Ch. 6: The Gentle Town (MOON)
The town was plunged into darkness, and the neon lights had started to come on.
Sky and I continued to move through the crowd of people.
I’m getting a little tired…
Sky: "You gettin’ tired? Sorry…we’ve been doin’ nothin’ but run this whole time."
OO: "N-no! I’m sorry too, for having you protect me."
Sky: "Protect you, huh…"
Sky smiled a little but it seemed full of self-ridicule.
Sky: "You know…the truth is…I don’t turn my gun on people. Remember before? I said I’m a disappointment of a guy. Well, I really am. Really…I’m a laughin’ stock. I can’t handle bloody conflicts."
Sky looked at his gun in disgust.
Sky: "It’d be better if I didn’t use this murderous tool at all."
OO: "Sky…you’re not a disappointment."
I thought about what had happened since we met.
He had been protecting me, and worrying about me…
OO: "Sky, you’re the kindest person in the whole world."
Sky: "W-why you…don’t go sayin’ embarrasin’ stuff like that!"
OO: "Maybe your exaggerations are rubbing off on me."
Sky: "…oh is that it…"
I smiled, and Sky seemed to consider something for a moment as he looked at me. Then he suddenly got to his feet, readied his gun, and moved me out of site.
Sky: "Listen up. You hide here…that guy’s comin’."
OO: "Sky!?"
Sky: "I’m pretty tired of runnin’. If I hadn’t underestimated that guy, he wouldn’t be targeting you now."
OO: "But that’s…!"
Sky: "Just stay here, and keep quiet."
W-will he be alright…?
His face loosened a little, and he pulled my head to his chest.
Sky: "Don’t look at me like that…I’ll protect you, for sure."
Sky loaded a bullet into his gun.
OO: "But you just said…"
He said he didn’t want to use it on people.
Sky: "I’ll just threaten him a bit."
OO: "Sky…"
Sky: "It’ll be fine. Trust me."
OO: "…alright."
As I stared into his earnest eyes, I couldn’t manage any other reply.
Sky smiled at me, then released me from his arms.
Sky: "Hey! I know you’re there! Come on out, I’ll take you on."
Yelling out suddenly, Sky moved away from the hiding place.
Man With Skull Earrings: "He~y! You just been runnin’ around all day, but now you’re ready to face me?"
Smirking, the man got out of his car.
Man With Skull Earrings: "Mr. Coward, terrible at shooting a gun but great at running away♪"
…in the next instant…
Two shots, one after the other, rang out.
Man With Skull Earrings: "…"
OO: "…!?"
I nervously poked my head out, and saw the man standing there with his eyes wide and his hand over his right ear.
Man With Skull Earrings: "Why you…"
The man removed his hand, and I could see that the eyes of the skull on his right ear had become deformed.
Sky: "I may be a coward but…I’m a real good shot. Course, this is my first time shootin’ someone. But I don’t think anyone’s gonna give much thought to a piece of shit like you who goes around makin’ a pass at OO."
Sky’s voice was cold.
Man With Skull Earrings: "Damn…"
The man ran back to his car and sped off.
Soon, the engine noise faded into the distance and…
Sky fell to his knees on the spot.
I flew from my hiding spot and rushed to him.
OO: "Sky! Oh thank goodness…! It turned out ok."
Sky: "Told ya. I was just gonna threaten him."
As he spoke, Sky gently leaned his head against my shoulder.
OO: "Sky? Are you ok!? Did you get hurt…-!?"
Sky: "Sorry…just lend me your shoulder a bit. I really am no good at shootin’ people…I got no strength left in me."
As he smiled weakly, I gently placed my hand on his cheek.
Sky: "I’d rather that guy didn’t come back~. But no matter how many times he does, I’ll take him on…"
Resting like that, Sky closed his eyes for a little while.
For some reason, that weight on my shoulder made me really happy…
…
……
That evening…
We had arrived back at Sky’s home, and I watched his profile after he’d fallen asleep on the sofa.
I gently brushed away the strands of hair on his forehead, and he started to wake up.
Sky: "…what’re you doin’?"
OO: "Sorry, did I wake you?"
Sky: "…it’s fine. It’s just, you don’ that is…kinda…"
Could he…
OO: "…like we’re a pair of lovers?"
I spoke the thought out loud, and Sky’s face turned bright red.
Sky: "Tha…! What the hell are you sayin’!? I wasn’t…"
He panicked and rushed to deny it, all while the redness spread up to his ears.
Seeing Sky like that, I couldn’t help laughing.
OO: "Your face is red. You’re a pretty shy person, aren’t you Sky."
As I continued to giggle, Sky glared at me in embarrassment.
Sky: "…oh shut up."
Then, Sky suddenly grabbed my hand and jerked me towards him.
OO: "…!"
I fell half on top of him as he lay on the couch.
Our faces were incredibly close, and my heart lept.
Sky: "Now your face is red."
OO: "…oh be quiet."
I went to move away, but he put his hand behind my back.
Sky: "…that’s right. We look like lovers."
OO: "Eh…"
The beating of my heart sped up.
Sky: "Aaaand that means, I’m gonna do this."
Under my chest, I could feel Sky’s heart beating incredibly fast.
My eyes travelled around the room beyond his arms and…
They fell on the small snow globe, sitting on the desk. Within it was frozen in time the town I had walked through with him.