Ch. 3: Unseen Heart
Afterwards, I was walking around the castle with Fluff, who had become quite attached to me.
OO: "Aren't you going to pet him?"
Avi: "...I'm in the middle of practice."
OO: "I'm sure that when Avi's done, he'll play with you a lot."
Fluff barked and wagged his tail eagerly in response.
Then...
OO: "...!"
I heard a loud noise from a room we were passing by.
OO: "W-what was that?"
Anxiously, I opened the door half-way and peeked inside.
There...
A strong wind was blowing through the window and making the curtain flutter.
I saw something that looked like a large piece of wood which had fallen to the floor.
OO: "Maybe the wind made it fall Fluff. Let's put it back, ok?"
I entered the room and lifted up the square piece of wood.
This is...
It was an old portrait, covered in dust.
It showed a dignified king, and a queen holding a bouquet of blue-violet flowers.
This boy who seems to be overflowing with happiness is...Avi?
A young boy happily held a bunch of the same flowers as the queen.
Sitting next to the queen was a big, white dog.
This dog is...
Then...
Avi: "Hey, what are you doing in here?"
OO: "Avi!"
I looked over my shoulder and saw Avi standing there, his hand on the door. I realized practice must have ended as he stood looking at me.
OO: "I was just passing by and heard a noise from this room."
Avi: "A noise? That's..."
Then Avi noticed the portrait and his eyes widened in surprise.
OO: "It seems like this painting was knocked down by the wind, so I thought I'd put it back."
Avi: "...it's fine, you don't have to do that."
Speaking quietly, he grabbed the painting from my hands.
He turned it over and simply leaned it against the wall.
OO: "Ah..."
Avi: ...if you do that, they'd quickly wither and die."
He's making the same face as that time...
Seeing Avi's pained expression made my chest hurt and I ...
[CHOICE]
-
Put on a smile (SUN)
-
Show concern (MOON)
What do I do? ...What can I do to make Avi smile?
OO: "The woman holding those flowers you like...she's your mother isn't she? She's beautiful."
OO: "And the white fluffy dog, I bet that's Fluff's mother."
OO: "How old were you when this was painted..."
I didn't want to see Avi's sad expression, so somehow I kept talking.
Avi: "...for you...?"
OO: "Huh?"
Avi: "Is prying into a person's past fun for you?"
Though he wasn't looking directly at me, those words pierced my heart.
OO: "I-I'm so sorry! That's not what I was..."
Avi: "...tch."
Abruptly, Avi lifted up the painting with strong arms.
Avi: "There's no point in keeping this painting. Once you're dead, that's the end of it!"
OO: "No! Avi...!"
Avi moved as if he was going to smash the painting on the floor.
Without thinking, I grabbed on to him.
Avi: "...!"
Avi's balance faltered and I crashed into a shelf.
A vase fell and broke, shattering into pieces.
OO: "Ow..."
Avi: "OO!"
Avi stopped what he was doing.
He tossed the painting aside and tightly grabbed my shoulders.
Avi's grip was so strong it felt like it would tear my arm off, but I found myself lost in his eyes.
Avi: "You're hurt...!"
OO: "I-I'm alright! I just grazed my foot a little!"
Avi's face was pained, as if he had been the one injured.
[CHOICE]
-
Smile sweetly (SUN)
-
Caress Avi's cheek (MOON)
OO: "I'm really sorry. I..."
Avi: "I know, it's fine. Let's just get that taken care of."
OO: "Yeah..."
My cheeks warmed as Avi gently lifted me into his arms.
OO: "A-Avi! I Can walk!"
Avi: "It's my fault you got hurt. If I don't do this much at least, I won't be able to calm down."
OO: "...Avi..."
Avi walked quickly down the corridor.
I could feel his battle-hardened body through the fabric of his clothes.
What...am I thinking?
Rather than answering the question, I leaned my head against his chest.
OO: "This painting is quite lovely."
I smiled, wanting to lift his spirits.
Avi: "...yeah."
But his expression became even more gloomy.
OO: "Avi? Um...are you alright?"
Avi: "What do you mean?"
OO: "...what do I mean..."
The conversation didn't continue beyond that.
OO: "Avi..."
His expression made my chest tighten, and I caressed his cheek.
Avi: "...!"
OO: "I'm really alright Avi, don't make that face."
I smiled sweetly so as not to make him worry.
Avi: "...OO."