Ch. 2: Catching the Starry Sky
Guido took hold of my arm and jumped off the veranda into the night sky.
We’ll fall…!
Fearing the impact, I tightly shut my eyes.
However…
Huh…?
Though I clenched my teeth and braced for the impact, it never came.
What’s going on…?
Guido: "Please open your eyes, kitten♠"
OO: "Eh…?"
I cautiously opened my eyes and…
My vision was filled with the starry sky, full of glittering lights.
OO: "We’re flying…?"
Guido: "Now that’s a good expression."
Landing on the partition of a building, Guido searched for the next landing spot and leapt.
OO: "It’s like we’re flying through the starry sky…"
My heart was pounding and my chest felt light.
Guido: "Are you enjoying it?"
OO: "Yes…it’s like a dream!"
Guido: "Maybe it is a dream…"
OO: "Eh…?"
Looking up at Guido, I saw the eyes in the depths of his mask looking at me.
Guido: "Perhaps everything, me and this landscape, are all a dream seen by you, kitten◆"
If it’s this lovely…I don’t mind…
…
……
Guido alighted on a tall tower that stood out against the rest of the city.
Guido: "We’re here."
From the tower, I could see the glow of the town far into the distance, twinkling and shimmering like the Milky Way.
Guido: "Now then, please hold on to me and sit here."
Holding on to Guido, I sat down on the rim of the tower.
He moved and sat beside me.
OO: "It’s beautiful…"
I gazed at the stars, but my eyes kept drifting to the depths of his mask.
I wonder what his face looks like under the mask…
Guido: "If you gaze at me so intently, you’re sure to bore a hole in me."
OO: "S-Sorry!"
Guido: "Are you so interested? In this mask?"
[CHOICE]
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Yes (SUN)
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Avert gaze (MOON)
Guido: "Now then, what shall I do? If that is your wish, I want to grant it but…right now I cannot♠ You see, people who witness my true face are afflicted with a terrible curse!"
OO: "…!"
I gasped.
Then there was a clicking noise as Guido placed his forehead against mine.
Guido: "But I guess there’s nothing to be done if you’ve fallen so in love with me that you don’t mind being cursed…"
His eyes in the depths of the mask looked at me in amusement.
I felt my face flush.
Guido: "I’m only joking! I think I became a little drunk on the stars just now."
He returned his gaze to the starry sky.
Before our eyes, the stars twinkled quietly.
…
……
OO: "Hm…m…"
The sound of birds chirping tickled my ears, and I slowly opened my eyes.
Huh…?
On top of the bed, I could see morning light flooding in from the veranda.
It was all a dream…
I went out on the veranda and looked out over the bustle of the town.
Suddenly, I noticed a single yellow flower and an envelope on the banister.
OO: "This flower is…a mimosa…?"
I opened the paper from inside the envelope.
A time and place was written in an elegant script.
OO: "Is this…an invitation?"
Did Guido leave it here? Then it wasn’t a dream…!
I happily held the invitation and flower close to my chest.
A faint sweet smell drifted out from the lovely mimosa flower.
OO: "Yes."
Guido: "You’re quite an honest little kitten."
Unable to look him in the eye, I averted my gaze.
Guido: "It's a little late for that, kitten◆"