Ch. 1: The Town of North Cross
Land of Stars, North Cross…-.
Several days had passed since I had woken Prince Deneb and we’d parted in a rush.
I received permission to visit him so we could meet again, and arrived in North Cross on a verdant green plateau that escaped the heat of the sun.
(Where is the castle?)
I walked down a main street crowded with tourists as I looked around, then heard a voice call to me from behind.
Deneb?: “Miss! Are you free?”
A beautiful boy with porcelain-white skin and playful eyes looked up into my eyes.
OO: “Ah, Deneb…”
Deneb?: “I came to North Cross to sightsee, but it’s boring to do on your own. You looked like you were up for some sightseeing, so do you want to walk around the town with me?”
OO: “Uh, well.”
Deneb?: “I’m not a bad guy, so you don’t have to be so tense~”
Deneb was acting as if this was our first time meeting, and I found myself at a loss for words.
(This is odd. It looks exactly like him, but maybe this isn’t Deneb?)
Deneb?: “Why do you look so strange?”
He picked at his soft, pale blue hair, smiling as he played with it.
I stood there confused as I looked at him, his voice and appearance exactly like Deneb.
Ch. 2: Swans
Having arrived at the castle town of North Cross to see Deneb again, I was met by a young boy who looked exactly like him
(Is he Deneb? Or is he just someone who resembles him? Hmmm. No matter how I look at him, he looks like Deneb, but…)
In my confusion, I kept glancing sideways at him as we walked.
But even when he noticed me looking, he just smiled knowingly.
Deneb?: “Well then, where should we go? Anything you want to see?”
He spread out a tourist map as he spoke, and his eyes sparkled with joy.
(Hmm, I’m happy but… I have to tell him that I need to make my way to the castle right now.)
OO: “Um… I have business at the castle…”
Deneb?: “The castle? That place is no fun~!”
(Huh…?)
Saying as much, he suddenly grabbed my hand and started walking.
OO: “! Where are we going…!?”
Deneb?: “Hehe, someplace good!”
He didn’t hesitate to pull my along, and I followed till we arrived at a thickly overgrown forest that spread out at the edge of town.
I hunched my shoulders against the cool air and followed behind him slowly…-.
Deneb?: “Here, look!”
As I turned to look where he was pointing, I heard the sound of many flapping wings and suddenly a large flock of swans came flying towards me.
OO: “…!”
Interwoven between the contrasting blue sky and green forest was a white flock spread out in a line, and my eyes opened wide at their beauty.
OO: “…wow…”
Deneb?: “See, isn’t this way better than the castle?”
I came back to my senses as he looked at me with a delighted expression.
OO: “Um, it actually startled me…”
Deneb?: “Hehehe, I’m glad I brought you along!”
OO: “Ah… well, it was pretty…”
Deneb?: “Right~?”
I stared at him even though I was a little embarrassed with how much I’d been entranced by the scene before me.
(…who is this boy really? He’s not Deneb, right?)
Deneb?: “Let’s head back to town. I’ve got a tourist map, so I can show you how to get to the castle too!”
OO: “Ah…yes, thank you.”
His smile didn’t seem to carry any ill will, and I ended up smiling in return.
Then his smile suddenly became serious as he looked at me intensely.
Deneb?: “…or I would have. But I don’t want to! Let’s do some more stuff.”
OO: “…huh!?”
This development once more had me thinking something was up, and I ended up confused again.
OO: “I really do have business…!”
Desperate to be released from him, I made my plea.
But he simply tilted his head and ignored what I said.
Ch. 3: To Town Once More
Having seen the beautiful sight in the forest, the two of us returned to town again.
Deneb?: “Let’s spend some more time together before going to the castle.”
OO: “But I really need to go…”
Deneb?: “Awww? Why?”
OO: “I’m sorry. But…”
Deneb?: “Awww, but what?”
OO: “I made a promise.”
Deneb?: “A promise? For what time, down to the second?”
OO: “W-well, we didn’t decide on it down to that detail but…”
Deneb?: “And who was this promise to?”
OO: “P-prince Deneb.”
Deneb?: “…”
Hearing what I said, he stayed silent, and I had difficulty reading his expression.
Deneb?: “…hmm, are you interested in the prince then?”
OO: “Interested!? I-I wouldn’t say that…”
I was surprised at the unexpected turn in the conversation.
Deneb?: “Ooooh! Then it’s fine!”
I was overwhelmed again as he took my arm and we walked all over the town.
He took me to visit a glasswork shop, and my eyes were drawn to a beautiful swan figurine.
(Wow… the way it sparkles when it catches the light…)
Seeing its beauty, I found myself remembering the flock of swans in the forest.
(There have been a lot of things today related to swans…)
Deneb?: “I’m getting pretty hungry. Let’s go to this place I heard about that does a delicious lunch! My treat.”
OO: “But that’s…! That’s bad.”
(I don’t know him… but… is he actually Deneb?)
Deneb?: “But we’ve grown closer after spending half the day together! So, no need to hold back~ Okay?”
OO: “But…”
Deneb?: “Alright, let’s go~!”
I was again overwhelmed by his unique pushiness, and I still did not refuse.
The place Deneb guided me to was a very fancy-looking café bar.
As I glanced around, there were simple but nice dishes, and the interior was surrounded by various potted plants.
(But…)
I was restless and looked up at the clock in the store.
I had said we hadn’t set a specific time to meet, but it was already passed the general time we had agreed on.
(I bet I’ve worried him since it’s gotten so late, and I have no way to contact him…)
Then…
Deneb?: “…sorry…”
OO: “Eh?”
Deneb?: “…for making you come along…”
He must have seen me worriedly looking at the clock and was concerned.
OO: “Ah, well…”
Deneb?: “I was just having so much fun that I ended up being selfish…”
His shoulders dropped, and the sight of him apologizing like that pricked at my heart.
(He was just trying to show me a good time… but I was the one who couldn’t fully commit to this time together…)
OO: “Um, don’t worry about it…”
Deneb?: “But…”
OO: “Um, please don’t apologize…”
Deneb?: “Eh…?”
OO: “Thanks to you, I saw something wonderful.”
(If he hadn’t shown me around, I never would have seen that sight.)
Deneb?: “… you’re really nice.”
The tension suddenly left his shoulders as he spoke, and he smiled at me.
I let out a sigh of relief upon seeing that adorable grin.
(Good… and we can head to the castle right after this. At the very least, I can enjoy myself until then without worry.)
I kept those thoughts a secret in my heart.
Ch. 4: Memories of Today
Having enjoyed our fill of the delicious lunch at the café bar, the two of us left satisfied.
OO: “Thanks for lunch. It was delicious.”
Deneb?: “You’re welcome! And I’m really happy that you came out with me~! I’m glad… we could spend time together… like this…”
His voice was quiet as he spoke those words, and they were drowned out by the sounds of the street, so I couldn’t hear him very well.
OO: “Eh?”
Deneb?: “Ah, um… I just said something about how spending time with you like this will definitely make this a trip to remember!”
OO: “?”
(Is that really what he said? It seems like he’s trying really hard to hide something from me…)
In my heart, I wasn’t sure if that was true or not, but he continued talking with a smile.
Deneb?: “Thanks a lot. Thanks to you, I had a really fun time. I hope you can make good memories too!”
OO: “Eh…? Ah…y-yes, thank you. But, you know… I think I already did make some good memories.”
OO: “I’ll never forget the sight of those swans for as long as I live.”
Deneb?: “… that makes me a little jealous of the swans. Kidding!”
OO: “It was really fun going around town to all those different places together.”
Deneb?: “Really? …If you say cute stuff like that, you know I’ll take you anywhere BUT the castle, right?”
OO: “Eh…”
I wasn’t sure if he was really joking, but his pretty face was bashful as he looked around the area.
I looked down, my face beat red, and he smiled again, but this one had a deeper meaning than his usual bright and cheerful smile.
Then with his guidance, the two of us headed to the castle.
Deneb?: “Ah, look! That’s this country’s castle~”
We climbed up a gentle slope, and as he walked ahead, the boy who looked like Deneb pointed with a smile.
The castle of North Cross was a beautiful sight with clusters of delicate-looking towers.
OO: “What a beautiful castle…!”
I felt elated at the big, beautiful castle, and the two of us walked briskly the rest of the way towards the castle gate.
When we arrived…-.
Soldier 1: “Prince Deneb isn’t here?”
Soldier 2: “How strange, considering he has a guest coming all the way from Traumere…!”
(Eh?)
In an uproar, the palace guards sat atop their horses and rode right passed us on their way to the castle town.
(If Deneb isn’t in the castle, then… does that mean…)
OO: “Um…”
I hadn’t realized that I’d overtaken the boy, and as my doubts rose to the surface of my mind, I turned to ask him.
But he was nowhere to be seen.