Ch. 8: At the Cathedral (MOON)
Some time after Camilo had come to tell me about the criminal…
At Camilo's invitation, I accompanied him to the cathedral.
Within the cathedral, the atmosphere was thick with solemnity, and a faint, elegant fragrance drifted on the air.
OO: "This place feels so calm."
Camilo: "When I showed you around before, we couldn't go inside here. Today I got special permission."
OO: "Eh…?"
Camilo: "For you…no. I suppose it was for me."
OO: "…?"
Camilo: "Before, your words saved me."
He's talking about when he told me about the younger brother of the criminal from before…
Camilo: "I had completely lost all confidence in my ability to do my job then."
OO: "But Camilo…"
I raised my voice in concern, and Camilo slowly shook his head.
Camilo: "It's alright. Now I can completely fulfill my duties."
OO: "…"
I felt relief as Camilo broke into a smile.
Camilo: "You're making that face again."
OO: "Eh, I'm making a weird face?"
Camilo: "You look like you're seriously worried."
OO: "That's…because I was serious."
Camilo: "I'm serious too."
OO: "…?"
Camilo: "I'm not very familiar with this kind of thing… I didn't know how best to express these feelings…"
Awkward, frantic…I could tell Camilo was trying to tell my something.
Feelings…?
Camilo: "I even asked Micaela for advice…but his suggestion didn't really suit me. So…I did my best to think of something in my own way, and the answer I came to was this."
As he said that, a light, pleasant fragrance touched my nose.
Before me, Camilo held out a bouquet of flowers the same pure white as his wings…
Camilo: "I heard…it's appropriate to give girls flowers."
I thought the petals were quivering because of the wind, but I realized it was because Camilo was trembling.
He's so nervous…but he's trying his hardest for me…
As I took in the sweet scent of the flowers, it filled my heart.
Camilo: "Do you not like them?"
OO: "That's not it, I'm very happy. I'm just trying to think of how to thank you…"
I gently took the bouquet of flowers and smiled at him.
Camilo: "That smile is the best thanks you can give me."
My heart fluttered as I saw the shy look on his face.
Camilo: "I wasn't sure if red or white was better."
OO: "I'm glad you chose white. It's the same color as your wings."
Camilo: "Do you want to touch them?"
He slowly spread his grand wings out wide and stretched them towards me.
They were so beautiful and while I touched them, Camilo gave a start and shivered.
OO: "They're so soft."
I smiled sweetly, sheltered in the white of his wings and the flowers.
Camilo: "You're much softer. When I protected you, and we touched, that's what I thought. I didn't know girls could be so soft…"
OO: "Do you want to do it again?"
I unexpectedly interrupted him, and my whole body flushed red at the boldness of my own words.
Camilo: "…it's not a crime."
I nodded and Camilo slowly closed the distance between us.
Camilo: "These flowers really do suit you. No, maybe you're like a flower…you smell nice…and are soft like a flower petal…"
Camilo touched my hair, and his fingers slid down to my shoulder then stroked my arm.
Camilo: "I want to pluck you…"
His voice was husky as he whispered those words, and a sensation more like nectar than the sweetness of flowers started to envelop us.
END