For the start of the new year, an appropriately golden sun was shining on Kuyou of the Land of the Calendar…-.
On a hill with the cityscape spreading out unbroken below, Shin stood with his silver hair fluttering in the cold wind.
Inui: “Found you. I figured you’d be here.”
Hanare: “…good work on the prayer ceremony.”
Shin: “Inui… and Hanare. I’m surprised you knew I’d be here.”
Inui: “It’s not like we don’t know you.”
Inui shrugged and held out the package in his hand to Shin.
Shin: “This is…”
Inui: “Sesame dango. You left during the banquet so I came to bring you some.”
Shin: “Thanks. I’ll eat it when I get back to the castle.”
Hanare: “……”
Shin smiled slightly at the intense gaze directed at the package he now held.
Shin: “Or do you want to eat it together Hanare?”
Hanare: “! Oh no, as the one you conducted the prayer ceremony, you should be the one to eat it…”
Shin: “But you did a beautiful dance performance for the opening right? I’m a light eater, so it’d be better to split this with someone else anyway.”
Hanare: “…well if you put it that way.”
Hanare nodded seriously and Inui’s shoulders shook with laughter.
Inui: “You really do like sweet things huh.”
Hanare: “I love them. But I’m pretty sure you used to like them even more Inui.”
Inui: “A long time ago. I don’t dislike sweets now and I’ll eat them, but I like my sake better. Well, people’s tastes change over time.”
Hanare: “Over time…”
Hanare murmured to himself as out of the corner of his eye, the sun was making the rooftiles sparkle.
The three of them, unseen by anyone else, turned their gazes to the streets below.
Shin: “…the passage of time is a swift thing. It’s gone in the blink of an eye.”
Inui: “If I’m right, it’s been about 10 years since we would come here to see the start of the first day right?”
Hanare: “It’s been so long already… how nostalgic.”
They all thought of what they should accomplish in the time that was to come.
Hanare’s mind was vividly remembering the times when they would passionately talk together.
Hanare: “…it’s strange. The view is the same as back then, yet someone it looks different.”
Inui: “Of course, the view of a child and that of an adult is going to be different.”
Shin: “And we’ve each experienced different things that have changed us. It’s completely natural that you would feel as if the things you see are different now. However… our ambition hasn’t changed. As the nobles who rule this country, without fear of change, we guide the country and the people towards something better. Isn’t that right Hanare? Inui?”
Hanare: “…you’re right.”
Inui: “Geez, shouldn’t that be obvious by now? You don’t need to check.”
In response to Shin, Hanare smiled quietly and Inui smiled boldly.
Shin: “…I think our relationship too is unchanging.”
The rays of the rising sun shone on Hanare and Inui, and Shin could see the echo of their much younger selves… and he smiled fondly.
END