Ch. 8: False Smile (MOON)
Doctor: “Lord Orion cut his own throat and gave you his blood…”
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One week after that…-.
It was morning, and the water sparkled as the song of the waves reached my ears…-.
OO: “Good morning, Orion.”
Orion had woken three days before, and since then I hadn’t left his side for a moment as I nursed him back to health.
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OO: “What do you mean…?”
As I looked at the injured Orion in shock, I questioned the man who appeared to be a doctor.
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Orion: “However, in order to get the ability to return to the surface… you’ll have to have an even deeper bond with a sea floor dweller.”
Orion: “You bear their child.”
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OO: “I was told that, in order to leave the bubble, I would need to bear the child of a sea dweller.”
Man: “…there is one other way. You can acquire the same power, if you are given a large amount of blood by the sea dweller.”
OO: “Eh…!?”
(Then Orion cut himself for me!? Orion’s blood saved me…)
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OO: “The water is very sparkly today. I’m sure it’s sunny and clear on the surface.
I gave Orion a bright smile.
Orion: “Yeah…”
OO: “What’s wrong? You don’t look very happy…”
At first, Orion had smiled in delight when I wouldn’t leave his side. But recently, his expression had clouded.
I wonder what’s wrong.
Though I thought it strange, I continued my daily duty of taking care of Orion.
I hid the small pain that pierced my heart…-.
…
……
That afternoon…-.
OO: “There sure are a lot of fish around today.”
I sat on the soft ground and watched happily as the beautiful, multi-colored fish swam by.”
Orion: “…hey.”
His voice sounded so frail as he murmured.
Orion: “You’ve got the power now. Get it? You can go back.”
OO: “…I know.”
Orion: “Then leave…I’ll just be miserable if you stay with me out of pity.”
Pity…?
Orion: “Before, you wouldn’t be what I wanted you to. But at least you didn’t look like this.”
OO: “Eh…?”
Orion: “…don’t show me such a sad smile. Surely you’re not worried that I didn’t actually give you my blood? It’s something I did for love… you don’t need to worry. And…it’s alright. Seeing the girl I like make that face makes my heart ache.”
I look sad…? I hadn’t… then what was the point of taking care of him…? I really am doing it because I want him to get better. I wonder if I should say… I want to patch things up.
Orion: “Leave… before I change my mind.”
I couldn’t go against his words.
The pain piercing my heart steadily grew stronger.