Gast's Overflow 4* Hero Story

[gyaxa]

"Sweet-Sour Memories"
Characters: Gast, Ren, & Akira

 

Akira: Ah, Gast!

 

Gast: Woah, Akira? What’re ya doin’ here?

 

Akira: Nothin’ much, just…

 

Gast: ?

 

Akira: Mm.

 

Gast: Mm?

 

Akira: MM!

 

Gast: … What’s this bag? Ya givin’ me somethin’?

 

Akira: It ain’t for you.

 

Gast: Then what the heck is it?

 

Akira: … Pass it to Ren, couldja?

 

I dropped by home, and Mom made me take it. It’s probably some snacks.

 

Gast: Huh…

 

Just give it to him yourself, then.

 

Akira: But, y’know…

 

Gast: … Fine, I’ll hand it over.

 

I feel like Ren always perks up a little when ya guys get into your fights, though—
 

───

 

Ren: —From Akira?

 

Gast: From his mom is more like it. He got it from his place.

 

What’s in it?

 

Ren: … It’s umeboshi.

 

Gast: Umeboshi?

 

Ren: It’s Japanese. It’s plums but… pickled?

 

Gast: That so? Ya guys are Japanese, right?

 

I don’t usually think about it, but ya guys are related, huh? Your parents were siblings?

 

Ren: ……

 

Gast: Ah, my bad. Guess it’s not a fun topic for ya…

 

Ren: Our mothers were sisters.

 

Gast: Ooh…

 

Ren: They made umeboshi together every year, since it’s the food of our ancestors.

 

But Akira and Sis didn’t really like it, so I was the only one who got excited about it.

 

Gast: That so?

 

Ren: Yeah. It made me way happier than cookies or cake.

 

… Auntie probably remembered that.

 

Gast: Hm… Good for ya.

 

Ren: ……

 

What about you…?

 

Gast: Hm?

 

Ren: What… what kind of person was your mother?

 

Gast: Huh…?

 

Ren: … You don’t have to tell me if you don't want to.

 

Gast: Woah… look at you bein’ considerate.

 

Ren: You did the same thing.

 

Gast: Haha, guess it’s just that kinda day, then.

 

My mother, huh… hmm… She was kind, and really pretty too, I guess? 

 

She actually came from a real nice family, so she always acted all graceful.

 

Ren: Hmm… wouldn’t expect that.

 

Gast: Cuz I’m her son?

 

Though I do remember getting scolded for all sorts of stuff back then.

 

Ren: Stuff…?

 

Gast: It’s all cute lil stuff, since I was just a kid. Like gettin’ too caught up in playin’ and breakin’ stuff and makin’ a mess, hurtin’ myself, that kinda thing…

 

Since she was brought up well, she was real strict about manners and stuff. Prolly even stricter than my old man.

 

Ren: Hmm…

 

Gast: But she wasn’t an ignorant young lady or anythin’. She was workin’ way before I was born…

 

Ren: That so?

 

Gast: Yeah. Lookin’ back, she taught me all kinds of stuff, not just manners.

 

Yeah… I guess the image of a frail lady I’d wanna protect stuck with me more, but…

 

But she was prolly a lot more capable and stronger than that.

 

Ren: ……

 

Gast: … I wonder what she’s up to right about now.

 

I’m sure she never wanted to quit her job…

 

Ren: ? Was she some kind of specialist?

 

Gast: Ah… I guess she could be out there workin’ somewhere. Prolly shouldn’t assume she isn’t.

 

Ren: ……

 

Gast: Hey, Ren. Lemme try one of those umeboshi things.

 

Ren: Huh…?

 

Gast: Do ya just pop it right in? How do you eat it, Ren?

 

Ren: … You can have one, but you might regret it.

 

Gast: Huh?

 

Ren: I told you Akira and Sis didn’t like it, right? Umeboshi’s pretty sour.

 

Gast: Sour…?

 

Ren: Yeah, sour.

 

Well, it wouldn’t hurt to try it. Apparently it’s supposed to be good for you.

 

Gast: Uuuhh… how sour is “pretty sour”?

 

Ya said it was pickled or somethin’, yeah? Is it not like that?

 

Ren: ……

 

It’s better than sticking a lemon in your mouth.

 

Gast: HUH?!

 

Ren: You have to try it to understand.

 

Gast: Hmm~... lemme take a look at it first—

 

Ren: That won’t tell you anything.

 

Gast: Wa… wait a sec, Ren!

 

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