Ch. 7: True Feelings (MOON)
In an instant I spread my arms out to protect Luca, but Tiga didn’t lower his fist.
Tiga: “Are you gonna protect this guy!?”
Tiga seemed to give in to his anger as he yelled at me.
Under that angry gaze, I did my best to be brave and hold my ground.
OO: “That’s not it exactly, but please stop this.”
I looked at Tiga’s red, swollen fist.
As if noticing my gaze, Tiga suddenly lowered his right hand and hid it behind his back.
Tiga…
I turned to Luca and returned the borrowed jacket.
OO: “Thanks, it helped.”
Luca: “…what the hell.”
Tiga: “OO! We’re leaving!”
OO: “Alright.”
As Tiga and I returned to the castle, we didn’t say anything to each other along the way.
I’m sure he’s angry.
In the end, we arrived at the castle without exchanging a single word, and Tiga went into his room.
I wonder if his hand is alright…
I chased after him and knocked on the door to his room, but there was no answer.
OO: “Tiga please…open the door.”
The door opened slowly and Tiga appeared.
Tiga: “What do you want?”
I took Tiga’s right hand and looked at the back.
Like I thought, it’s swollen.
Tiga: “…”
Tiga awkwardly averted his gaze.
OO: “Let me treat your hand.”
I sat on the bed with Tiga and iced the injury on his right hand.
As I treated it, Luca’s words came back to my me.
Luca: "I mean, OO is the Princess of Träumere after all. What's the harm in wanting to get along with her, you know? Well, that's why I don't have any interest in that girl other than that. She's so unsophisticated, definitely not my type."
He’s right… I’ve always been indifferent to castles and the extravagant parties because I had a normal life, but looking at it from Tiga and Luca’s perspective, it’s natural they’d think that way…even so, Tiga went so far as to get injured because of me…
Those feelings filled my heart and became unbearable.
Tiga: “Don’t let it get to you.”
Tiga spoke to me bluntly as I had my eyes downcast.
OO: “…eh?”
Tiga: “Don’t worry about what Luca said. You’re not a bad person.”
…Tiga…
OO: “Yeah…thanks.”
Tiga: “You didn’t actually like that guy did you?”
OO: “Eh!? No, that’s not it.”
Tiga: “Then what is it?”
OO: “…I’m sorry, you got hurt because of me.”
Tiga: “I did what I wanted to do. Besides, Luca was using you to get ahead of me. I caused trouble for you too.”
OO: “…it wasn’t a problem.”
Tiga’s expression was a little pained, different from his usual smiling face, and that made me feel even more sad.
Feeling that, my eyes fell to the ground when…
Tiga: “…oh come on!”
As if in irritation, Tiga grabbed my shoulders as I continued to look at the ground.
OO: “T…Tiga?”
Tiga: “Tell me everything you’re thinking! I’ll hear you out! So, don’t make that face.”
Tiga…
OO: “I don’t…want you to make that face either.”
As I felt as if I would be sucked into his red eyes, I spoke from my heart.
Tiga: “OO…”
Saying as much, Tiga’s face turned slightly red.
OO: “Also…I was sad, wondering if the only worth I had was as the Princess of Träumere. You see, before I came to this world I was a completely ordinary, regular girl, and seeing me the way you and Luca do…I really am just…”
Tiga listened to what I had to say and for an instant, his eyes went wide, but…
Tiga: “That’s it?”
Finally he let out a big sigh.
Tiga?
Tiga: “That’s what it was…”
Tiga looked straight into my eyes and smiled.
Tiga: “Listen, leave everything to me.”
…Tiga?
My heart started pounding as I looked at Tiga, brimming with confidence.