Ch. 4: Search for the Gentle Star
The next evening…
In search of the Gentle Star, I went with Spica to the forest east of the castle.
OO: “Wow…”
Between the trees of the forest was a place where the moonlight filtered down through the branches.
Spica: “It’s said you can only see the Gentle Star from this special place in this forest.”
That place took my breath away, looking up at the sky as the stars seemed even more beautiful.
OO: “I wonder which is the Gentle Star.”
Spica didn’t respond to my question.
OO: “Spica?”
I looked over my shoulder, but I didn’t see Spica anywhere.
(Where could he have gone?)
In that moment…-
There was a rustle, and a large shadow appeared.
OO: “A-a bear!?”
My shout echoed in the forest.
Ch. 5: The Name of the Star
(W-what should I do?)
The bear that had appeared from the shadows of the trees fixed its eyes on me.
I gulped, and my breath caught in my throat when…-
Spica: “Ah, sorry sorry.”
Spica suddenly popped out of the bear’s shadow.
Spica: “It got a little cold. So I thought this was something like a blanket.”
Spica grinned as if there was nothing going on.
The bear seemed quite attached to Spica.
OO: “D-don’t scare me like that.”
I felt weak with relief.
Spica: “Sorry about that.”
With a chuckle, Spica looked up at the sky.
Spica: “That’s unfortunate, it doesn’t look like we’ll be able to see the star.”
OO: “…oh.”
As my shoulders dropped a little with my answer…-
Spica: “…stars, animals, they’re all living things just like us.”
OO: “Spica?”
Spica: “I’m sure their power is the same. And my name is Spica.”
OO: “??”
Spica: “I don’t think there’s any power greater than the stars, but if it’s a wish from you, I’ll answer it. So, what is your wish?”
I turned Spica’s words over in my head.
OO: “Now that you mention it…I didn’t actually think of one.”
As I said it, he smiled in such a way that it wrapped up my entire being.
Spica: “Come here. You’re a little cold aren’t you?”
Spica held his hand out to me.
I slowly took his hand, and his right arm was lit up with the light of the stars.
In that hand, it was like I could feel the warmth of life of the Gentle Star.
END