Ch. 6: Grab Him!
Camilo: “Could it be…that boy…-“
I stood there frozen, the air thick with tension.
Camilo:” When that boy just now bumped into me…I sensed something strange.”
——————–
Camilo: “OO…!”
Camilo: “…ng …?”
——————–
OO: “Camilo…”
Camilo clenched his fists in frustration.
Subordinate: “A child…now that you mention it, there was a person I saw who suddenly changed course and ran.”
The subordinate nodded his head in agreement.
Camilo: “We have to follow him. If we go now, we can still catch him.”
Subordinate: “Understood.”
The two of them ran off immediately.
Seeing their speed, I knew I couldn’t keep up, so I prayed for them as I watched them go.
(Please…let nothing happen to them.)
Before long…-.
Camilo returned, firmly holding the boy.
Camilo: “OO, you don’t have to worry.”
OO: “Right.”
(Thank goodness…)
Seeing him flooded me with relief, and I once again realized how I thought of Camilo.
Ch. 7: Details of the False Accusation
Camilo had captured the boy that had led to the false accusation, and an investigation was now under way.
Today, Camilo had come to my room to give me a report on it.
OO: “So then that boy was…”
Camilo: “Yes, it seems he is the younger brother of the man I arrested before.”
OO: “I see…”
Camilo: “Seems I had been his target all along.”
After he’d said that, Camilo went silent and his gaze dropped slightly to the floor.
Camilo: “…”
(Camilo was just doing the right thing, but…he was still resented for it by that boy.)
I felt my heart ache as I thought that.
Camilo: “This didn’t turn out well. It’s almost like I’m being called out for doing something evil.”
I saw his bitter smile and heard the self-deprecation in his voice, and vigorously shook my head.
OO: “! That’s not true…! I mean, you’re always working so hard to protect everyone Camilo. So…-“
Camilo looked at me in surprise as I argued passionately, and his expression suddenly softened.
Camilo: “Why do you look like you’re about to cry…”
OO: “Eh…”
(I…do?)
Camilo: “You didn’t notice?”
OO: “I just don’t want you to feel down Camilo…”
I covered my cheeks with both hands, embarrassed at what he’d pointed out.
The corners of my eyes were hot as I felt them with trembling fingers.
OO: “I’m sorry. I was being too forward…”
I hung my head as I spoke, and Camilo took a step closer.
As I lifted my gaze, our eyes met as he stood so close we were almost touching.
Suddenly, I felt my body temperature rising.
Camilo: “Thank you. Hearing you above all others say that makes me happy.”
OO: “Camilo…”
Camilo: “Frankly, I was discouraged. I was worried about how I was doing my job…”
(He really was just trying to be brave.)
Camilo: “Yet…your words were so incredible that they made my shoulders feel lighter.”
OO: “…”
I felt my cheeks heat up again as I heard how happy he was.
Camilo: “I’m glad you came here. I feel like I can face my job again. Well, please excuse me.”
He suddenly turned away and left the room.
Like a lingering scent, a single pure-white feather drifted in the air.
OO: “Ah…”
I grabbed the feather, its color similar to the flower petals of a white magnolia, and gently held it to my heart.
It was like I could still feel the warmth of the person who had just left.
Ch. 8: At the Cathedral
Some time after Camilo had come to tell me about the criminal…
At Camilo’s invitation, I accompanied him to the cathedral.
Within the cathedral, the atmosphere was thick with solemnity, and a faint, elegant fragrance drifted on the air.
OO: “This place feels so calm.”
Camilo: “When I showed you around before, we couldn’t go inside here. Today I got special permission.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Camilo: “For you…no. I suppose it was for me.”
OO: “…?”
Camilo: “Before, your words saved me.”
(He’s talking about when he told me about the younger brother of the criminal from before…)
Camilo: “I had completely lost all confidence in my ability to do my job then.”
OO: “But Camilo…”
I raised my voice in concern, and Camilo slowly shook his head.
Camilo: “It’s alright. Now I can completely fulfill my duties.”
OO: “…”
I felt relief as Camilo broke into a smile.
Camilo: “You’re making that face again.”
OO: “Eh, I’m making a weird face?”
Camilo: “You look like you’re seriously worried.”
OO: “That’s…because I was serious.”
Camilo: “I’m serious too.”
OO: “…?”
Camilo: “I’m not very familiar with this kind of thing… I didn’t know how best to express these feelings…”
Awkward, frantic…I could tell Camilo was trying to tell my something.
(Feelings…?)
Camilo: “I even asked Micaela for advice…but his suggestion didn’t really suit me. So…I did my best to think of something in my own way, and the answer I came to was this.”
As he said that, a light, pleasant fragrance touched my nose.
Before me, Camilo held out a bouquet of flowers the same pure white as his wings…
Camilo: “I heard…it’s appropriate to give girls flowers.”
I thought the petals were quivering because of the wind, but I realized it was because Camilo was trembling.
(He’s so nervous…but he’s trying his hardest for me…)
As I took in the sweet scent of the flowers, it filled my heart.
Camilo: “Do you not like them?”
OO: “That’s not it, I’m very happy. I’m just trying to think of how to thank you…”
I gently took the bouquet of flowers and smiled at him.
Camilo: “That smile is the best thanks you can give me.”
My heart fluttered as I saw the shy look on his face.
Camilo: “I wasn’t sure if red or white was better.”
OO: “I’m glad you chose white. It’s the same color as your wings.”
Camilo: “Do you want to touch them?”
He slowly spread his grand wings out wide and stretched them towards me.
They were so beautiful and while I touched them, Camilo gave a start and shivered.
OO: “They’re so soft.”
I smiled sweetly, sheltered in the white of his wings and the flowers.
Camilo: “You’re much softer. When I protected you, and we touched, that’s what I thought. I didn’t know girls could be so soft…”
OO: “Do you want to do it again?”
I unexpectedly interrupted him, and my whole body flushed red at the boldness of my own words.
Camilo: “…it’s not a crime.”
I nodded and Camilo slowly closed the distance between us.
Camilo: “These flowers really do suit you. No, maybe you’re like a flower…you smell nice…and are soft like a flower petal…”
Camilo touched my hair, and his fingers slid down to my shoulder then stroked my arm.
Camilo: “I want to pluck you…”
His voice was husky as he whispered those words, and a sensation more like nectar than the sweetness of flowers started to envelop us.
END