Ch. 1: Blue-Purple Flowers
Kingdom of Alstoria in the Land of Knights, Month of Sunlight…-
As thanks for saving Avi, I was again invited to the Alstoria Castle.
Led by an attendant, Avi and I walked together in the gentle sunlight.
Inside the castle walls was a magnificent display with elegant furnishings and dried flowers adorning the corridor.
OO: “Ah, these flowers.”
I glanced out the window into the courtyard and saw many of the same blue-purple flowers blooming below.
Attendant: “These flowers are the same as the ones in the garden. Aren’t they beautiful?”
OO: “Yes, it’s a lovely color. They’re so beautiful you could arrange them even without drying them.”
The attendant’s voice was so gentle, I found myself in a sort of warm trance as I responded.
Avi: “What are you grinning at?”
Avi looked down at me suspiciously, his hands on his hips.
OO: “These dried flowers are nice, but wouldn’t it be more beautiful to decorate with live ones?”
I said with enthusiasm.
Avi: “… if you do that, they’d quickly wither and die.”
OO: “Eh?”
For an instant, I thought I had misheard.
Avi’s voice, always so strong and direct, seemed very lonely just then.
OO: “Avi?”
His tone made me uneasy and I peered into this face.
Avi: “Hey, let’s hurry. We’re making Father wait.”
As if he had suddenly realized something, his voice resumed it’s normal tone again in an instant.
OO: “Y-yeah!”
Still flustered, I trailed behind his broad shoulders. But…
———————
Avi: “They’d quickly wither and die.”
——————–
I couldn’t get Avi’s words out of my head.
Ch. 2: Avi and Fluff
Avi: “… if you do that, they’d quickly wither and die.”
—————–
The next day…
I was allowed to watch the knights as they practiced their swordsmanship.
Avi: “Ha!”
Avi’s dignified shout echoed throughout, and his red hair shone in the morning sun.
He moved with grace and ease.
Watching his beautiful, impressive swordplay took my breath away.
Avi: “…Next! You think you’re fit to be a knight protecting this kingdom?”
The soldiers readied themselves in response to Avi’s severe call, but one by one he took them all down.
(He’s really strong…)
Without realizing, I had become captivated by his form.
Then…
OO: “…!”
Something softly tickled my right hand.
I turned in surprise and saw…
OO: “A-a dog?”
A dog, white and fluffy, stood looking up at me, its tail wagging vigorously.
(A dog from the castle? It’s so cute.)
OO: “Where did you come from?”
While petting the dog, I noticed a wooden boomerang held tightly in its mouth.
OO: “Is this your toy? Do you want me to throw it?”
The dog’s tail wagged even more vigorously.
(…Alright!)
OO: “There! Go get it!! …ah.”
I threw the boomerang with all my might, and it flew straight into the ground.
The dog huffed and gave a dejected snort.
OO: “S-sorry! One more time…”
Avi: “You’re pretty clumsy.”
OO: “…! Avi!”
Avi had snuck up behind me and spoke with exasperation.
At seeing Avi, the dog appeared delighted and started wagging its tail.
OO: “I’m sorry for making so much noise when you’re in the middle of practice.”
Avi: “It’s fine, we’re taking a short break. Do you like dogs?”
OO: “Yes, I like all animals. And this dog is very cute.”
Avi gave a slight nod.
The dog moved closer to Avi and wagged its tail more.
Avi: “The dog is fluffy, so his name is Fluff…in this country’s language it means ‘cloud’.”
At hearing its name, the dog barked in delight.
There was a kindness in Avi’s eyes as he looked at the dog.
(This is the first time I’ve seen Avi look like that.)
That expression, I …
OO: “Is everything alright?”
Avi looked surprised at hearing my voice.
Avi: “…it’s nothing.”
However, Avi’s seemed filled with loneliness as he looked at Fluff.
OO: “Isn’t this your dog Avi?”
Avi: “…no.”
For some reason, Avi’s voice seemed small as he answered, and he unconsciously looked up.
(Avi…?)
As Avi stood next to me, Fluff put his fore-paws on Avi’s leg and wagged its tail.
OO: “He really seems to like you. He’s only been looking at you this whole time.”
Avi: “…really?”
Avi’s gaze was distant as he spoke.
OO: “Aren’t you going to pet him?”
Avi: “…I’m in the middle of practice.”
After a pause, Avi murmured as if trying to convince himself.
He stiffened, and his face returned to the same unreadable expression he always wore.
Avi: “See ya.”
Avi turned to go but stopped abruptly.
Avi: “You can play with him. Just not with the boomerang.”
OO: “…H-hey!”
(He has to go and make fun of me…)
Even though his usual stiff expression had returned just a little, I was happy as his smiling face came to mind.
However…
——————–
Avi: “… if you do that, they’d quickly wither and die.”
OO: “Aren’t you going to pet him?”
Avi: “…I’m in the middle of practice.”
——————–
I was certain something was weighing on Avi, something I didn’t know about.
That thought remained at the forefront of my mind.
Ch. 3: Unseen Heart
Afterwards, I was walking around the castle with Fluff, who had become quite attached to me.
——————–
OO: “Aren’t you going to pet him?”
Avi: “…I’m in the middle of practice.”
——————–
OO: “I’m sure that when Avi’s done, he’ll play with you a lot.”
Fluff barked and wagged his tail eagerly in response.
Then…
OO: “…!”
I heard a loud noise from a room we were passing by.
OO: “W-what was that?”
Anxiously, I opened the door half-way and peeked inside.
There…
A strong wind was blowing through the window and making the curtain flutter.
I saw something that looked like a large piece of wood which had fallen to the floor.
OO: “Maybe the wind made it fall Fluff. Let’s put it back, ok?”
I entered the room and lifted up the square piece of wood.
(This is…)
It was an old portrait, covered in dust.
It showed a dignified king, and a queen holding a bouquet of blue-violet flowers.
(This boy who seems to be overflowing with happiness is…Avi?)
A young boy happily held a bunch of the same flowers as the queen.
Sitting next to the queen was a big, white dog.
(This dog is…)
Then…
Avi: “Hey, what are you doing in here?”
OO: “Avi!”
I looked over my shoulder and saw Avi standing there, his hand on the door. I realized practice must have ended as he stood looking at me.
OO: “I was just passing by and heard a noise from this room.”
Avi: “A noise? That’s…”
Then Avi noticed the portrait and his eyes widened in surprise.
OO: “It seems like this painting was knocked down by the wind, so I thought I’d put it back.”
Avi: “…it’s fine, you don’t have to do that.”
Speaking quietly, he grabbed the painting from my hands.
He turned it over and simply leaned it against the wall.
OO: “Ah…”
——————–
Avi: “…if you do that, they’d quickly wither and die.”
——————–
(He’s making the same face as that time…)
Seeing Avi’s pained expression made my chest hurt and I …
OO: “This painting is quite lovely.”
I smiled, wanting to lift his spirits.
Avi: “…yeah.”
But his expression became even more gloomy.
OO: “Avi? Um…are you alright?”
Avi: “What do you mean?”
OO: “…what do I mean…”
The conversation didn’t continue beyond that.
(What do I do? …What can I do to make Avi smile?)
OO: “The woman holding those flowers you like…she’s your mother isn’t she? She’s beautiful.”
OO: “And the white fluffy dog, I bet that’s Fluff’s mother.”
OO: “How old were you when this was painted…?”
I didn’t want to see Avi’s sad expression, so somehow I kept talking.
Avi: “…for you…?”
OO: “Huh?”
Avi: “Is prying into a person’s past fun for you?”
Though he wasn’t looking directly at me, those words pierced my heart.
OO: “I-I’m so sorry! That’s not what I was…”
Avi: “…tch.”
Abruptly, Avi lifted up the painting with strong arms.
Avi: “There’s no point in keeping this painting. Once you’re dead, that’s the end of it!”
OO: “No! Avi…!”
Avi moved as if he was going to smash the painting on the floor.
Without thinking, I grabbed on to him.
Avi: “…!”
Avi’s balance faltered and I crashed into a shelf.
A vase fell and broke, shattering into pieces.
OO: “Ow…”
Avi: “OO!”
Avi stopped what he was doing.
He tossed the painting aside and tightly grabbed my shoulders.
Avi’s grip was so strong it felt like it would tear my arm off, but I found myself lost in his eyes.
Avi: “You’re hurt…!”
OO: “I-I’m alright! I just grazed my foot a little!”
Avi’s face was pained, as if he had been the one injured.
OO: “I’m really alright Avi, don’t make that face.”
I smiled sweetly so as not to make him worry.
Avi: “…OO.”
OO: “Avi…”
His expression made my chest tighten, and I caressed his cheek.
Avi: “…!”
OO: “I’m really sorry. I…”
Avi: “I know, it’s fine. Let’s just get that taken care of.”
OO: “Yeah…”
My cheeks warmed as Avi gently lifted me into his arms.
OO: “A-Avi! I Can walk!”
Avi: “It’s my fault you got hurt. If I don’t do this much at least, I won’t be able to calm down.”
OO: “…Avi…”
Avi walked quickly down the corridor.
I could feel his battle-hardened body through the fabric of his clothes.
(What…am I thinking?)
Rather than answering the question, I leaned my head against his chest.
Ch. 4: Wanting a Reconciliation
Avi: “She’s been injured. Treat her at once.”
I had injured my leg in the struggle with the painting.
Avi had carried me all the way from the room where it happened.
Maid: “Yes, L-lord Avi?”
The maid’s eyes darted between Avi and me.
Avi: “What are you spacing out for? Treat her injury at once so it doesn’t get worse.”
Maid: “Y-yes!”
The maid rushed over and began to look at my leg.
I had thought Avi would stay with me, however…
Avi: “Looks like you’ll be fine now.”
He confirmed that my injury was being disinfected and turned to go.
OO: “Avi! Um…thank you.”
Avi: “What are you thanking me for?”
OO: “Well, you were worried about me weren’t you?”
Avi: “…you don’t have to thank me for that.”
Avi pressed the maid to continue her work and left without looking back.
OO: “Ah, Avi!”
I called out and Avi looked as if he wanted to say something as he turned back to look at me.
Avi: “…”
But he left the room without saying anything.
(Avi…)
After that, I heard a lot from the maid, like about how Avi was a late bloomer when it came to women, so she had been surprised to see him carrying me.
(But…I’m not important to Avi.)
(I’m sure I touched a sore spot when I started asking about his past, as it seems so unpleasant.)
Avi’s pained face made my chest ache.
——————–
Avi: “There’s no point in keeping this painting. Once you’re dead, that’s the end of it!”
——————–
Ever since we met, Avi has been with me, protecting me.
Because of that, I had thought I’d come to understand him more.
(I want to know more about him…)
That evening…
I kept thinking about what had happened that afternoon, and I couldn’t sleep no matter what I did.
(…I can’t sleep. I’ll just get a little fresh air.)
After endless tossing and turning, I went down to the courtyard.
The courtyard at night was truly beautiful.
The blue-purple flowers were bathed in the moonlight and seemed to emit a faint glow.
(The blue-purple flowers…)
Remembering Avi, I felt a prick in my chest.
(I asked about his past so brazenly…)
(I’d like to see him…and apologize.)
OO: “…huh?”
While thinking of Avi and the pain in my chest, something white flashed in the corner of my vision.
(Fluff?)
Fluff walked through the garden and out the gate.
(If something happens to Fluff, I’m sure Avi will get depressed again.)
I ran after the dog as he hurried out the gate.
At that time…
He couldn’t get the image of OO’s injury out of his head.
Avi let out a sigh as he sat at the window, his chin resting in his hand.
Avi: “…I wonder if she got treated properly.”
Unable to sleep, and with a book lying open in front of him, Avi couldn’t bring himself to do anything.
Avi: “…it was all my fault…I wonder if she’s still awake.”
Avi left his room and went to meet up with OO.