11 11 301 Noan was about to tell Field what he'd just heard about Field's dad but decided to drop the topic.
12 12 204 2
13 13 301 Noan What did the doctor say? 2
14 14 301 Field He said my immune system isn't working properly, which is why I come under the weather a lot more down here where it's wet and cold. 1
15 15 301 Field Boy, I can't wait for summer. 1
16 16 301 Field I won't be sick so often when summer is here... and Dad won't have to worry about me all the time. 1
17 17 301 Field rubs his fingers against the vial in his hand that comes with no label.
18 18 301 Field This medicine... costs us a fortune. 1
19 19 301 Noan ...Does your dad stay connected with Ashlar to keep his access to this medicine? 2
20 20 301 Field I have no idea... He refuses to tell me anything about it. 1
21 21 204 1 2
22 22 301 Field Do you like summer, Noan? 1
23 23 301 Noan I don't have a favorite season because it doesn't really make a difference on the train. 2
24 24 301 Noan But I guess I just might have one when I eventually get to go out with the Cargo Crew. 2
25 25 301 Field Cool. Say, why not let's go to the forest to look for fireflies in summer? 1
26 26 301 Noan Fireflies? Why, though? 2
27 27 204 1
28 28 301 Field Because... they're beautiful? Have you seen one? 1
29 29 301 Noan In the books I read, yes. And I've drawn some before. 2
30 30 401 2 910
31 31 301 Noan picks up a pencil and, on a makeshift sketchbook he's put together using scrap papers, draws a vertical line of circles. The circles seem like a cross between dandelions and the glowing balls that one would see reading mangas.
32 32 402 910
33 33 301 Field No, Noan. Fireflies don't actually look like this. 1
34 34 301 With his fingers, Field traces out a firefly.
35 35 301 Field A firefly has a pair of wings, and the only part of it that glows is its tummy. 1
36 36 204 1 3
37 37 301 Field We can try to look it up in the terminal, but I'm sure it wouldn't look as pretty in the pictures as if you see one in person. 1
38 38 301 Noan Are there still any around? 2
39 39 301 Field Yes. My mom brought me to this place to see them before. We should do that, too. 1
40 40 204 2 1
41 41 301 Noan Sounds great. I can go out there with the Cargo Crew after my training. 2
42 42 204 2
43 43 204 1
44 44 301 Noan looks up and stares at the dusty lights affixed to the car's ceiling.
45 45 301 Noan Fireflies, eh... 2
46 46 301 Noan I heard a lullaby before that has to do with fireflies. 2
47 47 204 1 2
48 48 301 Field A lullaby? Wait, do you mean this one? 1
49 49 301 Seeing Noan looking back at him with a bewildered look, Field hums out a part of what he believes is the lullaby Noan is talking about.
50 50 301 Noan No, not this one. 2
51 51 204 1
52 52 301 Field Hmm... 1
53 53 204 1 2
54 54 301 Thinking for a few moments, Field hums out something different.
74 74 301 Field runs his eyes through the words in the book again and again.
75 75 201 1 500512 2
76 76 301 1 Field ...We're as mundane as grass. See, this is what it says in the book. "Wild grass strikes no deep roots, has no beautiful flowers and leaves, yet it imbibes dew, water and the blood and flesh of the dead, all trying to rob them of life." 1
77 77 301 Field "As long as it lives, it is trampled upon and mown down, until it dies and decays." 1
78 78 301 Field ...But that doesn't mean wild grass is worthless. 1
79 79 301 Field "You die because you lived, and you rot because you were. Dying weeds bear new lives, and while the skies might not be at their brightest now, the fire burning across the grassfield will light up the skies all the same." 1
80 80 301 Field It all makes sense, then, what people say about grass turning into fireflies when it withers and decays—because people can't stop missing something when it's gone, no matter how mundane it might be. 1
81 81 204 1
82 82 301 Field looks at Noan with a serious look on his face.
83 83 202 1 1
84 84 301 People tend to form their own imagination and association by reading books when they're still young—but it's entirely worth it if they can turn their imagination and association into "torches" that light up the path ahead for them.
85 85 201 1 500512 400
86 86 201 2 500521 -400
87 87 301 1 Noan ...Why are you telling me these all of a sudden, though? 2
88 88 204 1 2
89 89 301 Field Well, because I was just reading this book, and because "goodbye" keeps coming up... in that lullaby you brought up. 1
90 90 301 Field So I thought of my mom—and how she might have turned into a firefly and might just be waiting for me out there in the forest to say "goodbye" to me. 1
91 91 204 1
92 92 301 Noan ... 2
93 93 301 Field Does it all sound like some fantasy I made up to make myself feel better? 1
94 94 301 Noan No, it doesn't. 2
95 95 301 Noan But, see, I was just thinking... that if people do turn into fireflies when they die, then we'd never have to say goodbye to them, right? 2
96 96 204 1 14
97 97 301 Field ... 1
98 98 301 Field I'm just trapped in my memory and the night—and maybe I just need to bid farewell to myself. 1
99 99 204 1
100 100 301 Noan Why would you have to do that, though? 2
101 101 204 1 14
102 102 301 Field ...I'm responsible for my mom's death... 1
103 103 301 Field She'd always encourage me to read, but we didn't have a whole lot of books at home. The terminal at the pharmaceutical factory had a lot of electronic documents in it, so she'd take me there every so often at night when there wasn't anyone around. 1
104 104 301 Field And things went terribly wrong that night... 1
105 105 301 Field looks down in silence as he turns the pages in the book he's holding—and only opens his mouth to speak again after what seems like an eternity.
106 106 301 Field Since Mom died... there hasn't been a day where I didn't regret it... 1
107 107 301 Field And Dad has been living on the edge ever since to get me my medicine... all while I've been living in the melancholy of the past and been anything but helpful. 1
108 108 301 Field If I could just say goodbye to her in the forest where she died, would I be able to let it all go and have what it takes to carry on? 1
109 109 204 1
110 110 301 Noan shakes his head.
111 111 301 Noan She made that choice to protect you—and I'm sure she'd never want you to forget about her, and I'm also sure she'd never want to see you crippled by regret. 2
112 112 204 1 14
113 113 301 Field ...You're absolutely right, but I'm just too scared to face it. I can't do it. 1
114 114 204 1
115 115 301 Field I just can't be like you, Noan. You've lost so much coming so far, but you've never given up. 1
116 116 301 Noan ...Huh? What do you mean? 2
117 117 301 Noan doesn't understand those words—because he thinks he's learned things the hard way and already come to grips with reality.
118 118 301 Field Be it your memory or what you believe in, you hold on to them both. 1
119 119 301 Field You'd never have stood up for me or lent me a hand had you already given them up. 1
120 120 301 Field puts his now slightly cold hand on Noan's shoulder.
121 121 301 Field Deep down, you're deep into those heroic stories, aren't you? 1
122 122 204 2 3
123 123 301 Noan ...None of them is real, though. 2
124 124 301 Field That's only because you don't yet have the power to make them so, Noan, and not because you aren't determined enough. 1
125 125 204 2
126 126 301 Noan What's the difference anyways? 2
127 127 301 Field Power corrupts you if power is all you have. 1
128 128 301 Field But you're different. You went out of your way to help me knowing full well you were no match for the guard... and that, Noan, is determination. 1
129 129 301 Noan Determination, huh... 2
130 130 301 Noan But I was this close to screwing everyone over back then, and Rachel asked me to swear that I'd never do it again... if I ever come across something like that. 2
131 131 301 Field Noan... 1
132 132 203 1 0.25 200
133 133 301 Field walks up to Noan and pats Noan's face.
134 134 301 Noan ...Yes? 2
135 135 204 1 2
136 136 301 Field C'mon, Noan... 1
137 137 301 Field I know you might be feeling guilty for putting everyone in harm's way, but nothing changes the fact that you saved me... and that's proof enough that you can still do what you want to do even when you don't yet have what it takes to make it perfect. 1
138 138 301 Field And I'll keep what you did for me in mind—and help people in need when I see them. 1
139 139 301 Field You might not be able to help everyone out there who's in need of help, but everyone you help will go on to help someone else. Sounds great, right? 1
140 140 301 Noan ... 2
141 141 301 Noan Would you still do it if helping them means you're going to make everyone suffer? 2
142 142 301 Field Sure. I mean, kindness is a choice, and the world is to blame if it doesn't allow us to make that choice. 1
143 143 301 Field And that reminds me of what you said that day when you came up to help—"If you think I'm out of my mind for trying to help, then screw that!" 1
144 144 204 2 3
145 145 301 Noan ...Boy, you really need to forget that. 2
146 146 204 2
147 147 301 Field Uhm? Why, though? 1
148 148 204 1 3
149 149 301 Field ...Wait, does it make you cringe? 1
150 150 204 1
151 151 204 2 3
152 152 301 Noan ... 2
153 153 301 Field Bingo? Oops. 1
154 154 301 Noan Dude, just pretend I've never said any of that already... 2
155 155 204 1
156 156 301 Field Hah... 1
157 157 301 Field Ok, fine. I'll stop with that, but I'm never going to forget you helped me. 1
158 158 301 Field And, see, it's really got me thinking, and I think I'm going to help people however I can once my leg gets better. 1
164 164 301 Noan suddenly recalls all the things people have said about Field, and he can't help feeling tormented when he compares them with all the heart-warming encouragements he's heard from Field over the past few days.
165 165 301 Drawing a deep breath in hesitation, Noan decides to sweep it all under the carpet with thanks.
166 166 301 Noan Thank you, Field. for telling me all this... 2
167 167 204 1 3
168 168 301 Not knowing why he's being thanked, the blonde boy lowers his head and laughs.
169 169 204 1
170 170 301 Field What do you want to be in the future, Noan? 1
171 171 301 Noan ...In the future? 2
172 172 301 Field Yeah. A dream, or a plan, or something. Something you want for yourself. 1
218 218 301 Bancroft works day and night to make up for the lost goods—except there is no end to his team's blunders no matter how hard he works.
219 219 301 He manages to stay around with his connections to the aristocrats up there, but he's been finding it increasingly difficult to stay lately, with his team messing things up again and again.
220 220 301 Every so often, Noan would see Rachel give him a real piece of her mind in front of people.
221 221 301 Field has run out of his medicine, and the hellhole that's the lower level is eating away at his body, putting him through low fevers again and again—yet he'd always lie to his father when he checks on him.
222 222 301 AniZhuanchangBegin When Noan trains, Field would stay in the book storage most of the time, where he would either be reading or napping in the corner.
240 240 301 1 Rachel I've personally busted some shitheads that tried to do their little things with the goods—and mind you, you're getting busted next if you pull another trick on me. 1
241 241 301 Bancroft Please, Captain, I didn't do this! 2
242 242 301 Rachel Says the man who has a record of working for the aristocrats? 1
243 243 301 Bancroft My son was in a very bad condition and he was the only one I could ask for help from! 2
244 244 301 Rachel You really gotta up your game, Bancroft. 1
256 256 301 1 Bumblebee Member Bancroft, you said? Man, the man's a real thief and he's done it all... I want to be there to see him die the day he gets torn into pieces by Corrupted. 1
257 257 301 Cargo Crew Member Better stay away from his son, boy! Young boy will probably grill you up when he gets hungry! 2
262 262 301 1 Noan They don't seem like they want to help. 2
263 263 204 1 14
264 264 301 Summer ... 2
265 265 204 1
266 266 301 Noan I'll definitely give your dad a hand when I finish my training in two months. 2
267 267 204 1 14
268 268 301 Summer No, please don't, Noan... I think I know what my dad is up to, but I can't stop him. 1
269 269 301 Summer He never passed the captain screening. He can work just fine as a crew member, but things are a disaster when he tries to play leader... 1
270 270 301 Summer He needed help because I was injured... and he only found this place after pulling some strings. And, see, it wasn't resources that the aristocrats took from him in exchange... it was info. 1
271 271 301 Summer I'm sure Dad would never have gone down this path had he still had resources to trade with the aristocrats... and I bet he wouldn't have had to go through any of these had I died back then. 1
272 272 204 1
273 273 301 Noan You didn't ask to be roughed up, though—and I wouldn't have been the same without you, buddy... 2
278 278 301 1 Cargo Captain Shauna People change, especially kids. Pretty sure our boy is gonna grow a whole lot more well-rounded the longer he hangs out with us. 1
279 279 301 Cargo Captain Niino Birds of a feather flock together, eh? 2
284 284 301 1 Noan ...Right, I really don't think I'd be the same person that I am today without you. 2
285 285 301 Noan And did you forget about what you said about fireflies? 2
286 286 204 2
287 287 204 1 14
288 288 301 Summer No, I do still remember what I said about fireflies—but I think I'm starting to have a change of mind now... knowing what happened to all those people my dad snitched on... 1
289 289 301 Summer It's been six months since we boarded the train—and fox six whole months, that's how Dad got my medicine and the resources he had to pay for the lost goods. 1
290 290 301 Summer And I'm just afraid that they're going to hurt someone close to you next—or maybe you, even... 1
295 295 301 1 Cargo Member Weyland C'mon, son... You hang around Rachel all the time now and she tells you everything, and you just never know what Bancroft is gonna do when he gets crazy somewhere down the road. 1
296 296 301 Cargo Member Weyland Look, son. Just do as we say... if you don't want what happened to your mom to happen to you. 1
302 302 301 Summer And I don't see how that's any different from if we personally did the hurting ourselves. 1
303 303 301 Noan It's fine, as long as your dad still gets paid properly for his work. He just needs to pay for the lost goods and make sure he never loses anything again. 2
304 304 301 Summer But Dad just keeps losing them, and he hasn't even gotten what he's been working for because his pay all goes into paying for the goods lost. 1
305 305 301 Summer And they still have no idea whatsoever who stole them. 1
306 306 301 Noan I'm at the end of my training now. I'll ask Rachel to put me on your dad's delivery team so I can keep an eye out for him. 2
307 307 301 Summer No, please, Noan... 1
308 308 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Summer Thank you for offering, but I think it's best that you stay out of this. 1
309 309 202 1 2 1
310 310 401 1 120
311 311 301 AniZhuanchangEnd And that was the last time Noan ever saw Field.
312 312 301 Field left nothing in the book storage—except for his half-finished firefly toy and his notebook.
313 313 301 The notebook comes with an instruction sheet in it on how to put together the firefly toy. The rest of the notebook is full of Field's thoughts and sentences and lines that he's copied off the books he read.
314 314 301 The handwriting from the first half of the notebook is neat, and that's when Field was still writing about the changing seasons of nature—signs that he was still in a stable condition then.
315 315 301 The handwriting and content from the second half, however, are the exact opposite of what they are in the first half—with stains of blood here and there on the pages.
316 316 301 When Noan gets to the very last two pages, he has to read the words three times to finally understand what they say.
317 317 304 "Friend, the time's close." ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/BgStory0.png 1
318 318 304 "I'll turn to the darkness and wander in the nothingness." ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/BgStory0.png 1
319 319 304 "You still expect my largesse. What can I offer you? Ceaseless, it is still darkness and void and—stop." ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/BgStory0.png 1
320 320 304 "But I'd like only darkness, or to vanish into your daytime; I'd only like a void that never seizes your heart." ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/BgStory0.png 1
321 321 304 "I'd like that, friend—" ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/BgStory0.png 1
322 322 304 "I travel alone—not only without you, but in darkness without other shadows." ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/BgStory0.png 1
323 323 304 AniZhuanchangBegin "Only myself, submerged by darkness, in that world wholly mine." ffffffff Assets/Product/Texture/Image/BgStory/BgStory0.png 1 1
330 330 301 Noan puts down the notebook and looks around—but can't seem to see Field anywhere in the otherwise usually crowded lower-level car that now only has a handful of souls.
332 332 301 Unable to see any further and feeling helpless, Noan starts shouting out his friend's name—among people ready for bed.
333 333 201 1 500521 14
334 334 301 1 Noan Summer! Field! 1
335 335 301 RImgBg1Shake Lower-Level Citizen 1 For crying out loud, kid! Do you know what time it is?!
336 336 301 Not surprisingly at all, people don't hesitate to yell at him.
337 337 301 Noan Sorry, but I'm just looking for my friend because he went missing. 1
338 338 301 Lower-Level Citizen 1 He what? You sure he didn't head out with the Cargo Crew? They're supposed to head down to City 074 tonight and will be back in the morning.
339 339 301 The man sits up from his dirty mattress with a yawn.
340 340 301 Noan He's about my age, and there is no way he'd have left with the Cargo Crew because he just isn't fit enough to do that. 1
341 341 301 Bumblebee Member 1 Not fit enough... Wait, are you talking about Bancroft's son?
342 342 301 Noan Yes, that's him. Have you... 1
343 343 202 1 1
344 344 201 1 500140 -600
345 345 201 2 500460
346 346 201 3 500226 600
347 347 401 1 202
348 348 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 1 Wouldn't say a thing even if I've seen him. We're damn fed up with all Bancroft's little drama and just can't wait to see him kicked off the train. 1
349 349 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 Ditto. Ain't it funny how shit happens to his team every single time? 2
350 350 301 Cargo Crew Member 3 Dude just shouldn't be a captain, period. None of his men listens to him, and their goods go missing whenever they're out on a mission. 3
351 351 301 Cargo Crew Member 3 I just want the guy gone ASAP so we can all have a good night's sleep. 3
352 352 202 1 2 3 1
353 353 201 1 500521 5
354 354 301 1 Noan You really think that's gonna put an end to the situation? 1
355 355 201 1 500226
356 356 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 3 Excuse me? 1
357 357 201 1 500521 5
358 358 301 1 Noan There will be a second and third and more Bancrofts as long as the guards from the upper level keep their rules in place! 1
359 359 301 Noan We could choose to sit around and watch them die, but you never know who it's gonna be next. 1
360 360 201 1 500460
361 361 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 2 He has it coming. 1
362 362 201 1 500521 5
363 363 301 1 Noan But he was only just trying to save someone! 1
364 364 301 Noan Leaking info and losing goods are what's considered wrong now according to the rules, but who's to say the rules are going to stay this way forever? 1
365 365 301 Noan Remember that "we're all heroes or we're all zeroes" rule they just put into place in the Industrial Carriage? 1
366 366 301 Noan The aristocrats would be more than happy to keep shipping someone off there that hampers the rest of the team, so long as people keep trying to single out the "bad apple"—or so Captain Rachel always says. 1
367 367 301 Noan Are all the "bad apples" to blame for all our sufferings? 1
368 368 301 Noan No, they're not—because as long as they can trade in "info" for resources, people will jump at the opportunity any day of the week. 1
369 369 301 Noan See, we've twisted the rules against ourselves when the rules are what's wrong in the first place! 1
370 370 301 Noan I'm not saying that I stand with these people, but the rules are what's wrong, and I sympathize with all the innocent people that get dragged through the mud. 1
371 371 301 Noan Why are we turning our backs on Field when he's done nothing wrong and wants to bring about changes? We hate the aristocrats' guts for treating us the way they do, but aren't we doing the exact same thing? 1
372 372 201 1 500382
373 373 301 1 Bumblebee Member 2 Wow, shithead. Think you know everything, huh? 1
374 374 201 1 500398
375 375 301 1 Cargo Captain Shauna I like everything he said, though. Atta boy, son. 1
381 381 301 1 Cargo Captain Shauna Thought I'd drop by when I heard all the buzz coming from down here. Don't worry, though. Rachel ain't around, and I won't tell her a thing. 2
384 384 301 Noan I went through all the places he'd usually go to, and his notebook is the only thing I found. 1
385 385 301 Noan hands the notebook over to Shauna. She quickly goes through it.
386 386 301 Cargo Captain Shauna ... 2
387 387 301 Cargo Captain Shauna Let's look for him together. Kid might still be around. 2
388 388 202 1
389 389 201 1 500460 -400
390 390 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 2 But we can't let Bancroft stick around anymore! 1
391 391 301 Cargo Captain Shauna Your sick wife, Rock's kids, and Jason's mom—these are just some of the people who are here that we should just kick off the train, and I can keep going if you want me to. 2
392 392 301 Cargo Captain Shauna Oh yeah, just FYI, I know what they're all up to. 2
393 393 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 ...! 1
394 394 301 Cargo Captain Shauna Y'all hate Bancroft's guts because he's been capitalizing on what y'all do, right? 2
395 395 301 Cargo Captain Shauna Desperate times call for desperate measures, and I totally get that. 2
396 396 301 Cargo Captain Shauna And y'all are damn right to say that he's got what's coming his way—but who are y'all to say you're any less guilty? 2
397 397 202 1
398 398 201 1 500104 -400
399 399 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 3 What do you mean? 1
400 400 301 Cargo Captain Shauna Y'all let him handle the goods alone knowing that he'd lose them. Need I say more? 2
401 401 301 Cargo Crew Member 3 ... 1
402 402 301 Cargo Captain Shauna And boy, I would have told Rachel all these already had I heard about them earlier. 2
403 403 301 Cargo Crew Member 3 Rachel doesn't know any of these? 1
404 404 202 1 2 1
405 405 201 1 500398
406 406 301 1 Cargo Captain Shauna Like hell she would! 1
407 407 301 Cargo Captain Shauna She's been doin' all these things to help make life better for us—while we're all busy here trying to help those scoundrels up there screw ourselves over. 1
408 408 301 Cargo Captain Shauna Does seeing Bancroft screw up over and over again make life better for any of you? 1
409 409 301 Cargo Captain Shauna Do they come down here and strangle someone you hate every time Bancroft loses his goods and snitches? 1
410 410 401 2 1512
411 411 301 RImgBg1Shake Shauna throws a punch at the wall with her smile still on her face.
412 412 301 Cargo Captain Shauna Now, just answer me this—are you going to help look for Field or not? 1
413 413 202 1 1
414 414 301 Dead silence ensues—until someone from the Maintenance Crew speaks up.
415 415 201 1 500138 400
416 416 201 2 500521 -400
417 417 301 1 Maintenance Member 1 I'll check out the security cameras over at the storage and send a few guys down the ventilation ducts. Those places ain't the easiest for kids to get back out once they're in there. 1
418 418 301 Noan Thank you...! 2
419 419 301 Maintenance Member 1 And we need you to come with us, kid. 1
420 420 301 Noan Sure! 2
421 421 202 1 2
422 422 301 Noan leaves the car with the man.
423 423 201 1 500398
424 424 301 1 Cargo Captain Shauna And what's it gonna be for the rest of you? 1
425 425 201 1 500425 600
426 426 201 2 500463
427 427 201 3 500140 -600
428 428 301 1 Bumblebee Member 1 I'll look around.
429 429 301 Bumblebee Member 2 ...I'll go with you.
430 430 301 Cargo Crew Member 4 Should we double-check with Rachel to see if the kid is out with the team?
431 431 202 1 2 3 1
432 432 201 1 500398
433 433 301 1 Cargo Captain Shauna Right. I'll do that with my terminal. 1
434 434 202 1 1
435 435 201 1 500226 600
436 436 201 2 500104
437 437 201 3 500270 -600
438 438 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 3 Tsk...! 2
439 439 301 Cargo Crew Member 5 Stay here if you want, but tag along if you can lend us a hand. 3
440 440 301 Cargo Crew Member 2 ... 1
441 441 202 1 2 3 1
442 442 201 1 500342 400
443 443 201 2 500260 -400
444 444 301 1 Cargo Crew Member 6 Lucy, do us a favor and check out where you and the kids usually play hide-and-seek. 1
445 445 301 Girl On it! 2
446 446 202 1 2
447 447 301 And with it, people start forming search teams. There are still people who are either unwilling to help or unable to help, but things are already looking a lot better than if Noan had to do it on his own.
448 448 301 This single event isn't going to erase all the hard feelings that are already there—but Noan can just feel that they've just made a dent in the tip of the iceberg.
449 449 201 1 500521
450 450 301 1 Noan ...Field, where are you? 1
451 451 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin The boy calls out his friend's name as the sun begins to slowly show its face to the world for the day.
