Ch. 8: True Love (MOON)
After that…-
Tiga had suddenly announced they were going to host another party.
Tiga: “Listen, leave everything to me.”
This is for the party?
Taking the dress that had been chosen for me, I attended the party with Tiga.
It’s a beautiful dress…
The dress Tiga had chosen for me was red with a lovely ribbon affixed to the back.
Tiga: “Oh right.”
Tiga went around to my back and put a necklace with a beautiful jewel that matched the color of the dress on me.
OO: “…!”
His hand brushed the nape of my neck and my heart started pounding.
Tiga: “This jewel will give you confidence.”
OO: “Eh?”
Tiga: “Alright, let’s go!”
Tiga fastened the necklace, then took my hand and escorted me.
Tiga: “This is your seat.”
OO: “…eh!?”
This is…
The place Tiga had guided me to was a chair up on a platform, next to his.
OO: “Tiga, this is…-“
Tiga: “Listen up, just stick out your chest.”
OO: “B-but…”
Tiga: “First up, let’s dance.”
OO: “Wait, I…-“
Tiga pulled me along without letting me finish, and took me as far as the center of the party hall.
I can’t possible dance in the middle of everyone.
All of the guests fixed their eyes on Tiga and me.
Tiga: “It’ll be fine, just leave it to me.”
OO: “Even if you say that, what on earth…”
Surrounded by all those people…suddenly, Tiga embraced me.
OO: “…!”
Wrapped up in Tiga’s arms, I could sense the people talking.
What…what’s going on?
Tiga: “Alright, everyone listen up! Anyone who wants to use OO or get close to her is gonna pay.”
OO: “…!”
Tiga: “Got it!?”
In Tiga’s strong embrace, my heart started beating so fast that it hurt…-
...
……
After the party, I returned to my room.
Tiga…he was encouraging me because I was feeling so depressed.
I took up the red jewel on the necklace Tiga had put on me and gazed at its brilliance when…
Tiga: “I’m coming in.”
I heard Tiga’s voice and the door opened.
I went to meet Tiga at the door, and he put his hand on my head.
Tiga: “And with that, you won’t get any insects attaching themselves to you.”
Tiga…
OO: “Thank you, for encouraging me. You did all that for someone like me…”
Tiga: “You…”
And then, Tiga’s kind smile that he’d had for some time now vanished.
I wonder what’s wrong.
Tiga: “You don’t get it at all.”
OO: “…eh?”
Tiga: “Don’t go saying things like that.”
Tiga’s red eyes flickered as if they burned with flames.
OO: “Tiga…?”
Tiga: “Since you don’t get it, I’ll tell you.”
Saying so, Tiga suddenly pressed me against the wall.
OO: “Ah…”
Tiga: “Why do you think I did that especially for you?”
His fingers gently stroked my cheek.
Tiga: “Isn’t it obvious? It’s because I like you.”
OO: “…”
My mind went completely blank, and it was as if time had stopped.
Tiga: “It has nothing to do with you being the Princess of Träumere. Do you not believe me?”
His eyes that looked straight at me were quite beautiful and…
OO: “That’s not it.”
I shook my head.
Tiga: “I like you…not as the Princess of Träumere, but as you, as OO.”
OO: “Tiga…”
My heart beat loud in my chest.
And then his eyes drew closer…-
OO: “Nn…”
He kissed me, hard…-
I could think of nothing else other than the feeling of warmth from his lips.
Tiga…
Before long, his lips pulled away, and I realized I hadn’t been breathing.
Tiga: “Just believe what I said.”
His voice seemed far away as my mind was still in a haze.
OO: “I do…!”
Tiga looked into my face and smiled at me with a gentle expression I hadn’t seen before.
That expression made my heart feel incredibly light…
OO: “I do too…”
In my heart, that was the one conclusion I came to.
OO: “I like you too Tiga. …Thank you.”
His feelings made me happy, and I smiled at him with as much confidence as I possibly could.
Tiga: “Silly. I already knew that.”
Tiga’s expression seemed to be satisfied.
The light of the evening sun shone through the window, illuminating Tiga, and I could feel that warmth.
END