『Undo me』

A chapter of the story began....on a clear sky day.

A shrine is a sacred and peaceful place where people of faith maintain their worship and pray for blessings.

Bump!

Tsurune's voice pierced the silent air from a young man as beautiful as a picture in the literature of the gods. The black kimono (Kyudo's Ogasawara Ceremony) that represents the elegant and strong image of a high-ranking nobleman makes it impossible to take your eyes off.

The slender, powerful left arm slowly and steadily pushed the bow forward. The right hand that held the tip of the dart tightened the bowstring, ready to shoot, and a split second later, the dart was released. loud

Bump!

And the sound of the tsurune from the young man's beautiful bow would continue to sound as every dart was fired with precision, hitting the center of the target over and over again.

Shinjuku Station

At any time of the day, this station is always crowded with many people coming to use the train station, but that's probably because this is the central point of all the train lines in Tokyo. It's related too.

A tall, slim, bespectacled young man who looked clumsy as he couldn't find his way out of the station because he was here for the first time.

He also appeared alone. What's the matter with an unfamiliar language (I can barely read a single letter?) But with a strong desire, he came here with determination despite I don't know anything about this place at all, but for one reason:

“You have to go to that place.” It was enough to give this man the courage and readiness to face every obstacle that was thrown his way.

Even though it takes a lot of time wandering around to find a way out from that point, even though it's tiring, it's fun. It's a colorful life in a different way~ It's very exciting.

…really?

“Sigh...” I can't handle it like this. It's been almost two hours since I've been wandering around this station. That's enough. Stop trying on your own and you should turn to others.

Throw away that stupid attitude!

“Taxi!” Yes, taxi drivers are the best answer in times of difficulty and exhaustion like right now.

You can surrender to your stubbornness and overconfidence, otherwise you probably won't make it to the hotel today.

The next time, I was in a room at a popular hotel located in the heart of the famous Shinjuku area.

“Ah~~” Lying in the water like this felt crazy good, so I was right in deciding to take a taxi here. “After this...is it a good idea to go there?”

The young man looked thoughtful. He was thinking about what he had to do after resting his body and recovering from the fatigue of traveling for several hours.

“Adventure? Ah...just thinking about it makes me feel happy.”

Same time at the shrine

“Lord Yuki, your archery skills are still as beautiful as ever today.” A tall young man in a dark suit, who looked like a strict and orderly person, greeted the man with polite words. A handsome young man with the honor of being a lord had just walked out of the kyudo dojo with a calm and collected expression.

“No matter how much I praise you, I still have nothing to offer except thank you.” A soft voice like that of a calm person answered the older man politely as well, “Anyway, I'll excuse myself. Go take a shower and change clothes first, Rio-san.”

"Then I'll go wait for Yuki-sama in the car." Rio bowed respectfully to his boss before the two of them walked off in separate directions.

Later time…

“Today's schedule is just to attend a meeting of the management team at Shinjuku Central Hall at 2:30 p.m. Well, there's still time now... Yuki-sama, would you like to stop by a coffee shop first? No?”

"Good. Drinking a cup of coffee before going to work is not a bad idea."

"understand"

Same time at the hotel

A young man with glasses who has fully recharged his batteries is now ready to go out into the world in the famous Shinjuku area.

“This afternoon sunshine...isn't it cold?” he muttered, tightening his long coat as he walked out to the front of the road at the crossing. Zebra crossing at a large intersection near Shinjuku Station encountered a strong gust of cold wind. This afternoon it was cold and windy.

"Ah~ It's so cold. Knowing this, it would have been nice to take out a scarf too." He could only complain at his own carelessness before smiling and laughing as he thought of himself for being so crazy.

It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. Anyway, coming out so far and then walking back to Rome just to wrap one around my neck wouldn't make sense. Man, this cold can't kill us. Let's keep moving forward. Don't worry about little things. We have a big goal to conquer. There's no turning back now.

Again at Shinjuku Station....

“Ah… I was so complacent that I made a mistake.” A long sigh, like someone who regrets his own mistake because he was too carefree and didn't foresee the possibility that it might happen in the future. At that time it was a mistake that happened again…

Well, even though he had missed his first goal, it wasn't that what he wanted to conquer could only be there.

"It's okay if you missed that place. Minato District still exists... I'm not giving up yet," he said encouragingly, then picked up the train ticket and looked at it and smiled. Untiring determination

“Um, so we have to hurry and get there before 6 p.m.!”

Ah, it's already a little past three in the afternoon. Hmm... From Shinjuku there by train doesn't take long, so I'm sure I'll be able to make it in time.

Another side of the conference room in Shinjuku Central Hall.

“This meeting is a great honor for Yuki-sama to be able to attend the meeting with us in person. As the chairman of this meeting, I am truly honored.”

“President Fujiwara, I would also like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your importance to me.” Yuki stood up and bowed to President Fujiwara as well.

“Uncle Yuki is always so polite and humble. You are an admirable man.” Members of the senior management all spoke, praising the young man's gentleness.

Even though Yuki had a higher status than anyone else in this place, he never showed any inappropriate behavior.

Only the coolness and calmness of a well-trained noble could be felt from this person.

And this is the image that everyone respects and respects him as a human being who has the power of the divine guardian.

Time had passed until the evening of the day.

“Ah, eating something delicious like this after chasing your goal all day helps relieve your tiredness~” The glasses guy said softly to himself with the happiest look on his face today.

Come to think of it, how many times has he wandered astray today?

Ah, it is such a unique and indescribable feeling to face the challenges that must be overcome today.

It was a memorable experience. Even though it came with intense physical fatigue, it was worth it because he had achieved his goal. (Smiles proudly)

In front of the cashier counter...a big problem has occurred!?

“H———-?!!!” It couldn't be true that something like this would happen right now!

“The total payment is 3400 yen.” The cashier informed the bespectacled young customer (a fun adventurer) with a smile on his face.

“Uh....” The bespectacled young man sweated and his expression was clearly distressed when he learned of another cruel fact today that he had lost his wallet!

“Ah, customer...” The employee saw the expression and expression that looked like someone who had encountered a big problem of the young customer in front of him and was able to guess what exactly had happened to him.

"Uh...that's...I..." The bespectacled young man started to frantically stop moving back and forth like a person who couldn't find a solution to what had happened and the pressure from the other customers standing there. The line behind him waiting to pay made him want to cry even more and shout out loud, Please help me!!!!

“Excuse me, please charge me along with his.” Suddenly, the soft voice of the first customer standing in line behind him rang out like a life-saving bell.

Grab

The bespectacled young man hurriedly turned towards the source of the voice, surprised at the unexpectedness that a kind-hearted person would suddenly come to help him in such a time of need.

I'm still alive and I'm so thankful.

“Oh, that is... Ugh!” Wow—so good-looking, I was shocked. It was like he wasn't even a human being in this world. What kind of crazy person was that? What was that glowing aura around him? It's like just now we saw white wings growing from his back.

“.....” The kind-hearted young man didn't pay any attention to the bespectacled young man who was standing in awe of his own appearance. He just took out a banknote and paid quietly when he was finished. Completed, he walked away.

“Eh, wait a minute!” The bespectacled young man hurriedly called out to the other person before he could push Patu out of the shop.

“Yes?” He stopped and turned around at the sound of the voice, his face not showing any emotion.

"Thank you...I will return the money to you quickly—-"

"You don't have to," he immediately denied.

“No, I have to pay you back.” The young man with glasses also refused.

"It's not necessary," he continued to deny.

"No, I don't—"

“Turn around and look behind you...the line is long and you're wasting other people's time,” he said, his voice quieter and more serious.

“Eh?” The bespectacled young man hurriedly turned around to look behind him and saw the expressions of intense pressure from everyone waiting in line, so he was startled before he quickly composed himself and hurriedly bowed and apologized to everyone there, “ I'm sorry, I'm sorry.” Then he hurriedly ran after the handsome young man out of the store.

“This is you.” The bespectacled young man ran after him and stopped in front of him with determination.

"....." He stopped and looked at the face of the person who ran in and threw a still path.

“I lost my wallet.”

“I can guess.”

“However, I want to assure you that I will definitely refund the money you paid me.”

"It's not necessary. Just the money won't cause me any trouble."

"No, I'll give you the money back."

"From the language, you know that you're not from here. You must be a tourist, right?"

"Eh? Ah, well....yes?”

“It must be difficult when your wallet disappears like that.”

"Uh..." Well, that's really difficult.

"Then it's not necessary. You can consider it as me taking care of you."

"look for?"

"If there's nothing else, I'll excuse myself. I hope you find your wallet quickly. Good luck and goodbye." After saying that, he quickly walked away.

"....." The young man with glasses could only stand and continue, not being there in the middle of the cold wind of the night.

What kind of crazy thing is this? Things like this...are not fun at all!!!!

A young man with glasses walked back to the hotel, looking as if he had no soul.

It could be said that there was still one good thing left in that misfortune: the restaurant he ate at earlier was only a twenty-minute walk from the hotel where he was staying. But in reality, it took him a little longer to walk—well, it couldn't be helped. He wasn't from around here, so it wouldn't be strange if he got lost sometimes… Sigh)

Ah—-arrived at his last hotel for the day~~

It's a good thing he kept the room key card separate in his pocket and didn't put it in his wallet. Otherwise, both the wallet and the key card would have disappeared at the same time.

Sigh.....The first day of life here was really full of unpredictable things.

The bespectacled young man who had double misfortune had been sitting vacantly in the tub for more than half an hour since he returned.

Phru…Jom——He slipped and sunk into the water like a person, exhausted because of the many things that had happened to him today.

suddenly

A beautiful, unlucky young man rose up and lay down on the edge of the jacuzzi with his eyes wandering.

“On the first day, I was completely destroyed,” he said, feeling sorry for himself. “Leave everything and run away here alone... This must be the punishment for selfish people like us.”

That's right, the real reason for coming here was simply to escape problems... The discomfort and pressure he had accumulated for the past year had finally made him choose to run away here.

Leaving everything behind knowing that it was selfish.

Leave work, leave duties...leave everything.

Fleeing from reality to live in a dream that he knew was only a temporary dream and when the two weeks were up... reality was still waiting for him to face it again.

Because he had always kept quiet and was alone, he had to pay for everything himself like this.

“I hope to make some good memories with this dream place but...sigh.”

'It's not necessary, just the money won't cause me any trouble.'

“He...ugh.” The image of that man couldn't be shaken off.

A soft voice, a calm face, those black eyes that when you accidentally look into their eyes, a feeling shakes so much that you have to quickly look away and look elsewhere.

Those small, bright lips that usually speak polite words, but when I listen to them and I feel a strange feeling of trembling in my heart, they become a shelter for my eyes, and I can't stop myself from looking at them, even if it's only for a short time. who met that man

Running away from grace with a handsome young man?

“He looks so good that we have feelings...”

Ah——Why do I suddenly feel so embarrassed that my summer is this hot? Plus, inside I feel a turbulence, flickering like I have a fever...or do I really have a fever?

"Oh! Too bad I forgot to ask his name...Ah, how can I give the money back to him? Oh!”

Several days later

At the mountain shrine on the outskirts of the city, the calm atmosphere of the kyudo dojo in the evening as the sun was about to set was with the same tall, handsome young man who was still the only one standing gracefully today. In the middle of this dojo, after the training period of the archers who are members and students here has ended during the day.

Bump!

“Today the atmosphere is quiet, allowing you to concentrate on your training…” He said softly to himself after firing the 20th dart. It went out and hit the center of the target beautifully.

His every move and every moment was so naturally beautiful and flawless that if anyone saw him, it would be hard to take their eyes off this man.

Fizzy

A little further away from Dojo Kyudo, at the back of this shrine, there is a small waterfall, but few people have come to see the beauty of this waterfall.

That's because it is a sacred waterfall at the shrine. Legend has it that without permission or an invitation from the owner (God Arak), one cannot enter the waterfall.

There are times when the sound of the waterfall being carried by the wind can be heard by people who come to pray at the shrine.

Therefore, the back of the shrine has a somewhat more mystical atmosphere than the inside of the shrine even on a sunny day.

building

building

building

"Sigh..." Finally walked up to the top and wow—— When I turned back down to the stairs leading up to the shrine...it was really awesome.

It's fitting that this shrine can be clearly seen even from many kilometers away, and it feels like something is attracting us to come here.

“Ah, up here the atmosphere is extremely relaxing, even though just a moment ago I was tired from climbing the hundreds of stairs here. Ah~ really awesome.”

The bespectacled young man stood and surveyed the area in front of the shrine with a refreshing feeling and became so fascinated by the tranquility of this place that he unconsciously smiled widely.

The bespectacled young man walked into the shrine to pay respects according to the customary etiquette that should be observed in sacred places without receiving any blessings. He simply said, “Although it is already late in the evening, I would like to request permission to visit the station. Please help me in this sacred and quiet place.”

After that, he started to walk around and admire the things in the shrine with the utmost respect. He just walked around and didn't touch any of the objects. He was quite a considerate person. It is important not to touch other people's things. If you do not get permission from the owner first, you will absolutely not touch them.

Fizzy

“Huh? The sound of water…” As he walked a little behind the shrine, he immediately heard the sound of a waterfall passing by as the wind blew.

Huh? Is there a waterfall here? It's true that there might be a sacred area like this on the top of the mountain.

“Ah—I really want to go in and see~” The bespectacled young man said with excitement, “Eh...if you want to go see, you should ask permission from the caretaker here first. It wouldn't be a good idea to enter on your own.”

Thinking like that, he started walking towards someone who was here to ask for permission.

Nearly ten minutes had passed since he searched for someone who was the caretaker of this place, but everything was still quiet, without any response from anyone, as if there was no one living in this place…

“Eh—? Even though this place seems to be well taken care of and is really clean and beautiful like this, why is it so quiet like no one is there?”

Hello

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“Ah!” The bespectacled boy turned around at the sound of a voice coming from behind him. He saw that there was a small boy with long silver hair wearing Japanese clothes who looked like a middle school boy with a cute face. Seeing that, he suddenly smiled and said with relief, “Ah~ I found it.”

“Eh?” The young man's face was a little surprised by the bespectacled man's expression, then he smiled at the bespectacled young man.

“So, you belong here, right?” The bespectacled young man asked first.

"Yes, I'm here..."

“Ah, I would like to ask for permission to walk to see the waterfall in the back…” The bespectacled young man stated his wishes to the young man and pointed out where he would go, “I heard the sound of a waterfall coming from there. So I wanted to walk in and take a closer look.”

“Ah.”

"I don't know if I can walk in and take a look?"

“Ah, yes.”

“Really?” The young man's glasses lit up with joy.

“Yes, the door is now open and waiting for you...you may enter.”

"Ah (so happy). I thought I would have to give up. Thank you for coming out to see me."

“Yes.” I see that they are so determined to find each other that if they didn't come out and find them, it would seem cruel to the guests.

“Then I would like to go see the waterfall first.”

“Wait a minute.”

"yes?"

“I probably can't let you in like this.”

" ? " Why?

“Here,” the young man handed the things he had brought with him to the bespectacled young man standing there, looking puzzled, and explained, “It's a bit tricky there. You should change into this outfit before going in.”

“Change clothes?” The bespectacled young man took the white clothes from the young man and held them up and looked at the clothes confusedly.

“It's similar to the yukata you wear at onsen,” the young man explained with a cute smile.

“Does that mean I can go play in the water?” the bespectacled young man asked jokingly, but in his heart he really hoped so. He went to the waterfall and if he could play in the water it would definitely be a lot of fun.

“Well...yes, if you want to play, that's fine.” The young man trailed off before answering.

“Wow, that's really good.”

Phew———

A cold wind blew past his face, reminding him that it was winter. Today's temperature was 10-8. What are you thinking about going to a very cold waterfall in this cold season? (Are you crazy?)

"....." I forgot that the weather wasn't suitable for outdoor swimming...and this place isn't an onsen. I guess I was too excited and forgot this fact. Sigh.

“Haha, I must have been overjoyed and said something strange. I apologize.”

"yes"

“Then let me borrow this outfit and go take a look.”

“Walk straight to the right and there will be a changing room. You can go change there.”

"Ah, I'm sorry to bother you."

“With pleasure.”

“I will go and have a look carefully. Thank you for allowing me.” The bespectacled young man bowed in thanks again before walking off in the direction the young man suggested.

“Please enjoy the nature of the Sacred Land,” the young man said with a mysterious smile after the bespectacled young man's tall back disappeared from view behind the shrine.

Hello

“Is it okay to let outsiders in like that?” The voice of another tall young man with long red hair, wearing similar clothes, rang out as he walked over and stood next to the young man.

“It looks like he really wants to go there and the entrance door is open.”

“Huh? Was it not you who opened the entrance?”

“Haha, are you secretly watching too, Brother Ren?”

"Well, you like to have fun on your own, so I have to keep an eye on you, Mika."

“Do you see me as a naughty child, Brother Ren?”

"Well, you're really a naughty child, aren't you, Mika?"

“That person has some hidden qualities.” Mika changed the subject and looked more serious.

"feature?"

“I'm not sure what it is, but I felt it from him when we talked.”

“That's why you opened the door to let him in.”

"Well, he wants to know about things like this...does Ren-sama not want to know like me?"

“Well, you can wait and see.”

“Something fun must have happened.” Then the Ren Brothers and Mika looked at each other with surprised smiles before a huge whirlwind appeared and the bodies of the Ren Brothers and Mika disappeared. Go from there.

The other side of the shrine in the dojo was still used by a handsome young man, but it was a bit different than before in that his outfit today was just a simple black and white hakama, not a colored kimono. He was black as official as ever, but even so, he still looked as beautiful as ever.

It's strange that just now I felt a strange sense of foreboding... What is this feeling?

"I apologize for interrupting Yuki-sama's training at this time."

"Sena-sama, what's the matter?"

“There is a special guest coming in here.”

“Special guest?”

“Mika-sama opened the border crossing gate for him. He is probably at the waterfall now.”

“Did Mika open that door?” The handsome young man looked thoughtful about something before turning to ask the young man named Sena who had come to inform him, “How long have you been in?”

"Yes, I've been in for half an hour."

"Understood. I'd like to finish taking care of business here first, and I'll go see that special guest later."

"Yes, as Yuki-sama sees fit, I won't disturb you and will excuse myself first." Sena bowed goodbye to Yuki before walking away.

Yuki returned to his original position and started shooting arrows again, with a different expression on his face. His eyes now looked amused...

Inside the waterfall

“Wow!” A young man with glasses stood and shouted in amazement as he walked in front of the waterfall.

“This is even more awesome than I thought. Wow~ What a beautiful waterfall.”

I thought it was just a small waterfall that looked more ordinary, but it wasn't. It was more like a waterfall in a high valley.

I never thought that a small mountain at a shrine on the outskirts of the city could have such a wonderful waterfall. I'm really glad I was able to see it with my own eyes.

I feel like I received a blessing from the gods after experiencing only bad luck.

“It's so beautiful. It's sparkling. Oh~ There's even dawn over there——I really want to take a picture of it.” The bespectacled young man complained, delirious at the beauty of this place, no matter which way you looked. It was as beautiful as if we were in heaven.

“It feels different from outside, as if this place is not a human world but a paradise. Ah~ I want to stay here forever.”

“Then stay here.”

“What?!” Something seemed to be heard saying. The bespectacled young man looked around to find the source of the sound that had come in just a moment ago.

empty

“Are your ears just ringing?…” I felt scared for a moment, but I ignored it and continued to walk around, admiring the beauty of this place.

It's not unusual to have a feeling of fear like that when you walk around in the forest in the evening alone. Any normal person is bound to have that kind of fear at some point.

“I never thought that wearing just one yukata I would be able to walk around here without feeling cold. I really didn't expect it.” Is it like this that makes me feel like I've fallen into a different world?”

It's like being lost in a mysterious land surrounded by nature that cannot be found in the human world... I'm just saying that, haha, but this place is really very beautiful. If you accidentally think of something crazy like... Some of that wouldn't be strange.

Ah…this is the feeling that this place is the answer I've been searching for all my life.

"Ah...I've really fallen in love with this place to the point of wanting to trade everything to be here...sigh." The beautiful smile closed and the sparkling eyes behind the lenses of the glasses suddenly turned into pairs of onyx eyes that dimmed. Down like a person who is filled with sorrow and sorrow over something that cannot be said out loud.

Suddenly he felt so exhausted that he had to sit and rest under the shade of a large tree next to a stream. Then he began to feel so distracted that he completely forgot to admire the beauty in which he had just now been enchanted.

“Coming here…” Despite being in such a beautiful place, he felt depressed.

The sun had long since set over the horizon, but the bespectacled young man, who was haunted by a dull feeling in his heart, was still stuck there, unwilling to move, and he didn't seem to realize that at this point. The orange-red sky in the evening had changed to the color of night.

Greetings

“Huh?!” What was that sound?! "vigorous?! Is this...dark already?” When he came to his senses, he realized that the sky was now completely dark.

What? Are we so immersed in our own thoughts that we don't realize this? I can't help it. Why is it possible to be like this?

“I have to hurry back out.” After saying that, he got up and adjusted his clothes to look neat before walking towards the exit.

I intended to do that but....

“Which way does the exit have to go?” I encountered another headache, “I remember coming in from this way...so why wasn't it the case?”

It's not fun to get lost in the dark like this (I'll go crazy).

“That's true.” When I was stressed and worried about finding a way out, I suddenly remembered, “The way out is on the other side of that waterfall——it's crazy how you could forget about this.”

Standing and complaining to himself until he was satisfied, he then walked back to the front of the waterfall where there were rocks that could be used as a way to cross to the other side. Because he likes challenges and loves adventure, he naughtily climbed up the rocks to cross to play on this side. Let's find a clear issue for ourselves.

"Ah, why are you such a naughty person? Look, do you see that right now the sky is so dark that you can hardly see the way? How are you going to cross the rock to get to the other side?..." I sighed and felt pain when I thought about it. My head went up (truly crazy).

Although it seems a bit foolhardy, this is the only way to get out of here, so you only have to do it if you don't want to die in the cold in this forest.

"Oh, it's okay. Go slowly. You'll definitely make it there. Don't give up."

“Huh? What a brave person.”

Kwab-kwab

“?!” I heard this voice again. Where did it come from? I couldn't find it and it was so frustrating. “Hey, are you trying to frighten me?”

“But it doesn't seem like you're afraid at all.”

“Who is it?” He stood still on the rock in the middle of the waterfall because his voice was clearer than in the daytime. “Don't make fun of people when they're in trouble. It's really rude.”

“Your face looks better.”

“Where are you? Come out!” will feel afraid

“Aren't you afraid if we have to meet?”

“Afraid.”

“Huh?”

“But even so, I feel more upset about being teased this time than outright!”

"tease? Haven't done anything for you yet, so why do you say I was bullied? It's too much.”

“The person who is joking and doesn't show up is called teasing, know this!” he snorted in dissatisfaction at the end.

“Huh? I thought that I would be a person who was afraid to speak even less than this. It shocked me.”

“Enough! If you really want to talk, then come out. But if you don't want to come out, then just shut up. It's a waste of other people's time and they'll really cross the rock.” Saying that, he started walking across the rock there. go out

It's really crazy. Why do you have to pretend to be afraid at a time like this? It's really bad. Even though he was annoyed and upset by the sound, his body was slowly moving up the rock step by step.

Even though he acted politely and responded to that voice like he wasn't afraid of anything, it was really strange, but that was because he couldn't stop himself when he heard that irritating sound. We are like humans. So crazy.

Sa-aa!

"Hey!...." How can it be like this? "It's all wet....I'm so cold."

I was climbing over a rock band and suddenly got splashed with water. It was really bad. Just climbing the rock band in the dark and trying not to fall into the water alone was really difficult. But I would still get splashed with water until my whole body was wet. Like this again, the difficulties and the path to continue are increasing more and more....

Hold on!

abundantly----

“Wha…Wow!!”

shed!!

Unfortunately, he fell into the water.

Dent

You'll sink and you'll have to hurry back up.

Huh? Why doesn't my body move? What's going on?!

Move, move, if you don't move then you won't sink like that...

Or maybe it's better to let it be like this...

That might be better...

It's good to let it be like this. You don't have to try and struggle with anything. Just let everything end here.

Just end here

Just let it be over.

Let everything end

It's over....

Just a moment.

“It's bad like that.”

Orange sunlight in the evening streamed in through the window of a wide Japanese bedroom where a young man was sleeping on a white futon.

The sleeping person's eyelids slowly moved upwards, dark eyes staring at the ceiling and trying to adjust their eyes to the light in the room for a while before small lips spoke up, “Here...hell or heaven? Together?”

Once his eyes adjusted to the light in the room, he slowly pushed himself up and sat up, feeling dazed and feeling heavy, as if his body was bound by something that made it heavier and harder than usual to move.

building

Ah, even though it's faint, I can feel that my heart is still working and my body isn't warm, not cold....I'm not dead yet. When I realized that, his eyes looked a little disappointed, "Wow. ...It's not that time yet.”

He closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands like a person who was discouraged and wanted to give up… This was not at all what he wanted.

Stuck in confused thoughts for several minutes, he finally opened his face to face the truth again.

“Uh...where have they gone?” He tried to sweep his hand around his body to find something that was necessary for someone like him who was nearsighted. “Where have the glasses gone?”

abundantly…

The sound of the room door sliding was heard while the people in the room were still busy looking for their glasses and didn't know where they were in the room until they paid attention to the sound of someone else opening the room door.

“Are you awake yet?” a surprised voice greeted from the person who opened the door.

“Eh?” The person looking for something hurriedly turned around at the voice that asked, startled, “Who is it?”

“Hello, I am Sena, the caretaker of this shrine.” Sena introduced herself with a kind and friendly smile.

“Shrine?” He looked shocked to hear that, “I..”

“Don't you remember what happened last night?”

"I...went to the waterfall. That's right. Last night I fell into the water...eh? Did you help me?"

“It's not me.”

"...." What happened after he drowned? Why can't I remember anything?

"Let's leave that matter for now. How are you feeling right now? Is there anything unusual or uncomfortable?" Sena walked over and sat down nearby and asked worriedly.

“Uh...Yes?” The person being asked made a face that was difficult to speak for a while, contemplating whether he should answer truthfully or not. But judging from the serious expression of the person asking, he thought that he shouldn't hide the truth.

“I feel like my body is heavy, like I'm sick...like that.”

“Hmm, but your expression looks better now than it did in the morning… Please excuse me for being rude.”

“The temperature is still hotter than usual,” he said, still not removing his hand from the other's forehead.

building

The heartbeat of the person who was suffering from the flu began to beat louder. I don't know if it was because of the warm palm touching them or if the distance was so close that one could sense the other's body aroma.

Faces that were so close to each other that a nearsighted person like him could clearly see them made his insides turbulent to the point where he didn't know what to do, so his body was completely rigid right now.

"You'll probably have to sleep a little longer like this. I'll go get food and medicine for you." He moved slightly before telling the other person with a warm voice and smile.

"Oh, thank you." Even though he didn't dare look directly into the other person's eyes, the nearsighted person tried to say thank you from his heart.

"With pleasure." Sena smiled with loving eyes and prepared to get up to leave, but was stopped by someone else.

“Well, that is…” The short-sighted person had a difficult expression on his face.

“Is there something wrong?” Sena looked at the other person intently, waiting to hear what the other person had to say.

"Well, I can't find my glasses. Do you know where they are?"

“Eh?”

"Well, I tried looking for it but couldn't find it..."

“Glasses?” Sena looked around the room to help him find glasses, but “Ah, there aren't any glasses in the room.”

“Eh?! ...This is bad.” He seemed to be complaining to himself in that last sentence.

“Do you really have very bad eyesight?” Sena asked, concerned when she saw the look of serious concern on his face.

"If I don't wear glasses, I can barely see anything."

“He…is that bad?” Even though the first time he came in, the people in front of him were actually staring at him with those kind of eyes because they were short-sighted.

“My eyesight can only see clearly at a distance of thirty centimeters. Beyond that, I can't see what's going on,” he said with a difficult expression on his face.

What's with those sad eyes? Sena could only think that way in his heart and didn't think he should ask any more than that.

“About your glasses, I'll try looking elsewhere for you. Maybe they're——“

“Oh, that's okay,” he quickly interrupted without bothering the host any more. “I'm sorry, I'm considerate of you, even though I caused trouble like that...so I feel bad having to give it to you. Sena is having trouble with my glasses like this again.”

“You're such a considerate person,” Sena smiled fondly, “but after all, you're a (special) guest that we need to take good care of, so you don't have to feel considerate.”

"Even if Sena-san said that, I couldn't be like that. I really feel embarrassed." He bowed his head and said as if he felt guilty for causing other people trouble.

Sena was silent, looking at the person in front of him, thinking about what to do next in this situation.

The two of them sat in silence for several minutes before Sena spoke up.

"Well, in that case, I would like you to rest and wait here for me first. I will go out and prepare food and medicine for you. Please wait..."

“Ah, I'm sorry, even though we've been talking for a long time, I've really lost my manners.” He muttered to himself before looking up at Sena and introducing himself, “My name is N. Nice to meet you, Mr. Se. na.”

"Ah, yes, me too, Mr. N." Sena smiled happily at N and continued, "Don't think about it. Let's just say I won't disturb you and I'll excuse myself first." After saying that, Sena stood up and walked. leave the room

abundantly..

“Yuki-sama?” Sena exclaimed in slight shock when he walked out of the room and saw a tall, familiar figure walking away in the corridor. He hurriedly walked with long steps to catch up with the person leading him. face, and when he walked nearby, he said to the person who was walking away, "Come and see him, why don't you go in?"

“No, just walking by.”

"What's wrong with answering like this? It's not like Yuki-sama." Sena teased the person who made a tsundere face.

"I'm just normal hair, Sen-sama," Yuki pretended to cover it up with a dark tone.

"Even though last night you seemed really worried about him like that," Sena still didn't stop welcoming her.

“What does Sena-sama want from me to corner me like this?” Yuki looked at Sena with a steady gaze, refusing to be cornered.

“Huh? I don't need anything. Just seeing Yuki-sama express his feelings more than before makes me feel happier."

"Huh, do you think I won't know in time?"

“Ah, then I really apologize for offending Yuki-sama with my words.”

“Oh, nevermind it.” Yuki waved his hand without thinking of anything.

"Yes, but Yuki-sama won't you go and see him?"

"I'll go...but probably not right now." Yuki paused his answer as he thought of something in his heart.

“Huh?” Sena looked at Yuki's expression, trying to figure out Yuki's thoughts.

“Some things just have to take time,” Yuki said as he separated and walked out in the other direction.

Sena stopped and stared at Yuki's tall, graceful back with eyes that were difficult to understand. Until the back disappeared from view, he spoke up.

“Even though I've been waiting for this moment all this time, I'm still able to keep my cool like this, truly Yuki-sama.”

Late at night

N came out to sit and stare at the shadow of the moonlight reflecting on the surface of the water in the fish pond near the porch in front of the room after waking up again after falling asleep due to the medicine that Sena had brought earlier in the day. cool

Now it was late at night, but Tenn, whose body had recovered to normal, became restless and couldn't sleep until he had to get up and sit in the corridor outside the room, exposed to the cold wind. single

When I sat down and thought about it, there were only things I didn't understand.

Whether it's the story of him waking up and finding himself alive even though he thought he wouldn't survive and was actually lost underwater, but is still alive like this...

And about the person who rescued himself from underwater, there is still no answer as to who it was. Mr. Sena said that we are guests and must be taken care of.

What happened after we woke up at this shrine seemed mysterious. There were so many doubts and mysteries all over the place… To be honest, I was really confused right now.

"I can't imagine what to do next with my life saved again like this. Why do we have to help each other?" The confused expressions and sounds of the people who were hopeless about N's life made people stand. Eavesdropping in the nearby corner of the corridor, he accidentally clenched his hands in displeasure.

Greetings

“Thinking of being a more interesting person is really disappointing.” The eavesdropper walked out towards N and said in a dissatisfied tone.

“Eh?” N jumped in shock and quickly turned towards the voice, “This kind of sound....”

“Yes, I was shocked.”

"..." N hurriedly stood up before regaining his composure and slowly walked towards the tall, long-haired figure who was standing still not too far away from him.

But with his poor eyesight, he couldn't see another person's face as clearly as he wanted, so he had to get close in order to clearly see the face of the person he wanted to see.

Just a moment.

"You can touch it...your body is warm...the sound of your heartbeat..." N said when he reached out and touched the center of the chest of the person in front of him until he could feel the body temperature and heartbeat. Like another person's normal person until you were sure that the person in front of you really existed.

N looked up at the other person's face with a smile that he had unconsciously smiled and said to the person he was still in contact with, "Then it's human too."

"look for? ....haha, you're so funny.” The person who was touched made a face first, then burst out laughing.

Just a moment.

“It's bad manners to laugh at other people like this.” N tightened his fist on the shirt of the person who laughed at himself, then reached forward to look at the other person seriously and said, “I really hate you.”

Just a moment.

“Wow, I can't help it. You really have a hot temper.” The taller man grabbed the small hand that was holding his shirt until it was wrinkled and leaned his face towards the temperamental person who was staring at him with fierce eyes. Their noses collided intently, "And I'm the kind of person who doesn't like people being stubborn like this."

The taller figure spoke in a whisper, wanting to bully N into a corner.

“Please let go of my hand and move away.” N turned away and spoke quietly, trying not to let the other person detect that he was losing.

It's like this again. Why did he have to be so shaken by the man in the shrine like this? I really don't understand. How could that be? When I thought of it like that, my heart started beating strangely again. It was so bad. bundle

"Didn't you hear me? Tell me to let go of you." He said and tried to push himself away from the other person.

“Huh? Even though I was the one who started first, I really didn't think I would give up this easily.” But the other person didn't let him go easily either and even exerted more force to lock the tendon tighter.

“You really were a bad person then...and now, how much fun did you have to bully me?!” This time N started yelling louder than before because he was upset at what the other person had done. cannot

"Again, why do you always say that I'm a bad person even though I'm really kind to you? I feel disappointed like this." His words and actions were so opposite to each other. N even turned to look at the other person's face in disbelief.

"Heh, I don't want you to expect anything at all." N said in a clipped voice, unable to stop himself before quickly turning the other way, feeling extremely shaken because of a deadly smile that he didn't think. will see from another person

“The expression on your face when you talk about your displeasure with me like this is really cute.” He deliberately leaned in and whispered into N's reddened ear.

“Huh! Stop it, why do you make me feel so irritated, you bad person!” N was teased by another person until he couldn't control his voice to keep it normal.

Now, not only the voice was uncontrollable, but the body and mind were also uncontrollable.

What happened to him? Because of this man?

"You have no idea that when you're in a corner like this and can't control yourself, it makes me even more amused and I don't want to let you go anywhere."

“What?!”

Just a moment.

“Ah!” The taller figure had his shirt collar pulled towards him by tendrils so forcefully that his face was almost slammed together. Luckily, he didn't catch himself in time, so he still managed to tighten his neck in time before the situation got out of hand and he spoke secretly in a fierce voice. People who commit acts of violence against themselves calmly say, “Be careful, this is dangerous.”

“Hmph..” N made a nasal sound, ignoring the tall man's words of warning and continued to stare intently at the taller man's perfect face for almost a minute before speaking, “Have we ever... Have you met before?”

“Eh?” The taller figure immediately became confused when he heard N ask like that with a serious expression. “I don't know.”

“I feel like I've met someone who looks like you...somewhere...um...” N still leaned forward and stared closely at the other person's face, wanting an answer to his doubts regardless. The distance and closeness that has begun to increase between myself and another person is now at the most dangerous distance.

Just a moment.

"I can't take it. If you're not careful like this, I'll be in trouble." The taller one used his right arm to wrap around N's thin waist, bringing it closer to his own body purposely (actually, he couldn't control himself) and used his left hand. Grasping the tip of the unknown man's chin, careful to raise it slightly, he then punished him by planting a soft kiss on N's soft lips. The person being punished could only be stunned, his eyes wide in shock. Shocked for a moment.

Even though it was a soft, gentle kiss, there was nothing more aggressive than that, but just that, it was able to make the person who was kissed by it feel so weak that the tall figure had to hug and support his body to keep him from collapsing in a heap. The floor was just because he was kissed until he lost all his strength.

“This is your fault,” the tall figure whispered to N, who was still unconscious from the kiss on his ear before tightening his hold on N. possessively.

N couldn't resist or resist the tall figure at all after being interrupted by a kiss just moments ago, and besides, right now his brain was so white that he couldn't think of anything.

A body that doesn't respond to its own commands like this is no different from someone who's completely paralyzed.

But...the warm feeling I received from this man's embrace was so warm and safe that I didn't want to run away.

like dreaming It is a dream that you can touch and never want to get out of this dream.

“It's so warm.” N rested his head on his broad shoulders and slowly closed his eyes, wanting to absorb this feeling before it disappeared.

“Again, I feel bad like this. You can resist sometimes.” Even though he said it like that, he smiled like a person who was happier than anyone else.

"No, if this is a dream... then I'd like to stay like this for just one more minute."

“How can I be mean and displeased by talking like this?” The tall man responded to N's plea by hugging him tighter with a face that looked happier than ever.

wad!

The sound of N's fist pounding loudly against the broad back of the person who was holding him so tightly that they were almost joined together right now, let him go before he couldn't take it anymore.

From the first feeling of warmth, it started to become so uncomfortable that I couldn't stand it and had to smack the other person's back to tell him to feel it.

It's not funny to die in the arms of someone you don't even know your name like, I don't want it!

“I can't breathe anymore, please let me go!!” N's voice was more angry than before.

"Oya...I'm sorry. I thought you liked to be hugged tightly so..."

"If you know, let's hurry up and let go!"

“Yes~Yes.” The tall figure agreed to let N go free as requested.

“Sigh—-I feel like I can breathe a little easier,” N complained as he forcefully scooped up air into his lungs, causing the tall figure watching to smile with fondness.

“I want to know if your face is red like that because of anger or embarrassment?”

“Huh?” N heard that question and was stunned for a moment before he regained his composure and replied with a question, “What kind of creepy question is this?”

“Hmm...haha, you thought about avoiding answering my question by asking me back…” He trailed off before continuing with words that made you think, “What were you expecting?”

“Are you thinking of annoying each other again?” N's voice started to shake because he was being provoked by another person until his temper heated up again.

“Ah, I think it would be better for you to calm down a little, don't you?”

“What is it with you? You like to manipulate other people so much.”

"No, I've never done anything like that, such as making accusations like this... Even though I've said it before, why don't you listen?" He pretended to shake his head back and forth in exhaustion.

“You are so....huh.” N made an irritated noise before turning away, not wanting to respond to this tall figure any longer.

“Oya? Are you really angry at me now?”

"...." N pretended not to hear and prepared to walk away.

Just a moment.

"Where do you think you're going?" The tall figure grabbed N's wrist and asked in a softer voice. Until N had to turn around and look at him with a surprised expression.

building

Again, why is my heart beating strangely like this again?

“…” N stared at the face of the person holding his wrist with an expression he couldn't tell.

Even though his current distance made him unable to see the other person's face clearly, it was true that even though his eyes couldn't clearly see the image of the person in front of him, he could recognize the slight smile of the person in front of him. Sending it to him right now, it was a smile so warm and gentle that he couldn't stop looking at it.

building

“Like this, I can't let you go.” The tall figure raised N's rounded chin slightly before leaning his face with a sweet smile closer to N to say more binding words. People say, "From now on, let's be together forever."

“……” N was still as if his body had been mesmerized by those words.

…By the time I felt it again, it was the morning of the next day.

N woke up very confused as to what had happened to him last night, was it a dream or reality?

Just a moment.

Then N got the answer that everything that had happened to him was true!

And the most frightening thing was his blissful lovemaking with a beautiful young man who until now didn't even know his name, which made him more worried than any other problem.

Ah, why would we do such a thing to people who don't know each other? That's too gullible! N could only lie still, mentally cursing himself and not daring to move for fear of waking up the other person who was still sleeping next to him.

At this time, he was not ready to face the handsome opponent who was hugging his waist tightly, as if he was afraid that he would run away now.

He couldn't help it. The more he regained consciousness, the flashier and hotter the picture of him and another person became, the more and more clear it became, until he felt so ashamed of himself that he wanted to escape and disappear right now. Really, why do we dare to do such embarrassing things to strangers? Damn it.

...That was our first time and it was with other men...The more I thought about it, the more stressed I became that I wanted to cry and let the world flood.

“If that's true, it's really bad.”

“Huh?”

"good morning"

“……!!” Huh!!!

“What is this, that shocked expression, like you've seen a ghost?” The tall figure stood up and straddled his arms, speaking to the person lying in shock beneath him with a surprised smile.

“Who are you…?”

“Huh?”

“The person who was with me last night…is he a man with long hair?” Even though the short-haired person in front of me had a face that was so similar to the person I was, it was impossible to tell them apart. Met him last night, he was a young man with long, beautiful hair, and looked impeccably elegant.

Ah, even though this person in front of me is just as beautiful, this person looks much younger than the person from last night. He looks like a high school student, even though the person I met last night was. They're actually about the same age as me.

“Ah, about that… huh. It's a bit complicated, but in any case, both the long hair last night and now are the same hair,” the tall figure explained, pointing a finger at himself, confirming the truth to the other person.

“...I don't understand at all.”

“Well, I don't have to understand everything right now. But let's understand little by little from now on.” The tall man finished speaking and got up and fixed his clothes until he looked neat before walking out of the room, leaving many doubts behind N.

“Who is he?” This matter still bothered N. He could only think about the other person until he couldn't do anything.

A knock sounded at the door followed by a learning voice that N remembered.

“Is Mr. N awake? It's me.

“Ah.” Sir N? Why does Mr. Sena call us that? It feels strange, I still don't know…

“I'll go in,” Sena said before sliding the door open and walking towards N, who was leaning against the window. Outside the room was a large cherry tree, beautifully spreading its petals in the breeze.

"Yuki-sama asked me to bring this for N to wear." Sena handed a beautiful colored kimono to N with a warm smile.

“Do you want me to wear it?” N took the outfit from Sena and held it up and stared at it in confusion before raising his head and asking Sena again, “Who is he?”

“Huh?”

"So, Mr. Yuki that Mr. Sena was talking about, who is he?"

“Eh? …Ah, it's like this.” Sena looked puzzled at N's question before remembering, "Yuki-sama didn't tell En-sama…sigh. You like to make things difficult again, Lord Yuki.” The last sentence, Sena only quietly complained to himself.

"How? I don't understand at all." N was still confused about Yuki-sama that Sena had talked about and he would have to ask another person until he knew.

"Well, if that's Yuki-sama's wish... I can't say anything myself, so I'm sorry." Sena tried to politely decline.

“So what should I do? Now I feel totally confused.”

“Um, then En-sama can change into this outfit and go ask Mr. Yuki about En's questions.”

"Eh...that's right. If you're curious, just ask the person directly and you'll probably get the answer. Heck, why didn't I think of that?"

“……” Sena just smiled at N without saying anything.

"Yes, Mr. Zen."

"yes"

"Well, can I ask you something?"

“Huh? If you ask me a question, I'll answer it for you."

"Ah, I'm sorry I caused you trouble for Sena."

“It's okay, N-sama. You don't have to think too much about me.” Sena reached out and caressed N's head, unable to help but smile fondly before telling N, "If that's what I can do, I'm happy to help N-sama. Like.”

"Mr. Sena...thank you." N smiled, looking at Sena gratefully.

“Then why don't you ask me what Mr. N wants to know...what is it?”

“Ah, about Yuki-sama, I want to know what kind of person Yuki-sama is? Mr. Sena, can you tell me?”

“Um, what kind of person is Yuki-sama…” Sena crossed her arms over her chest, looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, “He's quite complex and a difficult person to predict.”

“Eh…?”

“Although it's difficult to understand, Yuki-sama is a good person.” Sena's smile when saying this sentence made N feel like Sena was telling the truth and not lying.

“Is that so…” Even after receiving such an answer from Sena, the feeling of confusion and doubt did not disappear from N at all.

In the evening of that day, En walked towards the waterfall again at the invitation of Lord Yuki, with Sena and his siblings Ren and Mika walking in as well this time.

N was dressed in a beautiful red and gold crane-patterned kimono, like a bride. When N found out that the dress Yuki had given Sena was a woman's kimono, Sena shouted that he would never wear it. Eventually, he had to call in the Ren and Mika siblings to help persuade them together, but it took a long time before N finally had the courage to wear that outfit.

"I don't understand why Yuki-sama has to do such a difficult job," N couldn't help but complain.

"N-sama calling Yuki-sama crazy like that is not good," Sena tried to politely warn, while the Ren and Mika siblings following behind couldn't help but laugh at the fact that someone dared to call him out. "Ren-sama and Mika-sama would also stop secretly laughing like that. It'd be better if Yuki-sama gets angry, I won't help."

“Oops!” The Ren and Mika brothers quickly stopped laughing and covered their mouths with their hands, fearing Sena's threat.

"I don't care because Yuki-sama, that's causing me trouble and I'm really upset," N said without any fear because just wearing a kimono made it difficult to breathe and have to walk. Entering the forest at the waterfall again, but what really annoyed me was that he couldn't see the path and had to cling to Mr. Sena's arm. I felt so embarrassed that I was a real man but couldn't help myself. Like this……

The atmosphere of the evening in the waterfall stream, dyed by the sun's rays in a shimmering red-orange color, is so beautiful that nothing can be compared with it other than the warm light that gently embraces everything from the gods... I feel like That's when he calmed down.

“Over there……” N said as he saw a shadow that vaguely resembled a person holding an umbrella waiting beside the stream.

“The uncle standing in front of me is Yuki-sama.” Sena stopped walking and turned to inform N of the other person waiting.

“Then our duty is finished,” Ren said.

"I finally met Yuki-sama," Mika said in a secretly regretful tone.

"That's right, our job is to guide Tanen to meet Yuki-sama here..."

“Eh? What? Are you going to leave me alone?” N asked, his voice suddenly widening when he realized that he would be left here alone.

"Where are you alone? Yuki-sama is with you," Mika said.

“Please help make Lord Yuki happy,” said Rak.

“Eh? What do you mean?” N acted in disbelief as soon as he heard Ren say that.

"Don't worry, N-sama. Please go. Yuki-sama is here." Sena pushed his back, causing N to walk towards Yuki-sama and send a look to Ren and Mika to stop talking.

“Ah, wait.”

"There's a lot I want to ask Yuki-sama, right? So there's no need to hesitate any more and let's go find Yuki-sama."

“Miss Zena……”

"Then have fun. I'll be leaving first." After saying that, Sena immediately led the Ren and Mika brothers out of there.

“Sigh…” Finally leaving each other, Mr. Zena-en stood with a long sigh and looked down the empty path as the Zena walked away like defeated people.

Just a moment.

“Heh…!!!” N was startled violently when he was suddenly embraced from behind.

"I'm so nervous even though it's being touched by someone I'm really familiar with." The tall figure who came to hug said teasingly.

“You…!” Of course N remembered the other person's voice. “What are you doing? Let me go now.” N tried to resist leaving the tall figure's embrace.

“I want to punish the stubborn person who came so late for making me wait for so many hours.”

"I don't want to come here and be in trouble."

“Huh?” The tall figure released the hug and grabbed the small shoulder and turned her around so that N was facing him directly, “Did I cause you any trouble?”

“Ugh…” The tall figure's sweet voice asking like that made Ten's breath falter for a moment, "Er...that's right. I don't understand what you want to make things messy like this."

“Huh? That matter…” The tall figure stood and acted like he wanted to tease N into anger, and it worked very well.

“Are you trying to play a prank on me?” N didn't just say anything, he also took a step towards the tall figure, hoping to get revenge. But because the kimono he was wearing was so long, he didn't notice and slipped on the edge of the cloth and tripped. B “Oh!”

Just a moment.

“Please be careful.” The tall figure caught Ten's body beautifully and secretly scolded him a little.

“Who is it that ordered me to wear this kind of outfit?” N said in an annoyed and displeased voice without consideration. The whole outfit, the sight of this man in front of him, no matter what, everything was offending him!

"Oh, I'm Usa who really cares and hopes for you. He's such an unlovable person." The tall man pretended to shake his head in exhaustion.

push

“Huh, I didn't expect you to feel anything like that towards me at all.” N stepped back and stood with his arms crossed over his chest and his head held high, speaking self-centeredly.

“Eh… but you were so cute last night, especially when you were on top of me-“

"this!!! What are you saying? Stop it!!!" N turned and pointed at the tall figure to say something embarrassing...

"Why? Well, I'm telling the truth-"

Just a moment.

"Wow, I told you to stop talking about this. Just shut up, you pervert!" En frantically warped into a lock and locked the tall figure's mouth, feeling ashamed of what had happened.

push

“Dammit, you are the most idiotic idiot!” N violently pushed the tall figure away and shouted curses in the tall figure's face so angry that he stopped using polite words.

“……” The tall figure lurched and lost his footing a bit, but did not fall over because N's push was of no use to someone as strong as him. As soon as the tall figure regained his footing, he returned to N. Again, with a still face without a smile that made Ten, who was irritated and hot-headed, instead stand still, not daring to move, as if his entire body was controlled by enormous pressure.

“If you want to be stubborn, it doesn't matter, but it's better to let it be a little.” The tall figure's mysterious smile made N feel so afraid that he didn't dare say anything.

“……” N could only stand still, keeping the fear inside, trying not to show it.

“Are you afraid?” Even so, the tall figure could tell. “I don't want to frighten you because I really like you, you know?”

The tall figure stopped in front of N and stretched out one hand to gently caress N's smooth cheek, as if N was his precious and important thing.

“……” The look in N's eyes staring at the tall figure's face right now was filled with many confused feelings.

"I've told you before that there's no need to be in a hurry, let's take things slowly from now on." The tall man's voice became gentle again when he saw that N's recklessness had calmed down.

“I don't understand,” N said in a low voice, but the tall figure heard it clearly.

“Um, how about we start over from the beginning?”

“Since the beginning…?” N still didn't understand what the tall man was saying.

“It's like this.”

"Nice to meet you. Call me Yuki. And you." Yuki introduced himself with a smile as bright as the sun that warms him in the morning.

“Oh, my name is N. Nice to meet you…” N couldn't speak fully because of confusing knowledge and some things that still puzzled him, making N unable to act normally like the other person.

“Yes, from now on please take care of me, N.”

“Eh…” Yuki's words caused N to feel something in his heart that he himself couldn't tell what it was, a throbbing feeling in his heart that he had never felt before like this. What is it?

“From now on this is your home, N.”

"look for? what?"

"Don't you understand?"

“I don't understand anything at all. What are you talking about?” N became more confused than before.

"Don't you understand? I'm telling you that from now on you have to stay here with me forever." Yuki said with a serious expression without any hint of teasing.

“What are you talking about? I can't stay here.” N shook his head in denial without the slightest hesitation.

“Why?” Yuki asked calmly.

"Well, I don't belong here, so I can't stay here with you. In a few days, I'll have to go back to where I came from." N avoided his last sentence, not wanting Yuki to see. that he is hesitating

"lie"

"look for?"

“I said you were lying.”

“What lie? Am I lying to you?” N turned around and asked Yuki, not understanding.

"You're lying to yourself. I know N doesn't want to go back there again."

“Am I right?”

“Just thinking about it makes you feel so much pain that you want to die, doesn't it?”

“Ah, it's true about that night you fell into the water there.” Yuki pointed out the spot in front of the waterfall where N fell at the time, “I know that you intended to end your life in that water. this"

“Did you save me?”

“Yes, I went down to help you because I can't let you die in here.”

“Huh?” Why does it sound like the person who is helping is not saying they want to help, but because they need to help?

“You're not wrong.”

“Look…” Did he read our minds?

“Here I can feel everything.”

“Are you a god that you know everything?”

"Oh, it's a guardian angel."

“Thep Arak…huh?!!!” N cried out in shock before composing himself and saying, “Don't make fun of me, I'm serious.”

“I know you know I'm telling the truth but you just don't want to believe it…”

"Are you talking nonsense? You're a guardian angel, but it doesn't even look like a human being." N still refused to believe it.

“Well, for a stubborn human like N, I wouldn't believe anything easily, I know that.”

“What, calling me a stubborn human?”

“What are you angry about there? N is like a little child.”

“It's you who likes to irritate each other all the time...Oops!”

“Huh, it seems like you're starting to adjust a bit.” Yuki pretended to remain silent to cover up his smile, amused by N's scared expression.

“………” N lowered his hand, unable to cover his mouth, but he still clenched his mouth tightly, refusing to say anything.

“It is only right for humans to be afraid of things having power greater than themselves,” Yuki said, keeping a straight face, hoping to make things easier for N to understand.

"Why?"

“Huh?”

“Why did you have to help me and…why did you do that to me?” N's eyes flickered, almost making Yuki's heart soften.

“How is the compensation?”

“……” Yuki's words alone brought tears that had been suppressed for a long time. N looked at Yuki with such disappointment and heartache that he was unable to speak through the silent curtain of tears.

Thump

N's beautiful body collapsed to the ground, exhausted. N bowed her head and cried without shame, even though Yuki was still standing and looking at him.

He couldn't hide his weakness anymore, everything to him was too cruel to bear.

Just a moment.

For a long time, Yuki stood and watched N cry like a weak person. Yuki stayed silent and didn't say anything and let N cry and tremble like a baby bird without doing anything.

But as time began to pass, N still didn't seem like he would stop crying. Yuki finally sighed and gave in and stopped acting like a mean god to a baby bird like N.

“Are you planning to cry all your tears, N?” Yuki sat down next to him and wrapped his arms around his small shoulder in comfort.

“Huh…” N allowed Yuki to hug himself, thinking of resisting because he was tired of crying now.

“Humans are so weak and fragile…it only takes a little to break them,” Yuki said, gently stroking N's soft hair up and down, soothing the child when he cried.

“………” N's beautiful, tear-filled face nestled against Yuki's left side of his chest slowly closed his eyes as he began to absorb Yuki's gentleness.

building

As he regained his composure, N began to hear Yuki's normal, rhythmic heartbeat. A faint smile appeared once again on N's beautiful, tear-washed face.

Warm-N remembers well the warm feeling that belonged to Yuki, the warmth that made him feel safe and at ease in a way that he couldn't tell, but he really liked this feeling.

I don't want to leave this embrace.

But it probably isn't possible.

Breaking up…

“I was such an idiot…I'm sorry.” Pushing myself away from Yuki's warm embrace, I bowed my head in remorse and sincerely apologized to Yuki.

“Oya…I was the one who made you cry and you apologized to me?”

“Yes, when I think about it, the person at fault is me…”

“It was a mistake for me to come here even though I had planned to stop by to visit… but instead I caused trouble for not only you but also Senaren-kun and Mika-kun. Ploy is in trouble because of me.”

“Um, that's it.”

“And about compensation……”

“……” Yuki tilted his head down and looked at N's red face intently, waiting to listen.

“Uh……” N felt like Yuki was staring at himself like this and felt tense and embarrassed to have to mention such an embarrassing thing.

“……” Yuki was still waiting for N to say it without letting go.

“Would you mind forgetting it?” Even though it was embarrassing to say it, N tried to speak and looked up at Yuki pleadingly, hoping that Yuki would listen to his request.

“I'm sorry, but I can probably do it,” Yuki said, reaching out his hand to gently wipe away the tears that were staining N's pretty face.

“Oya, have I made you cry again?” Yuki looked at N, who had tears flowing down his face, with a smile that N couldn't understand before leaning in and kissing him gently, wiping away the tears.

Yuki's soft kiss was like poison that slowly engulfed N's heart without realizing it.

Lord Yuki's punishment is truly terrifying...