Ch. 5: Listening to His Story (MOON)
Stimma looked up at the sky.
A single star had started to shine.
I wonder if Stimma thinks of me like a sister…
Thinking that, I felt a little sad.
At that time, Stimma gave a big yawn.
Stimma: "S-sorry! I was up late last night working on some government business so I…"
I saw tears prick at the corners of his eyes from being tired, and he smiled innocently.
Seeing him like that, my heart started to pound again.
Stimma: "I can't believe I'm this tired even though I just woke up."
Stimma said that, and flopped down onto the lawn with his legs and arms stretched out.
I slowly eased myself down as well when…
OO: "…!"
Stimma put his head on my lap.
OO: "S-Stimma…?"
I couldn't get my heart to calm down as I felt his weight on my legs.
Stimma: "…for some reason, I can relax when you're here OO. I thought you were like a younger sister but…"
OO: "…"
I felt my cheeks flush as I waited for him to continue…-
Stimma: "I think you're more like an older sister."
I felt all the tension drain from my body.
An older sister…
Stimma: "This lap pillow is nice. I've never done this before. I wonder if I should do it with my brothers too. If Lied hadn't helped me with that work I'd been doing, I wouldn't have been able to finish it. He's really dependable. Lied…"
If I remember right…Lied is Stimma's cousin.
Stimma: "It'd be really reassuring to have him as my right hand man. But I can't seem to talk to him about it."
OO: "Is that why you always seem so hesitant when you talk to him?"
Stimma: "Yeah…pretty pathetic huh? I get worried because I don't know what he's thinking."
OO: "Stimma…"
Stimma: "But I'm the oldest! I can't turn my back on my brothers."
Stimma's eyes sparkled like the stars.
Stimma: "I wonder how to help make Flu's voice louder. And Rufen…he's honest, and always the life of the party. But I wonder how to help him calm down when he's faced with opposition. Lied, he's really smart, but he's a bit unusual."
He only talks about his brothers…
Stimma: "But they're dear to me."
OO: "I can tell."
Stimma: "You seem kind of down, what's wrong?"
OO: "N-nothing…"
Stimma: "Strange. I really feel like I can talk to you about anything. Can I talk to you about my brothers more when I need advice!?"
Stimma's cheerful voice resounded in my ears.
Well…I guess this is alright for now.
I wanted to hear his voice more, so I decided to lend an ear.
Stimma: "And then…"
The lights in the garden started to come on.
And that warm, gentle light fell on the two of us.
END