Ch. 5: In the Early Evening...
On the way back…-.
Fruys: “Ah~ Another day of playing around.”
Fruys stretched out our hands, still connected.
The wind carried with it the sensation of night as we made our way back to the castle.
(He says playing around… but I’m sure he went to go check on the people in the town too.)
Afterwards, Fruys had gone to a lot of different homes and talked to many of the townspeople.
OO: “Aren’t you tired?”
Fruys: “How could I be tired from playing?”
(…Fruys always says things like he’s putting on a tough act.)
I was filled with a sense of loving affection and squeezed his hand.
The evening sun shone and sparkled.
Ch. 6: On a Dizzying Morning
The next morning…-.
I was bathed in the white morning light as I walked through the forest behind the castle.
(I wonder if maybe I’ll be able to meet with Fruys again like I did yesterday.)
I suddenly felt a faint sense of expectation rise in my chest.
Then…-.
Fruys: “…you found me again.”
Suddenly there was a voice from above, and I looked up to see Fruys stretched out on the tree branches.
On top of Fruys’ stomach, I saw a small gray kitten purring loudly.
OO: “Found you.”
I smiled, happy that I had met up with him.
Fruys: “But we can’t do stuff today. I’m pretty busy.”
Saying as much, Fruys rode on the wind and flew off.
The kitten that was left behind meowed in displeasure.
(That seemed a little bit rude…)
Carrying a feeling of sadness, I started to trudge along.
Before long, I had left the forest behind and realized I was in the same flower garden I had been in the day before.
Fruys: “…again?”
OO: “Eh…!?”
From amidst the flowers, I heard a voice that almost sounded exasperated.
I looked in the direction the voice had come from and spotted Fruys, stretched out and hidden by the flowers.
OO: “Ah…”
(This time it was a coincidence though…)
I hurriedly turned my back to him but…
Fruys: “Well, it’s fine.”
Fruys let out a small sigh.
Fruys: “I saw when I was up in the sky earlier, that lonely expression on your face, and it kind of made me feel bad.”
OO: “Eh…”
He suddenly took my hands.
In the next moment, the wind instantly wrapped around me… and I found myself lying down on the soft flowers beside Fruys.
Fruys: “When did you come to like me that much?”
OO: “Eh…?’
From immediately beside me, Fruys smiled.
I felt my heart thud in my chest, and I could tell my cheeks were turning red.
(He’s right… I wonder when that happened.)
In surprise and embarrassment, I could only respond by blinking repeatedly.
Fruys smiled seeing me like that and gently called on the wind.
OO: “Ah…”
We were surrounded by a flower petal storm…-.
(Is he going to go? Wait…)
I wanted to say those words, but… for some reason I swallowed them back.
Fruys slowly reached his hand out towards me.
Fruys: “I’ll take you with me. Anywhere you want to go.”
OO: “Fruys…”
I slowly took his hand.
Then…-.
Fruys: “Come on, let’s go.”
The wind swept me away.
Within the dizzyingly beautiful swirl of flower petals…
(If I’m with Fruys, I can go anywhere…)
I quietly controlled my fluttering heart.
END
Secret Story: First Feelings
Sprawled out on the top branches of a tree, I stared blankly up at the sky.
(I wonder what I should do… Since yesterday I’ve only been able to think about OO.)
Fruys: “Haa~…”
I let out a deep sigh, as if trying to expel the uneasy feelings in my chest.
(And…)
Fruys: “Ow…”
(When I think about OO, it feelings like something is squeezing my heart. This feeling…)
Fruys: “Haa~…”
I thought about OO, letting out sighs and feeling that pain in my chest…
All I had been doing for some time was repeating that same cycle.
Cat: “Nya~”
The kitten napping on my chest looked up at me worriedly.
Fruys: “Are you worried about me? Thanks.”
(I know, let’s try thinking about something fun! If I think about something fun, I should stop sighing and my chest should stop hurting!)
I tried with all my might to think of something fun.
(Riding the wind with OO was fun… And she looked like she was really enjoying the strawberry soda when she drank it. OO…)
Fruys: “Wait, can I really only think about OO!?”
That squeezing pain came again to my heart.
Fruys: “Owowow…”
(But…)
With a weight on my chest, I looked up at the clear blue sky.
(The truth is I’ve realized what these feelings are. But if I’ve accepted them… I just have no idea how to face OO about it…!)
My cheeks gradually started to heat up, then…-.
(Ah…)
I spotted OO out for a walk.
Fruys: “…you found me again.”
OO: “Found you.”
The second I saw her break out into a grin, the pain and pressure on my chest increased even more.
(It hurts…)
Fruys: “But we can’t do stuff today. I’m pretty busy.”
Having no idea how to talk to her, I grabbed onto the wind without thinking and moved away from her.
(…I wonder if I was a little cold.)
Looking down from the sky, I saw OO with her head down in an expression of sadness…
Fruys: “…”
The wind, which was normally gentle, blew strongly as if angered.
Fruys: “Haa~”
As if running away, I arrived in the flower field and stretched out, looking up at the sky.
(OO looked so lonely…)
Fruys: “…aah, geez!”
(This is the first time I’ve felt these feelings, so I don’t know what to do!)
At that time…-.
Fruys: “Ah…”
I noticed OO coming closer and spoke up without thinking.
(Calm down…)
Still lying down, I calmed my heart and spoke to her as nonchalant as possible.
Fruys: “…again?”
OO: “Ah…”
OO looked towards me then turned to leave as if in a hurry…
Fruys: “Well, it’s fine.”
I called out to get her to stop.
(I’ve already accepted it…)
Fruys: “I saw when I was up in the sky earlier, that lonely expression on your face, and it kind of made me feel bad.”
(When you look lonely, it makes me sad. On the other hand, when you smile, it makes me happy. There’s only one way to explain these feelings… I like OO.)
The moment I accepted it, the pain in my chest weakened slightly.
(But I still don’t know how I should express these feelings to you. That’s why…)
Borrowing the power of the wind, I brought OO closer to me.
Fruys: “When did you come to like me that much?”
OO: “Eh…?’
(I hope you’ll forgive me for this being the only way I can approach it…)
The gentle wind caressed my cheek.
It felt like the wind was praising me, telling me I did my best.
END