Ch. 3: A Snow Globe
Sky led the way into a building, and I was greeted with a refreshing scent.
OO: "This is where you live?"
Sky: "Yeah, sorry it’s kinda dreary. Sit wherever."
The room was pretty Spartan, but incredibly clean and organized.
…I’m kind of surprised.
Sky: "You look like you wanna say you’re surprised."
OO: "Eh!? I-I wasn’t…"
Sky: "It’s fiiine. I know I look kinda rough. Like just now. I called you out here and put you in a bad situation."
Again, Sky took a cigarette from his coat pocket and held it in his mouth.
OO: "But even then, you still protected me Sky."
Sky: "Y-yeah."
Sky smiled slightly and his face turned red as his eyes darted around. For some reason, I felt embarrassed and looked around the room when…
OO: "Ah, is…that your motorcycle?"
In a corner of the room, my eyes landed on a small black motorbike. The body was narrow and it had an unusual shape.
Sky: "T-that’s…"
OO: "Wow, you can ride a motorcycle!"
Sky: "…"
OO: "Even in the world I came from, I couldn’t ride one."
Sky: "…I can’t either."
OO: "Eh?"
Sky: "I can’t ride a motorcycle."
OO: "But that’s…"
Sky: "It’s a remodeled bicycle."
OO: "A bike…"
Sky: "B-but! This baby handles way better than an awkward motorcycle! Cause I made it that way!"
Sky argued vehemently and suddenly his unlit cigarette was right in my face.
Sky: "… right now, I bet you’re thinking I’m a disappointment."
[CHOICE]
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I think you’re interesting (SUN)
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That’s not true… (MOON)
Sky: "Well, that’s just who I am. I even get made fun of by that guy I look after."
OO: "Someone you look after?"
Sky: "Yeah…my family’s other kid. We’re unfortunately inseparable."
Sky’s eyes suddenly became distant.
Sky: "It’s not a very happy story. For some reason, he’s hiding out in the town right now rather than living in the castle."
OO: "Then…you moved to the city because of him?"
Sky: "Yeah…I’m gonna ask you not to tell anyone. It’ll cause trouble if people find out. Well, that’s how it is. I’m a real disappointment of a guy. Really…I’m laughable."
Sky gave a self-deprecating laugh.
OO: "Sky?"
Sky: "…ah, sorry. It’s nothin’."
Saying so, Sky suddenly stood up from the sofa and stood in front of me.
He’s tall…
I suddenly became aware of that fact as I looked up at him.
Sky: "Anyway, that’s why I’m real grateful to you. If you hadn’t woken me up…I wouldn’t be able to take care of him again. Y-you’re…like, my goddess."
His declaration made me feel embarrassed, just as he looked embarrassed as well.
[CHOICE]
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You’re exaggerating (SUN)
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And you’re my guardian protector (MOON)
Then he rummaged around in his pocket and took out something.
Sky: "…here."
He bluntly handed it to me and it was…
OO: "What’s this?"
Sky: "A thanks…sorta."
It was a small snow globe. The town from earlier was trapped within as the snow sparkled and danced down around it.
Sky: "It’s the night scenery you were starin’ at before. When I was coming up to meet you, I saw you kinda in a daze as you looked around at the town."
Because it looks like the world I came from…
Sky: "I stopped to buy it at a stand, and so I was later getting to you. Sorry."
OO: "…"
His regard for me made me happy, and I felt a warmth fill my chest.
Sky: "W-well, that’s that…just take it. How much longer you gonna keep lookin’ at me…i-it’s embarrassing you know!?"
OO: "Thanks, I’m really happy."
I spoke my thanks as I took the small snow globe, and Sky gave an embarrassed smile.
Sky: "G-good! I’m uh…relieved…that you like it. Ah…oh yeah, do you wanna use the bath? You gotta be tired after everything.
Wait right here, I’ll get it ready."
OO: "Ah…"
Before I could offer to do it, he’d gone into the bathroom.
Sitting on the sofa, I shook the snow globe…. and again, the powdered snow fell incessantly onto the evening town.
It’s so pretty…
I felt all warm for some reason, and before long I had dozed it.
OO: "T-that’s not true!"
Sky: "It’s fine, you can say it. It’s true, isn’t it?"
Sky rubbed the back of his head and gave a little laugh of embarrassment.
OO: "W-what. You’re exaggerating!"
Sky: "…I-I’m not embarrassed!"
OO: "I didn’t say you were!"
With that back and forth, the two of us started laughing.
OO: "A-and Sky…you’re, um, my guardian protector."
I replied with that even though I knew it was embarrassing.
Sky: "…you…d-don’t go sayin’ embarrassing stuff like that!!"
His face turned bright red and his eyes opened wide in surprise.
OO: "I think you’re an interesting person."
Sky: "Wha…! I-interesting!?"
Sky’s face went bright red, and I couldn’t help myself from giggling.
Sky: "Why you…think you’re pretty funny."