Ch. 9: Sunset Necklace (MOON)
Orion: “Leave… before I change my mind.”
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The next day…-.
Orion: “…take care.”
An emissary had been dispatched to escort me as I was supposed to return to the surface. Now the time had come, and I met with Orion for a final farewell.
OO: “You too…”
In the end, I had been unable to put a name to the feeling growing in my heart, and I smiled faintly.
Orion: “I told you… don’t give me that smile.”
Orion’s eyes looked so sad as the smile he had mentioned crossed my face.
My heart ached again.
Orion: “…I’m sorry, for manipulating you… Here.”
Saying as much, Orion presented me with the shell necklace…
As that unnamed emotion came barreling to the front, my breath caught.
Orion: “Just go…”
I quietly bowed my head, then was guided out of the bubble by the emissary.
Up and up…
Further and further away from the Undersea Kingdom.
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Orion: “What’s wrong with telling the person you love that you love them?”
Orion: “What’s wrong with wanting to be close to the woman I want to marry?”
Orion: “To happen to meet the person you love from the bottom of your heart is a miracle, right?”
Orion: “I don’t want to have any regrets.”
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My chest felt like it was being crushed.
As I got closer to the surface, I could see the water stained in the colors of the sunset.
I tightly gripped the shell necklace that was the color of the setting sun.
OO: “…please, stop!”
I had said it before I’d even realized it.