Ch. 5: What He Found
I became aware of the time as the clock in the room beeped.
Theodor: “…”
In the end, Theodor had sunk into silence, and I curled in on myself.
(I want to talk about something… but I don’t know what.)
OO: “…”
Theodor: “It’s nothing you need to worry… ah, I mean you don’t need to concern yourself with this.”
OO: “It’s fine… um, Theodor. Can you talk to me more casually like you were before?”
As I said it, Theodor looked troubled as he brushed up his bangs.
Theodor: “I didn’t want you to make that face though…”
Theodor stood, his eyes wavering slightly with sadness, and started to walk restlessly around the room.
Theodor: “Apologies… I get nervous when talking to girls. I get caught up in the conversation and don’t pay any attention to whether my conversation partner finds any of it interesting. And then I end up making plenty of mistakes, so…”
(So that’s what it was… it wasn’t that he dislikes me then.)
I let out a sigh of relief at that.
Theodor: “Oh no… what should I do? What should I talk about… paintings from Fresian? If we talk about movies from Kenal… those would be horror, I guess. The science and magical technology of Oz is really interesting… I’m sure I’m talking too much again…”
Theodor walked in circles, muttering and mumbling to himself.
OO: “Um, Theodor…-.”
Theodor: “Ah!?”
(…?)
As if suddenly realizing something, he ran over to a dark ebony table in the corner of the room.
Theodor: “This is…”
In his hand, he gently held a wine bottle with delicate grape engravings.
Theodor: “…do you want some wine to ease the tension?”
Theodor awkwardly cast a glance at me.
Somehow, I understood what Theodor was doing from that glance.
(I wonder if drinking… will relax him.)
At Theodor’s invitation to drink, I smiled and nodded.
Ch. 6: A Night of Wine
Theodor: “…do you want some wine to ease the tension?”
Theodor opened the wine bottle left in the room and we immediately toasted our glasses.
Theodor: “Cheers.”
OO: “Cheers.”
And so, our night of drinking together began.
…
……
Theodor: “With the wristwatch, you can immediately edit photos and videos.”
Theodor had grown more talkative with the wine, and the area around his eyes had become a slightly coquettish red.
(Theodor looks like he’s having fun.)
I couldn’t help smiling as I watched Theodor’s eyes sparkle like when we’d first met.
Theodor: “And the watch can help you manage your health. You can tell the designer had a profound vision…”
Theodor continued to talk until the night had grown quite late, and the wine bottle was completely empty.
(Theodor drank a lot…)
Theodor had practically drained the entire bottle himself.
(My eyes… are heavy.)
I had only drunk a little, but I felt a pleasant buzz.
That coupled with the lateness of the evening had made me extremely sleepy before I’d even realized.
However, I wasn’t the only one…
Theodor: “And then… push this…”
Theodor had gradually started to slur his speech.
His gaze seemed to lock onto me and when I realized, he drifted in a different direction.
(What should I do… at this rate…)
I was steadily getting near my limit…
OO: “I’m sorry Theodor. I want to talk some more but… I’m… starting to fall asleep…”
Theodor: “…I’m sorry. Then this will be the last thing…”
(He’s still… talking.)
However, in the end, I didn’t notice that I slowly drifted off…-.
…
……
I felt a bright light on my eyes, but I definitely felt a softness from a bed against my cheek and had a tough time opening my eyes.
OO: “…?”
As I tried to turn over, my head hit against something hard.
(What’s that…?)
I opened my eyes slightly, and when I did…-.
Theodor: “Whaaa!!”
(Eh!?)
My eyes flew open at Theodor’s scream, and I was completely awake.
What came into view was…
Theodor’s eyes, opened wide in shock and surprisingly close.
OO: “…!?”
But more surprising than that…
(Was I… sleeping in Theodor’s arms!?)
I found myself completely pressed against him and wrapped in his supple arms.
His arms were wrapped around my back, as if protecting me, and it felt nice.
OO: “Um… I’m sorry!”
(What… was I doing…!!)
I was pretty sure that I’d gotten drunk and fallen asleep the night before.
I frantically pushed myself away from Theodor, but for some reason his arms wouldn’t let me go.
(Why…?)
Theodor: “Um… can we… stay like this?”
OO: “Eh…?”
I slowly looked up at him from our close proximity and as our eyes met, I felt like I was suffocating as my heart pounded painfully in my chest.
Theodor: “…somehow, I… when I’m with you like this, I feel nice …but I drank too much… I shouldn’t… be like this with a girl.”
Contrary to his words, Theodor continued to hold me in his arms…
OO: “U-um…”
Theodor: “…what should I do?”
OO: “Eh…”
Theodor: “I know I’m being a terrible person, but this is so nice… I just can’t let you go. And yesterday, when I spent time with you… I’ve never been so happy.”
OO: “Theodor…”
I could feel the heat of his hands wrapped around my back, and I remembered… how the night before Theodor had tried his hardest to talk to me, and how his eyes had sparkled.
(He really is… an awkward person.)
Theodor: “I’m sorry, but can we just stay like this… a little more?”
OO: “…”
I nodded slightly and Theodor gently held me around my shoulders.
Theodor: “Now… I’m even happier…”
I shifted slightly, moving a little closer.
Theodor: “You’re so warm…”
I slowly closed my eyes, feeling the heat of his gentle words against my ear, and breathed in the faint trace that remained of the wine.
END
Secret Story: Wanting This Moment to Last Forever
At my proposal to toast some wine to ease the tension, OO willingly accepted…-.
…
……
She grinned at me, making sounds to indicate she was listening attentively and asking questions that showed her interest.
Because of that, I was able to become even more talkative.
(It’s already so late…)
I glanced at the time on my watch and noticed the date had changed over.
(No wonder I’m tired… plus things are spinning because of the wine…)
I casually looked at OO and saw she had started to doze off.
It was sweet how she tried to stifle a small yawn.
(I wonder if she’s wanting to get to bed too… well, I should probably stop talking then…)
OO: “So…thassit…”
OO didn’t seem to notice the slurring in her own words as she smiled normally.
Despite the smile, her drowsy eyes couldn’t seem to focus on anything, and I found that even more cute.
(I want to let her rest… but she’s so cute I don’t want to be parted…)
Despite wanting to sleep myself, I couldn’t find a time to stop as I watched her being so sleepy and adorable.
OO moved to put her wine glass on the table so she wouldn’t drop it.
(Ah…)
However, it didn’t go well, and she kept missing the table with her hand, so I gently took her hand in mine and grabbed the glass.
OO: “Thanks… you’re so nice…”
She spoke with a soft and tender smile.
The way she said it was completely unguarded, like they were the deepest thoughts in her heart.
(I didn’t think this would be a test of my patience but… I want to hold her, for just a moment.)
That impulse suddenly weighed on me and I kept talking in an attempt to deny it.
Theodor: “So this… ‘f you pusssh it…!!”
Suddenly, I started slurring my words.
Yet the words I wanted to say kept flowing out nonstop.
(I might never be able to enjoy spending time like this again… I pray for just a little more…)
…
……
OO had fallen asleep, so I carried her to the bed and lay her down.
The area around her eyes was a light shade of red, possibly from the alcohol.
(She’s so beautiful, I can’t hold back from touching her…)
OO: “…nn…”
She’d done her best, but it was like she’d run out of battery as she suddenly fell asleep in the middle of our conversation.
I sat near the bed and watched her sleeping face.
(Her breathing is soft while she sleeps… I hope she has good dreams…)
Her rosy cheeks sank into the velvet cushion under her head and her soft hair fell over her face.
Thinking that must tickle, I instinctively reached out…
OO: “Nn…”
Right before I had touched her, she rolled over in her sleep.
Surprised at that, I twitched and withdrew my hand.
Her abundant hair made winding rivers over the white sheets.
It fell over her cheeks and her lips, looking as if it were completely in the way…
(It really looks like it tickles.)
Though I was extremely nervous, I brushed her hair away from her cheeks and lips with my trembling fingers.
I thought it would be a shame to pull my hand away, so I rearranged her hair and gently stroked her head over and over.
(This feels good… I want to do this forever…)
It felt like I was floating, and I figured it was mostly because of the alcohol.
But I knew there was a small part of it that was because I was touching her.
(She kept me company until she’d hit her limit… you’re the nice one OO… I wonder why I kept getting flustered…)
I wanted this time together to last forever.
(I thought it was just because she was letting me talk on like that, but I was wrong… Even now, I want to be like this. I want to touch her always…)
As expected, I didn’t even fully understand that that meant.
I continued to stroke her head affectionately, the exhaustion catching up to me as I slipped from consciousness…-.
…
……
Theodor: “Whaaa!!”
I woke and realized I’d fallen asleep with OO’s soft body wrapped in my arms.
I was incredibly surprised, and yet with her breathing softly in my arms like a small bird, I didn’t want to let her go.
Theodor: “Um… can we… stay like this?”
OO had just woken up and, at my indulgent request, her lips parted slightly.
From there I caught the faintest scent of the wine and realized she might still be a little drunk.
(I need to tell her my feelings…)
I put together the feelings that had been suffocating me since the day before and took a deep breath.
END