Vol 4 Chapter 3 (1/2)
Chapter 3: Lawrence
“All right, let’s go”
“W-wait a moment, Jenny”
Jenny and Nick were the first out the gates
Jenny pedaled with surprising speed considering her size, blasting off as though launched by a rocket Nick followed, his long hair aflutter
Kurtz and Litner followed by car The car was originally a military-use vehicle, but had been converted for civilian use They left the roof open so they could jun of trouble
“I’m off”
“You mean we Now take us someplace nice, driver”
Though Natalia was clinging to him from behind, Larry did not look happy in the least Once the ates and looked in both directions before turning
There were two people left
“Let’s get going”
“Yes Let’s go!”
Seron and Meg departed, seen off by the Ruf couple
“Would you ht?”
“I will leave the road to you, Seron It is not to brag about, but I learned the Roxchean phrase ‘bad with directions’ very early”
They turned right
Side-by-side they cycled down the empty road across the pastures
In the Capital District, bicycles could not be ridden side-by-side on the roads But there was no one to get mad at them here Seron decided that he would ’s left side on the right side of the road
“It feels very good It is the first ti since I came to Roxche In elementary school I often went to play with my friends at their homes It reminds me of that time”
Seron’s pedaling grew stronger when he saw the s her did he slon
Some time passed
“How should we do this?” Seron asked, still pedaling
“Now that I think to it, you are right We cannot be cycling for long I would have taken photos of the villa froot to take photos”
The villa was far behind them already
“We can shoot the villa anytis ant to take pictures of, then we’ll stop”
“I understand I will take photos of you later, Seron Please take photos of me as well”
“Y-yeah Definitely”
As Seron wondered hoould get his hands on photographs that were sure to become club property, the bicycles passed several manors
And finally—
“Seron, that house is very beautiful I want to take photographs of that house!”
About 10hill, stood a home much smaller and cozier than the opulent villas they had passed
“This looks like a house in a children’s novel It is beautiful Let’s hurry and shoot it”
They stopped in front of the house Meg quickly set up the kickstand and opened her bag, taking out her photometer and camera
She did as Jenny taught, adjusting the exposure and looking through the viewfinder with her right eye
She saw the gardens and their beautiful flowers, as well as the green gates
Click Meg snapped a photo
As Seron waited, he gliarden without so lance
“I think there’s somica We should ask peret some close-ups”
“Ah, that is true Is this way called ‘stalking’? Anyway, it is not good”
Meg put away her ca another photo
“Good ” Seron called out
“Yes? Who is it?”
A calm woman’s voice answered
The owner of the voice soon caate from beside the flower beds
The pri white hair was tied neatly
Seron bowed his head
“Excuse us,at a friend’s villa in the neighborhood My namica from Sou Be-Il We’re classmates”
The woman smiled kindly at Seron
“It’s a pleasure I’e for a very long time”
Seron explained to Hannah that he and Meg were practicing with their caraphs of her beautiful house and garden
“By all means, do come in I don’t mind at all”
Seron and Meg parked their bicycles outside the gate
“Thank you” “Thank you, ma’am”
Hannah held the green gate open for them They stepped inside
The garden was filled with arden at Jenny’s villa There were purple gentianas, white gardenias, blue lavenders, and arden exuded a tranquil beauty
“Wow It is very beautiful”
“My, mica”
“Ah! Thank you very much, Mrs Lawrence”
Meg, Hannah, and Seron talked as they headed toward the center of the garden There stood the man Seron had spotted earlier
The , wore blue work overalls and was skinny in build Nicely put, he seemed to be a pleasant man Less so, he seemed frail
“This here is Mr Haic with the flowers here” Hannah introduced hireeted him
When Hannah explained that she invited Meg and Seron because they wanted to take photos of the garden, Harinned
“I’ athered all his tools on a hand cart before wheeling it away
“Were you in the ized, but Hannah did not seem to mind
Thanking her again, Meg and Seron began taking photos of the garden They adjusted the exposure, the shutter speed, and the angle just as Jenny had taught them
They photographed the flowers, the house, and both at the sa many more photos than Seron did Sole photograph of her
“I shouldn’t bother her when she’s so busy taking her own photos Yeah” Seron convinced himself
About when Meg had exhausted an entire roll of filarden