Ch. 1: Meeting Again on a Moonless Night
Kairi, Prince of the Ruined Country, Calavina…-.
He doesn’t allow people to get close, and seems to prefer solitude, but…-.
Kairi: “…”
(But what I see in his eyes when he looks at me…it’s like he’s remembering something really painful.)
I was always curious about the reason behind it, and had arrived in the town he had come to live in.
(The sun’s completely set, but is Kairi even in town?)
Alone, I walked down the back streets shrouded in darkness and mist. Feeling discouraged, I searched for Kairi.
OO: “Ah…!”
(Just now, someone turned around that corner.)
I hurriedly chased after the silhouette I had recognized…-.
OO: “Kairi!”
Kairi: “You even came here…you must not have much to do.”
For a long while, he looked over his shoulder at me with narrowed eyes, and I saw myself reflected there.
His cold words and gaze pierced through my heart.
OO: “I…-.”
Kairi: “… do you need something from me?”
(Why is it…I wanted to talk to him, but I can’t get anything out.)
Kairi: “…do you plan on standing there all night?”
Kairi muttered those words to me as he kept a watchful eye on the back alley that was completely consumed by darkness.
Ch. 2: Tumult on a Moonless Night
Kairi: “Even though you’re the Princess of Träumere, you shouldn’t be walking around alone at this time of night. This town is dangerous; it’s not safe for someone like you to be loitering around by yourself.”
OO: “Kairi, I…-.”
I had gathered myself together and opened my mouth again to speak, but then suddenly a shadow stood to block our way.
Kairi: “…speak of the devil.”
OO: “Eh?”
Kairi: “Get back.”
Kairi glanced at the boorish-looking man and sighed.
Seeing Kairi’s posture, I nodded.
Kairi: “Good.”
The air felt thick with grave uneasiness, and I reflexively touched Kairi’s arm…-.
Kairi: “Get off me. Do you even understand what’s going on?”
As Kairi moved in front of me as if to shield me, I heard him mutter a few words.
Kairi: “That’s why I didn’t want you involved.”
(Eh…what did he just say?)
The man gradually started to close the distance between himself and Kairi.
Kairi moved to oppose the man, keeping me in his sights.
Kairi: “You’re in the way. Hey, can you move?”
Big Man: “Is that any way to greet an old friend? Rude as ever aye Kairi?”
Kairi: “I never once thought of you as a friend.”
Big Man: “You sure got a big attitude.”
Kairi: “I think you’re the big one no? You’ve blocked all the light when you stepped in front of me.”
Big Man: “What’s your problem!? Better watch your mouth, bastard!”
The man quickly brought out a throwing knife he’d had hidden in his shirt as he spoke but…-.
Kairi: “You’re slow.”
Big Man: “What!?”
With a quick, fluid motion, Kairi drew out a small gun from his hip.
He skillfully avoided the throwing knife, then shot at the back of the man’s hand.
Big Man: “Tch…bastard, I’ll remember this!”
Saying it over his shoulder, the man took advantage of the darkness and slipped away.
Kairi: “I’ve heard that before.”
Shaking away the smoke still coming from the muzzle of the gun, Kairi stared after where the man had disappeared.
(What kind of relationship does Kairi have with that man?)
I wanted to ask, but seeing his cool expression left me at a loss for words.
Kairi: “You’ve been looking at me that way for a while; you got something you want to say?”
His words were severe, and the questions I had stuck in my throat.
Ch. 3: Overflowing Feelings
Kairi: “If it’s nothing, you better get back.”
OO: “Get back where…-?”
Kairi: “Your hotel for the night. That guy saw your face. You should get away from here quickly.”
OO: “Um…I just got here and was planning on looking for a hotel after.”
Kairi: “… … guess I’ve no choice.”
OO: “Eh?”
He snatched up my hand and began walking away with long strides.
OO: “Wh-where are we going?”
Kairi: “Until you find a hotel, I’m going to have bad dreams about you getting shot or hurt.”
(…is he worried about me?)
To Kairi, I…
OO: “Thank you for worrying about me.”
Kairi: “…whatever.”
He turned back to look at me for an instant.
His expression looked so pained, and it was almost as if he were looking straight through me at something else.
(Those eyes…again.)
OO: “Um, you don’t have to worry, I’ll be fine.”
Kairi: “Even if you say you’re fine, I’m not.”
I suddenly felt him tighten his grip on my hand.
OO: “…ow.”
Kairi: “…”
Kairi was surprised and practically shook my hand away.
Kairi: “Sorry. But…”
His eyes as he looked at me seemed to be mixed with pain.
Kairi: “Don’t talk to me too much. I want nothing to do with you.”
OO: “…”
After that, Kairi didn’t turn back to look at me.
(I wonder why his eyes were so full of concern when he looked at me.)
…
……
I was still feeling uneasy when at last we arrived at a hotel.
(The room has one bed and one sofa… I’m staying in the same room as a guy…?)
I felt my insides start to flutter, and I wondered if it was from nervousness.
OO: “I-I’ll take the sofa.”
Kairi: “It’s late, I’m going to bed.”
Kairi crossed his legs and stretched out on the sofa.
(Is he cold, or is he kind…I can’t figure Kairi out.)
After a little while…
I heard the sofa creak, and I sat up and turned to look at Kairi.
Kairi: “…”
Kairi was quietly looking out at the window.
His back was to me, long and straight, as if he was completely refusing to talk to me…-.
(When I see his face, my chest hurts…I wonder why.)
I…
He seemed so lonely as I watched him…
OO: “Kairi?”
Kairi: “You’re still up?”
OO: “Yes, I couldn’t sleep. You too?”
I was so incredibly curious about Kairi and his situation that I just stared at his back.
Then…
Kairi: “…”
Unexpectedly, my gaze lined up with Kairi’s reflected in the glass as he looked towards the window.
Kairi: “I said I didn’t want anything to do with you.”
OO: “Why…?”
I couldn’t figure out what to say beyond that.
Kairi: “…”
Kairi remained silent, and the only sound in the room was the ticking of the wall clock.
As if needing to hide even my breathing, I hugged my knees to my chest.
Kairi: “…I’m not interested in dealing with people.”
His answer was brief, but it felt like there was more to those muttered words.
Kairi: “This is your last warning. Don’t have anything to do with me.”
OO: “…”
With a disgusted look on his face, he once more lay out on the sofa.
…
……
I slept for a little while, then suddenly awoke again.
I looked around and noticed something was off.
OO: “Kairi’s gone…?”
I slipped out of the bed and went to leave the room when…-.
OO: “!?”
Mysterious Man: “Keep your trap shut woman.”
Someone reached their arm around from behind and covered my mouth.
(Who’s there!?)
Mysterious Man: “This’ll teach him a lesson.”
The uncanny voice made my spine stiffen.
At that time…-.
Kairi: “Get your hands off her.”
A gunshot accompanied the voice, and the man pushed on my shoulder so I was crouching.
Mysterious Man: “Damn, fall back!”
I had been unaware of the invasion, and at the man’s shout the shadows of several people disappeared out the window and into the darkness.
Kairi: “They ran away huh.”
OO: “Kairi, where did you go!? …!?”
Suddenly, Kairi pulled me into an embrace.
It felt like the action of a small child.
(Kairi…?)
Kairi: “I almost lost…another important person.”
(An important person?)
He was holding me so tightly it was almost painful, and I felt his body shaking slightly.
Kairi: “…!”
It wasn’t long before Kairi seemed to come to his senses and forcefully pushed me away.
Kairi: “…sorry.”
(I wonder why it feels like there’s this tremendous pressure on my chest.)
As that pain rested on my heart, I could only look at Kairi.
Ch. 4: That Which is Reflected in His Eyes
After that, I had accompanied Kairi to his usual hideout.
According to Kairi, it was possible that the men from the hotel could be in the area and might seek revenge.
Kairi: “OO, why are you still hanging around me?”
OO: “Well I…”
I could still feel the lingering sensation of the embrace from earlier, and I hadn’t been able to quiet my heart.
I took a breath and searched for the right words…
OO: “It’s because… I’m curious about how you look at me Kairi.”
Kairi: “Even if you get attacked because of me?”
OO: “…yes.”
I hesitated but nodded, and Kairi’s face grew strained.
Kairi: “I’m not the kind of guy you think I am. You know right? That I’m an assassin. And yet you still say you want to hang around me?”
OO: “…”
I couldn’t say anything, and Kairi suddenly looked away. A few seconds later, he opened up.
Kairi: “You already know, right? About my country. My country…was destroyed as a certain organization pulled the strings from behind the scenes. I was still a kid, so I didn’t really get it. But I’ve been told the ringleader was someone close to my father. However, that person totally vanished. My younger sister and I were the only ones to just barely get out of there alive…but in the end my sister was…”
OO: “…!”
He bit his lip at the painful memory, and I didn’t know what I could say to him.
Kairi: “That’s why I’ve been gathering information on the ones that killed my sister, so I can get my revenge. I entered the organization, and became an assassin.”
OO: “Then who were those men earlier?”
Kairi: “Pursuers from the organization. In the end I wasn’t able to get any information, and because I left, they sent those guys after me. That’s why I’m not a guy you can put your trust in. It’s unthinkable for me to trust people, and I don’t want to get involved with anyone. I don’t want what happened to my sister to happen again…”
OO: “…”
Kairi: “So when morning comes, you’re leaving this country. It’s dangerous to be with me.”
With a pale face, Kairi gave a lonely smile.
I couldn’t bear to look at that face…
OO: “Even so, I want to be with you.”
Those words tumbled out from my heart.
Kairi: “…are you serious?”
OO: “Even though you saved me?”
Kairi: “…”
Kairi seemed to be completely absorbed in something, and his eyes wavered.
But it only lasted an instant, then he shook his head and looked up.
OO: “…?”
Our gazes became intertwined.
I stared at Kairi, forgetting even to blink.
Kairi: “You…I’ve thought this ever since we met, but you’re similar to my little sister. That’s why…even though I tell myself I don’t want to associate with you, we end up together.”
He narrowed his eyes as if turning away from some bright light, and as I had thought, they were truly full of pain…
(I’m like his sister…? That’s why he always looks so pained when he looks at me. That’s why…he protects me.)
What he saw, reflected in those reddish brown eyes, wasn’t me.
Learning of Kairi’s true intentions was a little bit jarring.
Kairi: “…sorry, forget what I said.”
OO: “…”
After that, the conversation was sparse, and I eventually fell asleep.
…
……
(Nn…what’s that?)
As I dozed, I felt the gentle warmth of someone’s palm.
And then there was a ticklish sensation as fingers stroked my head, delicately, as if I were fragile…
Kairi: “Why do you so easily trust people…it’s absurd. Even now, you come to my place and are so at ease that you fall asleep like this…why…”
Those words that reached my ears with full of kindness, and reliability.