The Land of Rain Trees (レインツリーの国)

- It's a good day, isn't it? - Yeah, it is.

- How is it? Feels good, right? - Yes, it's refreshing.

Let's get changed to some new clothes after we're done here.

This is really a troublesome job.

Caregiver

It must be hard task for you, Helper-san.

Please, you don't have to worry.

- Sorry. - It's okay.

Helper-san. Thanks for your help.

- I think it'd better if you cut it here. - Are you sure?

- I'm back. - Welcome home.

If it isn't Nobu-chan. What a fine lad you are now!

It's been a while.

Uncle! Long time no see!

Your mom's gonna retire, right?

To put an end of this parlour, I'm gonna miss it for sure.

I guess so.

I'm deeply indebted to you.

We always received your patronage.

It took courage to close this parlour.

This parlour is your father's precious shop.

I actually wanted to keep it running.

Well, it can't be helped. Right, Nobu-chan?

Yeah.

Have you finished tidying up your room?

I'm about to start.

Don't forget to take your important things.

Older brother

Aniki!

Nobu! You just got back from hospital?

Aniki!

You know where's the last volume of Fairy Game?

Hah? What's that?

One of the books I read when I was in High School.

It's a precious book to me.

How should I know?!

Why is only the last volume missing?

I forgot how this story ends.

"So long as love exists... such thing is a lie."

For me personally, it's an unforgettable light novel.

At the beginning, it was an absurd Science Fiction filled with action.

Also, at that time, the protagonists were all of the same age as I was.

A bunch of stupid yet easy-going boys.

They were normal schoolboys you can find these days.

In fact, it was an appetiser of the writer's unique way in describing protagonists.

They were embarked to enemy territory, trying to save the heroin...

who got kidnapped by some mysterious organisation.

Repetition of extremely mess and absurd adventures.

In the end, they always got happy ending.

That's right. They got happy ending.

With that kind of feeling...

it never crossed my mind that such story...

which always started cheerfully and happily...

would ended in a shocking way ever.

"I'm sure the end will be good one!"

"It will be, one way or another."

But, at the end of story...

the protagonist couple were separated for good.

"We both should run away somewhere" the male protagonist proposed it.

"It will change nothing wherever we run away to".

"Do you want to always running away?" replied female protagonist.

And then, all classmates including the male protagonists were back like ordinary days.

As if the female protagonist were never there.

I was shocked.

If I have to put it bluntly, I was hurt.

After that, the Fairy Game I loved...

had become light novel I couldn't possibly read again.

I felt it.

I was also shocked by the ending.

It's also become light novel I won't forget.

It stuck deeply, like a thorn rooted inside of me.

But, as I grew up...

"So long as love exists... such thing is a lie."

I understand what this line means.

People can't just live by mincing words alone.

Sacrifice oneself for love one is not possible.

I've moved on from "her".

Either way, I have to.

Even after ten years gone by...

I still can't see another ending fits into than this one.

Whether I could've found the answer...

the author was published this book especially to teenage readers.

Perhaps it was a lesson for readers.

The Land of Rain Trees?

Hitomi?

To Hitomi-san. How do you do?

When I was searching for my beloved light novel, Fairy Game, I stumbled upon the Land of Rain Trees.

I also couldn't figure out its lesson.

Just like you, the ending left a bitter taste for me.

The way you described it like a thorn rooted inside...

made me feel we have something in common.

Sorry.

I too, was blown away when I read the ending.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

But it wasn't because a feeling of rejection from something you loved, as you described.

More to say, it was a beginning of my life that I needed to keep pushing at the powerlessness.

I'm gonna use Kansai dialect, please bear with me.

Somehow, for the past few days...

I still can't get your impression out of my head.

But, I have one objection about it.

I've moved on from "her".

Either way, I have to.

Honestly, I dunno 'bout that, I think.

Yes, I'm a man myself. But to easily decide that something is outta reach is a thing I'd never do.

Crap people say that ain't possible we runnin' away for whole life, who knows right?! I think...

Sorry, I got excited.

When I bought this light novel, friends around me said I was weird.

I wish I had someone to discuss with.

I say this on whim, for listening my grumbles...

thank you very much.

Nobu.

Shit!

It got sent...

She must be thinking weird of me.

Well, I can't blame her.

Why did I write my name?

What is it?

Nothing.

Hello. How do you do?

I'm Hitomi, admin of the Land of Rain Trees.

Thank you very much for your e-mail.

"Life is powerlessness"

Somehow I can understand it.

Back then, perhaps I sensed a feeling of entrapment.

I felt disappointment when I knew life didn't always go as you expected.

It was a fresh opinion of yours.

"Yes, I'm a man myself."

"But to easily decide that something is outta reach is a thing I'd never do."

To know such opinion from male's point of view...

I've never thought some men have that kind of thinking.

I was also happy having someone to talk about Fairy Game's ending.

There's someone I can share this story with on the other side of this screen.

It reached her.

To whom?

Ah well...

It's amazing.

I'm thrilled upon receiving your reply.

Isn't it too fast?

You're pushing your luck.

If the other party is a woman.

I guess so.

Lay it down for a while.

It's just like meats.

Fermenting for a while so it'll be delicious.

The fermentation time is till...

9 o'clock, tonight.

- At 9? - Yeah, that's right.

Your lucky time is tonight at 9 o'clock.

I'm also extremely delighted having a talk with you. Honestly, I'm extremely surprised.

There's someone I can share this story with on the other side of this screen.

I should be the one who said that.

Such people do exist. Well, it's obvious actually.

Something like "what I have now will definitely be gone" It was what I felt, about "powerlessness".

It's embarrassing...

"Our adolescent life absolutely will be over". But it finally came to me.

Uwah!! I was blushing while I wrote that. Please don't laugh.

Adolescence!

But you're right.

"Our adolescent life absolutely will be over"...

I guess youngsters who're experiencing it understand, right?

That's why when I was at springtime of my life...

I wanted that I could recall those cherished days.

But, right now...

I'm here without wanting to recall these cherished days.

On the other hand, it's called adolescence because its cherished days, right?

Being able to exchanging e-mails with you now, these moments are extremely fun and exciting.

This is the same as adolescence, don't you think?

I do think that.

I'm also enjoy exchanging e-mails with you.

I wonder how your voice does sound?

In what manners do you talk...

and how do you look?

Thus, I divert my eyes to people around the city...

with those questions weighing my mind.

Hitomi-san, I want to meet you.

Maybe we could have a chat or two.

Been 5 days since you sent your e-mail, right?

I jumped at the first chance I got.

It's salty.

I told you to let it ferment for a while, didn't I?

It's over.

If a woman were asked to meet by some random guy...

of course she'd run away, right?

You didn't follow rules of romance, so it's given you failed.

My wisdoms have flown out of the window.

You'd better stop.

She'll see you as a weirdo if you keep pushing.

You have free-time tonight?

What?

It's a get-together party.

Get-together party?

This is my third year in our company.

Misako from Accounting Department.

My motto is...

beautiful, cheerful-lively life. Period!

You're so cute!

He said get-together party. It's just a mixer between colleagues.

Say Misako-chan, you're actress Nanako look-a-like right?!

What, really?

- Well, people often said so. - It is, right?!