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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: "…"

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