Chapter 9: The Ferret, the Girl, and the Green Trap
Chapter 9: The Ferret, the Girl, and the Green Trap
(From the memoirs of Oliver Jones)
When spring comes, the courtyard of gifted academy breathes back to life.
Wrapped in soft sunlight, every plant begins to sprout, and you can feel the colors deepen day by day.
I still remember the moment I opened the greenhouse door—
the rush of heat and fragrance flooding in.
Standing in the center was Katie Bird.
His cream-colored hair swayed lightly as he gave each of his potted plants some bizarre name.
“This one’s Michelangelo No. 3. And this one—The Renaissance Wind…”
It should have been a quiet moment.
But then, one of the pots suddenly wobbled.
“…Huh?”
Boing.
What jumped out was none other than Fei-taro.
“You little demon!! You dug up my Michelangelo No. 3 again!!”
Katie’s scream echoed through the greenhouse.
Fei-taro hunched his back, ears twitching, and let out a low chuckle-like squeak—“kuk kuk kuk…”
“You wanna fight? Is that it? I’m serious this time! Today we settle this!”
“Nah, not fighting. You’ll just get tired right away,” Fei-taro replied, hopping nimbly around.
Katie’s voice now carried more resignation than anger.
Just then, Rafaela appeared.
Sighing, like she’d played mediator a hundred times before.
“Fei-taro, did you dig up Katie’s pot again?”
“Can’t help it—it’s ferret instinct.”
“Well… if it’s instinct, then I suppose there’s no helping it.”
“How is that okay!? My Michelangelo No. 3 is the victim here!!” Katie wailed.
At that moment, Emil and Lyrica entered through the greenhouse door.
Emil looked like a nine-year-old boy, but the quiet wisdom in his eyes was far from childish.
“Again. That demon…” he muttered.
Beside him, Lyrica smiled softly.
“I like ferrets, actually. And the name Fei-taro is cute.”
At those words, Fei-taro froze.
He plopped down, staring up at Lyrica.
“So… he’s weak against girls, huh,” Emil remarked.
“Emil, hush for a second.”
“What? Did I say something wrong?”
Lyrica crouched down and spoke to Fei-taro.
“Fei-taro, if you dig up Katie’s pot again, no dinner for you. Got it?”
For a split second, he stiffened—then, with a twitchy grimace of “kuk kuk kuk,” he nodded.
I nearly burst out laughing right then.
Katie, frustrated, fixed his pot and muttered,
“Damn demon… why does he defy me, but go soft for a girl…”
Watching him sulk, Lyrica suddenly asked,
“Rafaela, does Fei-taro have proper toys?”
“Yes, but he breaks them quickly. The only thing he won’t destroy are plushies. He just hides them all in his cage. I’m thinking of buying him a pot labeled Okay to Dig Pot next time.”
“Your naming sense…” Lyrica giggled.
Just then, Hachiko strode across the courtyard.
He fixed his eyes on Fei-taro and barked once—“Woof!”
Fei-taro shivered, then leapt onto Rafaela’s shoulder, burying his face in her clothes.
“Alright, alright, there there. Hachi adored Katie, remember? He’s just stricter with ferrets. But Fei-taro… what is it you’re always looking for? Why do you keep digging holes like that?” Rafaela asked, stroking his head.
At that touch, something stirred inside me.
From afar, Hachiko barked again.
That sound rattled a memory deep within my chest.
(…Mother.)
Yes.
Fei-taro had only recently started digging. One year ago in spring—Mother Hera had passed away, in the season of flowers.
Behind the laughter and warmth of this scene, there was loss.
Wounds that never healed.
And yet, even so…
This place.
These friends.
Even the ferret’s “instinct”—
I swore I’d protect them all.
That was one of the reasons I remained at gifted academy.
⸻
End of Chapter 9
