bryota

(Grunts in confusion)

...Of course not. Of course I don't want him to go.

But, Harley said there's lots and lots of amazing doctors on that ship, and I'm sure they'll find a cure for Enis's stone disease!

As long as he gets better, everything will be okay.

As for Fashion Street... You and Harley will be with me, right? Yeah, that's right. And that dummy Lut. We can all wait for Enis to come back, together.

(Nods)

And here I was thinking she didn't want me to leave. But she's actually been worried about my condition this whole time.

Get it together, Enis. You can't go making your sister worry about you—

(Turns head)

Shoot—

The fuzzy thing... noticed me?

Speaking of which, I think I saw that exact same creature when the tsunami hit.

So it wasn't just a dream after all... Are they the ones who protected me, Liv, and all of Siesta?

Liv also made a new friend.

Hmm?

This is... a text message from Grandpa Tom?

Grandpa Tom!

Grandpa Tom?

Shh! Pipe down!

I'm up here, on the awning. Look up.

What are you doing up there? You sent so many exclamation marks I thought this was urgent... You didn't open the shop today either, so I was fearing the worst—

Not my fault you've got an overactive imagination, brat! I've got plenty of life in me yet!

Now cut the crap and get up here already!

Huh? What for...?

You'll know when you get up here, you stinkin' rascal!

Alright then...

What's the big deal about this awning anyway? Surely you didn't invite me up here to catch some afternoon Siestan rays.

Look over there—

Hmm? Isn't that little boy...

Lut? What's he doing in front of the music shop?

Working. Been seeing him a lot lately. Seems like he's helping attract customers.

Working? Him, of all people?

Now that I think about it though, I haven't seen him much lately. And he's been pretty tight-lipped whenever I asked him what he's been doing. I was wondering.

Is it because he doesn't have enough spending money? Don't tell me he's saving up for that D32 steel warrior...

Oi, oi. You're the older brother, aren't you? If you wanna treat them like your own kids, you'd best pay attention to how fast they grow!

How fast... they grow?

Uh-huh. The boy seems to have taken an interest in musical instruments. As expected of a kid who grew up on Fashion Street.

The music shop's owner mentioned to me that he was asking about the price of a guitar, and said he wanted to learn.

Seems like the guitar skills Harley keeps under wraps these days have finally been passed down.

But he's too young for that... If he really wants one, he could've just asked me.

I'll talk to the shop owner.

Oi, you blockhead. Don't put a damper on his enthusiasm.

You big brother types are always so stuck up. Wanting to do everything for your siblings, acting like they couldn't live without you.

If you ask me, it's the other way around. You can't live without <i>them</i>!

But... that's how our relationship's always been.

It's precisely because I'm leaving that I should do whatever I can for them. I can take care of something as simple as buying a guitar.

Even if you do, you gonna teach him to play too? And if you can manage that, why not learn for him too while you're at it? May as well make his musical dreams come true in his place!

Huh...

If you put it that way... I suppose Liv has her new friend, and Lut has something he wants to do. Maybe they really don't need me as much as they did before.

All of a sudden, it feels like... my heart's breaking—

No matter how reluctant you are to let go of the kiddos, time waits for no one. Like it or not, they'll grow up sooner or later.

They'll decide on a direction for their own lives, just like you're deciding to leave Siesta now.

But I don't want to miss out on seeing them grow up either...

Look at the way Lut is introducing those products to tourists, all serious and stuff. Doesn't he remind you of someone?

Who?

Back on the beaches of Old Siesta, a certain young Enis selling bottled soda to tourists wherever he went.

It's true that you might not be able to be with your siblings in the days to come. But during your time together, you've already left a subtle mark on how they think and act.

As they grow up, the memories y'all made in the 'White Volcano' will accompany them in your place.

Our memories... the 'White Volcano.'

I think I get it now... So that's why Harley was so opposed to tearing it down before.

That said, you were a way smarter kid than Lut.

I mean, you'd secretly swap out all the condiments at the BBQ shack to spicy ones, and then stand around peddling your ice-cold sodas like you did nothing wrong.

I can't believe you still remember that...

Who'd ever forget taking a bite of lava-hot BBQ?

I just wanted the store to sell out quick.

That way we'd be able to get off work early, so Harley could get back to practicing her new songs with her old bandmates, and I'd be able to go swimming with Lut and Liv.

Speaking of which, those two had just joined the family at the time. Their tiny little hands couldn't even hold onto the floats, so I had to strap the floats to their backs so they could flop around in the shallow water while holding onto my arms.

And in the blink of an eye, they're... Time sure flies, doesn't it?

These are all... our family memories.

Thanks, Grandpa Tom! I'm gonna head over to the waterpark construction site real quick!

I finally figured out what I want to do before I leave!

Young folks sure have a lot of energy.

I remember when you first came to Siesta. Just like Enis, you seemed like an endless bundle of energy.

So, what'd you think of my choice of words?

The door handle of the cold drinks shop slowly turns, and the door begins to open.

A woman walks out of the shop and looks at the old shopkeeper leisurely basking in the sun on the awning.

Spoken like a sage.

I'd expect nothing less from Tom, the man older than Fashion Street itself. What are some minor family troubles to him?

Thanks to your notes, I didn't make a total fool of myself.

But if you had everything all figured out, why not talk to Enis yourself? Why make an outsider like me give him that push on the back?

Good question.

Hahaha. You were actually in a pretty good mood when you said goodbye to Chuck. Drinkin' and singing just as always.

But it's totally different when it's your son's turn to leave the nest. Dunno if it's because you're a mother or... maybe you should've swapped places with Chuck, who's out there livin' his best life.

As if! My traveling days ended the moment I became a mom.

I owe you a glass of something nice.

Then let me try your new creation, the 'Cotton Sunset.'

Mind a little chili powder?

Wouldn't have it any other way.

*clink, clink*

*swish, swish*

Mm...

I think this is what the house number sign was like before. Hmm, the length doesn't seem quite right. Need to trim it a little bit over here.

No good, the wood's too soft. I'll have to use stone after all.

Let me see... There's still some rocks I can use from the ones I brought over from the construction site.

This piece looks decent enough. Alright, better finish up before they get back!

Can't wait to see the looks on their faces.

Huh... Why am I getting a nosebleed again?

Maybe it's because I'm brimming with energy and enthusiasm!

Enis!

Huh? H-Harley? Why are you back so early—