Ch. 1: What Hinata Wants
Country of Fairbelk in the Land of Toys, Month of Color…-.
In this country where the weather was fair, and a moderate rain fell, the people were full of energy and their excited voices filled the air.
(Everyone looks so happy.)
I had arrived in Hinata’s country after receiving an invitation from him.
After we had walked through the normal-looking town, Hinata took me to a small hill on the outskirts.
Hinata: “OO-chan…what do you think? Do you like this hill?”
OO: “Yeah, it has a great view.”
Hinata: “This is my favorite spot♪ I wanted to show it to you.”
Hinata’s large eyes sparkled as he smiled proudly.
OO: “Thanks Hinata.”
Hinata: “Hey hey, OO-chan, is there anything you want right now?”
OO: “Eh? Something I want?”
Hinata: “Tell me anything. I can grant you a~nything you want!”
He said it so innocently as he looked deep into my eyes.
OO: “Wh-what do you mean…grant?”
Hinata: “We~ll, whenever I think I want something, I get it. Like this country~, taking care of the castle ~a nice family~ and the servants~! There’s nothing I can’t get♪”
I found myself slightly bewildered as he said it all so casually.
OO: “…you’re amazing Hinata.”
Hinata: “You think so? Isn’t it easy? I’ve got lots of money, so I can just buy whatever I want right away, see?”
OO: “O-oh…I see.”
Hinata: “And then, you know…the thing I want most now is you♪”
OO: “…eh?”
Hinata: “Now, I wonder how I should get you~♪”
Hinata smiled at me all innocent, then whistled as he walked down the hill.
At that time, I couldn’t fully comprehend what Hinata had said.
Ch. 2: What Do You Want?
Hinata: “And then, you know…the thing I want most now is you♪Now, I wonder how I should get you~♪”
The day after that conversation with Hinata on the hill…-.
In the garden where small birds sang their lovely song, the sunlight and a light rain fell on the different colored flowers.
(This garden is incredibly beautiful.)
As I ate breakfast in the shade of a tree, I looked out at the garden’s beauty.
Hinata: “Hey OO-chan, do you like this garden? Want me to give it to you?”
Hinata had come out of the castle and sat next to me.
OO: “What!?”
Hinata: “Well, you look really happy looking at the garden. Nn~but I don’t think the garden is enough…ok, I’ll give you the whole castle then! You’re the Princess of Traumere after all! You should do whateeever you want!”
(Th-the castle!? Does that seem like a normal thing to give someone to Hinata?)
Hinata: “Hey hey, what do you say? If that’s still not enough I can give you the maids too…-“
OO: “W-wait! Your offer makes me happy …thank you. But the gesture itself is enough for me.”
Hinata: “Eeeh-!? Why!?”
OO: “W-wait! Your offer makes me happy, but I can’t take your castle.”
Hinata: “You can’t take it? What do you mean? Don’t you want it??”
Hinata: “You don’t want a present from me?”
Hinata started to pout…but only for a moment.
OO: “That’s not it…but still, I can’t accept the castle or the garden.”
Hinata: “But I said you can, so take it. Momo-chan says so too!”
OO: “Momo…-chan?”
Saying so, Hinata held out the stuffed animal he always carried with him and nodded with a smile.
(Huh?)
At that moment, I noticed some fraying on the stuffed animal’s ear.
OO: “Hinata, is that Momo-chan? His ear looks a little frayed.”
Hinata: “Hm? Aa, yeah. I dropped him a little bit ago, and his ear got hurt. I know I need to hurry and buy a new one, but I kinda don’t want to…”
OO: “Can’t you have a maid fix him?”
Hinata: “…fix him? What do you mean? You mean not buy a new one??”
Hinata’s eyes went big as he tilted his head and looked at me.
OO: “Hinata, can I just borrow Momo-chan for a little bit? We should be able to fix him.”
Hinata: “Really!? OO-chan, you can fix Momo-chan!?”
OO: “Yup. I’ll have to borrow him for a little bit though, ok?”
Hinata: “OK, I don’t mind as long as it’s you OO-chan! Oh yeah! Can I watch while you fix him?”
OO: “Yeah, of course.”
Hinata looked up at me in delight and handed me the stuffed animal.
Then, I borrowed some sewing tools and headed to a maid’s room along with Hinata.
Fixing the stuffed animal…Hinata seemed incredibly interested in such a little thing.
Ch. 3: What is to be Treasured
After that…
I had borrowed some sewing tools and was using a maid’s room, and fixed the fraying on Momo-chan’s ear.
OO: “There, he’s all done Hinata.”
Hinata: “Thank you OO-chan! You can’t even tell he’s been fixed! That’s amazing, he’s perfect!”
OO: “I’m not very good at sewing…so I’m sorry if it comes apart again.”
Hinata: “No way, it’s great! I’d almost give up hope… yaay~ Momo-chan’s happy too!”
Hinata excitedly held Momo-chan up in his arms.
(I’m glad he’s happy.)
Hinata: “Oh yeah, I had no idea…that there was a way you could fix things. Whenever things got broke before, I’d just go buy a new one.”
Hinata brought his face close to Momo-chan, then hugged him tightly.
Hinata: “But I didn’t want to let go of this Momo-chan… he’s been with me ever since I was little. And that’s why I didn’t like seeing other kids buy new ones… But being able to be with my Momo-chan again, it’s like…I’m super happy!”
OO: “Hinata…”
OO: “Momo-chan is really important to you isn’t he.”
Hinata: “Important…? Is that what my feelings are…for Momo-chan?”
OO: “That’s a nice expression Hinata.”
Hinata: “Really…?”
Hinata looked away, slightly embarrassed.
OO: “Yeah, because of how precious Momo-chan is to you. I think it’s better that you always treasure him rather than buy a replacement.”
My words made Hinata put his finger to his temple and tilt his head.
Hinata: “OO-chan, there’s… this weird feeling I’ve never felt before…it’s growing little by little. What…is it?”
I watched Hinata and Momo-chan as he pondered, and a single doubt crept into my mind.
(But…this Momo-chan looks like he’s been repaired a few times. Does Hinata not know what?)
Hinata: “Hmm~”
I thought to ask, but hesitated to say anything as Hinata was clearly wrapped in thought.
OO: “Hey Hinata.”
Hinata: “?”
OO: “Your Momo-chan…-“
At that moment…-.
There was a knock at the door, and Hinata’s mother the queen appeared in the doorway.
Queen: “Hinata.”
Hinata: “Mother! Is something wrong?”
Queen: “I heard you had been awakened so I came to see you.”
Hinata: “She did it! Her name’s OO-chan!”
Hinata’s eyes sparkled as he introduced me to his mother.
Queen: “Thank you so very much for saving Hinata.”
OO: “Oh it was nothing…”
Queen: “Hinata, don’t keep her up too late.”
Hinata: “Of course Mother! Because OO-chan is precious…Hm? Precious…? This feeling…is cause I think she’s precious?”
Hinata put his hand to his mouth, and once again started to seriously think about something.
Queen: “…OO, please take care of my unreliable son.”
OO: “Y-yes!”
The queen smiled kindly at us, then left the room with a courteous bow.
Hinata: “Do I want her…because she’s precious? I always want her here…?”
Though the queen had left, Hinata was still mumbling to himself about something.
(…that reminds me.)
OO: “Hinata…that was your mother right?”
(I’m pretty sure he said before he was the only one in the castle.)
Hinata: “Yeah, but she’s not my real mom.”
OO: “…eh?”
Hinata: “Huh? Didn’t I tell you? When my family left, I got a new one.”
(He got…a new one?)
Hinata: “I pay everyone with money, you know?”
OO: “What…does that mean?”
Hinata: “What-I-mean is just what I said! My family got sick and everyone died. But when I said I wanted one, a replacement family came right away.”
Hinata said it like it was nothing, and I couldn’t hide my confusion.
Hinata: “I already told you. Even something like a family…there’s nothing I can’t get. And…you’re the thing I want most now.”
I was caught in Hinata’s eyes as they wavered ominously, and I nearly forgot to breath.
Ch. 4: And What You Want Is?
Hinata: “I already told you. Even something like a family…there’s nothing I can’t get. And…you’re the thing I want most now.”
I couldn’t get his words out of my head.
(I can’t sleep…maybe the night air will help.)
The castle’s courtyard was wrapped in the pale moonlight.
And what that light fell upon was…
OO: “Your Majesty…?”
Queen: “Lady OO…what is the matter, coming here so late at night.”
OO: “…I couldn’t sleep.”
——————–
Hinata: “My family got sick and everyone died. But when I said I wanted one, a replacement family came right away.”
——————–
(I wonder if I can ask about what he said.)
(But…I don’t know the circumstances, and it might be rude.)
I kept silent, and the queen spoke gently as if she knew what was on my mind.
Queen: “…it’s about Hinata I assume.”
OO: “Um, about Hinata’s real family…”
Queen: “So he told you.”
The queen started to speak, her voice full of sadness.
Queen: “Hinata’s real family died when he was little during an epidemic…Hinata was all alone, and every day…he’d cry about how he wanted to see his family. They all took such pity on him, the retainers and his relatives, so they called on me, one of his distant relatives, to step in as his mother.”
(So…that’s what happened.)
Queen: “Even if it was only a little, I tried to be like his mother. I acted like a queen, and so as not to disappoint Hinata, I would buy him anything he said he wanted.”
The queen stopped there and took a breath.
Queen: “The stuffed animal that he’s always carrying with him…that was a present from his real mother.”
OO: “Then, the repairs to it…”
Queen: “Yes. Long ago, his real mother did it…but I don’t think he remembers. When I would see that boy …I would feel almost as if he was missing some important emotion…but I think after he met you, Hinata has started to change a little. This is a selfish request…but please look after him.”
I felt a pressure on my heart as I heard of Hinata’s past from the queen…-.
The next day…-.
Hinata took me once again into the village.
Hinata: “Hey OO-chan, what kind of clothes do you like? What about food? What kind of house do you want to live in? If you tell me, I’ll get it and give it to you!”
(Hinata…)
Hinata: “If you don’t know, I’ll buy you something in a store!”
Hinata took me in shop after shop until my eyes were spinning.
Hinata: “Hey hey, let’s go over there!”
(Hinata…looks like he’s having fun.)
I found myself smiling as Hinata pulled me after him.
Hinata: “Why are you smiling?”
OO: “Oh, it’s nothing.”
(When Hinata smiles, I feel happy too.)
Hinata: “Hmmm? Well, whatever!”
Then after we’d spent some time going around the town…-.
The two of us were taking a break on Hinata’s favorite hill.
Below the evening sky, the lights in the town started to come on one by one.
OO: “This breeze feels nice.”
Hinata: “Hey…why didn’t you want anything?”
OO: “Eh?”
Hinata asked me that all of a sudden, and his voice was a little pouty.
Hinata: “Before you said there wasn’t anything you wanted, and even when I said I’d buy you something in a shop, you said you didn’t want anything. I wouldn’t mind giving you the whole village, but you won’t tell me what you want. Why!? Why isn’t there anything you want?”
Hinata’s tone got more forceful.
Hinata: “If I give you something…then OO-chan will become mine right!?”
(Hinata?)
I couldn’t say anything as Hinata spoke so vehemently.
Hinata: “Geee~~z! This is so irritating!! You’re not anything like what I expected…! This is the first time!”
OO: “I…I’m sorry.”
Hinata: “Why are you apologizing? Am…I being a bother?”
OO: “Th-that’s not…”
Hinata: “But you won’t tell me what you want. That means, you don’t need me!”
Hinata angrily shook off my hand, then ran down the hill.
OO: “Hinata!”
(What do I do, I hurt his feelings.)
The wind blew across the tranquil hillside.
I stood there dumbfounded, and all I could do was watch as Hinata got further and further away.