One April afternoon, as the pond’s surface began to take on an orange tint , Kopo stood frozen in the corner of the plaza , cradling a single orange in both hands.
“Just hand it over. Just hand it over. That’s all. That’s all it is…”
Each time he repeated it to himself, his voice grew thinner. The scent of the pond mixed into the spring breeze and tickled his nose. Beside him, Minico’s ear gave a small twitch.
“How many times did you practice?” “Two hundred and fifty.” “And you’re still just standing here.” “…The moment I open my mouth, my voice stops coming out.”
Minico said nothing. Spring light fell onto the stone pavement and reflected straight off the orange’s peel, dyeing Kopo’s palms orange.
Just then, Ohisama came walking up the small path in front of the Dragon God’s shrine. Swaying a thin orange sash, walking through the spring light — the sight of her made Kopo’s feet move on their own, or so he thought, but the next instant, his foot caught the edge of the pavement and he slipped.
The orange flew through the air. It rolled and rolled, coming to a stop right at Ohisama’s feet.
Ohisama crouched down and picked it up, then looked for a while at Kopo, sprawled on the ground.
“…An offering?” “N-no, that’s not it…! I mean, it’s, um… for the Dragon God…”
Ohisama cupped the orange in both hands and thought for a moment. “I won’t expect anything,” was all she said, and she walked off, swaying her orange sash.
After her retreating figure disappeared beyond the weeping cherry tree, Sonchō’s voice came.
“Feh-feh. An orange, you know, stays an orange even when it’s rolled around. It’s a color that reaches exactly as far as you’re willing to let go of it.”
Face down in the mud, Kopo gazed at the pond’s surface. The orange light wavered , and wavered again. The spring pond was, in every way, terribly honest.
Margin note: That night, by the window of Ohisama’s room, one unpeeled orange sat quietly, glowing like an orange-colored lamp.
【Today’s Drop】
- Orange Day: April 14th. Following Valentine’s Day (February 14) and White Day (March 14), this was proposed in 1994 by citrus farmers in Ehime Prefecture as an “anniversary of love.” A day for giving oranges, or orange-colored gifts, to deepen the affection between two people.
This is an English translation of “橙色、転がる”, part of Tales of Amencho Town (蛙鳴町奇譚).