, who had pressed Greta's mental breakdown switch, reluctantly nodded.

"That's... right."

"Thank you... But if it's really true that Raul Teacher has found love, then I'd rather..."

Greta pulled out sheep shears from her other pocket. Niksi, trembling, confiscated them again.

"Ready?"

Auvers' one and only carriage station. The blonde neighbor and the painter stood in front of the station.

The carriage Raul called would arrive in 30 minutes from now. Raul would be hanging a <Closed Today> sign in front of his bar and heading this way.

All of this came from Greta's amazing intelligence gathering.

"Weather? All clear. Wind direction, all clear. Condition! All clear. Painter's formal wear? Problem detected."

"Shut up."

"Painter. I really don't understand. What on earth are those tacky pants?"

Niksi pointed to the painter's checkered pants. They were tacky pants that clearly looked like they'd been stored in a wardrobe for about 10 centuries before being taken out to wear.

"With that good appearance, is that really the best you can do? It's like grilling a delicious steak and then putting ketchup on it. Those pants look exactly like Socrates or Aristotle's pants."

"Those guys didn't wear pants."

"That's exactly my point, painter. They're worse than not wearing any."

When she planned this operation to follow Raul to the city outskirts today, there was one thing she had earnestly requested of Benjamin.

"I told you to dress like a modern city boy!"

To wear a neat suit. But a poor painter wouldn't have such a thing. All he had were white shirts, black shirts, and beige shirts.

So he had borrowed from Gilbert Grace, swallowing his embarrassment.

'A suit? I only have my father's, is that okay?'

So he thought it would be fine. Actually, it looked a bit strange to him too, but he figured it was a cultural difference between France and Germany.

"So what. Want me to take it off?"

The painter, annoyed by the continued criticism, undid his belt. If it were his own clothes, he wouldn't feel wronged.

"Are you crazy? If I said something about your hairstyle, would you go bald?"

Niksi grabbed his hand with an astounded expression. Just as Niksi and Benjamin were bickering about undoing the belt or not undoing it, they heard a throat-clearing sound from the side.

"Ahem. Benjamin? Niksi? There's someone behind the sign."

It was bartender Raul with terribly good timing. Raul, who had no idea they would be tailing him, readily agreed to share the carriage.

The inside of the carriage was small enough to be packed tight with three people. Benjamin, who was dead set against sitting next to her, sat next to Raul.

As soon as Niksi sat down, she began cheerfully prattling haha hoho with Raul. Most of it was nutritionless icebreaker-type conversation. Things like how the weather was, how breakfast was, and such.

The painter, whose energy was drained just by being among people, didn't bother joining the conversation.

"Sharing the ride is nice. It costs quite a bit to go to the outskirts."

"This is my first time going to the outskirts since coming to Auvers!"

Benjamin, who had been continuously bothered by her "not wearing anything would be better!" comment, glanced at his outfit.

A thin Norfolk jacket that came to his thighs and a wing collar shirt in a neutral color with a modest front pleat. A loosely tied cravat.

The pants were flashy checkered, probably Gilbert's father's taste, but it wasn't the worst. Rather...

Benjamin looked up at the prattling blonde neighbor. Neatly tied up golden hair. Her wide-brimmed hat had fluffy wool from Greta's sheep and summer roses stuck in it.

A light green dress with floral embroidery that she didn't usually wear. A waist tied round with a ribbon, as if making the waistline narrow was fashionable.

'...Rather, I thought her outfit would be weirder.'

Grudgingly, it suited her quite well. With the yellow and green, she really looked like a walking human sunflower.

Benjamin, unable to find fault with her outfit, turned his head.

"But what brings you both to the outskirts?"

"Being only in the countryside makes me restless! I thought I'd go out and breathe some city coal air for a change. What about you, Raul?"

"I have an appointment."

"An appointment? With a friend?"

Niksi subtly probed his purpose. Raul looked out the window and smiled somewhat awkwardly, as if embarrassed.

"No. Not a friend."

"Oh my. Then?"

"...Well."

'Painter, look at that. Isn't that a shy smile?'

Niksi made a gesture with her cheek muscle twitching.

Benjamin, with his arms crossed, watched her facial muscles intently. Then he said just one word with his lips.

'What.'

'That bastard really.'

Meanwhile, Raul looked at Niksi and Benjamin glaring at each other. Raul recalled the scene he had witnessed earlier.

Benjamin undoing his belt, Niksi actively helping him. He had thought they were spending a lot of time together lately, but he didn't know they had already gone that far.

Outdoor play, really. He thought he had a fairly open mind, but he couldn't win against the hotness of the city lady and a foreign stranger combination.

'Good for them.'

Raul smiled gently and turned his head toward the window.

'Painter. Look. That smile is him thinking of that person.'

Niksi pointed to Raul with her chin.

This time, having caught on somewhat, Benjamin subtly rolled his eyes to look at Raul. Then he said one word.

'Oh.'

"Painter."

"What."

"Isn't it cramped with you two sitting there? My side is spacious. It's more comfortable for conversation too!"

"I get motion sick sitting backward."

Who would that benefit? The painter snorted in response. Really, someone who doesn't know the 'coop' in cooperation. Niksi grumbled internally.

"But Raul. You seem to go out often lately, are you all going to meet that 'well' person?"

"Something like that. If not now, there wouldn't be much opportunity to meet."

Raul fidgeted with his hands. Then, something finally caught her eye.

Square-sized, small enough to fit in a palm. A hinged-style shape. That was definitely...

'A ring case?'

A bell rang in Niksi's ear, signaling game over.

First. Frequent meetings with someone who isn't a friend but emits a strange atmosphere.

Second. A man with a shy face.

Third. A ring case.

What does that mean? If Raul isn't a jewel thief, it surely means he has a 'lover' to put that on soon, doesn't it?

'Hey, hey, painter!'

Niksi glared at Benjamin frantically. Benjamin, feeling her gaze, nodded lightly with a questioning look.

'There, look at that! That's a ring case!'

Niksi opened her eyes wide and gestured toward the ring case Raul was holding.

He followed her gaze to look at Raul's hand.

'That, ring. Ring! Ring finger!'

Niksi clenched her right fist, extended only her ring finger, and pretended to put a ring on it with her left hand.

Raul, who had been looking out the window, turned his head.

"By the way, are you two going to the outskirts together..."

Raul witnessed Niksi giving Benjamin the middle finger.

"...?"

Raul's head was instantly filled with question marks. But with 8 years of bartender experience, he could maintain a poker face smile unless it was something really serious.

"No! We just happened to have overlapping paths."

"I see."

Raul turned his head back to the window.

'Didn't you notice?! That's a ring!'

Niksi changed fingers again to explain about the ring.

"Oh right. The cabbage I gave you last time, did you eat it well..."

Raul looked at Niksi again, who was holding up her middle finger toward the painter.

"...well?"

"Ye, yes?"

"That... finger..."

Different from before, this time she was fitting her middle finger into a circle made by touching her index finger and thumb of the opposite hand.

"Haha, ta-da."

Niksi forced a smile while showing off the magic trick of making the middle finger disappear.

'I can't watch this.'

Benjamin got up from his seat. And plopped down next to Niksi.

"What. You said you get motion sick."

"Your show is so hectic that sitting across from you makes me more motion sick."

Niksi whispered in his ear with a dissatisfied face.

"So. What about that ring? Isn't he going to confess? Should I steal it and throw it out the window?"

"Want to be locked up in jail for theft?"

Raul watched the bickering duo fondly. In reality, his ring was in crisis of being robbed, but there was no way he could know that.

After a full two hours, and then another hour on the train, they finally arrived at the city closest to Auvers.

During this time, Niksi had been eyeing the ring constantly, but ultimately couldn't choose between Greta's love and her friendship with Raul. Therefore, she had no choice but to tearfully give up on the ring.

"I have to go this way. Will you be taking the train back to the village together later?"

"Yes! Let's go together."

"Then let's meet at the train station at 7 o'clock."

After Raul greeted them first, he walked into the crowd. Watching his back figure, Niksi and Benjamin exchanged glances.

"Let's follow him."

The tailing was just beginning from now.