Ch. 5: Zwei's Choice
Zwei: “…I’ve decided.”
The next day…-.
The clear afternoon sun filled the castle, making the entire place bright.
(Zwei said he had a lesson today as well, but… Zwei… I wonder if that means he won’t be going to the main castle.)
I went to the classroom, and slowly peeked inside.
Zwei noticed me and his smile seemed sad as he came outside.
OO: “Um… yesterday, your brother said you needed to go to the castle…”
I felt a tight pressure on my chest as I thought about Zwei’s feelings, and I couldn’t say anything more.
Zwei: “Yeah. I’ve decided though. I won’t go back to the castle. I can’t just abandon the children that have gathered here…”
There was a fleeting smile on his face, then he looked directly into my eyes.
(The best thing for Zwei right now…)
I returned his look and smiled as best as I could.
OO: “…alright then.”
Zwei: “OO…”
OO: “I think your gentle expression when you’re teaching the children is wonderful Zwei.”
Zwei: “…thank you.”
Zwei suddenly took my hand and held it tighter than I thought his slender arms could.
OO: “Um…!?”
Zwei: “…”
(…is he shaking?)
Zwei continued to hold on tightly as I stopped talking, and I could feel him trembling slightly.
The wind was as cold as ice as it blew around us.
Ch. 6: A Way of Life With Him
After that…-.
As the cold of winter continued on, the warmth of the sun gradually increased, and I could feel spring was on its way.
Contrary to what that signaled, public order continued to deteriorate under the tyrannical rule of the royals and the lives of the citizens grew more and more dire.
OO: “Zwei!”
Zwei looked up at the cloudless blue sky, his expression blank.
Zwei: “OO… it seems like something terrible happened in town again…”
OO: “I heard…”
As I watched Zwei’s empty expression, my heart ached to the point it felt like it would burst.
(Is this really what’s for the best…? Zwei chose to stay here, but was that the wrong choice…?)
???: “Teacher Zwei…”
Zwei: “Eh…?”
(Was that one of the kids…?)
The children had gathered in front of the room and watched Zwei attentively.
Zwei: “Everyone… we don’t have class today, remember?”
Child: “I don’t understand this part of yesterday’s homework, so hurry and teach me-!”
At the voices of the children, life seemed to return to Zwei’s eyes.
Zwei: “Alright! Since you came over, let’s head on into the classroom, sound good?”
Child: “Okay!”
The children burst with smiles and entered the room.
Seeing them smile like that, my sense of melancholy cleared.
(I’m sure this is best.)
Zwei: “OO.”
OO: “…eh!?”
In the next instant, Zwei wrapped his arms around my shoulders and hugged me close.
OO: “Zwei!?”
I felt his breath against my ear and my body heated up.
Zwei: “The truth is I was in pain… over being abandoned by the royal family. Even the futures of those children had gone dark. But now I…”
OO: “Zwei…”
Zwei: “This morning, the king wrote a letter to me naming my brother as heir to the throne.”
OO: “Oh no…”
Zwei: “He’s worse than my father in how he doesn’t think about the people at all. I… was my choice the right one?”
OO: “Zwei…”
As Zwei held me, I felt his hands tremble, and his anxiety tore at my heart.
Zwei’s voice near my ear even now seemed like it would vanish, so I hugged him back as best I could.
OO: “Zwei… remember the smiles of the children.”
Zwei: “…the kids?”
OO: “Isn’t it because you’re here that those children can smile like that?”
Zwei: “OO…”
OO: “I… I don’t think you made the wrong choice. Thanks to your teaching, one by one… I’m sure those children will start to think about their own futures and act on that. And someday, they’ll understand your feelings and become adults.”
Zwei: “…OO.”
Zwei’s expression regained some of its strength and he smiled at me.
His arms around me grew lax, and he turned his beautiful eyes towards me.
Zwei: “Yeah… thank you.”
OO: “Oh… it’s nothing.”
Zwei brushed back my bangs and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
OO: “…Zwei.”
Zwei’s expression was calmer than I had seen before.
Zwei: “I’ll do the best I can do with all my might. Now, let’s go to the kids.”
OO: “Right.”
With a firm stride, Zwei headed into the classroom.
(This is for the best. …I can stay here with Zwei.)
Even the earth and air around him had changed to being lit with a tranquil light…
And I felt a sense of relief.
END
Secret Story: A Reassuring Ally
That morning, I received a handwritten letter from my father.
I was absolutely terrified of what was written there.
(Brother… was named heir…)
I looked out through the window at the town and let out a deep sigh.
(Order among the people is getting worse and worse…)
I could feel no liveliness in the town.
Before, I had received a report of the atrocious things that were happening there.
(Would it have been better if I’d gone back to the main castle?)
I looked up at the cloudless sky as I thought about that…-.
OO: “Zwei!”
OO looked at me with worry in her expression.
(I bet I was looking pretty pathetic to her…)
??: “Teacher Zwei…”
I turned towards the voice and saw the children standing there.
Child: “I don’t understand this part of yesterday’s homework, so hurry and teach me-!”
I was drawn in by the energetic voices of the children, and I felt my own voice regain its cheerfulness.
Zwei: “Alright! Since you came right over, let’s head on into the classroom, sound good?”
Child: “Okay!”
But…-.
When I saw the children smiling, I felt a pain like an intense pressure on my chest.
(Is this really what’s for the best? Aren’t I just running away?)
Suddenly, I felt a deep darkness overwhelm my heart.
(But… OO is beside me.)
I looked steadily at OO as she stood beside me.
OO was clad in an air of kindness, and that calmed me down.
(I want to feel like I’m closer to OO.)
Zwei: “…”
(If I touch you…)
On impulse, I wrapped my arms around OO’s shoulders.
(…it feels so warm.)
OO: “Zwei!?”
I had surprised her, but I didn’t want to let her go.
Zwei: “The truth is I was in pain… over being abandoned by the royal family. Even the futures of those children had gone dark. But now I… I… was my choice the right one?”
I could feel my hands trembling as I held her.
(I’m so weak…!)
At that time…-.
Zwei: “…!”
Even as I felt like I was about to crumble and break, OO held me tightly.
OO: “Isn’t it because you’re here that those children can smile like that? I… I don’t think you made the wrong choice. Thanks to your teaching, one by one… I’m sure those children will start to think about their own futures and act on that. And someday, they’ll understand your feelings and become adults.”
(…she’s even considering it like that.)
Her words pierced straight to my heart.
(My choice… was about protecting something.)
Even as I was swallowed up by the darkness, OO had gently reached her hand out to me.
(I have such a reassuring ally…)
Just thinking that made me feel like I could be stronger.
Zwei: “…thank you.”
As I saw her smile, I was suddenly overcome with an impulse from deep in my heart.
(Is this…?)
Before I could reach that answer, I brushed aside her bangs.
Then…
OO: “…!”
I placed a kiss on her forehead.
(Ah, now I see… I really like OO.)
The second I realized it, I was able to smile spontaneously.
(Though I did surprise her…)
Zwei: “I’ll do the best I can do with all my might. Now, let’s go to the kids.”
I murmured those words as if I would be the only one to hear.
(It doesn’t matter if we face troubles down the road. I’ll do my best so that these children can live with peace of mind. And… I want to become someone who can protect those important to me.)
I looked into OO’s perfectly clear eyes and swore that vow in my heart.
END