Ch. 5: A Distance That Won't Shrink
When I opened the door, I could do nothing more than blink at what I saw.
OO: “Wow…”
An assortment of flowers, plus a lot of fruits and sweets, were lined up against the wall.
OO: “Could this be…”
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Rufen: “I’ll bring you something different. What do you like? Do you want something sweet like a cake?”
Rufen: “And then what? What else do you like?”
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OO: “Our conversation back then… he brought all these things I would like…”
Rufen: “You’re awake?”
OO: “Rufen, is all this stuff in front of the door…?”
But my question was cut off…
Rufen: “Sorry.”
His voice was low and quiet as he looked away from me.
(I wonder what’s going on… Rufen doesn’t seem very energetic…)
OO: “Rufen, what’s wrong?”
I peered into his face and took a step closer.
But at the same time, he took a step back from me.
(Eh…?)
As I tried to move closer again, he moved back again.
OO: “Rufen?”
OO: “Ah…um… s-see ya!”
Rufen ran off as if trying to escape my gaze.
(I wonder what’s wrong…? I mean, just the other day…)
The sunlight streamed in over the place where Rufen had just been.
Ch. 6: His Voice and Mine
Rufen: “S-see ya!”
Rufen ran off in a hurry as if trying to avoid me.
(Rufen… I wonder what’s going on. Did I do something…? His voice was so quiet, not like Rufen at all.)
I felt a painfully intense loneliness fill my heart.
OO: “Wait…!”
Before I realized it, I was chasing after Rufen.
…
……
(Where did Rufen go…?)
I looked around, trying to find Rufen, when…
In the garden, I spotted him trudging along.
OO: “Rufen!”
Rufen: “OO!?”
He looked at me in wonder, as if surprised I had chased after him.
Rufen: “W-why…!?”
I took a step forward, and as expected, Rufen took a step back.
Rufen: “Um…ah, I’ve got things to do…”
Rufen started to rush off, as if trying to run from me.
But I grabbed his arm.
Rufen: “Eeek!?”
OO: “Why are you running from me?”
Rufen: “I-I’m not running…”
OO: “Did I do something wrong…?”
Rufen took a breath as it to steady himself, then timidly placed a hand on a chair that sat at the center of the garden.
Rufen: “…I lied. I… was running away.”
OO: “Why?”
Rufen: “I talked to my brother while you were sleeping. I asked him how I should patch things up with you. But… he told me a bunch of things… and I didn’t really get it. Just like now, I didn’t know if you would hate me…”
OO: “Rufen…”
Rufen: “But I didn’t want you to!”
He bit his lip and hung his head.
(So that’s why he was trying to get away from me…?)
OO: “I don’t hate you.”
Rufen: “R… really?”
OO: “But… seeing you avoid me like that made me really sad.”
Rufen: “Sorry…”
Seeing his despondent expression and his shoulders drop had me reflexively smiling at him.
OO: “It’s alright…”
Rufen: “Hey, how can I make you happy OO?”
He asked that question with a serious expression.
(He’s been thinking about that for me…)
With a thud, my heart started beating louder.
OO: “It made me happy to see all the presents left outside my door. …you did that, right Rufen?”
Rufen: “R-really…? It made you happy!?”
Rufen’s eyes sparkled.
OO: “Yeah!”
Rufen: “Good, I’m glad! What else!? What else would make you happy!?”
OO: “Then, how about telling me more about yourself?”
Rufen: “About me?”
OO: “Yeah. That would make me the happiest.”
Rufen: “Alright, then you can leave it to me! I like…”
Rufen’s eyes shone as he did his best to tell me everything.
As I listened to his voice, I felt happiness spread through me.
Rufen: “But is this really what you want?”
OO: “Yeah. Just like now, you responded to my questions… and I responded to yours. Doing that, I want to know even more about you Rufen.”
Rufen: “OO… I want to hear your voice more too.”
OO: “Alright…”
Rufen: “Then…”
Then, Rufen suddenly hesitated.
Rufen: “What… what do you think about me?”
OO: “Eh…?”
Rufen looked at me, his face completely red.
OO: “W-well, I…”
I felt my cheeks redden in embarrassment, but somehow, I was able to speak in the face of his sincere feelings.
OO: “I think… I like you…”
Rufen: “Wh-what’s with that lack of confidence!?”
OO: “Sorry, but… it’s just so sudden… I’d like to spend more time together though…”
Rufen: “…those words alone make me super happy!”
Suddenly, Rufen pulled me into a hug.
OO: “R-Rufen…!?”
I moved without thinking and…
Rufen: “D-do you not like that!? Was I being a bother again!?”
Rufen frowned, troubled.
OO: “Well… I don’t hate it…”
Rufen: “…OO… I like you!”
His loud voice echoed throughout the garden, and he placed a light, awkward kiss to my lips.
(This is kind of embarrassing, but…)
Rufen’s pleasant voice echoed on in the depths of my heart, and I felt full of happiness.
END
Secret Story: Thinking of You
I could see the castle from the garden, shining in the morning sun.
The sunlight hit one window in particular…-.
I sat on the terrace in the garden, starring into space as I watched the window with its closed curtain.
(I wonder… if she’s still sleeping… I wonder if she feels sick again… The weather is so nice today, but I wonder if she can even go outside.)
The night before, OO had a fever.
(It’s because I was being so pushy…)
That thought spun around in my head.
At that time, I heard a laugh from somewhere off to the side.
Gardener: “If you’re that worried, why don’t you go up to the room?”
Surprised, I turned towards the voice and saw the gardener, a branch in his hand as he chuckled.
Rufen: “Wh-what do you mean?”
Gardener: “You’ve been staring up at that window for a while now. It’s Lady OO’s room, yes?”
As it to tell me it was futile trying to deny it, the gardener looked up at the castle.
His gaze focused on the room I’d been looking at.
(Did he see me!?)
Rufen: “I-it’s not like I’m looking at her room or anything! I was just kind of wondering if she was feeling any better and if she was awake today. It’s my fault, being so pushy, that she started feeling sick, so I’m just kind of uneasy…!”
I spoke on frantically, then realized what I’d just said.
(I… did I say all that out loud!? I… Bro would definitely laugh at me if he heard me saying it all so easily out here like that!)
Rufen: “A-anyway, I just like looking at the castle from here!”
Angry at my own naivety, I sounded like I was complaining.
Seeing me like that, the gardener looked happy.
Gardener: “I see, so that’s what it was.”
He seemed to be having difficulty stifling a smile.
(I’m pretty naive, so everyone in the castle finds me amusing…)
Even though I looked at him reproachfully, I didn’t know if I was mad about it and finally the gardener let slip a laugh.
(Well… I guess it’s fine as long as I can make people smile… I’m sure you could call that being naive.)
Suddenly, my eye caught on the pink flowers blooming near the gardener.
Rufen: “…what are those flowers called?”
Gardener: “This is called sea thrift.”
Rufen: “It’s a cute flower.”
Seeing the flower sway slightly, OO’s delighted smile came to mind.
(I’m sure she’d be happy if she saw this…)
Rufen: “…I want to show it to her too.”
It just came out of me, and I frantically covered my mouth with my hand.
(Will he laugh at me again?)
I glanced to the side at the gardener.
The gardener was indeed smiling, but it couldn’t be helped.
Then…-.
Gardener: “In that case, shall I cut some and bundle them up for you? I’m certain she’ll be happy to receive these flowers.”
At those unexpected words, my small worries seemed so pointless.
Rufen: “Really!?”
Gardener: “Of course.”
The gardener grabbed the stalks of the flowers.
However, I hurriedly stopped him.
Rufen: “I-i-it’s fine!”
The gardener tilted his head curiously.
I looked down at the flowers sparkling in the sunlight.
Rufen: “There’s already blooming so beautifully. Wouldn’t it be a shame to cut them? Once OO’s feeling better, I’d rather come here to look at them together.”
(Yeah, if she’s better… then this is no time for me to be moping around here. If things are awkward between us, I just have to say it outright!)
I stood up and walked back towards the castle.
I stood in front of OO’s door and reached toward it.
But even as I was going to knock, my hand hesitated before making contact.
(Is she awake? Or is she still asleep? Does she feel better? Since I came, I want to pay attention to what she needs…)
I had mustered up my courage and came here, but now I stood frozen in front of the door as my head went around in circles.
(…this is the first time I’ve been so worried about someone else.)
I started to pace back and forth in front of the door.
(The point is I have to invite her! She just needs to say one word and…)
Rufen: “Alright, I’ll just ask how she’s feeling, and if she still doesn’t feel better, I’ll just leave the room right away!”
I stopped in front of the door again.
Rufen: “I can’t do it~!”
I moved away from the door, still without knocking.
The door separated me from her, quietly blocking my way.
Seeing the size of it, I once more walked away from the room.
END