Ch. 1: A Dazzling Encounter
Kingdom of Carnival in the Land of the Jester…-
An endless field of flowers was wrapped in a bright light…
OO: “…!”
I closed my eyes to the brightness, and when I slowly opened them…
Clown: “Nn, you are…? Ah, how beautiful!”
OO: “Eh? And you are…?”
Dressed like a clown, his eyes sparkled and shone even though he’d just been awakened.
His hair was colored like the changing sky from sunset to daybreak.
And a strange brilliance swirled in his eyes.
Clown: “I am Clown. It is my purpose in life to bring smiles to the people.”
OO: “Clown…”
Clown: “It seems I was asleep for quite some time, but you have awakened me. Having a beautiful lady such as yourself be the first thing I see makes me feel like I’m still in a dream…it seems I may forget it as the dream fades. I wish to offer my deepest gratitude. Thank you so very much. Now I can return to my training.”
Standing up, Clown removed his silk hat and bowed with a smile.
(He has such a wonderful smile underneath that makeup…but…)
There was a strange emotion behind that fake clown-like smile that I couldn’t fathom.
Clown: “3 more…just 3 more people.”
OO: “3 people…?”
(I wonder what that’s about.)
Smiling in satisfaction, Clown placed his silk hat back atop his head and took my hand in his white-gloved ones.
Ch. 2: The Goal of the Journey
Clown: “3 more…just 3 more people.”
(3 people…?)
At his words, my eyes clouded and…
Clown: “In my country, everyone in the royal family goes on a training journey. We just make 100 working people smile. Once I finish, I’ll be recognized as a royal.”
OO: “100 people…!?”
My eyes rounded in surprise, and with a wink, Clown flashed me a smile as bright as the sun.
Clown: “Haha, but there’s no need to fret! I only had three more people to get before I was attacked by the yumekui. And now thanks to you, I’m awake!”
OO: “…!!”
He gently kissed the back of my hand.
His lips were soft, and I felt my heart speed up.
Clown: “Would you like to come with me…on my journey to deliver smiles?”
It was as if his eyes were casting a spell on me, and I nodded.
Clown: “Then let’s be off!”
OO: “…!”
He suddenly lifted me up off the ground and into his arms.
Clown: “Ah yes, you are a lady as light as silk, Cute, and beautiful, and with a lovely fragrance.”
OO: “C-Clown…”
His nose twitched as he moved closer, and I could smell the sweet scent of cosmetics on him.
(What an odd smell…)
From my slightly elevated position, I could see him up close.
My whole body filled with excitement and curiosity.
We went down the main road and arrived at a small village. Once there, I heard a baby crying.
Clown: “It seems there is a client here for me to deliver a smile to.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Clown was looking at a flustered mother with a baby clinging to her chest.
Mother: “Aah, oh dear, she just won’t stop crying.”
Clown: “Dear lady, please leave this to me, Clown.”
Mother: “You’re a clown?”
The mother gaped at Clown’s ridiculous get-up…
Clown: “Now, it’s showtime!”
OO: “…wow!”
Clown looked at the baby and pulled a stuffed animal out of thin air.
Then the plush toy began to move on its own, and a variety of colorful flowers sprung forth in front of the baby.
Baby: “Fue…? Kyakya!”
Mother: “Oh my! Just a moment ago I couldn’t get her to stop crying.”
As I watched, the baby’s face lit up with a huge smile, even though it had just been drenched in tears.
The mother also smiled in thanks, and as I watched her happily walk away, I…
OO: “Wow!”
I clapped and looked at Clown, who seemed a little embarrassed as he took off his silk hat and hid his mouth.
Clown: “Haha, I’m just getting started.”
OO: “How did you do that just now?”
Clown: “A simple illusion.”
I peered in interest at his hands, then in a flash, the stuffed animal disappeared.
Clown: “Of course, how I did it is a secret.”
His roguish smile made my heart leap in my chest.
Ch. 3: 100 People
Clown: “Now then, seeing as being a mother is a job, I only need two more people.”
OO: “Then it’s time to search for the next person.”
We walked down the main street in search of the next target when…
Young Woman: “Help! Thief!”
OO: “…!? Oh no…!”
But before anyone could step in to help, the thief snatched up the woman’s purse and ran off.
It happened so suddenly that I got flustered, and Clown put his hand on my shoulder.
Clown: “Looks like we’ve found our next target.”
(Eh, next target…)
OO: “You don’t mean…the thief!?”
Clown: “Precisely.”
OO: “That’s dangerous!”
Clown winked at me, unconcerned, and nimbly moved to in front of the robber.
OO: “The woman who was attacked?”
Clown: “Nope, my 99th target is…the thief!”
OO: “But…that’s dangerous!”
Clown: “It’s alright, I have everything under control.”
Clown smiled as if to reassure me and moved in front of the thief.
Thief: “Move it ya bastard!”
The robber brandished a knife and rushed at Clown.
But Clown paid it no mind as he deflected the attack and continued his performance.
Thief: “Don’t mock me!”
Moving like in a pantomime, Clown kept avoiding the thief’s attacks.
Clown: “Your eyes aren’t very sharp for a thief. I assume something must have happened to force you to start stealing.”
Thief: “W-what’d you say!?”
Clown nimbly took the knife from the robber’s hand.
Then he pulled a flower out of thin air, and changed the knife into a gold coin before handing them over.
Thief: “Wha-? This is…for me?”
Clown: “It was simply an illusion, but if it can bring a smile back to your face…”
Thief: “…man, thanks. This should cover my mom’s medicine!”
The fierce look in the thief’s eyes turned to a smile of joy.
In that moment, Clown held his silk hat in his hand and a pure white dove flew out.
Thief: “Thank you Mr. Clown.”
The woman who had been attacked was given her purse back, and the thief went off in another direction.
Clown: “And that makes 99.”
I noticed a faint scratch on Clown’s makeup, and as I approached…
I took a handkerchief from my pocket and reached out to wipe off his cheek.
Clown: “You’re very kind…but this nothing.”
It was different from his normal clownish behavior, and a soft smile graced his face as he snapped his fingers.
The mark on his cheek vanished completely.
OO: “Are you hurt…?”
I got close and Clown looked at me in surprise.
Clown: “Were you worried about me? Thank you. But this is nothing.”
Clown took a red cloth from his pocket and concealed his face.
In an instant, the red cloth disappeared, and the face it revealed was free of any injury.
OO: “Oh, good…you weren’t hurt!”
I was relieved, and Clown smiled at me. And then…
Clown: “Yes, and now my long journey has come to an end.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Clown: “OO, you are my 100th person!”
There was a pop and colorful confetti fluttered down around us.
Ch. 4: A Smile From the Heart
Clown: “OO, you were my 100th person!”
In the midst of the fluttering confetti, Clown smiled at me.
His smile was so refreshing, not like the mysterious one I’d seen when we first met.
(Is this Clown smiling from the bottom of his heart…?)
Clown: “Until now, I have brought smiles to many faces. But you were my 100th…no matter what, I couldn’t help but want to see your amazing smile.”
OO: “My…smile?”
Clown: “Yes, exactly. I wanted to make your smile bloom with these very hands. I wonder, having the last smile be from a princess is kind of romantic!”
His smile was so natural, different from a clown, and …
OO: “You too…your smile right now is wonderful.”
Clown: “That’s the kind of effect you have on me.”
Clown’s large eyes looked at me, and he smiled as if he was making a joke.
OO: “I…like it when you smile Clown.”
Clown: “My smile?”
Clown tilted his head curiously.
OO: “Yes.”
I was happy as I gave him a big smile.
And then…
Clown: “…!!”
OO: “What’s wrong…?”
Clown: “Nothing, just that as a clown…I didn’t think I could be surprised by other people. But your smile has a mysterious power OO. It really is the best of the best.”
The corners of his mouth lifted in embarrassment.
But his face returned to that of a clown in an instant, as if hiding that self that he had just shown, and he threw out a card with his fingers.
OO: “That’s amazing Clown…”
Clown: “Please, as a clown, I’d like it if you would relax around me.”
OO: “Right…”
Clown: “Good.”
As our conversation continued, his hands continued to pull cards out of thin air, as if by magic.
The cards continued to appear one after another, and as they appeared they all had a bright red heart on the back.
OO: “Wow…!”
Then he created balls from the cards and transitioned into juggling.
OO: “That’s amazing! They’re so colorful.”
My voice grew louder with excitement as I watched his wonderful performance when…
Clown: “…”
(Huh…? His smile clouded.)
And then, for the first time ever, the smile vanished from his face.
With a soft thump, the balls fell from his hands and rolled away.
OO: “What’s the matter?”
Clown: “Oh dear…I…”
Clown’s expression was neither sad, nor confused, but I couldn’t put it into words.