Ch. 7: Outcome of the Wish
(My wish…)
I looked at the fallen star, shining in my hand.
Feelings welled up from deep within my heart, and there was no other wish I could make.
(I want to always be with you… I don’t want to say goodbye.)
As soon as I thought it, the falling star flew from my hand and the Stardust Clock lit up.
In the next moment… the stars of the night sky set their sights on Ster and fell all at once.
The fragments of the stars began to meld into the Stardust Clock.
(What’s happening…?)
As the multitude of bright lights moved in an arc, they struck with intense force at Ster’s chest.
It was so brilliant and forceful that it blinded me and took my breath away, then…
OO: “…”
(What just…?)
Ster: “OO!”
The back of my neck felt incredibly hot. I touched it gently, and there was a piercing pain. Blood fell from the finger I’d put to my neck.
Ster: “The star…!”
(Star…? Did a star pierce my neck?)
I saw a large amount of blood pooled on the bed, then my consciousness started to fade…
Ster: “I need to fix it…! Please…!”
OO: “Ster, stop…”
(You’ll die…!)
In my fading consciousness, I could sense him creating a star.
Ch. 8: Star Power
Ster created a shooting star, and moved to speak his wish…-.
OO: “Don’t…”
I tried to grab his hand, but I had no strength.
Ster: “Stop talking…”
(But I wished to be with Ster. If he uses up his life to save me then…)
OO: “That…won’t make me happy.”
Ster: “I said to just stop talking!”
Ster held me, as if to comfort me, then cried out his wish to the shooting star.
(Ster will die.)
OO: “No…!!”
(You don’t have to fix me…! Stop…)
I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, and I was about to completely slip into unconsciousness…
OO: “…?”
All of the pain vanished, and I felt my strength slowly starting to return.
(I’m healed? Then…)
OO: “Ster!”
However…
I opened my eyes, and there stood Ster, just as he had before.
Ster: “What’s going on?”
OO: “Thank goodness…”
Though I no longer felt any pain, I still couldn’t muster up enough strength to stand.
I held him in my gaze, checking over and over that he was still breathing.
OO: “I guess…my wish was granted.”
Ster: “Wish? What did you wish for?”
OO: “To…always be with you Ster.”
Ster: “You can’t…I’ve never heard of such a wish.”
As he said it, Ster looked between me and the Stardust Clock, which seemed a little bit brighter.
OO: “You said so yourself. That I could get any one wish granted. So I…”
Ster: “You…”
Ster gently embraced me.
Ster: “You…are an idiot.”
He hugged me tightly as he spoke.
In that embrace, I could hear how loud his heart was pounding.
Ster: “OO. Thank you.”
Then he gently pressed his lips to mine…
(Thank goodness.)
I closed my eyes, as if to confirm the warmth that I felt from him.
Ch. 9: Petition and Confession
Ster: “You… are an idiot.”
Ster: “Thank you.”
———————
Immediately after that…-.
After finishing his report of the events to the Queen, Ster immediately left Meteobel, taking me with him.
Ster: “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Ster had told me as much, then took me down to another planet…
For some reason, Ster’s father was there…
I sat opposite the king, having tea.
(I can’t believe the person he wanted me to meet was the king…)
I was silent, unsure of what I should say, as Ster brought out the tea.
(It smells nice…)
There was a faintly sweet fragrance coming from the tea he’d prepared, and it was garnished with small sugared candy instead of sugar cubes.
King: “My apologies. There aren’t any maids here at the laboratory.
OO: “Oh no, it’s fine.”
Strained by nervousness, my voice came out smaller than I’d expected.
Ster: “Are you surprised OO? Father is not only His Majesty the King, but also a famous scholar. Rather than being in a normal palace, this planet is for research into bettering the country. My aspiration is…”
King: “Let’s stop the conversation there. By the way, how are you feeling? I didn’t think I’d see you walking about like this again.”
Ster: “Actually… I have something to tell you about that.”
Ster stopped speaking there, then turned to me for some reason.
Ster: “She made a wish. To be with me…forever.”
The king inclined his head ever so slightly, then looked to Ster’s chest in surprise.
King: “The Stardust Clock…?”
Ster: “Yes. Somehow…it seems that the stardust won’t fall, even when I grant a wish. I’ve come to ask for your permission Father.”
King: “Permission…?”
Ster: “Yes…”
He slowly took in a breath, then faced the kind in a dignified manner.
Ster: “I wish to use this life for the kingdom, and for her. From now on, and forever.”
OO: “Eh…!?”
He gripped my hand.
(What’s happening here…?)
The king set down his cup, the sound of it echoing in the now silent room.
Ch. 10: Something Grounding
The evening air occasionally blew through the window and caressed my cheek…-.
Ster: “OO… You asked me before. What my wish is. I finally understand. It’s that I want to be at your side.”
OO: “…”
It was so sudden that I found myself speechless.
(I…how should I respond to that?)
All sorts of things whirled about inside my head, and I stood there unable to answer…
King: “Young lady.”
OO: “Y-yes.”
King: “You have my heartfelt thanks for saving my son…for saving Ster.”
OO: “Oh no, I…! I just… I was scared of what would happen if I could never seem him smile again…”
———————
Ster: “I committed it to memory so it won’t disappear…so it’s fine.”
———————
(…and then what…?)
OO: “I didn’t want it to disappear…I always wanted to see it…”
———————
Ster: “…you said you liked flowers.”
———————
OO: “I…”
Something resounded within my heart.
I still couldn’t put it to words, and I simply gripped the necklace he’d given me…
King: “Ster.”
Ster: “Yes.”
King: “I couldn’t possibly have any objections to your request.”
Saying so, the king stood from his seat.
King: “Go.”
Ster calmly bowed before the king, then held his hand out to me.
After some time riding on the falling star, we were alone in the quiet night sky.
The journey through the starry sky was as beautiful as ever, and I looked only at the stars, unable to look at Ster’s eyes.
Ster: “OO.”
I jumped slightly as he called my name.
Ster: “…did I startle you?”
OO: “Just a little…”
He chuckled, then pulled me into his chest.
Ster: “…it’s not like I wanted a response. I’ve always wanted something solid, grounding. And I found it…this feeling.”
OO: “Ster…?”
Ster: “I love you.”
OO: “…”
His voice sounded near my ear, and he pulled me in tightly…
Ster: “I’ve decided. I’m going to give this life for the sake of my country, and for you. Like how the Stardust Clock shines so strongly now… I want you with everything I am.”
When he’d finished speaking, he gently placed a kiss on my cheek.
OO: “…”
A sweet tingling sensation spread through my body and I almost stopped breathing.
Ster: “OO…”
Ster looked at me with profound love in his eyes.
The night was clad in thousands and thousands of stars sparkling in the heavens…-.
I felt myself locked in his eyes, just as the stars were trapped in the night sky, and found myself wanting to melt into them.
END