Ch. 3: A Single Moment's Smile
A calm, early afternoon…-.
There was the occasional gentle breeze that buffeted Haku's long, pale brown hair…-.
Our afternoon tea continued in silence other than the rise and fall of the wind.
Haku: "…"
OO: "…"
The conversation stopped…
Silence had fallen again following the end of our conversation about books we both liked.
I felt awkward and looked down at the table when…
…huh?
Haku had eaten all of the cookies I'd made.
OO: "…"
I wanted to ask if he liked them but…-.
Haku: "…"
Haku stood up in silence, and went back into the castle.
He ate all of them…
I felt a gentle warmth spread through my chest.
I stared at the empty plate for a little while…-.
The next day…-.
The sky was clear again, and the sunlight was peaceful as it poured down.
The wind feels nice…
As the wind caressed my cheek, I took a stroll through the courtyard. Yellow flowers, taking in the light of the sun, shone all the more brilliantly as they bloomed.
Such beautiful flowers…
As I bent down, I felt a silent gaze fall on me from above.
Looking up, I saw…
Haku: "…"
OO: "Haku…!"
Haku looked at me with the same expressionless face as yesterday.
[CHOICE]
-
Say something (SUN)
-
Be confused (MOON)
Haku: "…those flowers. Were you looking at the flowers?"
OO: "Ah…yes! I was just thinking how beautiful they were…"
Haku opened his mouth in surprise, and his voice came out cracked.
Haku: "They're…beautiful?"
Haku's expression still hadn't changed, but I saw his eyebrows rise slightly.
OO: "They're a very beautiful color…don't you think so?"
Haku: "I wouldn't know."
He mumbled his reply, and then suddenly started to walk off somewhere.
OO: "Um…"
Haku: "What?"
I called out to get him to stop without thinking…what now?
Haku: "…"
He stopped walking and stared directly at me.
Haku: "When you look at those flowers, do you feel happy?"
OO: "Eh..?"
Haku: "You look like you're happy."
Now I'm…kind of embarrassed.
Haku: "…come with me."
Saying so, he once again walked off in silence.
OO: "Eh…okay…!"
I stood up as well and followed after his broad back, his words having surprised me…
Accompanying Haku, we went around behind the castle and arrived in a meadow…-.
OO: "Wow…it's so beautiful…!"
The yellow flowers I had seen before were in full bloom, covering the entire meadow in a dazzling display.
Haku: "…beautiful…"
He watched me as my eyes sparkled and tilted his head.
For some reason, he looked so cute just then, and I unintentionally felt my face relax into a grin.
At that time…-.
OO: "Ah…"
A little ways away, a rabbit was looking at us.
OO: "Haku look, a bunny! It's so cute…!"
Haku: "…"
Though we were so close, the rabbit gave no sign of running away, so I picked it up in my arms.
OO: "Ah…"
While holding it, I realized one of the rabbit's legs had been injured.
OO: "Poor thing, you got hurt…I wonder if it was attacked by a stray dog or something…"
Haku: "…poor thing?"
Haku slowly came over to where I was with the rabbit, and inclined his head.
Haku: "Right now, what are you thinking?"
OO: "Eh…?
[CHOICE]
-
Sadness (SUN)
-
Pain (MOON)
Haku pondered something for a little while, then took the rabbit from me.
Haku: "Your words…they're an abstract expression that is difficult to understand. But should we take it back to the castle and treat it?"
Haku…
OO: "Yes!"
The rabbit, held in Haku's thin and elegant arms, nuzzled his head as if in thanks.
Haku: "…"
With a curious expression on his face, Haku stroked the rabbit's back.
OO: "It's very cute."
Haku: "Cute…"
Ah…
For a split second, Haku's eyes softened with kindness as he looked at the rabbit.
Haku: "I see, so this is cute."
My heart filled with joy as I saw Haku's smile for the first time.
As I noticed it, I naturally smiled as well.
OO: "Um…Haku…?"
OO: "…"
As his silent gaze fell on me, I just continued to blink in confusion.
OO: "…that the poor rabbit got hurt, and it makes me sad."
Haku: "Sad…"
OO: "That the rabbit is in pain, and that makes me hurt too."
Haku: "…"