Ch. 7: The Day of Farewell
As I worried about Nero and the children of Circo…
The circus troupe arrived to perform in a neighboring country.
Nero: “This is where… we part.”
OO: “…yeah.”
Hearing Nero say those words again made my heart ache.
(I’m still worried though… about Nero and the others.)
Nero: “Before you go, come see our circus one last time.”
OO: “Yeah, I look forward to it.”
I was somehow able to answer with a smile.
And even though Nero’s brow knit together, he gave a small smile as well.
Then…-.
OO: “Isn’t that… the doctor?”
Nero: “Eh…?”
At my words, Nero turned to look behind himself towards the castle.
Nero: “Where is he…?”
We watched as the doctor was walking out of this country’s castle.
Ch. 8: The World You Wish For
Nero’s close friend, the doctor, had just appeared from the castle.
Nero: “What is he doing?”
Together, the two of us followed after the doctor.
Nero: “Hey.”
Doctor: “…!? Nero!”
As soon as he saw Nero, the doctor’s face paled and he dropped the package he was holding, the contents scattering.
OO: “Are you alright?”
As I was about to bend to pick up the contents of the package, Nero stopped me.
Nero: “…wait.”
His face was full of sorrow… as if someone had wounded him badly.
Nero: “What’s the meaning of this? Those drugs you dropped just now…”
Doctor: “…”
The doctor’s expression was bitter, as if he’d just swallowed something unpleasant.
Nero: “What is this… explain yourself!”
Nero stepped up closer, his expression saying he wouldn’t permit any excuses, and the doctor took a step back.
Doctor: “This is the drug that I created. And I’m free to use it as I please.”
Nero: “…”
Nero glanced back at the castle, then turned a sharp gaze on the doctor.
Nero: “…it can’t be, you…”
Doctor: “Nero, I’ve gotten a lot of money… so that the kids in Circo can be happy.”
OO: “!”
Doctor: “The drug is still incomplete, but it looks like they’ll support my research. Now I don’t have to use it on the kids.”
Nero: “The kids…?”
Nero’s face drained of color.
————————–
Nero: “A lot of them have been telling me recently that they can’t sleep. And… never mind.”
OO: “…is there anything wrong with them physically?”
Nero: “The doctor says it’s the stress of being on tour. And I don’t think he’s wrong, but…”
————————–
(It can’t be…!)
Nero: “I thought it was weird… how so many of the kids had stopped growing.”
OO: “…!”
(No way… he was using the children for experimenting…!?)
Nero: “You…!!”
Nero gripped the doctor by the shoulders with both hands and shook him violently.
Nero: “You… you were experimenting on all of us!?”
OO: “That’s…!”
Doctor: “It sounds bad when you say it like that. Even though I was just trying to grant your wish. I could make the world you’ve wished for a reality.”
As the doctor smiled fearlessly, Nero’s hands began to tremble.
Doctor: “Normally it would be impossible to sustain a world full of only children.”
(That’s…!)
Nero: “What did you say…?”
Doctor: “But children really are unpleasant. I’ve tried all sorts of things… but they just cry out selfishly and start bawling. Sorry, but I’ve already become an adult. From now on, I’ll keep developing drugs for this country. I’ll get paid and live a happy life.”
With a scornful laugh, he started picking up the drugs that were scattered at his feet.
Then…
Nero: “You tricked me…! You trash…! All adults, and you… they’re all trash!!”
Doctor: “…”
Filled with rage and sorrow, Nero leaped at the doctor.
Ch. 9: What is Necessary
Overflowing with rage and sorrow, Nero threw himself at the doctor.
OO: “Nero!”
I immediately grabbed hold of Nero.
Nero: “Let go…!”
OO: “Nero! What about the kids…!!”
I frantically stopped Nero and the fist he had raised in the air froze…
Nero: “…”
All of the fight went out of Nero.
Nero: “…tell me. What did you do to them?”
(Nero…)
Nero: “The kids that have the worse symptoms…! Tell me!!”
Doctor: “Who knows… I don’t.”
Nero: “You bastard…!”
Doctor: “But there is a way to counter the drug’s effects.”
Nero: “!”
Nero once again raised his fist overhead…-.
…
……
After that, we apprehended the doctor and locked him up in the circus.
Nero: “I’ll have to deal with him, after we’ve figured out the cause of why some of them are in such bad shape…”
Nero’s voice was distant and there might have been a slight tremble there, so gently… I placed my hand on his.
Nero: “…”
Nero’s hand shook in surprise, but he didn’t try to brush me off…
Slowly, his hand moved, and with some reservation, he gripped mine back.
OO: “We have to get blood from some adults…”
The way to counter the effects of the drug, according to the doctor…
Was to use the blood of adults.
Nero: “We have to give something as filthy as that to them…?”
OO: “Nero…”
Nero: “Just thinking about it disgusts me… but…-.”
Nero put both hands to his head as if he were hesitating.
And I put my hand over Nero’s.
Ch. 10: Waking from a Dream
Nero and I continued to stress over the problem of the drug…
For the moment, we took the doctor and headed back to Circo.
There was no change in the hatred he felt for the doctor who had betrayed him, but without the doctor, we had no way of getting the children better…
So we combined our efforts and poured all our energy into helping the children.
Doctor: “Now, let’s begin.”
Nero: “Ngh…”
The doctor grinned, and Nero bit his lip to stop himself from saying what was on his mind.
OO: “I understand that we need the blood of adults. So… is it alright to use mine?”
Nero: “…are you sure?”
OO: “…I’m just sorry this is all I can do to help.”
Nero: “What are you talking about? You’re the only adult here… and besides…”
OO: “Nero?”
I tried to look at Nero, who’d hesitated as he looked down to the ground, but he quickly looked away from me.
Without looking back at me, he turned to the doctor…
Nero: “Got it? Just take the blood that’s needed. If you do anything else…”
Doctor: “…I’ll get things ready.”
The doctor let out a sigh and got together what he needed, then he started to draw my blood.
…
……
But there was no way I could save all the children in this country with my blood alone.
After a while…
(I’m feeling a bit dizzy…)
Nero: “OO…!”
Nero supported me as I swayed.
I was dimly aware of the strength in the arm that held me tightly.
Even at a time like this, my heart was pounding.
Nero: “Nobody asked you to go this far.”
I saw a face that looked worried… it looked about to cry.
OO: “I’m the only adult here.”
Nero: “…”
OO: “I’m alright, I can keep going. I have to get everyone better.”
Perhaps from the loss of blood, my fingers felt incredibly cold.
Nero: “…you’re shaking.”
At Nero’s soft words, he gently… but firmly held me close.
(It’s warm…)
As Nero wrapped his body around me, I realized how much bigger he was than me…
(Nero’s already all grown up…)
That absentminded thought crossed my mind…-.
…
……
After that…-.
OO: “Nn…”
As I woke, I found my face on Nero’s shoulder.
Nero: “OO…! Thank goodness you’re awake…”
OO: “Nero…? What about the kids…?”
Nero: “…don’t worry.”
(Nero…?)
As Nero said that and smiled at me, he looked very grownup…
Nero: “I asked for advice… from my other brothers, and we made a decision. Soon a bunch more adults will be here.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Nero tightly wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
Nero: “We asked for help from a neighboring country. My brother is talking to an envoy right now.”
OO: “Nero…”
(Even though he hates adults so much…)
Then…-.
Nero: “We’ll use my blood too.”
OO: “…!”
The doctor and I were both shocked at Nero’s words, and time stopped for an instant.
(Nero…)
I pondered over the meaning of those words.
(As an adult…?)
Nero: “If I don’t become an adult… I can’t protect the things I want to protect.”
In Nero’s eyes, it was as if he were cutting away the part of him that was still a child…-.
Some time after that…-.
The neighboring country didn’t hesitate to help, so the children of Circo regained their health and everything calmed down.
One night…-.
OO: “Nero…”
I called out to Nero where he stood alone on the balcony.
Nero: “Are you feeling alright?”
OO: “Yeah, I’m fine. What about you…-?”
Nero: “I’m fine.”
The moonlight reflected off the small bottle in Nero’s hand.
(The drug to make someone a child forever…)
Nero: “I guess I don’t need this anymore.”
OO: “Nero…?”
In his sorrowful profile, there was no trace of the hatred he’d felt before.
The provocative passion that had been in his eyes was now a quiet thoughtfulness.
Nero: “The children of Circo were betrayed by adults… and also saved by adults.”
The bright moonlight illuminated the beautiful contours of Nero’s face.
Nero: “…I’ve made my decision. I’ll be an adult. There are garbage adults, and there are detestable adults. But… there are some that aren’t too. I swear I won’t become a terrible adult.”
Saying as much, Nero…-.
OO: “Ah…”
With the sound of glass shattering, Nero smashed the little bottle at his feet.
The strangely colored liquid miserably reflected the light at his feet.
OO: “Yeah, you’re right… I’m sure you’ll do just fine Nero.”
Nero: “Thanks OO.”
Nero said my name with a kindness I’d never heard from him before…
OO: “…”
Suddenly, as I realized Nero was moving behind me, he pulled me into an embrace.
My heart thudded and pounded loudly in my chest.
Nero: “There’s something I want to know. If I become an adult… I wonder if I’ll understand what these feelings for you are.”
OO: “… Nero…”
I stirred slightly but Nero tightly held me with both arms and wouldn’t let me go.
Nero: “When I think about holding you like this… is it because I’m an adult? Hey… tell me? You should understand since you’re an adult, right?”
As he held me tightly, he seemed to be enjoying himself as he whispered in my ear…
OO: “N-Nero…!”
It was almost like we were having a heart-to-heart conversation, and I heated up.
Nero: “Thanks… for saving my country with me…-.”
There was a faint innocence to his voice as he whispered in my ear.
But the strength that held me tightly… was unmistakably that of a grown man.
END
Secret Story: The Circus of My Memories
I was dreaming.
The glittering world of a dream spread before my eyes.
The clowns danced as they were bathed in the spotlight and the fierce animals jumped through rings of fire.
The Carnival Circus…
The world-famous circus troupe that had the strange mission of bringing smiles to people through the world.
(Amazing… wow!!)
Nero: “Hey, Dad, look! That clown is balancing on the ball with one hand!”
Nero’s Father: “Come now, Nero. If you make a fuss, you’ll bother the other visitors.”
Nero: “But… look! That person just breathed out fire! That’s amazing… hey, when I get big, I want to join the circus too!!”
Nero’s Father: “Haha. At this rate, it sounds like you won’t be succeeding me…”
Father smiled, a little put out, and patted my head.
(It’s warm…)
??: “…Nero…”
(Who…?)
The world flooded with light drew away, and I couldn’t see Father’s face anymore.
??: “Nero…”
(No, Dad, don’t go… Take me to the circus again… Father…!)
…
……
(Someone… is calling me?)
Nero: “Nn…?”
Pulled from my comfortable sleep, I opened my eyes and…-.
(…!!)
I was so surprised I thought my heart would leap out my mouth.
What appeared before me was OO, looking at me like she was worried.
Nero: “…! I-I…”
Mostly on reflex, I distanced myself from OO.
OO: “I’m sorry. I was on my way to talk to the doctor and…”
(Why…)
There was a faint warmth on the palm of my hand.
The hand that had been in my father’s hand in my dream…
Nero: “…”
But the one holding my hand here was OO.
(Why…)
She opened her mouth to ask a question…
OO: “Nero… do you miss your father?”
My heart thudded violently in my chest.
Nero: “!! …why would you ask that?”
OO: “Well, you were talking in your sleep…”
(Sleep talking…)
Nero: “…damn.”
(Of all the things, she had to hear that…!?)
Embarrassed at the unforeseen mistake, I cursed.
OO: “Nero… about your father, do you…”
(No…)
Nero: “…don’t say anything else.”
OO: “But…!”
(I said you’re wrong…!)
Nero: “Shut up!”
I impulsively grabbed OO and pushed her onto the bed.
OO: “N-Nero…?”
(Don’t say it… please…)
At being so close to her, my heart was beating wildly.
(What’s wrong with me… she’s a grownup. I should despise her, but…)
Nero: “I’ve… I’ve been feeling weird since I met you. I despise grownups, I hate them, and it would be better if they were all gone… but when I’m with you…”
I was tossed about by the feelings I felt growing inside me.
Frustration, irritation, and yet somehow something sweet… all of those things were welling up inside me.
OO: “Nero…”
OO spoke my name, her voice delicate.
And just with that, something happened.
(What am I thinking… I want to be with her, I want to touch her… what the hell is this?)
Trying to restrain those thoughts rising to the surface, I bit my lip.
Nero: “But… I’ll never become a grownup.”
I let go of her wrist and instead grabbed the thing I kept on me.
OO: “That’s…”
Nero: “The doctor made this for me… it’s a drug that can make me stay a kid.”
OO: “What…?”
I watched the dark colored liquid swish in the bottle, and strangely it calmed my heart.
Nero: “This drug can make it so I’m a kid forever…”
(I hate adults.)
When I thought of Circo’s past, it was impossible for me to forgive the grownups.
But those feelings that had blossomed in me were not so easily destroyed.
(…what should I say…?)
As I searched for the right words, I slowly turned to look at OO
Nero: “Sorry. I hate grownups. …so I won’t be one.”
(But…)
Nero: “But I don’t hate you.”
Those were the words that finally made it out…
OO: “Nero…”
I couldn’t help wondering what OO was thinking in that moment.
END