Ch. 6: State of Emergency
After the disagreement over the formation, Kanoe’s team fell apart.
Though there weren’t many days left before the festival, one by one, team members stopped coming to practice…
Kanoe: “Right there, be more aware of how big your movements are!”
Ultimately a few people remained, but even still Kanoe continued on with rehearsals as if nothing had changed.
(At this rate…)
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Kanoe: “The practice is a bit frantic… but putting in hard work is something a man should do, right?”
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(Of course I think it’s important for someone to persevere… but I don’t know if that’s what’s needed right now.)
During a break, I made my decision to talk to Kanoe about it.
OO: “Um.”
Kanoe: “What is it?”
Kanoe looked at me as he wiped off the perspiration that clung to him.
I started to lose my nerve, but frantically recovered myself and continued.
OO: “I think it’s fine for you to stay quiet about all this and keep trying. But… sometimes it’s also important to talk to people about these things too… that’s what I think, at least.”
Having gathered my courage, I stared fixedly at Kanoe as I did my best to express my thoughts.
For a moment, Kanoe looked surprised, then he spoke.
Kanoe: “…you’re quite feisty.”
OO: “…”
Kanoe stretched out his hand and ruffled my hair.
(His hand is so warm and gentle…)
That rough yet kind touch was a perfect representation of Kanoe’s personality.
Kanoe: “…I’ve always been bad at expressing my feelings in words. So even if I can’t do that… I think I can at least bring people’s hearts together one by one.”
OO: “…I think there are things that can’t truly be expressed without words.”
As I said it, Kanoe’s amber eyes looked troubled.
Kanoe: “…yes, I suppose you could be right.”
His words came out as a whisper, but they pierced straight through my heart.
Ch. 7: Unity
The team members were still stiff as the day before the festival arrived…-.
The orange sunlight announced the arrival of dusk, slipping through the breaks in the unexpectedly quiet forest.
Within the forest, Kanoe called his team and they circled up.
Kanoe: “Everyone, there’s something I’d like you to hear. That’s why I’ve gathered you here.”
I stood beside him, listening, as I clasped my hands together in my mind.
Kanoe: “I’m not great with words, and I don’t normally put my feelings into words…”
Kanoe choked up after getting that far.
Kanoe: “…”
(Kanoe…)
Standing beside him, I whispered so that only Kanoe would hear me.
OO: “Kanoe… if you just say what you’re thinking, I’m sure they’ll understand.”
Kanoe: “OO…”
For a little while, Kanoe’s eyes wavered with confusion…
Kanoe: “…thank you.”
He whispered that back to me, then resolutely turned to face the others.
Kanoe: “…please listen. I think there have been a fair number of misunderstandings between us.”
Man 1: “What do you mean by misunderstandings? You mean about the formation?”
Kanoe: “That’s right. This formation isn’t a decision I came to lightly. I’ve done the calculations for the circumstances of this dance and adjusted the lines.”
Man 1: “What d’you mean by ‘circumstances’? Explain the reason so we can understand!”
Kanoe: “The truth is… this year, the design of the stage has been changed.”
Men: “Huh…-?”
Kanoe: “When I looked at the new dance stage from above, I noticed it wasn’t a square, but instead it narrows further back. So it would have been more difficult to use the same formation we’ve used before. And since there are other performers relying on the shape of the stage, it isn’t something that can be changed. So instead, we needed to change our formation.”
Kanoe looked at each and every member there.
Kanoe: “And… it especially put a strain on the two who got into an argument over the difficult maneuvers. But I still think it’s possible for you. I’m sorry for not telling you the reason for it.”
Man 1: “Why didn’t you tell us? If we’d known from the beginning…-.”
Kanoe: “I thought that if you all were aware of the new stage, it would cause further unrest. So instead, I thought I’d make minor changes to the formation we’ve always known and deal with anything that came up so it all worked out.”
Stopping there, Kanoe hung his head.
Kanoe: “But… this is how that turned out. I was complacent. And I truly am sorry. Please, allow me to make the best formation to utilize the space on the new stage.”
Kanoe bowed deeply to the others.
Kanoe: “…I want to excite everyone at the festival. I don’t think we have much time. But if you’re with me, I’m sure we can do it!”
Everyone: “…”
Kanoe spoke with passion as he had revealed the truth to the others, and at some point they’d all been drawn in closer.
Seeing all of them there…
OO: “I… I want to see it too.”
The words suddenly flew from my mouth.
Kanoe: “OO?”
OO: “I’ve been watching as you all practice earnestly every day… and you’ve all improved wonderfully under Kanoe’s instructions. I’m sure it’ll be an amazing performance if you can perfect it, and I can’t help but look forward to it… ah.”
After I’d expressed my honest feelings, I realized all of them had turned their attention to me.
Kanoe: “…”
Then, Kanoe gently placed his hand on my shoulder.
Kanoe: “What do you think everyone? …I want to perfect it too, by any means necessary.”
Man 1: “…well if you put it that way, let’s do it.”
Man 2: “I’ll do it too. We can do anything with Prince Kanoe believing in us.”
Kanoe: “Everyone…”
Man 1: “Let’s get to it!”
Kanoe: “Alright then! Let’s enjoy tomorrow’s festival to the very end!”
At Kanoe’s shout, everyone’s feelings were immediately united.
Men: “Yeah!!”
Their loud cry echoed deep into the forest.
Birds startled from the trees by the shouting gave their own cries as they took off.
(I think everything will be okay now… I’m so glad.)
I felt the intense heat of Kanoe’s hand still resting on my shoulder.
Trying to control the pounding of my heart, my mind turned to thoughts of the festival in the day to come.
Ch. 8: New Year's Banquet
At last, the dance team was united, and the day of the festival finally arrived…
In addition, it was the last day of the year…-.
Kanoe: “Hah…! Sore sore sore sore!!”
Along with the furious pounding of the drum, Kanoe and his team performed an overwhelming and splendid dance.
Both tourists and locals cheered as the group moved as a single unit, almost like a work of art.
(Wow… they didn’t have much time, but they came together so well.)
That feeling alone filled me, my heart pounding with the excitement of it.
Kanoe: “Hah—Hah!”
Everyone froze in perfectly controlled poses, as if time had stopped, bringing an end to the dance.
Visitor 1: “That was magnificent!”
Visitor 2: “Amazing!”
The audience stood, bursting with applause.
I stood as well, clapping until my hands hurt.
(It was wonderful… Kanoe…)
Kanoe wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm, and I’d never seen him look so satisfied…
(I really am glad.)
I didn’t know for how long that excitement would remain with me…-.
…
……
And so the time of the New Year approached, and everywhere people were making merry and starting to drink.
Kanoe’s team was also drinking together, showing appreciation for each other.
(Huh? Kanoe isn’t with them…?)
Kanoe had just been with them, celebrating the new year, but now I couldn’t see him anywhere.
As I looked around, I spotted Kanoe some distance from the crowd.
OO: “Kanoe!”
My body was moving before my mind could catch up, and I rushed over to Kanoe.
Kanoe: “OO… are you having a good time?”
His face was red, and he seemed unsteady of his feet…
OO: “Are you alright? Maybe you should sit down…”
(Is Kanoe drunk…?)
Just as I thought it, Kanoe’s muscular body teetered drastically.
OO: “…!”
Though I frantically supported him, his weight was too much for me and we both ended up going down.
Kanoe: “Ugh…”
OO: “Are you really alright? I’ll get some water…-.”
Kanoe: “…looks like I’d rather lay down than sit down huh.”
OO: “Eh…-?”
Just as I thought he was going to slip off from where he was now seated next to me…-.
OO: “!!”
Kanoe: “…this way… is pretty fun.”
Kanoe rested his head on my knees.
(He just… put his head in my lap… didn’t he.)
Kanoe: “Hmm, this is relaxing…”
(Kanoe… he’s acting pretty different. I guess because of the alcohol…?)
The commanding Kanoe, who always took the lead, was now almost like a kid…
(It’s kind of cute.)
Seeing him like that, I couldn’t help smiling.
Kanoe: “Hah…”
After he let out a frustrated sigh, he grabbed my hand.
OO: “…”
I could feel the heat of his hand, and my heart started beating rather loudly.
(He can’t hear it… right?)
Kanoe: “It’s because of you… that this was all a success.”
OO: “Eh…”
Kanoe: “I thought it too, when you would watch over me when I practiced alone.”
OO: “That’s… because you’re so skilled Kanoe.”
Kanoe: “And… I was really happy when you said that thing. That you wanted to see the dance.”
OO: “Ah…-.”
He tightened his hold on my hand.
Kanoe: “That was the reason I tried so hard. Because of you. So… I want you to stay with me, by my side.”
OO: “…”
The way he said it was blunt, but I could sense the earnestness in his amber eyes, and I felt a pressure on my chest.
Kanoe: “What’s your response?”
As I felt my cheeks flush with heat, I nodded.
Satisfied with that, Kanoe smiled warmly.
(I want to see this smile… always, from right beside him…)
The affection I felt at having the weight of his head on my lap made me realize once more that I loved him.
Kanoe: “Say it with words.”
I took a deep breath and spoke quietly.
OO: “I will… is it alright for me to always be by your side?”
Kanoe: “Of course… of course it’s fine.”
He reached out his hand and gently touched my cheek.
Feeling the heat of his hand, a warmth spread through my mind, and I slowly closed my eyes.
Kanoe: “Ah… I think it’ll be a good year.”
Those mumbled words seemed a premonition of the happy days to come in the new year.
END
Secret Story: Caressed by the Night Breeze
At last, the day of the festival had arrived…-.
As a result of all of us combining our strength, we were able to finish the dance without trouble.
However…-.
Kanoe: “Nn…? Where…?”
I felt a cold winter wind on my face and slowly opened my eyes.
Then…
OO: “Ah… Kanoe…”
Kanoe: “OO…?”
(…eh!?)
As I took in OO’s eyes looking down at me, I quickly sat up.
Kanoe: “Ah, what’s happening!? Why on earth was I- with you- …”
(I fell asleep on your lap…)
I could still feel the lingering warmth on the back of my head and I felt my face heat up rapidly.
OO: “It looked like you’d had too much to drink Kanoe. And… we talked about a few things. Do you remember?”
Kanoe: “Remember…?”
(I remember wanting to celebrate the New Year with OO after the dance. But then I was drinking with everyone and…)
There was still some alcohol in my system and I desperately tried to recall what happened before I fell asleep.
Little by little, the memories came back…-.
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OO: “!!”
Kanoe: “…this way… is pretty fun.”
Kanoe: “Hmm, this is relaxing…”
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Kanoe: “…I remember. I selfishly put my head on your knee…”
(Forget the alcohol, how could I have done that…!?)
Kanoe: “Sorry for troubling you like that.”
I felt pathetic and embarrassed, my head dropping as I avoided looking at her.
OO: “It’s alright. It didn’t bother me at all… if anything, I was happy I got to see a different side of you Kanoe.”
Kanoe: “Happy?”
I looked up and saw OO smiling at me.
OO: “Yes. You were so cute, just like a little kid.”
Kanoe: “!”
(Cute? Me…?)
Once again I felt my face heat up, and I spoke in an attempt to ignore it.
Kanoe: “…that’s the first time anyone’s said that to me. I’m always scaring people instead. Even today I thought I could deepen those bonds with the others, so I drank more than I should have…”
OO: “Eh? Can you not handle your alcohol?”
Kanoe: “Yeah, I’m a total light weight.”
OO: “So that’s what happened… do you feel sick or anything?”
She examined me closely with a worried expression.
And in that, my love for her started to overflow…
Kanoe: “I’m alright. There might still be some left in my system, but I’m thinking clearly now… …and I clearly remembered what we talked about earlier.”
OO: “Eh…?”
I smiled at OO to give her peace of mind, and she titled her head in confusion.
Kanoe: “I said that it was thanks to you that this year’s festival was a success. And then I said I wanted you to stay with me… I said both of those things without thinking, because of the alcohol. But they weren’t lies… those are my true feelings.”
OO: “Kanoe…”
(And…)
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding of my heart.
Kanoe: “And besides, since I’d bad at putting things into words, I need to give you an explanation. I would never do that with anyone other than the woman I love.”
OO: “That…?”
Kanoe: “…the lap pillow thing.”
OO: “Ah… …it’s alright. Because I understand your feelings on it.”
Kanoe: “You do? I may be being a bit persistent, but you really aren’t mad?”
OO: “Of course not. Because…”
She spoke that far, then smiled mischievously.
With that smile on her face, she looked me straight in the eye…
OO: “After all… of course it’s fine, if it’s with the person you love.”
Kanoe: “Huh? That’s…”
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OO: “Is it alright for me to always be by your side?”
Kanoe: “Of course… of course it’s fine.”
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(…she got me there.)
As OO teased me, I looked away in embarrassment.
But, after clearing my throat, I looked straight at her…-.
Kanoe: “I’ll say it again. I want you by my side from now on. I never want to be apart from you for as long as I live. And I will never let you go…”
I held her slender body tightly, and she wrapped her arms around my back as if in answer.
(Ah… I think it’s going to be a good year. I bet it’ll be a year I’ll never forget.)
In the distance, I could hear people celebrating the new year.
Amidst it all, we held onto each other’s warmth as we reflected on this fortunate start to the new year.
END