Ch. 5: Honest Feelings
Heading in the direction Ichigo had pointed, we could hear the voices of young children amidst the roar of the wind.
??: “…Brother…!”
OO: “Juri… that voice just now…!”
Juri: “Yeah, I heard it! That’s… Mizore’s voice!”
Juri and I looked around where we’d heard the voice, and we saw five figures trapped in a pit caused by the avalanche.
(Thank goodness! Everyone looks to be alright…!)
Juri: “Just hang on, I’ll get you out!”
As soon as he said it, Juri rushed to his brothers.
He pulled all of them up with his sturdy arms and hugged them all close.
Juri: “You idiots! You made me worry so much…!!”
Mizore: “Brother…”
I felt a sense of relief as I watched them…-.
Having safely helped his brothers, Juri was led by his brothers to the village of the yetis.
Juri: “I apologize for the actions of my little brothers.”
Juri bowed deeply in apology before the yetis, who stood twice as tall as him.
Yeti: “I had no idea my little brat of a son had anything to do with the children of the royal family. For this to have happened… I’m very sorry.”
As the yeti hung his head, Juri smiled brightly at him.
Juri: “I’m a bit ashamed to admit it, but I’m at fault too. Let’s both try and keep a closer eye on them.”
The yeti smiled a little as if understanding Juri’s sentiment.
Yeti: “Good grief… we’ll stop the snow immediately. Sorry for the trouble.”
And like that, it seemed the problem of Shariat’s abnormal weather was settled…-.
…
……
On the way back, with the snow stopped…-.
Mizore: “But I’m a little sad that we won’t be able to see the snow anymore…”
Juri: “…why you little.”
OO: “C-come on now, don’t say things like that.”
I frantically butted in before Juri could shout.
OO: “…your big brother Juri was really worried about all of you Mizore.”
Mizore: “Really?”
OO: “With the snow falling like it was today, your brother was sad thinking that something might have happened to you… You don’t want your big brother to be sad, right Mizore?”
Mizore: “Yeah… we don’t need the snow to fall if it means Brother Juri is sad!”
Mizore’s entire face broke into a smile…
Juri: “…kh.”
Juri’s shoulders were shaking, and he quickly turned away.
(Juri…)
I heard what sounded like a sniffle, and I naturally broke into a smile.
Anger, and deep emotions…. It was charming to me that Juri was someone who could express his feelings so honestly.
Ch. 6: Rainbow Shaved Ice
Having located Juri’s brothers, we all returned to the castle.
As the castle gates came into view, the shining morning sun peeked over the horizon.
…
……
Butler: “Lord Juri, Lady OO…! Everyone is safe…!”
Everyone in the castle was happy from the bottom of their hearts, but the brothers were still dejected and lacking any energy.
Juri: “Aaaaall of you understand, right? You get just how much you made everyone worry?”
Ichigo: “…yeah.”
(I think they’ve repented plenty… I want to cheer them up.)
OO: “Now then, why don’t you all give us a smile?”
Ichigo: “Princess… but we…”
OO: “This whole incident is already settled, so it’s alright. Right Juri?”
I turned to look at Juri, and he nodded with a smile.
Juri: “Yeah. You’re all properly sorry so there’s no need for you to be fretting over it anymore. I know! This afternoon, how about going to the beech and I’ll make us all some shaved ice!”
At Juri’s words, the faces of his brothers immediately brightened.
Mizore: “Shaved ice! I want to eat some right now Brother Juri!”
Juri: “No way! You guys didn’t sleep at all last night! First up is a nap! If you’re good and go sleep, the shaved ice will come after.”
Mizore: “Aww…”
Juri: “Those of you who aren’t asleep in ten seconds don’t get any shaved ice! Ooone, Twooo…”
The brothers screamed, still smiling, and ran to their own rooms at full speed.
Juri: “…geez. They’re such a handful. Also, thanks. You should rest up too.”
Juri patted my shoulder with his large hand.
I noticed his hand was chilled and had turned slightly red.
(He was out in the snow this entire time so he could save his brothers…)
OO: “You too Juri. You should rest a bit. But first you should warm up…”
Juri: “Nah, I’m fine. You’re…”
OO: “No! Your skin has turned red…”
I took Juri’s hand and stared at him, and he smiled as if embarrassed.
Juri: “Fine… then I will. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone looking out for me. It makes me kinda happy.”
OO: “…!”
Juri’s smile was like the sun, and I felt my cheeks turn red.
Juri: “Hm? Hey, you’re red too. Did you get a cold!?”
Juri put his hand to my forehead, and I went even redder.
OO: “I-I’m fine.”
Juri: “But you feel a bit warm? And your cheeks are…-.”
OO: “I said I’m fine…!”
Juri: “R-really? Well don’t push yourself.”
I reflexively looked down in embarrassment.
My heart was pounding in my chest…-.
…
……
That afternoon…-.
Just as Juri had promised, he brought his brothers along to the beach and started making shaved ice.
Seeing that, the people of the town had gathered as well and Juri was handing out cone after cone of shaved ice.
(It became so busy in the blink of an eye. And everyone’s grinning and looking so happy.)
The people surrounded Juri and his brothers in friendly conversation.
Juri and his brothers were royal, but I could tell how much the people loved them, and I felt myself filled with warmth as well.
Ichigo: “You eat some shaved ice too Princess! I’ll go get you some!!”
OO: “Yeah, could I ask you to do that?”
Mizore: “Brother Ichigo, no fair! I wanted to get some for the princess!!”
Ichigo: “Mizore, you’d probably fall and drop it though.”
Juri: “Heeeey now, move it move it!”
Shaved ice in hand, Juri was headed towards us with a bright smile on his face as he pushed his way through his brothers.
Juri: “Time to switch. All of you go make the shaved ice together.”
Ichigo and his brothers replied immediately and ran off, clearly happy to work on making the shaved ice.
Juri: “And this is for you! It’s the Special Rainbow Shaved Ice!”
OO: “Wow!”
I gratefully accepted the seven-colored shaved ice that Juri handed to me.
The spoon crunched into the ice, and I tossed the brilliantly colored ice into my mouth…
OO: “…it’s so cold! But it’s so good!”
The sweet and sour flavors danced inside my mouth.
The multi-colored ice changed into different flavors in my mouth, just like all the different expressions I had seen from Juri…
(It really is delicious; I feel like I could eat a whole bunch of it.)
I happily filled myself with shaved ice, and Juri watched me with a delighted smile.
Juri: “Haha. You’re pretty cute!”
Juri bent over as he spoke and ruffled my hair.
OO: “Juri…!”
(D-does he think I look like a kid…?)
I felt my cheeks turn red in embarrassment.
Juri: “Hehe… Thanks to you, everything was taken care of with no problems.”
Seeing that smile, it seemed so much more kind and gentle than any of the other expressions I’d seen from him…
Juri: “They’re pretty taken with you too… come and hang out again some time. But above all, I’d like to see you again…”
Juri’s face came in close and he lightly kissed me on the cheek.
At that soft sensation, my heart started pounding uncontrollably as I nodded deeply.
END
Secret Story: Shaved Ice the Color of Love
We were safely able to find my brothers, and after that…-.
(Alright, I’m going to put my all into making this!)
I’d brought my brothers and OO to the beach and worked hard to make them shaved ice.
The people of Shariat had noticed as well, and the place was bustling.
Juri: “Alright! Order up!!”
Townsperson 1: “Thank you so much Lord Juri!”
Townsperson 2: “We had no idea what would become of us but… as expected of Lord Juri!”
As I handed shaved ice out to everyone, I glanced over at OO.
Juri: “…it wasn’t me; it was thanks to her.”
(Because she was with me, I was able to find my brothers. And… she made me realize how crazy happy it makes me when someone takes care of me.)
Then…
Townsperson 1: “To think the Princess of Traumere is your sweetheart Lord Juri!”
(Huh?)
Townsperson 2: “We’re so happy for you! And I gather your brothers are also extremely happy!”
Juri: “W-wait a second! It’s not like that yet…-.”
I frantically denied it and was immediately surprised at my own words.
(I said ‘yet’…why did I do that?)
OO was a little way off, and she was smiling as she looked at me and my brothers.
Juri: “Hey, OO, come here…-.”
As soon as I called out to her…
Ichigo: “You eat some shaved ice too Princess! I’ll go get you some!!”
(Wha…!)
My brothers started to crowd around OO.
OO: “Yeah, could I ask you to do that?”
Mizore: “Brother Ichigo, no fair! I wanted to get some for the princess!!”
Ichigo: “Mizore, you’d probably fall and drop it though.”
(Those guys… they’re all totally attached to her.)
While I thought it was charming…
Juri: “Heeeey now, move it move it!”
I forced my way between OO and my brothers.
(I’m… not being very mature about this. But…)
Juri: “Time to switch. All of you go make the shaved ice together.”
I wondered if they were happy to be making the shaved ice or just feeling triumphant, but they ran off in the direction of the shaved ice maker.
(Now then…)
Juri: “And this is for you! It’s the Special Rainbow Shaved Ice!”
I handed the seven-colored shaved ice I had just made to OO.
OO: “Wow!”
She raised her voice in delight and immediately put some in her mouth.
OO: “…it’s so cold! But it’s so good!”
Seeing her face break into a wide smile, she filled herself with the shaved ice I had made.
(Ah…)
As I saw her like that, my heart started pounding for just a moment.
(What’s this feeling?)
I couldn’t stand it, so I put my hand on OO’s head.
Juri: “Haha. You’re pretty cute!”
(If it were my brothers, they’re super cute. But it’s a different kind of ‘cute’ than what I feel for OO.)
OO: “Juri…!”
Her face quickly turned red.
(That face is cute too.)
Juri: “Hehe… Thanks to you, everything was taken care of with no problems. They’re pretty taken with you too… come and hang out again some time. But above all, I’d like to see you again…”
I was straight forward and told OO my overflowing feelings straight to her face.
(I can’t stand it…)
I gave her a soft kiss, and for a moment she just blinked at me… then she nodded firmly.
(Hehe… I’m happy.)
As I felt the strong pounding of my heart in my chest, I held onto that single belief.
(Aah, there’s no helping it. Looks like I’ve totally fallen in love with her…)
On the other side, my brothers were giving their all to making shaved ice.
I pretended to watch them, turning my reddened face away from OO.
END