Ch. 5: Pathetic Older Brother
Ichigo: “That’s… there was an avalanche and we got separated…”
Juri: “What did you say…!? Why didn’t you lead with that!? Which way!?”
Ichigo: “Th-that way…!”
Having found Ichigo in the snowy mountains, he pointed us in the directions of the brothers he’d been separated from.
Juri: “Ichigo, you head back the castle and let everyone know what happened!”
Ichigo: “Brother…”
Juri: “You can do that right? Ichigo… you have to tell everyone.”
Juri encouragingly put both of his hands on Ichigo’s shoulders.
Ichigo nodded firmly and headed in the direction of the castle…-.
We headed in the direction Ichigo had pointed and walked around for a while.
However, we didn’t see anything and Juri’s impatience was only growing.
Juri: “I’m the older brother, but I’m so pathetic… I had no idea my little brothers had become friends with a yeti kid.”
OO: “Maybe they thought you’d get mad at them if they told you…”
Juri: “That’s definitely possible. But I’m more worried than mad…”
Juri bit his lip.
Juri: “I had planned to take care of them as their kind older brother, but I couldn’t even do that…”
Juri gripped at his own bangs, his face twisted in pain.
Juri: “Are you scared of me too?”
OO: “Eh…?”
I looked to Juri at the sudden question…
Juri: “Tell me.”
His eyes flickered with loneliness, as if he were searching for something.
(Juri…?)
OO: “I don’t think that at all. And your brothers think you’re a wonderful and kind older brother.”
Juri: “You…”
Juri looked at me, his eyes pleading.
That expression was full of unease, more so than I could have imagined given his usual lively attitude.
(Juri…?)
As he reached his hand out for me…-.
The thud of huge footsteps made us turn our heads, and a man twice as tall as Juri was slowly headed our way.
In a second, Juri was on guard and hiding me behind his back.
Juri: “You…! Are you a yeti?”
Riding on the man’s shoulders was…”
Juri: “…! Lemon!”
Lemon: “Brother… I’m sorry…”
Behind the boy named Lemon, the other boys poked their faces out.
Juri: “You guys…!”
The yeti took the boys from his shoulders and carefully set them down.
Yeti: “I’m sorry for the trouble caused by my son using his unpracticed powers.”
Juri: “No, my brothers were in the wrong. I’m really sorry.”
Juri bowed deep in a formal bow of apology.
Yeti: “Don’t worry. The snow will stop soon…”
Leaving behind those words, the yeti’s footsteps thudded as he left.
Ch. 6: Being Doted On
Yeti: “I’m sorry for the trouble caused by my son using his unpracticed powers.”
Juri: “No, my brothers were in the wrong. I’m really sorry.”
Yeti: “Don’t worry. The snow will stop soon…”
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We had found Juri’s brothers and returned to the castle…-.
Juri’s Butler: “Lord Juri, Lady OO…! The princes and everyone are safe…!”
The people of the castle gathered around while they cheered.
Juri: “Sorry for worrying everyone! But we got these guys back safely, and settled the stuff with the blizzard, so everything will be fine!”
At Juri’s cheerful words, everyone’s unease changed to smiles.
Soldier 1: “Lord Juri really is the reliable one…!”
Soldier 2: “When I see Lord Juri smile, I can’t help thinking I don’t need to worry!”
I once more understood that Juri’s brightness was something that supported the people of the country.
While looking at his cheerful smile, I was suddenly reminded of what happened earlier.
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Juri: “I had planned to take care of them as their kind older brother, but I couldn’t even do that…”
————————
(That time… Juri looked so sad.)
Even now, I couldn’t feel a trace of the atmosphere that had settled around him then.
Juri: “I don’t think it’ll be a problem, but these kids spent a while up in the snowy mountains, so I’d like the doctor to check them out.”
Juri’s Butler: “Understood, sir.”
Lemon: “Brother… we’re really sorry… for worrying you…”
Juri: “It’s all good, so be sure to look after your brothers.”
Lemon: “Yeah…!”
The younger brothers left, accompanied by the butler, and Juri saw them off with a smile…-.
…
……
Juri: “Sorry, for totally dragging you into this.”
After we’d entered into a room, Juri frowned as he apologized.
OO: “It’s alright. I’m just glad everyone is safe. I imagine you’re tired, right Juri? You should drink something warm and…-.”
Juri: “No… I’m fine. Instead, could you just come here for a minute?”
OO: “? Sure…”
I did as he asked and sat beside him…
OO: “!”
Juri rested his head on my shoulder.
OO: “Juri…?”
Juri: “Aah… I was so scared…”
Juri let out a deep sigh of relief.
Juri: “If we hadn’t been able to find them… if they’d frozen to death, I don’t know what I would have done…”
Juri placed his hand on mine, and I could feel it shaking.
I fully realized from that trembling all the anxiety that Juri had been holding onto.
OO: “…Juri, you did really good.”
I tightly held his hand in both of mine.
OO: “It’s alright now…”
We snuggled close together, warming up our chilled bodies…-.
…
……
A few days after that…-.
The abnormal weather had completely cleared up, and the town that had experienced a sudden horrible snowstorm returned to its daily routine.
On the way back from checking things out…-.
Juri and I stopped by the beach.
The heat of everlasting summer had returned, and I listened to the calm sound of the waves.
Juri: “It’s all back to normal huh.”
OO: “It seems so.”
Juri: “I don’t want to go through that ever again.”
I suddenly looked beside me and met Juri’s anxiety-filled eyes.
Juri: “Hey, OO… there’s something I want to ask you.”
OO: “What is it?”
Then…-.
Juri hugged me tightly from behind.
OO: “J-Juri?”
I reflexively tried to turn around, but Juri’s arms around me held tight and I couldn’t move.
Juri: “…are you scared of me?”
OO: “…”
I looked down and slightly shook my head.
Juri: “Liar… you’re shaking.”
OO: “That’s because you’re acting so different Juri…”
Juri: “This is a part of who I am too…”
Juri buried his face in the back of my neck.
Juri: “OO, could you dote on me just a little…?”
Juri’s soft hair brushed against my cheeks and tickled.
OO: “Juri…”
Juri: “I’m the eldest son, so I always said I wouldn’t let anyone see my weak side, but…”
At those words, I remembered the reliable smile Juri had given when he stood in front of the people.
At the same time, this evening he was showing me this uneasy expression…
Juri: “When I met you, I knew how nice it could be to show someone my weak side… You’re the first.”
(Juri…)
The earnestness I sensed in his tone made my chest tighten, and I placed my hands over his arms as they crossed around me.
Juri: “I don’t want to let you go again.”
Juri placed his cheek against mine.
Juri: “Even if you say no.”
He was behaving like a child, yet the grip around me was strong…
The quiet seaside was dyed the color of evening, yet my heart pounded loudly in my chest.
END
Secret Story: Wrapped in Warmth
Within the violent blizzard, OO and I went to the yetis in search of my brothers…-.
(Ichigo, Lemon, Mizure… I wonder if everyone’s alright. This is bad… I’m super scared…)
My heart was crushed as I thought of never being able to see my brothers again.
(This is super bad… I’m supposed to be the reliable older brother.)
I tightly shut my eyes and prayed my brothers were safe…
OO: “Juri… I’m sure they’re alright.”
I turned towards the gentle voice and saw OO smiling at me, her cheeks red from the cold.
Juri: “Hey, are you alright?”
We had tightly linked our hands so that we wouldn’t become separated, and I asked her.
OO: “I’m fine.”
(She’s so strong… when we first met, all I thought about her was that she was totally cute.)
Right now… I knew that her being here was supporting me.
(I always had to go all out by myself as the eldest son… but I had no idea I’d be so grateful to have someone else supporting me…)
I believed that the warmth from our joined hands could never be stolen by the cold…-.
…
……
After that, we were able to safely find my brothers.
Juri: “Sorry, for totally dragging you into this.”
I apologized again to OO for bringing her along.
OO: “It’s alright. I’m just glad everyone is safe. I imagine you’re tired, right Juri? You should drink something warm and…-.”
Even now, OO was worried about me as she smiled at me.
(OO… you’re really nice. Even though I’m so useless…)
I felt a surge of exhaustion and collapsed onto the sofa.
Juri: “No… I’m fine. Instead, could you just come here for a minute?”
OO: “? Sure…”
She tilted her head slightly and sat beside me.
For whatever reason, the sound of her sinking into the sofa was really nice.
OO: “!”
I rested my head on OO’s shoulder.
OO: “Juri…?”
Juri: “Aah… I was so scared…”
The words I carried in my heart spilled out.
Juri: “If we hadn’t been able to find them… if they’d frozen to death, I don’t know what I would have done…”
I placed my left hand on OO’s right, and I couldn’t stop myself from shaking.
(I was so scared… I’m so glad we found them. And I’m really glad… she was with me.)
With my head down, I tightly grasped OO’s hand.
Then she grasped my trembling hand between both of hers…
OO: “…Juri, you did really good.”
She spoke as if she were trying to comfort me.
OO: “It’s alright now…”
Her hands where they touched mine were shockingly cold.
(…well obviously they would be. We were walking around in that blizzard that whole time. And yet I…)
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Juri: “I swear, I’ll protect you no matter what happens.”
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(I shouldn’t have gotten so full of myself…)
We moved closer together, sharing heat between our chilled bodies.
Juri: “Hey… OO.”
OO: “Juri…?”
Juri: “About you… and me…”
Even though I wanted to ask, my consciousness was drifting further…
Juri: “…”
Just like that, I fell into slumber.
(What do you think… about me? I know we haven’t really known each other for that long, but I… I’d be hopeless without your warmth…)
OO: “_______”
OO whispered something to me.
[Goodnight.]
Those words were ones I always said to my younger brothers…
Hearing that voice, I was aware… of how its kindness made me feel at ease from the bottom of my heart.
END