Ch. 1: I Wanted to See You!
Land of Stars, Canis, Month of Color…-.
One clear sunny morning, I stepped out of the inn I had stayed at for the night…
??: “Ah—! I finally found you!!”
OO: “Eh?”
I heard a voice in the distance, out of breath but excited.
I caught sight of a small figure in the corner of my vision, running straight for me.
Procyon: “I’m gonna thank the person who saved me!”
OO: “!!”
In the next instant, that little shadow flew at me with force.
OO: “Uuuh…”
(This energy, those big eyes, and most of all that fluffy tail…)
OO: “…Procyon!?”
Procyon: “Ehehe, yeah you remembered! Yay!!”
A smile bloomed on his face and Procyon pressed his face to my hand.
(Procyon… is a prince of the Land of Stars.)
OO: “Why are you here?”
The town we were in was a fair distance from the castle Procyon lived in.
Procyon: “Mmm… well, you know, I followed the smell here!”
His nose twitched as if to confirm my scent then Procyon looked up at me.
Those eyes were as big and bright as the sun.
Procyon: “OO really does smell nice. So you’re a good person! You’re a super duper good person!!”
The declaration burst out of him, then he wrapped his little arms around my waist and clung to me once more.
Procyon: “Right? So you’re gonna come to my house OO! I’ll thank you a whole lot!”
His voice was so young and sweet, and the affection he expressed was like that of a puppy…
OO: “Thank you Procyon.”
My heart warmed as I smiled and nodded to him.
Ch. 2: I'm a Big Brother
After meeting up with Procyon, I was invited to visit his castle in Canis.
Procyon: “And then, and then, this is my room and then if you go straight that way you go out into the garden! Um, and then there’s a field outside the castle and there are a bunch of flowers there.”
Procyon ran all over the place, pulling me along by the hand.
OO: “W-wait Procyon.”
Procyon: “Hurry hurry! I’ve been waiting this whole time to see you again OO!”
Procyon shyly pulled on my arm.
The way his cheeks turned slightly pink was just too innocent…
Procyon: “Hey, since you’re here, let’s go into the garden!”
OO: “Alright.”
I answered and Procyon pulled away from me and took off at a run.
But…-.
Procyon: “…waah! Owie…”
OO: “A-are you alright?”
Procyon had rounded the corner of the hall at full speed and crashed into someone.
Procyon’s Father: “Now now, that’s dangerous Procyon.”
Procyon: “Ah, Father!”
(His father…!?)
He picked up Procyon, who had fallen on his back, and smiled kindly at him.
Procyon’s Father: “You’re a big brother now, so you need to settle down a little.”
Procyon: “…kay.”
Procyon’s ears drooped and he hung his head slightly.
(Big brother…?)
OO: “Procyon, you have a little brother?”
Procyon: “…yeah.”
Procyon’s Father: “Oh my, Princess of Traumere. Welcome to our castle. Actually, it was just a few days ago that his little brother was born. The castle is a bit busy at the moment, but please take your time and enjoy your stay.”
Procyon’s father seemed like a good person as he smiled at me, then he disappeared back into the castle.
However…
Procyon: “…”
(Huh? He was so lively just a moment ago…)
OO: “What’s wrong?”
Procyon: “…n-nothing. Cause I’m a big brother.”
He shook his head and looked to where his father had gone with big, round eyes.
OO: “So you’re a big brother Procyon?”
Procyon: “Yeah… my little brother is still really little so I have to do my best…”
He tightly held onto the hem of my clothes and his shoulders dropped.
Procyon: “But after my baby brother was born, everyone…-.”
Procyon clung to me and nuzzled against me.
(I see, everyone is busy taking care of his little brother…)
Procyon: “…”
OO: “Hey, Procyon. Come play with me.”
I offered him the invitation, unable to stand him looking so sad…
Procyon: “…okay!! Yaaaay—!”
His expression immediately brightened.
(Good.)
After that, we went to the garden and Procyon was back to his energetic self as he became completely absorbed in playing.
Ch. 3: A Brother's Duty
The next morning…
I left the guest room and saw someone standing ahead of me in the hallway.
(Ah, it’s Procyon.)
I went to call out to him but saw a woman who looked like a wet nurse beside him, pushing a stroller.
(Who is that…?)
Procyon hesitated around the stroller, but peered into it with great interest.
Procyon: “Ah, this smell… *sniff sniff*… OO!”
Procyon noticed me and came running over.
OO: “Morning. Were you with your little brother today?”
Procyon: “Yeah, um, since Mother is sick, and asked me to help take care of my little brother!”
The woman pushing the stroller beamed a gentle smile.
Wet Nurse: “The madam’s health has deteriorated since giving birth, so Procyon came to visit her yesterday.”
Procyon: “Hey, I did good right?”
Procyon was so proud as he puffed out his chest, looking like a proper older brother.
He was being so sweet…
OO: “You’re doing your best, right?”
Procyon: “…yeah! Cause that’s my duty.”
OO: “That was very cool of you.”
Procyon: “Yeah, Mother asked me to help! So I’ll do my best!”
OO: “Your mother has high hopes for you and you want to live up to her expectations, right?”
Procyon: “Yeah, I want Mother to look at me. So, I can’t be sad! Ah, hey! OO, come with us to sit in the sun.”
OO: “Alright, the weather is nice today.”
With a friendly smile, Procyon grabbed my arm.
However, his eyes were fixed on attentively watching over his little brother in the stroller…
…
……
A pleasant breeze blew across the field that spread outside the castle, and a variety of flowers were in full bloom.
The wet nurse set Procyon’s little brother down on the grass and I sat nearby with Procyon sitting on his knees.
Procyon: “Ehehe, the sun’s nice and warm, I love it!”
OO: “Yeah… it feels nice, and it smells nice out here too.”
Procyon: “Um, you know, the smell is those flowers, and Mother loves those flowers.”
Procyon happily pointed to the white flowers blooming everywhere.
They were lovely little daisies…
OO: “Then should we pick some flowers and bring them to your mother?”
Procyon: “For Mother?”
Procyon looked at me, puzzled.
OO: “That’s right. I’m sure she’ll be happy if you give them to her the next time you go visit.”
Procyon: “…”
I watched him as he seemed to be thinking about something…
Procyon: “Then… I wonder if Mother will smile at me. Not at my brother…”
(Procyon?)
Procyon hung his head in sadness, and I reached out my hand to him…
Procyon: “…I want to see Mother smile.”
Procyon got up and reseated himself near me as we started to pick the flowers.
(I thought he was upset but… he seems alright.)
Procyon: “…wow, this one smells good, like honey! This is for you OO.”
OO: “Eh?”
I stopped picking flowers and turned towards his voice, and his little hand held one of the flowers we’d just been picking which he placed in my hair.
Procyon: “Cause the flower is really cute… just like OO…”
He fidgeted bashfully as he looked up at me with those big eyes…
OO: “Here’s one for you too Procyon.”
Procyon: “Wow…”
Just like he had done, I carefully placed the white flower in his soft, fluffy hair.
Procyon: “Ehehe, it tickles… but I’m happy that we match.”
Procyon touched the flower on his head and his cheeks took on a rosy hue.
OO: “…thank you.”
He grinned up at me…
Procyon: “Um, you know…”
OO: “!?”
Procyon placed a small kiss on my cheek.
(D-did he just kiss me…?)
Procyon: “Hehe, Mother told me, you know, that you do that when you like someone.”
In the face of that cute smile, I smiled back.
At that moment…-.
Procyon’s eyes suddenly went wide in shock.
Procyon: “Ah, no!!”
At the same time as he shouted, his little body shot off like an arrow.
Ch. 4: I Was Lonely...
Procyon: “Ah, no!!”
Procyon’s little body shot off like an arrow…-.
I looked after him and saw Procyon was headed for his little brother.
In the second the wet nurse had taken her eyes off him, the baby had grabbed a bright red fruit that was growing in the field and brought it to his mouth.
Procyon: “No! I said no!!”
Baby: “Aah-… waaa-!”
The baby wouldn’t let go and Procyon frantically shook the poisonous-looking fruit from the baby’s hand.
Procyon: “Are you okay? Did you eat it!?”
Baby: “Aah-…uu-…fue…”
Before our eyes, large tears started to fall from the baby’s eyes.
Then…
Baby: “UWAAAAAaaaaa!”
He started screaming and crying.
Procyon: “…wh-what do I do!? Mother asked me to help… but I… but you can’t eat this fruit. Stop it stop it stop it! Don’t die!!”
OO: “Procyon!?”
I frantically rushed over, recognizing this was actually a big deal.
Wet Nurse: “Ah… aaah…-.”
The wet nurse stood there frozen in front of the baby, her face going white.
Large tears were now falling from both the baby and Procyon.
Procyon: “Uweee, I’m sorry, I’m sorry for thinking something bad! I was just lonely cause no one was paying attention to me anymore so I’m sorry for wishing you were gone! I won’t think those bad things again, so don’t die, uwaaaa.”
(Procyon…)
———————————
Procyon: “But after my baby brother was born, everyone…-.”
Procyon: “Then… I wonder if Mother will smile at me. Not at my brother…”
———————————
I…
I looked carefully at the baby’s mouth and his hands that were stained red.
OO: “Procyon! It’s alright.”
Procyon: “…eh?”
OO: “Come on now, you’re the big brother so you can’t cry. In times like this, you have to keep it together.”
Procyon: “B-but, but…!”
OO: “Here, look. There’s nothing on his mouth, so he hadn’t eaten it yet.”
I spoke to Procyon as I stroked the baby’s head, and Procyon looked at me with wide eyes.
Procyon: “…really?”
OO: “Yes, it’s alright.”
The frozen nurse moved, frantically picking up the baby and checking him.
Wet Nurse: “Yes, he’s alright Young Master. It doesn’t look like he got any in his mouth.”
I felt a wave of relief and pulled Procyon in close, his face contorted from the intense crying.
Procyon: “Yeah… I’m so glad OO…. I-I… I was really sad… b-but I would have been even more sad if my little brother had died… uwaaaa…”
I held Procyon as he started crying loudly again.
It was like he was getting out all of the feelings that he’d been holding inside until then…
OO: “Yeah, it’s alright… it’s alright Procyon.”
(Even though he wanted to be held like this, he’s been holding back ever since his little brother was born… he really is a splendid older brother…)
I continued to gently stroke his trembling back until he stopped crying.