Ch. 1: Within the Silence...
The light of the sun gently broke through the forest, wrapping it in a gentle atmosphere.
Having accepted an invitation from Prince Haku’s Kingdom of Livaille, I continued to walk through the forest towards the castle.
(Such a quiet forest…)
I listened carefully, hearing the occasional rustle of the leaves as the wind blew, but that was all.
As I continued to walk, I came upon an enormous tree with many leaf-filled branches.
(…what a massive tree.)
In the shade of the tree sat a man with familiar long hair.
(Haku…?)
Haku was so still it almost looked like he wasn’t breathing, and his gaze was on a book held in his hand.
OO: “Haku…?”
Haku: “…”
My call to Haku was swallowed by the silence of the forest.
(…I wonder if he’s concentrating. I don’t want to interrupt…I’ll wait till he’s done reading.)
…
……
I didn’t know how much time passed like that when…-.
Haku suddenly looked at me and quietly closed his book.
Haku: “…you’re here.”
He directed the words at me, his voice barely above a whisper.
OO: “Ah, yes…”
Haku: “…”
On that note, Haku once again slipped into silence.
Unable to bear the quiet…
OO: “Um…”
Haku: “Right… the people in the castle invited you.”
He spoke shortly, his words like a flicker.
Haku: “…come on.”
Haku stood slowly, then walked away from me.
(…he sure is quiet.)
I felt like Haku, whose footsteps themselves were so quiet, was going to disappear…
I hurriedly chased after him.
Ch. 2: A Beautiful Doll
Haku and I walked through the deathly silent forest…
Haku: “…”
Haku was tall, and his steps were long, so I had to try hard to keep pace with him.
Then…-.
OO: “Ah…”
The path ahead of us was overlaid with briars blocking our way.
(We can’t go this way…)
Haku: “…”
Haku continued to walk through the dense briars.
OO: “Haku! …wait!”
I shouted, but it was too late. Haku’s hand brushed the briars.
Haku: “…”
OO: “Haku! Your hand is bleeding…are you alright!?”
Haku: “…it’s fine.”
Haku glanced at his hand, and as if nothing had happened, continued walking down a different path.
(…is he really okay?)
We finally arrived at the castle, and the butler and maids were there to welcome us.
Butler: “Welcome Lady OO. I see you’re with Lord Haku.”
OO: “Yes. We met in the forest and came back together.”
Maid 1: “Welcome back Lord Haku.”
Haku: “…”
Butler: “Oh dear, your hand is injured…! We shall take care of it right away.”
However, Haku slipped between the butler and maids and disappeared down the hallway.
OO: “Haku…?”
Butler: “Please pay him no mind. Lord Haku is…not very expressive.”
Maid 3: “Doesn’t that mean he has no emotions?”
Maid 2: “I’ve never seen Lord Haku’s expression change once.”
Maid 1: “You know, even when Her Majesty passed away…”
(Eh…?)
Butler: “Silence! You’re speaking in front of Lady OO.”
The maids had been chatting and whispering amongst themselves, and the butler chided them for it.
Butler: “Lady OO, you must be tired. I’ll prepare some tea.”
OO: “Ah…here, I brought these as well. It’s not much though.”
As a gift for inviting me, I held out the cookies I’d made.
Butler: “I humbly accept. Now then, I shall call Lord Haku and prepare the afternoon tea.”
Coming out into the courtyard, the butler had set up a table and made the arrangements for tea.
Beside the tea cups a beautiful plate had been set with the cookies I’d made.
Haku: “…”
OO: “…”
Ever since the afternoon tea had started, the silence had continued.
(What should I…talk about…?)
OO: “Um, what book were you reading in the forest Haku?”
Haku: “…philosophy.”
Haku mumbled a response to my question.
(Philosophy…I don’t really know philosophy…how do I respond?)
Unable to find the right words to continue the conversation, I panicked when…
Haku: “You?”
OO: “Eh?”
Haku: “What books do you like?”
Haku tossed the question at me.
OO: “I…I like romance stories.”
OO: “I…I like adventure, or fantasy stories.”
Haku: “…stories? I don’t know about stories. People suddenly laughing, or crying…I don’t understand it.”
(Haku…?)
——————–
Butler: “Please pay him no mind. Lord Haku is…not very expressive.”
Maid 3: “Doesn’t that mean he has no emotions?”
——————–
(Haku…has no emotions?)
Haku: “…”
Even as he ate my cookies, his expression didn’t change…
He looked almost like a beautiful doll.
Ch. 3: A Single Moment's Smile
A calm, early afternoon…-.
There was the occasional gentle breeze that buffeted Haku’s long, pale brown hair…-.
Our afternoon tea continued in silence other than the rise and fall of the wind.
Haku: “…”
OO: “…”
(The conversation stopped…)
Silence had fallen again following the end of our conversation about books we both liked.
I felt awkward and looked down at the table when…
(…huh?)
Haku had eaten all of the cookies I’d made.
OO: “…”
I wanted to ask if he liked them but…-.
Haku: “…”
Haku stood up in silence, and went back into the castle.
(He ate all of them…)
I felt a gentle warmth spread through my chest.
I stared at the empty plate for a little while…-.
The next day…-.
The sky was clear again, and the sunlight was peaceful as it poured down.
(The wind feels nice…)
As the wind caressed my cheek, I took a stroll through the courtyard. Yellow flowers, taking in the light of the sun, shone all the more brilliantly as they bloomed.
(Such beautiful flowers…)
As I bent down, I felt a silent gaze fall on me from above.
Looking up, I saw…
Haku: “…”
OO: “Haku…!”
Haku looked at me with the same expressionless face as yesterday.
OO: “Um…Haku…?”
OO: “…”
As his silent gaze fell on me, I just continued to blink in confusion.
Haku: “…those flowers. Were you looking at the flowers?”
OO: “Ah…yes! I was just thinking how beautiful they were…”
Haku opened his mouth in surprise, and his voice came out cracked.
Haku: “They’re…beautiful?”
Haku’s expression still hadn’t changed, but I saw his eyebrows rise slightly.
OO: “They’re a very beautiful color…don’t you think so?”
Haku: “I wouldn’t know.”
He mumbled his reply, and then suddenly started to walk off somewhere.
OO: “Um…”
Haku: “What?”
(I called out to get him to stop without thinking…what now?)
Haku: “…”
He stopped walking and stared directly at me.
Haku: “When you look at those flowers, do you feel happy?”
OO: “Eh..?”
Haku: “You look like you’re happy.”
(Now I’m…kind of embarrassed.)
Haku: “…come with me.”
Saying so, he once again walked off in silence.
OO: “Eh…okay…!”
I stood up as well and followed after his broad back, his words having surprised me…
Accompanying Haku, we went around behind the castle and arrived in a meadow…-.
OO: “Wow…it’s so beautiful…!”
The yellow flowers I had seen before were in full bloom, covering the entire meadow in a dazzling display.
Haku: “…beautiful…”
He watched me as my eyes sparkled and tilted his head.
For some reason, he looked so cute just then, and I unintentionally felt my face relax into a grin.
At that time…-.
OO: “Ah…”
A little ways away, a rabbit was looking at us.
OO: “Haku look, a bunny! It’s so cute…!”
Haku: “…”
Though we were so close, the rabbit gave no sign of running away, so I picked it up in my arms.
OO: “Ah…”
While holding it, I realized one of the rabbit’s legs had been injured.
OO: “Poor thing, you got hurt…I wonder if it was attacked by a stray dog or something…”
Haku: “…poor thing?”
Haku slowly came over to where I was with the rabbit, and inclined his head.
Haku: “Right now, what are you thinking?”
OO: “Eh…?
OO: “…that the poor bunny got hurt, and it makes me sad.”
Haku: “Sad…”
OO: “That the bunny is in pain, and that makes me hurt too.”
Haku: “…”
Haku pondered something for a little while, then took the rabbit from me.
Haku: “Your words…they’re an abstract expression that is difficult to understand. But should we take it back to the castle and treat it?”
(Haku…)
OO: “Yes!”
The rabbit, held in Haku’s thin and elegant arms, nuzzled his head as if in thanks.
Haku: “…”
With a curious expression on his face, Haku stroked the rabbit’s back.
OO: “It’s very cute.”
Haku: “Cute…”
(Ah…)
For a split second, Haku’s eyes softened with kindness as he looked at the rabbit.
Haku: “I see, so this is cute.”
My heart filled with joy as I saw Haku’s smile for the first time.
As I noticed it, I naturally smiled as well.
Ch. 4: A Reliable Smile
After Haku and I returned to the castle…-.
We treated the rabbit’s injury in Haku’s room.
(Wow, there are so many books…)
Haku’s room was like a library, filled with the faint scent of books.
Haku: “Will this be alright?”
Haku wrapped a bandage around the rabbit’s leg with a practiced hand.
Haku: “Do you…want to stay in this room till you’re fully recovered?”
As if in response, the rabbit’s ear perked up.
Haku: “Alright…”
Saying that one word, Haku gently stroked the rabbit’s head.
(I’m glad…)
OO: “Thank you for this Haku. Well then, I’ll be off…”
Saying as much, I moved to leave Haku’s room when…
Haku: “Hey.”
He suddenly called out for me to stop, and I whipped around to look at him.
OO: “I-is something the matter…?”
Haku: “From yesterday, I want to eat them again.”
(By yesterday he means…?)
Now it was my turn to incline my head, and Haku spoke quietly.
Haku: “The cookies you made.”
(Ah…)
My heart leaped at those unexpected words.
OO: “Do you like cookies?”
At my question, Haku once again fell to pondering.
Haku: “This feeling…is liking something? I don’t really understand…but I want to eat them again.”
OO: “Sure…thank you!”
I was so happy that my voice came out unexpectedly loud.
Haku: “Why are you thanking me?”
(Does this mean Haku liked my cookies…?)
Happiness filled my heart and I smiled naturally.
Haku: “Why are you smiling…?”
OO: “Because I’m happy.”
Haku: “I see…”
Haku smiled slowly.
OO: “This time I’ll add some dried fruits to them!”
Haku: “…sure, thanks.”
After I’d left Haku’s room…-.
(I’m happy…Haku enjoyed my cookies. I wonder if there are other things Haku likes.)
I had felt my heart quicken a surprising amount at Haku’s smile…-.
The next day…-.
I immediately went to Haku’s room with the cookies I’d made.
(I’m glad I could use the kitchen.)
I went to knock on his door when…-.
Haku: “…”
OO: “Haku…!”
The door opened quietly, and revealed Haku.
Haku: “…what?”
His long hair was sleek as it fell over his cheeks and he looked down at me.
OO: “Um, were you going somewhere?”
Haku: “To the forest, to read my book. Do you want to come?”
(I’m glad…he’s inviting me…)
OO: “Yes! …oh, right.”
I showed Haku the cookies I’d brought.
OO: “Yesterday you’d said you wanted to eat them so…”
Haku: “That was surprisingly fast.”
This time, Haku gave me a reliable smile.
My heart thudded in my chest.
(I wonder why, but I want to see Haku smile more…)
With the thudding of my heart, a sweet emotion was being born.
Ch. 5: Beating Heart
The forest was once again wrapped in silence.
I sat beneath the tree, bathed in the gentle light coming through the leaves as I read a book that I had borrowed from Haku.
(…this is difficult.)
I stole a glance at Haku and saw him completely engrossed in his book.
(…he was reading like this when we met too. He didn’t notice me at all that time. The maids said he didn’t have any emotion but…)
I remembered Haku’s smile, and it warmed my heart.
I was staring at him when I heard a book snap shut.
Haku: “…”
I saw myself reflected in Haku’s grey eyes.
OO: “I-I’m sorry! Was I disturbing you?”
Haku: “Is it boring?”
OO: “Eh…?”
Haku: “The book.”
Haku’s gaze fell to the book I was holding.
OO: “Ah…it’s…well, it’s a little difficult for me…”
Haku: “I see. Sorry. I didn’t have any stories on hand.”
Haku spoke and hung his head in apology.
OO: “That’s not…! I’m the one who’s sorry. Even though you let me borrow a book…”
Haku: “Would you tell me?”
OO: “Eh…”
Haku: “Why…do you like stories?”
OO: “Well, I…”
I frantically searched for the right words.
OO: “Because I can empathize with the feelings of the characters…or something like that.”
Haku: “…”
OO: “Things like happiness, and sadness. Those emotions are in the stories, and I experience them too.”
Haku looked straight at me.
Haku: “…still, it really is something I don’t understand.”
OO: “Um…Haku, don’t you feel things like that…happiness, or sadness…?”
Haku: “…”
OO: “I’m sure you understand Haku! I mean…you smiled at me, right?”
Haku: “…I see, I smiled in front of you.”
Haku: “…I-.”
His expression didn’t change, but his voice sounded slightly sorrowful.
Haku: “My mother was full of emotions.”
(…was?)
Haku: “She felt everything strongly. She would cry tears of joy when she was happy, and she would break things and shout when she was angry. More than once, she would swing at me violently. Sometimes I thought I would die.”
(That’s so terrible…)
Haku: “I would immerse myself in books to run away from my mother. Before I knew it, all I did was read. During that, I was unable to smile, or to get angry…to the point I couldn’t understand how to. No matter what my mother said, or what she did, I could no longer feel anything. It was peaceful.”
OO: “And now your mother is…?”
Haku: “She died.”
OO: “…!”
Haku: “That was long ago. Even then, I didn’t feel anything.”
(Now that he says that…)
——————–
Maid 1: “You know, even when Her Majesty passed away…”
——————–
(Haku got rid of his emotions to protect himself…)
I didn’t know what to say to Haku as he told his story.
Haku: “But…”
Haku suddenly laid his large hand against my cheek.
OO: “Ha…ku…?”
Haku: “You have many emotions too…but it’s different from her. When I look at you, I feel something strange.”
OO: “Haku…?”
His long fingers stroked my cheek, and my heart started pounding when…-.
Haku: “…!”
Haku suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him.
OO: “…!”
The sudden strength of the action caused me to overbalance and I fell.
OO: “Haku…?”
In confusion I looked to Haku when…
??: “You’re Prince Haku…right?”
A very tall and intimidating man stood in front of Haku.
Man: “I’m gonna have you come with me.”
As the man drew a sword and brandished it in front of Haku …
Haku: “…!”
Haku swiftly drew a dagger from his breast pocket and instantly thrust it at the man’s throat.
(He’s so fast…!)
Haku: “…leave.”
A faint trickle of blood came from where the point of his blade pressed against the man’s throat.
Man: “Tch…”
The man’s expression soured and he moved away, however…
Man: “…”
(Eh…?)
For an instant I thought he sneered at me, then disappeared into the forest.
OO: “…”
I couldn’t move from where I’d fallen to the ground.
Haku: “…are you okay?”
Haku put away the dagger and helped me up.
OO: “That was…”
Haku: “Yeah. Probably a thief. They’ve attacked before.”
Haku spoke indifferently, as if what had just happened was nothing.
Haku: “It’s because I come here so often without anyone else.”
(So that’s what it was…)
Haku: “…your knee.”
At his words I looked to my knee and saw it had been scratched.
(From when I fell…)
Haku: “…”
Without any warning, Haku suddenly lifted me up easily into his arms.
OO: “H-Haku…!?”
Paying me no mind as I blushed in surprise, he set off at a brisk pace.
OO: “Um, I’m alright! It’s not that bad!”
Haku: “But it’s because of me that you got hurt.”
OO: “It’s because you were saving me…besides, I’m heavy and…!”
Haku murmured only a few words as I kept blinking rapidly in embarrassment.
Haku: “You’re not much heavier than the rabbit.”
I could feel the heat from where he was touching me.
(I can hear the beating of his heart…)
Within the silence of the forest, only the beating of our hearts made a sound.