Ch. 5: Now, You Part of Group! (MOON)
I watched the children, bathed in the warm sunlight, and a large hand wrapped itself around mine.
OO: "…!"
I reflexively looked down at Randa who was lying beside me.
Not realizing he'd startled me, Randa brought my hand up to his nose.
Randa: "You, smell good."
Randa gripped my hand, as if trying to check something, with his large, rough hands.
Randa: "Soft too!"
OO: "R-Randa?"
Randa: "Smell like flower!"
OO: "That's…probably because there are flowers blooming around us."
Randa: "Different!"
He lifted his head for a moment, then placed his head back down on my knee.
OO: "Uh, um."
Randa: "Your smell!"
My heart started to pound loudly as I felt his weight on my knee.
OO: "Randa…"
Randa reached out a long arm and stroked my cheek…
I felt my heart start to beat even faster.
Randa: "Soft!"
He gently pinched my cheek with his fingers.
OO: "H..Hyanda?"
Randa: "Funny voice!"
He stroked my cheek again, laughing heartily.
OO: "It's because you were pinching my cheeks."
After I had done that and made him laugh, my voice suddenly went high again as I spoke, and Randa laughed again.
Randa: "You funny! When you here, I happy!"
OO: "I am too."
I returned his smile, charmed by what he'd said.
But suddenly, the smile vanished from Randa's face.
OO: "?"
Randa: "You, go home?"
OO: "I…"
The feast is already over, and I was thinking it was time I get going but…
At Randa's question, I felt a strange sense of loneliness, and I looked around me.
I thought of the torches from the feast, how they had been so dazzling and bright.
Of the laughter of the children.
Of the forest illuminated by the rays of the sun.
It feels kind of sad.
Randa looked at me, and his eyes seemed to be trying to coax an answer out of me.
It was almost like the look of a small child who wants to continue playing with their friend…-
OO: "Is it alright if I come and play again?"
I asked before I realized what I was saying.
Randa: "Of course!"
At that, Randa's smile flashed.
OO: "Thank you."
Randa: "You already part of group! Must come play!"
OO: "I will!"
He moved his hand away from my cheek and roughly rubbed my head.
Randa: "I come get you!"
OO: "Alright…"
Part of the group…
As I felt the warmth in those words, I put my hand atop Randa's.