Ch. 5: Beneath the Starry Sky
That night…-.
(Singing…?)
As I was preparing to go to bed, I heard the faint sound of singing from outside my window.
I slowly opened the window and…
OO: “Fruys!”
Fruys was sitting in a tree right outside the window, singing.
Then he slowly reached his hand out to me.
Gently…-.
For a few seconds, it felt like I was floating in stardust that seemed to be falling.
Fruys: “Were you already asleep?”
Atop the tree, I sat next to Fruys and he looked into my eyes.
OO: “No, I hadn’t gone to sleep yet, so it’s fine.”
Fruys: “I see. Good…”
Saying as much, Fruys gently placed his head on my shoulder.
OO: “…!”
My heart was pounding in my chest…-.
I sat like that for a while, unable to even open my mouth to speak…
Eventually, I heard the slow, quiet breathing of someone asleep.
(I wonder if he’s tired from playing.)
I quietly wrapped my dressing gown around Fruys’ shoulders.
All the while, I looked up at the beautiful starry night sky.
Ch. 6: The Sound of the Wind...
The next morning was beautiful and clear…-.
I heard the chirping of birds.
I slowly opened my eyes and sat up in my bed.
(Was that a dream last night…?)
I thought about it, but…
There was a single leaf beside me in the bed.
(I’m sure I fell asleep… Fruys must have carried me in.)
For some reason, that made my heart pound a little.
(I better thank him.)
I jumped up out of bed and hurriedly dressed myself.
Going out, I looked up to the sky and searched around for where Fruys might be.
(Not here…)
I went to go back when…-.
OO: “Ah…!”
My feet suddenly tripped.
(I’ll fall…!)
That’s what I thought, but a soft breeze drifted around me and caught me.
Fruys: “Looking up all the time like that… it’s not like I’m always up in the sky.”
I looked beside me and saw Fruys stretched out among the flowers.
Fruys: “What’s up?”
OO: “U-um… I wanted to thank you for yesterday.”
Somehow, I was able to get the words out, but my pounding heart made my voice hoarse.
Fruys: “You wanted to thank me?”
OO: “Yeah… you carried me back to my room, right?”
Fruys: “That was because I fell asleep.”
Fruys have a slightly awkward smile.
Without thinking, I smiled fondly at him as I thought he looked cute.
OO: “But you made sure I didn’t catch a cold.”
Fruys: “…you’re really strange.”
OO: “Eh?”
Fruys’ hand flew within the air currents and all at once the flower petals started to dance.
OO: “How pretty…”
Fruys: “…yeah. Pretty.”
Fruys sat up as if to look at me better.
The proximity of him looking at me made my heart pound even louder.
(Fruys has such honest eyes… I can’t turn away…)
I looked at him as if entranced, and our lips drew closer…
OO: “…!”
(A kiss…!?)
Fruys: “…”
We were so close I could feel his breath, and as if rethinking something, he moved his head to lay on my lap.
OO: “…!”
I continued to stay sitting up with his head on my knee.
(He’s going to hear my heart beating…)
As he looked up at me like that, Fruys gave a mischievous smile.
Fruys: “…just now.”
OO: “Eh?”
Fruys: “You thought I was going to kiss you, didn’t you?”
OO: “Th-that’s…”
Fruys’ face broke into a smile, then he let out a chuckle.
Fruys: “The weather’s nice today too.”
I had no idea how I answered… my mind had gone completely blank.
All I could hear was the soft sound of the wind.
END
Secret Story: A Gentle Wind and My Song
After OO and I had come back from downtown…-.
(Today was so much fun~)
I sat up in a tree, thinking back on all the things we did.
(I wonder what OO thought of it?)
The truth was, I could see into her room from the position I was in.
(Is she asleep already?)
I bent forward, thinking I’d peak into her room, but decided not to.
(I shouldn’t go peeping into a girl’s room… but I really want to talk with OO more~)
As I thought about her, I started to hum a cheerful tune.
Fruys: “～～♪”
Then at that moment…
(Eh…!?)
The window to the room opened, and OO’s face appeared.
OO: “Fruys!”
I reached my hand out to her and pulled her next to me.
(I wonder if maybe my singing ended up waking her up?)
Worried about it, I looked into her eyes as if to ask that very question.
Fruys: “Were you already asleep?”
OO: “No, I hadn’t gone to sleep yet, so it’s fine.”
Fruys: “I see. Good…”
I felt a sense of relief, then put my head on OO’s shoulder.
OO: “…!”
I instantly felt as her body jumped in response.
(I was just thinking how I wanted to talk to her more, but… now when I think about how she’s next to me, I end up feeling nervous.)
I had no idea what I should even talk about, so for a while, we just sat cuddled next to each other in silence.
(She’s warm… …this was a good idea, if I do say so myself. And this way she’ll naturally dote on me I bet.)
OO’s warmth relieved a little of the tension I was feeling.
But…
(Huh…? I think I fell asleep there for a minute…)
I did my best to hold onto my consciousness, but I slowly felt it drifting.
…
……
A little while after that…-.
Fruys: “…?”
When I opened my eyes, OO suddenly appeared, her breathing deep and peaceful in sleep.
Fruys: “Huh…? OO? And where…”
(…ah, that’s right. I fell asleep when we were like that…)
At that time, I felt the sensation of something warm and soft against my body.
Fruys: “This is…”
(She gave me her dressing gown… you’re so nice OO. But… you’ll catch a cold like this.)
I wrapped myself in wind and brought OO back to her room.
Fruys: “…alright, this should be fine.”
I lay her down on the bed and gently pulled up the comforter.
(OO looks so cute when she’s asleep…)
Even though I knew I should hurry and leave the room right away, I couldn’t take my eyes off her sleeping face.
Fruys: “…”
I slowly brought my face closer to hers.
(I want to kiss her…)
As I started to reach for her soft pink lips, I frantically stopped myself.
(No, I shouldn’t kiss her when she’s asleep…)
Fruys: “…”
(But…)
I stared at her sleeping face once more.
(She really is super cute. And… I can’t get this close to her face when she isn’t asleep…)
A furious battle waged in my heart.
But at that moment…
OO: “Hm…nn…”
Fruys: “…!”
OO: “Fruys, that was so fun…”
OO smiled happily then fell back into the rhythm of sleep once more.
(She’s talking in her sleep? And she said my name? …you can’t do unfair things like that!)
I felt a flash of guilt over the wicked thoughts I’d been having and gently brushed OO’s hair aside before heading out through the window…
Fruys: “Goodnight OO.”
I jumped out the window, riding a gentle breeze and singing a cheerful song to myself and the night sky.
END