“Does your dad like alcohol?” She asked.
“Yes? I think he wouldn't drink it if he didn't like it.” Amaretto tilted her head. “Why?”
“Dad named us after alcohols because he wants everyone to know that we're Brandi’s kids.” Gordon explained.
“Oh, I see. It's because his name is Brandi, right?” Robin rested her elbows on her knees “That makes sense. Do you like your names?”
“Yes!” The children replied. Skye returned to Robin’s shoulders. The children had each taken their turns while they were talking. Robin stood back up.
“That's good.”
At that point, Brandi emerged from the house he had gone into and banged on a pan with a bamboo stick.
“Cubs! Come and get your treat!” He called out.
The children raced over to the house and disappeared inside. Brandi noticed Robin and Christian standing by the guest house. He waved at them.
“Go ahead and get settled in a room first. We can chat a bit after that.” He chuckled. “Thanks for playing with my cubs for a bit.”
Robin nodded. “It was my pleasure. They are quite the lively bunch, aren't they?”
“Hahahah, that they are. So, if you’ll excuse me. I’ll go make sure that lively bunch is behaving.” Brandi walked back into the house with a merry whistle.
Christian had been strangely quiet this whole time. He had been hesitant to speak this entire time, sometimes deep in thought about something as he watch Robin interact. Robin had certainly noticed, but she herself wasn't too sure what Christian was thinking about.
Robin wasn't going to ask him unless he decided to talk. She was curious. Yet, she was also dreading what he might say.
Considering the disaster that happened yesterday, it might be about him getting angry. Or it could be a scolding about how reckless she was. Robin would take it if it was just a scolding. But, she knew. Given the choice to make her decisions all over again, she still would have done what she had done. So, she had unconsciously been avoiding talking to him today.
But she had been keeping an eye on him. It was probably her fault that he wasn't smiling today. And that made her feel guilty.
Just as she was about to head inside, Christian finally spoke. He reached out and caught Robin's sleeve lightly.
“Robin.”
“Yes?” Robin turned to look at Christian. Although she was anticipating it might not be a pleasant conversation, she still turned to face him, honestly.
“Could I ask you something?” The smile he attempted ended up as a grimace.
“Yeees?” Robin tilted her head towards Christian slowly and gave a gentle smile. “What would you like to know?”
“It's about-”
“Hey, Robin! Come and looked at this! There's a water fountain inside of the house!” Gerard called out from inside the house.
“I’ll be there in a minute.” Robin turned back to Christian.
“You were saying?” She asked, curious.
“Um…would you have some time to…talk later on this evening? ….alone?” Christian asked.
“...Okay.” Robin nodded. Christian seemed nervous. She would give him some time to calm down. “I'll make the time…does after dinner sound good?”
“Yeah.” Christian nodded. “Sounds good.”
Robin raised an eyebrow and joked.
“If you keep that mysterious act up, you’re going to make us all nervous. Relax. Come on, let's go find some nice rooms.” Robin patted Christian on the back and headed inside.
“... I'll be there in a bit.” Christian replied in a low voice. He felt like he had to do a bit more thinking by himself…away from the others.
“Suit yourself.” Robin’s voice came out from inside the guest house.
Christian sat down on a nearby bench and sighed heavily. Why was it suddenly so hard to talk to Robin? He looked down at his hands and muttered.
“Why am I so…” The question hung in the air, left unfinished for lack of a word that could express what he was trying to say.
Robin looked at the water flowing into the intricate series of bamboo pipes that were artfully arranged. It seemed a well had been driven through the stone foundation, and a stone basin had been carved out which was now filled with water. A separate bamboo pole led the water underground, possibly to empty into the nearby stream.
“Wow, you’re right. I’ve never seen a fountain like this.” Robin agreed.
“Isn't it neat?” Gerard asked, looking around slyly to see if anyone else was around, and watching. The coast was clear.
“Yup! Sure is.” Robin agreed.
“Hey…can I tell you a secret?” Gerard asked.
“Hmm? Sure!” Robin smiled, glad that Gerard wasn't avoiding her because of what happened yesterday.
“You're a girl.” Gerard whispered into her ear.
“...” Robin blinked in surprise. “I think my ears just misheard what you said. Care to repeat that?” Robin cupped her hand around her ear, and leaned closer.
“You heard me.” Gerard said quietly. He looked at Robin with clear eyes.
Robin realized that he wasn't going to repeat himself. She straightened up, and observed Gerard, thinking about what to say. Light filtered in through the nearby doorway and the wicker woven windows.
Gerard almost thought Robin was about to deny it. He tensed up. Was the hero going to kick him out of the party?
“...Are you disappointed?” Robin asked, suddenly.
“-What?” Gerard blinked. This wasn't how he expected this conversation to go.
“Are you disappointed that the Hero Robin you admired so much turned out to be just a girl?” Robin repeated her question. She smiled a bit.
“Oh, no! I think you're even more impressive, actually.” Gerard shook his head. “There aren't many girls who can do all the things that you did, after all.”
“What gave it away?” Robin motioned Gerard closer and whispered to him.
“Well…um…two things.” Gerard whispered back. “The first one was that lovelorn business. It didn't make sense for you not to be affected by the reverse potion that only affects men, and then to be affected by the original potion that affects women. The second one was when you hugged me earlier.”
“The hug?” Robin asked.
“Well, the smell, actually. Maybe it's part of my affinity with wind, but I can usually tell smells apart very well. You don't smell like a guy…you smell similar to my older sis back at home. So I thought…wouldn't this all make a lot of sense if Robin was actually a girl? And there we have it.” Gerard whispered back.
“Good job. You have quite the sharp mind…and nose on you.” Robin nodded with a smile. “See that you keep quiet about it though. I don't want Christian finding out about it.”
“Why not?” Gerard asked, curious.
“Because if he knew it from someone else, he would be upset. And I want to be the one to tell him, okay?” Robin put her finger to her lips, smiling.
“Okay.” Gerard nodded with a grin. He pantomimed locking his mouth closed and throwing away the key.
Robin chuckled and ruffled his hair. “All right, you little rascal! Have you picked a room out?”
“Ah, teacher, he’s rooming with me.” Ponzu called from one of the rooms.
“Ho? I guess I need to find out which room hasn't been taken yet.” Robin chuckled.
“I’ll check!” Gerard ran around to knock on the doors and ask if the room was occupied.
“Hmm…not the usual pairing, though.” Robin teased Ponzu.
“Look, my only quarrel with him is that he snacks too much. It's not a crime to like eating.” Ponzu defended. “Besides, it isn't like he's stuck with us for life. I'm sure the lad will find something more worthwhile than sneaking snacks from the kitchen.”
“I see…I guess so.” Robin smiled at the irony of it all.
“‘Between the hours of today and tomorrow, who can say who remains and who is gone?
The children are grown up and moved out.
The graves are now covered in lawn.
Winter’s snows give way before Spring’s dawns.
Under endless blue sky,
And the sun’s single eye,
The days of life march ever on.’”
“Sounds like a poem written by someone who's twiddling their thumbs and doesn't know what to do with themselves.” Ponzu harrumphed.
“Perhaps.” Robin shrugged. It was a poem her mother had often told her. “It makes me wonder sometimes, where I’ll be ten years from now.”
“Hopefully right where you want to be.” Ponzu smiled. “And if you're not, then you better make sure you're heading there.”
Robin laughed. “Good one!” She patted Ponzu on the shoulder. “That's why I'm thinking of adding a bit at the end.”
“Oh?” Ponzu blinked.
Robin nodded and looked outside the open window at the sunshine outside. Then she murmured.
“The snows of winter are now melted and gone.
Yet why for the snowy land’s chills do we long?
We can never go back,
Even those days we lack,
Were the pillared foundations that helped us be strong.”