Ch. 1: A Casual Guy
Tonitrus in Secundati in the Land of Spirits, Month of Shadow…-.
In Tonitrus, the land governed by a ruling family with power over thunder, a new prince awoke from his deep slumber.
Ritz: “Nn~~ I slept so good-…huh, who’re…?”
His emerald eyes, still half-closed from sleep, noticed me and…
Ritz: “You’re a cutie! Hey, wanna kiss?”
OO: “!?”
(Uh…maybe I misheard just now. I feel like he said something about a kiss but…)
Slightly overcome with surprise, I looked at the prince who had just woken up.
Ritz: “…?”
(He’s Prince Ritz, from the Tonitrus family…)
His golden hair, tinted faintly green, rested on his shoulders.
I could feel the bottomless cheerfulness he had as I looked into his wide eyes that darted about.
Ritz: “…what’s wrong? Did I startle you!?”
OO: “Y-yes…”
Ritz: “Ahaha! That’s good, very nice, you gettin’ all red like that. That fresh reaction is super cute. You woke me up right? What’s your name?”
OO: “I’m OO.”
Ritz: “Okay, thanks, I’m Ritz. And I’m gonna invite you to Tonitrus’ castle.”
Just as he flashed me a huge smile…
OO: “…!”
Ritz grabbed my hand and easily pulled me into an embrace.
(H-he’s so close…!)
His face was right in front of mine, and I could feel his masculine arms around me, and his body temperature which was warmer than mine…
It happened so suddenly that I was once again at a loss for words.
OO: “Um…”
Ritz: “…you’re cool with it right? Just savin’ someone then going ‘alright see ya!’… that’s a little sad.”
Standing in the middle of Ritz’s arms, it was like I’d been caught up in his easy-going ways and I ended up accepting his invitation to the castle.
Ch. 2: Grandma's Boy
Several days after Ritz had invited me to the Tonitrus castle…-.
I was curious about this unfamiliar country, and went into the courtyard to look at the flowers.
Then…
Young Woman 1: “Geez, Prince Ritz really said it was ok!”
Young Woman 2: “That’s right, if you just include us like that it’s not fair!”
Ritz: “Huh, why? It’s way more fun to hang out together!”
In the circus I could see from the courtyard were several women accompanying Ritz.
Since coming to the castle, this was a scene I’d seen play out many times before.
(He’s always got a different woman with him…)
I let out an airy sigh, and Ritz met my gaze.
Ritz: “Heeey! Come join us!”
OO: “…”
Ritz called out to me and waved his hand.
I…
OO: “Sorry, maybe next time.”
Ritz: “Ya sure? Well when you wanna, just let me know.”
His answer was cheerful, and he blew me a kiss, but I only gave a faint smile in return.
I didn’t know how to answer, so I just forced a smile.
Ritz: “…?”
Young Woman 1: “Hey Prince Ritz, let’s hurry~”
Ritz: “Hm? Ah, yeah.”
Ritz looked worried, his gaze still locked on me, as the women he was with grabbed his arms and they all left.
(I don’t think he’s a bad person, but I kind of don’t like him…)
As I thought that, I returned to spending my time alone in the courtyard…-.
…
……
The next day…-.
I left the room I had been staying in, and I heard an excited conversation coming from somewhere.
??: “—Oh, is that so?”
Ritz: “Haha, shocking I know, so then without thinking I…”
(That’s Ritz’s voice…I wonder if he’s talking to a group of girls again.)
I moved slowly to see what was going on and poked my head out of the shadow of a pillar…
However, the person Ritz was talking to was a much older woman.
(Ah…when he’s talking to that older woman, Ritz almost looks like a kid.)
The air around him was different from his usual casualness, and instead he looked kindly at the older woman with consideration.
Wondering who on earth this person could be, I accidentally stepped out from the shadow of the pillar…
Ritz: “…!”
Ritz noticed me.
In an instant, his eyes went wide and his face flushed red.
For a moment he stopped talking, then he moved away from the older woman and came over to me.
OO: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop…who were you talking to?”
Ritz: “…so you saw huh, aaargh…how embarrassing! That’s my grandmother. I’m actually kind of a grandma’s boy.”
(Ritz’s grandmother…which means she’s the crown princess.)
Ritz: “Haha, it’s kinda embarrassing for someone as old as me. But I’ve always been her favorite, ever since I was little…”
His gaze drifted from me and followed his grandmother as she walked away.
The expression he had was still very kind…
(I didn’t know Ritz could look like this.)
OO: “It seemed like you and your grandmother were having a good time.”
Ritz: “Yeah I guess! Cause I like listening to my grandma’s stories.”
Ritz smiled and awkwardly scratched his nose.
I could feel the same kindness in that smile as the one he’d had when he was with his grandmother, and it warmed my heart.
Ch. 3: A Delighted Guy
I asked Ritz about this unexpected side of him…-.
——————-–
Ritz: “That’s my grandmother. I’m actually kind of a grandma’s boy.”
——————-–
His gaze was gentle, and he spoke to me with some embarrassment, but I felt as if the distance between us had shrunk a little.
Afterwards, we went out into the courtyard and talked about different things.
It was as if the distance between us was filling up of its own accord.
…
……
Ritz: “And then I couldn’t forget what I’d heard, and I ended up spending a lot of time in my grandma’s room. I wonder if that’s when I really became a grandma’s boy.”
Having stopped talking about all manner of things, Ritz smiled as if embarrassed.
OO: “What kind of stories did your grandmother tell you?”
Ritz: “About my grandpa…, you know, the last ruler. Grandma says she still loves my grandpa. Even though it’s been a while since he passed, she says remembering him still makes her heart race.”
Ritz was telling me something very important to him…
OO: “Your grandmother seems like a lovely person.”
OO: “She seems sweet, your grandmother.”
Ritz: “Yeah, and one day I want to fall seriously in love with someone just like her. I don’t have any plans for it now but…I think you’d work.”
OO: “Eh…!?”
(Is he…kidding?)
I didn’t ask him to clarify, and Ritz said nothing more as he smiled happily.
Ritz: “But…”
Ritz had been talking so happily, but suddenly his face darkened.
Ritz: “…Grandma seems fine, but I can tell her physical health is getting worse. Everyone’s saying that’s why doctors have been coming to the castle. That’s why this year I want to do something for her birthday that’ll make her happy but…”
OO: “Is her birthday soon?”
Ritz: “Yup, it’s the public holiday next week. But I still have no idea what to do…”
Ritz frowned as he spoke…
OO: “What about having a celebration with lots of people?”
Ritz: “You think that’ll work!?”
He raised his head and his expression changed in a flash.
OO: “Yes, if everyone’s gathered together, it might cheer her up.”
OO: “What about having a celebration where it’s just the two of you?”
Ritz: “That could be fun.”
OO: “Yes, I’m sure. I think she’d be glad if there weren’t a lot of other people.”
Ritz: “I see…I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks.”
Ritz stared at me with a strange expression on his face.
OO: “…? Is something the matter?”
Ritz: “Till now, it’s always felt kinda trivial when I’ve talked to other girls but…”
OO: “Eh?”
Ritz: “Talkin’ about my grandma. When I talked about her to other girls, they never really seemed to care.”
Ritz’s face lit up in a smile and he turned to me…
Ritz: “I’m super happy! Hey, how ’bout that kiss?”
OO: “E- n-no!”
Ritz: “Aw too bad! Well, another time then.”
Then Ritz moved close to my forehead…
OO: “…”
(Wasn’t that…!)
There was a sensation of something soft on my forehead, and my cheeks turned red…
Flustered, I took a step back and looked up at his face.
Ritz was holding his index finger to his lips, and smiling like a mischievous little kid.
Ch. 4: A Troubled Guy
The next day, when the weather was clear…-.
I sat in my room and thought back to what Ritz had said the day before.
——————–
Ritz: “…Grandma seems fine, but I can tell her physical health is getting worse. Everyone’s saying that’s why doctors have been coming to the castle. That’s why this year I want to do something for her birthday that’ll make her happy but…”
——————–
(Something that’ll make her happy…)
I thought and thought, leaving nothing out, but I couldn’t come up with anything good.
I decided to take a break and went out to the courtyard…-.
…
……
(Huh…?)
Ritz: “Hmmm.”
Ritz stood alone in the courtyard, his arms folded over his chest and a troubled expression on his face.
(Ritz?)
I…
OO: “Ritz.”
Ritz: “Hmm.”
I called out, but Ritz stood there as if he hadn’t heard me…
(He looks like he’s thinking really hard about something…)
(It looks like he’s thinking about something…I shouldn’t interrupt.)
I hesitated to call out to him, and simply watched him closely.
And then…
Ritz: “Aaaaah, it’s no good! I can’t think of anything!!”
He cried out and scratched his head.
Ritz: “Huh?”
Then he turned his large eyes to me for the first time.
Ritz: “Hey! What’s up?”
OO: “Ah…I was just thinking and…”
Ritz: “Heh~ Somethin’ buggin’ ya? I’ll totally help you out!!”
OO: “It’s not that but…”
Ritz: “So what is it? Tell me! I wanna know you better.”
(…!)
His smile was innocent as he moved closer, and in embarrassment I averted my gaze.
Ritz: “Hey, what is it?”
OO: “U-uh…it was what you said yesterday, about your grandmother’s birthday…”
Ritz: “!”
Ritz’s eyes stretched wide.
Ritz: “You were thinking about that?”
OO: “Uh…yes.”
Ritz: “…”
Ritz stared at me, saying nothing.
(Ritz?)
OO: “Am…I meddling?”
Guessing at what he was thinking, I asked nervously and…
Ritz: “Nope!”
In an instant, Ritz’s face broke into a smile, like a flower blooming.
Ritz: “I’m super glad!!”
(Ah…)
I felt a warmth spread out from my heart seeing his full-faced smile.
Ritz: “I’m in trouble! I can’t come up with a good idea by myself. And I don’t really have anyone I can talk about it with.”
OO: “Even though you have so many friends?”
Ritz let out a small sigh as I said that.
Ritz: “I told ya yesterday right? I just get flighty reactions from everyone. I wondered what was on your mind, lookin’ all worried like that, but to think it was about my grandma!”
Ritz turned and looked straight at me…
Ritz: “You were seriously thinking about it. Thanks.”
OO: “…”
Ritz: “And for yesterday too, when you gave me advice. So let’s do this together!!”
Then, Ritz held his hand out to me.
OO: “…sure!”
It felt natural to take his hand like that.
(He’s a strange person…I didn’t like him when we met, but…)
I could feel a reliable warmth coming from the palm of his hand.
Ch. 5: A Warm Guy
After that…-.
The two of us worked on what to do for Ritz’s grandmother’s birthday celebration.
Ritz: “For now, I think a party’s the best option…”
OO: “I think that’s a good idea.”
Ritz: “Right, I’ll invite some people I know, and people my grandma knows, and get some energy going in there. Grandma’s been holed up in the castle, so I think she’s probably pretty lonely…”
Ritz spoke cheerfully as his pen flew across a piece of paper.
Ritz: “But she’s old, and she might get tired. Hey, you got any ideas?”
Ritz asked me…
OO: “What about things your grandmother likes?”
Ritz: “You mean like food and stuff?”
OO: “No, I mean that’s fine but…like something she treasures, or something she enjoys.”
Ritz nodded a couple times…
OO: “What does your grandmother like to do?”
Ritz: “Hmmm…she always stays in her room these days. But she used to go to the flower field with Grandpa…”
I listened closely, then Ritz raised his head as he seemed to remember something.
Ritz: “If it’s that, she likes flowers. She can’t get out of the castle now, but when she’s feeling up to it she’s always looking out at the flowers in the courtyard.”
OO: “Flowers…”
I listened to what Ritz said, and then told him about the idea that came to mind.
OO: “Ritz, um…-.”
…
……
Ritz listened to my idea, and took a moment to think it over…
Ritz: “Yeah, let’s do that! I think that…that’ll make Grandma happy!”
OO: “I’m sure it’ll make her smile.”
Ritz: “You’re amazing! Thanks!”
Ritz’s face came closer and…
He gently pushed my bangs aside and softly kissed my forehead.
OO: “…!”
It was a much kinder, warmer kiss than the one from before…
OO: “R…Ritz.”
Ritz: “Ah…I…”
Ritz blinked, as if he’d even surprised himself…
Ritz: “…”
At last, he seemed embarrassed, but still smiled in delight.
(I’ve never seen that expression…)
I felt something stirring inside me as I saw that smile.
The gentle light of the sun shone in through the window…
Ritz: “So, let’s go get things ready!”
Afterwards, we finalized everything and started preparing.
As we worked on things together, Ritz never lost that delighted smile.