Ch. 1: In the Brilliance of a Skyscraper
The nightscape spread before me, the perfect image of a jewelry box that had been tipped over.
OO: "It’s beautiful…"
I spoke without thinking, and Kotohogi turned his emerald-green eyes on me.
Kotohogi: "’m glad you like it."
The nightscape, and Kotohogi’s smiling face, and his pleasantly soft voice in my ear…
I smiled peacefully, my reflection in the window.
OO: "Thank you for bringing me to such a beautiful place."
Kotohogi: "I was awoken by the Princess of Träumere. How could I do anything less?"
Saying so, he placed his right hand over his chest and executed a perfect bow.
…This is the Kingdom of Amatsu.
As thanks for waking Kotohogi, I had been invited here and was inside a skyscraper, as if in a dream.
Kotohogi quietly exchanged words with the bartender, and before long a glass was set in front of me.
Kotohogi: "I had them make this with you in mind."
I took a sip of the peach-colored liquid that filled the glass.
OO: "…it’s good!"
The champaign cocktail tasted of berries, and on the other side of the glass, Kotohogi seemed pleased as he smiled.
Kotohogi: "However, this isn’t enough to thank you for waking me…let me show you around the kingdom."
While looking at the townscape full of shining, multicolored lights, my chest swelled in anticipation.
I didn’t know what his intentions were behind that refined smile.