Ch. 6: Within the Blazing Fire
(Where did it go….)
I wandered through the blazing stable, trying to rescue the kitten.
OO: “Where are you!?”
The smoke hung so thick in the air that I couldn’t see.
(What do I do…at this rate, I’ll never find it.)
I moved forward into the dark smoke but…
(It hurts…)
The smoke was getting so bad I was having trouble breathing.
The strength was slowly seeping from my body, and I collapsed.
(Is the kitten…safe…? Sai…)
I crouched low and started coughing violently when…
Sai: “OO!”
(Sai…?)
I looked to the voice and saw Sai, holding the kitten and stretching his hand out to me.
OO: “Sa…i…”
Sai: “Don’t try to talk.”
I took his hand, and my heart filled with relief…
OO: “Sai…!”
Without thinking, I buried my head in his chest after he’d saved me.
Sai: “Sorry it took so long.”
I was so relieved I felt like I would cry, and he gently held me with his open hand.
Sai: “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
With Sai’s aid, both I and the kitten were able to make it safely outside.
Ch. 7: Sai's Injury
Somehow I was able to make it out, Sai supporting me as I went.
OO: “…Sai, I’m sorry.”
Sai: “Are you alright OO?”
I was still hurting, but seeing the worried look in his eye, I nodded.
OO: “Thank you so much. Is the kitten…?”
Sai: “Don’t worry, it’s fine.”
The kitten was curled up in Sai’s arm.
(I’m glad…)
Seeing it like that, the tension that had filled me released.
Boys: “Miss, are you ok!?”
The boys ran up to me, holding buckets and their bodies soaked.
(Everyone worked fast to fight the fire.)
OO: “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks.”
A large group of people had gathered in front of the stable to stop the fire.
Sai: “These boys gathered everyone together.”
The boys stood there, looking at me with worry.
Boys: “We’re sorry…”
OO: “It’s alright.”
The boys looked like they were about to cry, and I stroked their heads with a smile.
Gradually, the force of the fire lessened, and a dark plume of smoke rose into the air.
OO: “Thank goodness…it’s about over.”
Sai: “Yeah, it is.”
Suddenly, I caught sight of Sai’s arm.
(It’s red…did he get burned!?)
OO: “Sai, your arm…it’s all my fault!”
Sai smiled and moved his arm behind his back, as if trying to hide his injury.
Sai: “I’m alright.”
(Sai…)
Thanks to the efforts of the boys, little by little the fire was finally extinguished.
The kitten threaded itself around my feet.
(I’m glad it’s over.)
Sai: “Let’s take the kitten and go back to the castle.”
What Sai said was unexpected.
OO: “Eh!? Really? But… you said the king hates animals.”
Sai: “Yeah…but it doesn’t have anywhere else to go. I shouldn’t be found out if it’s just for a little while.”
Sai smiled at me, a little worried.
Sai: “Right, let’s all go back together.”
(Sai…)
Sai picked up the kitten, and it started purring in delight.
(I’m happy that we can all go back together.)
At that moment, the kitten brushed slightly against Sai’s arm and he flinched.
(…he’s hurting from the burn!)
Sai: “Sai you have to get that burn treated…!”
Sai: “I’m fine.”
OO: “Let me see it.”
I took the kitten from Sai’s arm and scrutinized his burn.
OO: “It looks redder than before…”
Sai: “Really, I’m fine.”
OO: “Let’s hurry back to the castle so you can get it looked at.”
Sai: “…it’s not that bad.”
Sai lowered his eyes, enduring the pain of the burn.
(He looks like he’s in pain…)
OO: “No, you need to get it looked at.”
I grabbed his unburned arm and started walking.
Upon our return to the castle, I had Sai sit on the bed and immediately started to treat his burn.
(Sai…he’s afraid of fire, and he even got burned…)
As I applied ice to cool the burn, I looked into his eyes.
OO: “Thank you so much for saving me Sai.”
Sai: “…”
OO: “Even though you’re not good with fire…”
Sai: “Long ago, I got a little burned and came to fear fire…but this time, I didn’t feel afraid.”
OO: “…?”
Sai: “I mean, you were more scared weren’t you?”
(…eh?)
Sai: “I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you sooner…”
OO: “Wh…what are you apologizing for?”
Sai looked down at the bed, hiding his expression.
(Sai…?)
His voice was low, and the ice I was holding slid from my fingers. It fell to the floor with a clink.
Ch. 8: True Feelings
The kitten was running around, the bell around its neck jingling.
A few days had passed since the fire, and everyone in the castle had been completely won over by the kitten.
(It’s still a secret from the king though…)
At Sai’s request, all the people in the castle worked together to keep the kitten from the king.
(But I feel like Sai’s been avoiding us since the fire.)
He’d turned the care of his injury over to a doctor, and I couldn’t learn how he was doing.
(He didn’t come to eat dinner either…I wonder if he’s alright.)
I decided to bring the dinner to Sai’s room.
With the castle chef’s specially prepared meal in hand, I knocked on Sai’s door…
But there was no answer.
OO: “Sai? I brought dinner…”
I called out, but still no answer.
(He should be in his room. I guess he really is avoiding me.)
OO: “…Sai, I’ll come back again later.”
I spoke quietly, and as I turned to leave…-
Sai: “…help me.”
(I think I just heard something.)
I put my ear to the door and called out.
OO: “…Sai?”
Sai: “…OO, help me.”
OO: “Sai!”
I opened the door in a panic…
(…!)
Inside Sai’s room, many kittens were happily running about.
Seeing that scene play out, I stood there blinking for a while.
(We only brought one kitten back didn’t we…?)
I couldn’t really grasp what was going on…
Sai: “Looks like it made some friends…and I can’t get them back outside.”
Sai looked at the cats worriedly, and it seemed like the kitten we’d found had brought all of its friends inside.
(I feel bad that he’s troubled by this but…)
OO: “…haha.”
I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.
(It’s kind of cute…)
Sai: “It’s not something to laugh about…”
Sai was covered in cats, and he let out a deeply troubled sigh.
OO: “How’s your burn? Does it still hurt?”
Sai: “It doesn’t hurt at all now.”
Sai showed me his burned arm.
It looked completely better.
OO: “I’m glad…”
Sai: “Sorry for worrying you.”
I shook my head emphatically.
OO: “I…wanted to thank you, for saving me Sai.”
Sai: “You don’t need to…I can’t forgive myself for letting you get into that dangerous situation. If I’d only gone with you to the stable in the first place…”
(…eh?)
OO: “Sai…?”
Sai suddenly looked shocked, as if he hadn’t been intending to say that.
(He’s been blaming himself…is that why he was avoiding me?)
OO: “That’s not true! I went into the stable on my own without even thinking about what could happen… I caused you to get burned… I’m the one who should apologize.”
Sai: “…”
OO: “Please, forgive me.”
I was tormented by the fact that my own foolishness had caused Sai to get hurt.
I couldn’t bear the feelings welling up inside me as I begged his forgiveness.
Sai: “There’s…really nothing for you to apologize for.”
OO: “Then, is there anything you want me to do?”
Sai: “…something I want you to do?”
(I want to do something for Sai…)
OO: “Isn’t there anything? Just say the word and I’ll do it.”
Sai: “…”
Sai closed his eyes and thought for a moment…
Sai: “Then…let me touch you.”
OO: “Eh?”
That was not what I’d expected to hear, and I stared at him.
(Touch…?)
Then…
I was bewildered, but Sai took my hand and had me sit on the bed.
Sai: “You’re sure anything is okay…?”
OO: “…”
I timidly clasped my hand around Sai’s.
Sai: “…that’s not enough.”
(Sai…?)
He was acting different than usual, and my heart started beating faster.
Sai interlaced his fingers with mine.
Sai: “…”
Then he took my intertwined hand and rested it against his cheek.
Sai: “You’re warm… When we’re close and touching like this, it feels nice.”
Sai’s gentle voice reached my ears.
Sai: “During the fire, I was worried when I couldn’t touch you. You’re so reckless…and when I got close to the fire and didn’t see you, I got really worried.”
Sai softly kissed my hand as it rested against his cheek.
OO: “…”
Sai: “This time, I’ll protect you better…”
Saying so, he softly kissed my eyelid.
OO: “…!”
My cheeks heated up.
He placed his lips on my hair, and as it seemed as if our lips would meet…
Kitten: “Meow~”
The kitten we’d rescued jumped up between Sai and I.
Sai: “…you should learn to read the mood.”
My body suddenly relaxed, having been frozen by nerves.
OO: “Haha…it was probably feeling left out.”
Sai: “…what am I going to do with you?”
OO: “There there, we’re sorry.”
I dropped my gaze as I picked up the kitten…
Suddenly, my chin was lifted up, and a soft sensation touched my lips.
OO: “…!”
Sai: “We’ll continue when it’s just you and me…okay?”
He smiled mischievously and gently stroked my head.
I felt as if I would be sucked into the brilliant blue of his eyes…
I had to remind myself to breathe.
END