Ch. 5: His Back
(Wh-what do we do?)
Eyes that gleamed with an unnatural light glared at us.
(I’m scared…)
I promptly picked up the puppy.
At that moment…-.
Shigure stood in front of me protectively.
OO: “…Shigure?”
Shigure: “Don’t move in front of me.”
I could tell at a glance that Shigure’s legs were shaking.
(Shigure’s really scared too.)
In the next instant…
OO: “…!”
The wolf aimed and leapt at us.
Shigure: “…!”
Shigure held me protectively.
OO: “Shigure!!”
The wolf clawed at him, and a single line of blood appeared on Shigure’s arm.
Shigure: “…it’s alright….I… don’t want to hurt anyone.”
I felt then that Shigure’s back seemed both wide and dependable.
I entrusted my shaking body to him.
Ch. 6: Courage Given to Me
The wolf was quickly drawing closer to us.
Shigure: “…It’s alright.”
I grabbed onto Shigure’s back and tightly shut my eyes.
In the next instant…-.
Puppy: “Woof!”
The puppy slipped out of my arms and headed towards the wolf.
OO: “Ah…!”
Shigure: “Oh no…”
The wolf opened its mouth wide as the puppy approached.
(…!)
Shigure shifted to go save the puppy but…
OO: “…!?”
The wolf started affectionately licking the puppy.
(Could it be…)
OO: “Could that wolf be the puppy’s mother?”
Shigure: “Eh…!”
The wolf and puppy nuzzled each other and were making sweet, affectionate sounds.
Shigure: “…it looks that way.”
The wolf pup gave us a fleeting glance and wag of the tail, then returned to the depths of the forest with its parent.
(Th-thank goodness.)
Shigure: “I’m surprised…I didn’t think the puppy was a wolf.”
OO: “Yeah…”
I collapsed on the spot in relief.
Shigure: “Are you alright?”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me up.
His hand was so warm, and that alone reassured me.
OO: “Thank you for protecting me Shigure. How’s your arm…!?”
As I worried, Shigure smiled at me as if to ease my mind.
Shigure: “It’s not that bad. Let’s get back to the castle.”
Shigure’s smile held no trace of unease.
And so we headed for the castle.
…
……
That night, I gazed out through the window at the starry sky…-.
Shigure: “OO…I wondered…do you have a minute?”
Hearing Shigure’s voice, I opened the door.
OO: “Is something the matter?”
Shigure: “Well, um…thanks for today. You helped get my dagger back and all.”
I closely examined his expression as he stood in the doorway, standing perfectly straight and not moving.
OO: “Same, thanks for protecting me. As for the dagger, you were able to get it back because you were brave Shigure.”
Shigure: “I…you gave me that courage OO.”
OO: “I did?”
Shigure gently took my hand and…
Placed a light kiss on the back of my hand.
OO: “…!”
Shigure: “You said such nice things about me. I don’t know what about me made you think any of that, but it made me feel very brave.”
OO: “Shigure…”
I remembered Shigure standing in front of me, protecting me from the wolf.
OO: “Shigure, you’re so kind…and I think you’re very heroic.”
Shigure: “OO…thanks. If I really was heroic, I think it’s because of you.”
I saw Shigure’s cheeks flush, and I felt my heart start racing.
Shigure: “I thought about how…I want to protect you.”
Shigure looked directly at me.
OO: “Shigure…”
I could see how intense his expression was…
And my heart started pounding even louder.
END