Ch. 6: A Prince Only For You (MOON)
After being rescued by Kotohogi...
He pulled me by the hand, quickly going further from the castle.
OO: "Is it alright to not go back?"
Everything was still a little fuzzy from the chemicals.
Kotohogi: "It’s fine."
He spoke without any hesitation and squeezed my hand.
Kotohogi: "Right now, it’s dangerous for you to be anywhere near my Father. And besides... There’s something I want to talk with you about OO."
OO: "...Kotohogi."
Kotohogi: "Let’s go."
As he held my hand, I went with him.
We came to a mansion, smaller than the castle, but still full of splendor.
OO: "Where are…?"
Kotohogi: "My villa."
Kotohogi smiled in amusement, and at his feet were emerald green potted plants shining in the moonlight.
Kotohogi: "There’s something I want to tell you."
His gaze shifted from the plants to me, and he slowly began to speak.
Kotohogi: "Until today, I didn’t have a will of my own...no, I believed I couldn’t have one. You said I didn’t want to fight with Mei. You’re right."
OO: "…Kotohogi, I don’t think you want to be at odds with Mei."
OO: "Kotohogi..."
He smiled bitterly.
Kotohogi: "Yeah, I’ve never liked it. But as the prince, I made excuses for myself and couldn’t face the truth. And there wasn’t anyone around me to tell me differently. I was always Father’s...the country’s puppet..."
Saying that, Kotohogi stood in front of me.
Kotohogi: "But talking with you...I realized you had started to open my heart. It’s strange, and it made me glad."
OO: "Kotohogi..."
A bright light shone in his eyes.
Kotohogi: "It made me very happy and..."
OO: "I’m really happy too."
I said that and smiled, then...
Suddenly, Kotohogi kissed my fingers.
OO: "…!"
It felt like an electric current spreading up from my fingers.
Kotohogi: "I won’t ever let Father meddle in your life again. So, will you talk to me more…?"
His voice sounded as if he was pleading, and I looked at him...and was caught up in his eyes, the same emerald color as the necklace he’d given me.
OO: "K-Kotohogi."
Kotohogi: "...yes?"
His face...it’s close.
OO: "I-I’m just kind of nervous, and don’t know what to say..."
Kotohogi: "...is your heart pounding? …mine is too. It’s the first time I’ve felt like this. Listening to you, seeing you smile, you’ve filled me. I want to touch you. I wonder what I should do. If I don’t, I'll get anxious."
This time, he gave me a single kiss on the cheek. Feeling the heat of his lips, my cheeks turned red in embarrassment.
Kotohogi: "...you’re cute."
OO: "Kotohogi..."
Kotohogi: "Won’t you look at me OO?"
His voice was pleading and I turned to look at him, and his eyes seemed to waver silently as if waiting for me to speak.
OO: "...did you figure out what you desire?"
Kotohogi: "Yeah."
OO: "Good. Now I can thank you for the emerald necklace. Please, let me help."
Kotohogi: "...thank you. I’m going to stop burying my head in the sand and only acting the part of a prince. Even if this country were to cease to be, I will fight my father."
OO: "Kotohogi..."
Kotohogi: "Oh, there’s one other thing I desire."
OO: "What’s that?"
I asked, and Kotohogi giggled.
Kotohogi: "Will you let me be your only prince?"
Eh…?
OO: "I don’t..."
Without letting me finish, he pressed his lips to mine.
My head spun at the feeling of such intense passion, and I could do nothing more than accept the feelings that had bloomed within Kotohogi.
END