Chapter 384

————–From now on, let’s start from this moment onwards! Let’s do something different……!

Looking back in the past, that may have been the greatest start of everything .

————–……where you——- are the protagonist of this story!

Yes, it did indeed begin at that moment……

When I finished showing Kaito-kun around the accommodation facility, before I knew it, it was already nighttime . This place really is big, isn’t it?

To be honest, I didn’t think I was going to put too much effort into this place, but when I thought about how I was doing this for Kaito-kun, I couldn’t help but overdo it .

Normally, we would have gone straight to dinner, but before that, there was a place I wanted to go with Kaito-kun . I’d already told him about going to this place before dinner beforehand, so Kaito-kun and I went to that place together .

The sun had completely set and the sky was filled with the light of the stars . The place we went to was the rooftop of the Central Tower…… The highest place on this island .

[……No, like I said, why is there a tatami here?]

[Ahaha, after all, you really should have tatamis when going for “otsukimi”, right!?]

(T/N: otsukimi/moon-viewing)

[……But the teacakes are probably baby castellas, right?]

[Of course!]

I couldn’t help but smile at those nostalgic words .

Moving over to the tatami and sitting down, I looked at Kaito-kun and lightly tapped my lap .

[But before we eat our sweets…… Kaito-kun, here . ]

[……Huhh…… What’s with you all of a sudden……]

He wryly smiled as if he was somewhat dumbfounded, but Kaito-kun still followed my wish, laying down his head on my lap .

Lap pillow…… I really liked doing that to Kaito-kun . The feeling of warmth in my lap and the feeling of his skin touching mine makes me realize that I’m with him .

While gently stroking Kaito-kun’s head, I quietly shifted my gaze to the sky .

[……Hey, Kaito-kun . ]

[Unnn?]

[Do you remember? On the night when you first came to this world…… We gazed at the moon and stars together like this . ]

[……Yeah, I remember it well . ]

A pleasant night breeze gently caressed my cheeks, enveloping me in a peaceful atmosphere .

Without saying another word, I stroked Kaito-kun’s head and he closed his eyes, as if he felt pleased with my pats .

[……Kaito-kun, you can just go ahead and get some sleep, you know?]

[……Unnn . Is this where Kuro wanted to go?]

[Unnn . You see, I’ve grown to love doing this…… looking at the stars together with Kaito-kun . ]

[……I see . ]

Well, I’m sure that I’m a little to blame for it, but he has been through a lot today and is probably tired .

Hearing my words, Kaito-kun softly spoke, his voice soundly slightly sleepy .

All it was was just idle chatter . Even so, I felt inexplicably happy about this . Of course, that’s because I’m with Kaito-kun .

The first night I saw the stars with you, I never dreamed that our relationship would be like this .

At that time, Kaito-kun was but a baby bird who didn’t know anything yet, and you looked as if you were afraid of where you’d end up if you reached out your hand .

That’s why…… I decided to raise you . Just as I have done countless times in the past……

I wondered how beautiful your wings would be one day when you acquired them and flew away from the nest…… I was really looking forward to seeing you unfurl your wings up close .

However, you easily surpassed my imagination . Your unfurled wings were so much bigger than I had ever imagined, and so dazzlingly beautiful .

I’ve been busy raising baby birds that I had “given up on flying myself”, but you still “willingly took me to the skies”……

Hey, Kaito-kun? Do you remember?

I told you that time, didn’t I? That from now on, it will be the start of “your story”……

But, I think of it this way now . That it was actually the start of “our story” . Ahaha, I guess I might be being a bit too conceited? However, you’ve given me so much that I truly do feel that way .

The second night I saw the stars with you…… the day we ate barbecue together, you had changed . You’d become much cooler and stronger than ever .

No, I think you were always stronger than anyone else . However, you’d just forgotten how strong you were . I wonder if I was able to help you remember that? If I did…… That would make me glad .

The third night I saw the stars with you…… it was at the Sacred Tree Festival, right?

Looking back, I think that’s when you started to become a bigger and bigger part of my life .

It didn’t take much time for me to fall in love with you .

And then…… You challenged me .

Even though I was such a monster…… You still desperately reached out your hand to me, giving me your love . I still can’t find the words to describe how happy I was at that time .

When my relationship with you changed from friends to lovers…… I felt like the world became more beautiful than ever .

Even the starry sky that I had seen countless times felt like completely different scenery with Kaito-kun by my side .

It was then that I finally noticed . You’re not the only one who was growing up, and thanks to you, my heart is stronger than ever .

That’s exactly why, with the way I am now, even if it’s Shiro…… No . If it’s for Kaito-kun, I can beat anyone . For your sake, I will be stronger and brighter than anyone . That’s what I think .

Kaito-kun…… You really are amazing .

It’s only been half a year since I met you, a blink of an eye compared to what I’ve experienced in my life . However, that short time had left the strongest impression on me out of anything I’ve experienced .

When I close my eyes and think of your face, I can clearly remember the conversation we had……

And you saved not only me, but Vier as well . The thing that I couldn’t do, the one that I lost…… As if it was something normal, you picked it up and held it out to me .

It’s really difficult to convey my feelings for you . My love for you is so great that I don’t know how to put them into words .

Sometimes, I think about it…… How I wish that I could convey the feelings I have within my heart as they are .

I’m having so much fun every day now . Every time I see your smile, every time we talk with each other, I fall more and more in love with you . I love you so much that I think there is no limit to how much I can love you .

I wonder what you call this kind of feeling? Ahh, I’m sure…… it’s something like this .

[……Kaito-kun, I love you . ]

I whispered softly to Kaito-kun, who had begun to breathe peacefully in his sleep .

This love is different from the one I had for my precious family members . This feeling I hold isn’t just making me feel the need to watch over and protect you…… It makes me wish to walk together with you, supporting each other’s backs .

Loving someone you love is such a happy thing, isn’t it? Fufufu, I thought I’d lived a long time, but it seems like I still have lots of things to learn~~

Hey, Kaito-kun? I wonder if you remember about that time? I clearly remember it, you know? The first time I saw the night sky with you…… and the things we talked about……

Thinking about that time, I feel like my future with you will be happier than ever before .

No . This isn’t just a premonition, but something that I’m certain about…… Because I can always smile from the bottom of my heart when Kaito-kun is with me .

Look, if you turn your gaze up in the sky, you could see that the starry sky stretches out forever . It’s a wide world we live in .

[……From here on out too, let’s see a lot of things . Let’s smile a lot . With you who I love, more than anyone, more than anything……]

[……Mnnhhh…… Kuro……]

[Unnn . I’ll be right here by your side, Kaito-kun . I have been…… and will always be . ]

Lightly kissing the cheek of the sleeping Kaito-kun, I turned my gaze to the starry sky again .

Unnn, tonight’s starry sky…… is the most beautiful ever .