Ch. 1: Riding the Wind
Land of Spirits, Secundati, Month of Sun…-.
Somewhere, birds were chirping.
A gentle breeze blew across the clear blue sky…-.
OO: “Ah…”
A myriad of colored flower petals came in on the wind and obstructed my field of vision.
??: “Welcome OO.”
Just like the wind, a figure swooped down from the sky and easily lifted me up.
OO: “EH!?”
(I’m flying…!?)
The figure who had lifted me up was carrying me as we rode the winds.
I looked up to the figure and…
OO: “Fruys!”
There was Fruys, still a young boy, smiling at me.
This place was Secundati, the Land of Spirits, and I was within the Sylphia Territory, home to the Wind Family.
Receiving an invitation from Prince Fruys, I had arrived in this beautiful land.
Fruys: “It’s been a while! So, you finally came to play. Welcome to the Country of Wind. How do you feel about riding the currents?”
Fruys’ hair was caught and whipped about by the wind.
His eyes looked straight into mine, his smile mischievous.
Ch. 2: Spinning With Him in the Sky
The town I could see from the sky looked so small it could have been a play set.
Fruys: “Whaddya think? It’s a beautiful country, right?”
I had taken Fruys’ hand and now traveled across the sky.
(I wonder how it is that I’ve been floating until now.)
OO: “Um, Fruys…-.”
Fruys: “Ah! You absolutely cannot let go of my hand. The wind won’t give you a ride if you do.”
OO: “Riding the wind?”
Fruys: “Yeah. The royal family here can ride the wind, and even control it. Cause we’re friends with the wind. So, when our hands are linked, that makes you a friend of the wind too!”
OO: “Friends with the wind… that’s amazing!”
Fruys’ entire face broke out into a smile, then…
Fruys: “Ah.”
In that instant, he saw something and started to descend.
Fruys: “Look! It’s a travelling amusement park!”
With the sudden sensation of approaching the ground, I forgot to speak and instead gripped Fruys’ hand.
OO: “Fruys, please! Slow down a little…!”
Fruys: “Ah, sorry. Were you scared?”
Fruys looked at me innocently.
OO: “Wow, that’s amazing!”
I forgot my fear of us approaching the ground and exclaimed in delight.
Fruys: “You like amusement parks too!”
Fruys smiled in delight.
Fruys: “Ah! Take a look! I just found something way more interesting than an amusement park!”
Suddenly, Fruys’ eyes sparkled and he smiled in delight.
In the next instant, he pulled on my hand and this time shot up high into the sky.
Then…
OO: “Ah!?”
We broke through the thick clouds and were suddenly in a rainstorm.
Fruys: “Ahahahaha! That feels so good.”
Fruys drifted around inside the rain cloud while getting soaked from the violent rain.
Fruys: “Right OO?”
He smiled, clearly having fun, as he turned to look at me.
I was unable to say anything in the face of this sudden turn of events…
Fruys: “…!”
Fruys took his eyes off me and pulled on me quite forcefully, taking us out of the rain cloud.
OO: “F…Fruys!?”
He didn’t even look back as I called out his name and just continued to pull me through the sky.
(What happened all of a sudden?)
We continued to fly through the air at that terrifying speed for a while when…-.
We alighted through a giant window into the castle.
OO: “Is this…?”
As we entered through the window, there was no greeting or invitation to come in, and I felt a bit uncomfortable.
Then a maid who had been preparing the room hastily rushed over to us.
Maid: “Goodness, Lord Fruys, and the Princess. Lord Fruys, were you playing around in the rain clouds again?”
Fruys: “Go ahead on into the bath. And… about your clothes.”
Fruys stopped there and his face suddenly turned red.
(Does that mean…!?)
Flustered, I looked down and saw that the rain had made my blouse transparent.
OO: “…!”
Fruys: “It’s alright, I didn’t see anything! I had my back to you the whole time.”
Fruys spoke quickly and vehemently as if creating an excuse.
The maid quickly wrapped me in a towel.
(Now that I think about it…)
After we’d come out of the rain cloud, I remembered Fruys having his back to me the entire time.
Fruys: “…sorry.”
He spoke with his head down and, acting like an adult, bowed deeply in apology.
Fruys: “Well, see ya.”
Softly…-.
Catching a small breeze, Fruys left out the window.
His retreating figure seemed embarrassed, and my chest gradually warmed up.
Ch. 3: A Morning of Songs and Strawberry Juice
The next morning…-.
In the soft rays of the sun, I slowly opened my eyes.
I felt the wind against my cheeks and was suddenly reminded of Fruys.
Maid: “Are you awake milady?”
The maid was carrying a tray with delicious-looking juice.
Maid: “It’s strawberry juice. Though I dare say tea would probably be better first thing in the morning. Lord Fruys is the one who told me to bring the juice.”
For some reason, the maid had a look of pity in her eyes.
Maid: “He believes that other people will like the things that he likes.”
OO: “I like strawberries.”
Maid: “Well, that’s good then.”
OO: “That sounds very like Fruys.”
Maid: “That’s because he’s quite innocent.”
I took the glass of strawberry juice and drank some.
OO: “It’s good.”
Maid: “By the way, did you have any plans with Lord Fruys today?”
OO: “No, not in particular.”
Maid: “That’s good. You see, the truth is that Lord Fruys is once more unaccounted for.”
OO: “What?”
(Once more…)
Maid: “Goodness. He’s always riding on the winds and flitting about here and there as he pleases.”
The maid spoke, exasperated, but she still smiled fondly.
(That kind of sounds nice.)
Without thinking, I smiled and…-.
Fruys: “Morning sleepyhead.”
Suddenly, Fruys’ smiling face peeked in through the window.
OO: “Good morning Fruys.”
As we exchanged greetings, I realized I was still wearing my dressing gown.
I set the strawberry juice on a side table and hastily pulled up the duvet cover.
Fruys: “Did you like the strawberry juice?”
Fruys asked his question, apparently not bothered at all by my current state.
OO: “Yes!”
Fruys: “Good. I’m glad.”
Fruys smiled in delight.
(Before that…!)
Embarrassed to be seen in my negligée, I pulled the duvet up even higher…-.
OO: “Ah…!”
I knocked over the glass that still had some juice left.
Fruys: “Aah, that was clumsy.”
And with that, Fruys made to fly off on the winds again.
OO: “Ah, wait…”
Maid: “Lord Fruys! It is almost time for your history lesson!”
Fruys: “I’ll do it after! The wind today is especially good.”
Without even looking back, Fruys gave a little wave of his hand.
Before long, he was seated at the highest point of the roof and started throwing out what looked like breadcrumbs to the birds.
(Fruys is singing.)
Fruys’ singing was intermixed with the chirping of the birds.
I leaned on the window ledge and absentmindedly watched the scene.
(Fruys really is like the wind…)
The breeze gently ruffled my hair.
I closed my eyes and picked up on the sweet and tangy fragrance of the strawberry juice.
Ch. 4: An Early Afternoon Breeze
Early afternoon…-.
I took a stroll around the castle, alone.
(Something smells good.)
In a section of the castle was a garden in full bloom, the flowers of all different colors and smelling sweet.
As I looked around, I spotted Fruys reading a book up in a tree.
OO: “Found you.”
Without thinking, I rushed over and called out.
Fruys: “OO.”
He lifted his eyes from the book and smiled at me.
OO: “What are you reading?”
Fruys: “It’s a secret. The books that young men read aren’t for the eyes of young ladies.”
Saying as much, Fruys closed the book.
But…-.
Fruys: “Ah!”
The book slipped from his hand and fell to the ground at my feet.
OO: “…?”
I picked it up and…-.
Fruys: “Ah! Don’t look!”
(It’s a picture book of cats…)
Fruys frantically flew down from the tree and took the book from my hand.
Fruys: “…did you see?”
(So cute.)
I ended up smiling without realizing.
OO: “I didn’t see anything, right?”
As I smiled, Fruys pouted with his lip stuck out and grabbed onto the wind.
OO: “A-ah…”
OO: “Wait, where are you going?”
Fruys: “I’m not telling you.”
Fruys appeared to be sulking.
OO: “Take me with you.”
Fruys: “Hmm…”
Fruys tilted his head slightly.
Fruys: “I’ll take you with me but… you might get tired again, alright?”
OO: “I’m fine!”
I answered immediately and Fruys tightly took my hand.
It was soft…-.
The wind wrapped around me, inviting me up into the sky.
…
……
Soon, we arrived in an urban area.
Looking down from the sky, I could see the people walking about the town as they smiled and waved when they saw Fruys.
OO: “You’re quite popular.”
Fruys: “Not really…”
Fruys blushed slightly, looking just a little happy.
Townsperson 1: “Lord Fruys, we have strawberry soda.”
A kind-looking older lady called out from a veranda where she was hanging laundry out to dry.
Fruys: “Really!? I want some. My throat is so dry.”
Townsperson 1: “Wait here for a moment.”
The older woman stopped hanging the laundry and went inside the house.
After a little while, she returned with two bottles of a lovely red liquid.
Townsperson 1: “Here you go. You should hurry and finish it, then go straight home.”
Fruys: “Wow, this is delicious. Thanks Miss Cissy.”
He hastily bowed his head to the woman, and I also promptly took a bottle of soda.
Fruys: “Hey, Miss Cissy, is your voice kind of hoarse? You should go to the doctor and tell them after this.”
Townsperson 1: “I’m just fine.”
Fruys: “Right right, later then.”
I drank the strawberry soda as I listened to their conversation.
(He acts as he pleases, but he’s kind…)
A warm feeling welled up inside my chest and I grinned.
(I understand how loved Fruys is.)
I looked down at our connected hands.