Ch. 10: Building a New Town (SUN)
We had succeeding in driving the crows back, but the question that remained was…-.
Leeya: "In order to get this castle-turned-Giant Scarecrow back to where the castle was before… I'll have to start over from scratch. What's worse, the body isn't in perfect shape, and that means it'll probably stop moving on the way back."
Leeya stood there with a troubled look on his face, and began fiddling with his hat decorations.
He seems pretty worried…
OO: "Um…what about rebuilding the town instead, right here?"
I had an inkling, and the idea slipped out as soon as I'd thought of it.
Leeya: "Hah? That's ridiculous… No, wait a minute…"
Leeya's expression was still troubled, but gradually his eyes started to shine.
Leeya: "That might actually work!"
OO: "Really?"
My tone was hopeful as he jumped on board with the idea I'd suddenly had.
Leeya: "Actually, where the current town is, we've always had trouble with water supply. But here, that wouldn't ever be a problem. There's actually some merit to completely moving the whole town."
Villager 1: "Move…the town??"
Villager 2: "Will there be two towns?"
The villagers who were there started muttering about in confusion.
Within that noise, Leeya raised his voice to be heard.
Leeya: "Alright! I've decided to build a new town here! First off, we gotta secure the water supply. Then we'll build a wall using this huge scarecrow here as a starting point. Then, even if the crows come back, we'll have an easily-defensible structure!"
Leeya's eyes were bright, and he was animated as he spoke.
Suddenly…I remembered the wish Leeya had told me some time before.
Leeya: "Hey…if this plan goes well, and I'm able to get the country protected…I wanna go travelling like before. A journey like the old days, where I'd look for awesome things that'd make my heart sparkle…"
…even though he's not out travelling, I think he's got that same sparkle now.
Seeing his eyes then, sparkling and glittering with a brilliant intelligence and full of hope, that thought came to be unbidden…-.
A while after that…-.
The building of the new town was coming along well, and Leeya was getting along better with the villagers that he ever had before.
Before, he'd felt like they'd only ever rely on him but… I feel like now, they're really in this together.
That night, when the work on the town had finished…-.
I sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Leeya atop the scarecrow.
Leeya: "The sunset seen from this village…and from the old village…it's the same."
Leeya spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
Leeya: "Is it the same as the place you came from?"
OO: "Eh…?"
Leeya: "I bet…it's the same…"
Slowly, he pulled me into a tight embrace from behind.
OO: "U-um…"
Leeya: "Should I stop?"
OO: "…"
I couldn't find the words to reply, and I simply shook my head as I kept quiet.
He'll hear it…my heart is beating so loud.
I could feel a warmth against my back.
As I became more aware that the warmth was from Leeya, I felt my cheeks start to burn.
Leeya: "Ya know, you're interesting!"
OO: "Eh…?"
Leeya: "You're like me, in the way you have all these different ideas… But, since I'm a different person, I naturally think about different things… That's interesting."
OO: "U-um…"
I couldn't really fathom the meaning of his words, so I turned to look at him over my shoulder.
OO: "…!"
There was a light gentle touch, as soft as silk, as our lips met…
I was surprised, and in that moment we pulled apart. It had only lasted the blink of an eye…-.
Leeya: "Hehe, surprise attack…!"
He said it with a smile, and this Leeya here seemed more child-like than any time I'd seen him before…
He was mischievous…yet charming.
…I can't say anything.
My chest was full of the words I couldn't say, and Leeya held me a little tighter.
Then…a gentle singing drifted into my ears.
Leeya: "Tor-de-lide-o ~♪"
Such a happy…and kind singing voice.
I didn't know if I felt embarrassed or delighted, but…
I want to be like this…always.
That is what I thought as I listened to the singing close to my ear.
END