Tsuki Tsuki Vol 7 Chapter 4

Chapter 04: 16th September

—I love you.
These were the words she always wanted to hear from someone.

“…Recently, everyone is acting strange.”

“How should I say, they are acting distant. At times they all come together and seem to secretly discuss something. Even if I want to join them, they ran away as soon as they see me. Why is that? Do you know something, Shinobu-san?”

“Wh- Why are you trying to brush it away? If I made everyone unknowingly angry, then I want to apologize properly. Please tell me if you know anything!”

I had to endure this for the surprise later on.
After all, for that very day we advanced our preparations very carefully…

It all started from an incident on a certain morning.

Before going to school, Luna, Machina, Elni and Nazuna watched TV in the living room. Apparently they were checking their horoscopes and amidst that, Machina lightly dropped her shoulders.

“Machina, don’t pay too much mind to horoscopes. I basically have good luck every day, but only at times of best luck, I drop my wallet or get stung by a bee.”

“Th- That’s not true! My life is just set to very hard! For that I get better items!”

“Elni, you’re playing too much games lately. I get that the game you borrowed from Miichan is fun, but if you’re lonely, I’ll play with you, okay? Shall we go somewhere on the next holiday?”

“T- Tsundere Cafè? What the, take me as well— wait, no! I was so kind to invite you! What’s with that attitude! Why are you so cold! Play with me too!”

Mh, I should free some time to play with Machina as well.

“Hey, Luna-oneechan, how was your luck?”

“Mhh? You didn’t find your own zodiac sign? Then should I tell you? I remembered them all. What’s your sign, Luna-oneechan?”

A bit troubled, Luna smiled with the ends of her eyebrows lowered. Seeing her like this, Nazuna tilted her head puzzled and Machina opened her mouth timidly.

“Okay you two, we have to go now. Are you ready?”

Upon that, Machina made a face like she wanted to say something, but closed her mouth in the end, grabbed her bag and came over to me.

…I wasn’t really sure as to why I stopped Machina’s sentence. I merely might not have wanted to see a sad expression on Luna’s face.

“…Brother, Machina-chan, could it be, Luna-oneechan doesn’t know when her birthday is?”

Luna was abandoned as a baby by her mother on a night with a full moon.

It could be that no one ever celebrated her birthday with her. When I thought of that, my chest hurt incredibly.

“…That’s no good. Not having a birthday is… just sad…”

“Nazuna, as you know, Sister is a devil. Devils live far longer than humans, so they don’t celebrate their own birthday. To begin with, most devils don’t even know their birthdays. So you shouldn’t worry about it.”

On that question, Machina stopped petting Nazuna’s head.

Machina smiled with a somewhat sad expression that was nostalgic, yet regretful over something currently absent.

“Hey, Brother.”

“We’ll be mimicking Machina’s mom, but let’s give Luna a birthday as well.”

“…What’s up, Machina? You’re against to it?”

Shaking her head lightly, Machina dropped her voice and continued.

What did she mean? A bit curious, I pondered about the meaning behind her words, whereupon

I was suddenly called out from behind and when I turned around in surprise, there was a Maid peeking out from behind a telephone pole. It was without doubt Kaorun.

“Yes. That is correct. So I was stalking you, Shinobu-sama, to dawdle away. Same goes for Hijiri-chan.”

Along with her words, Hijiri peeked out her head from behind Kaorun with attitude.

Denying with a bright red face, Hijiri then continued with a “Anyway”.

“Well, sounds good, but I was going to invite you guys anyway…Are you sure?”

“I am of the same opinion as Hijiri-chan. Luna-sama might be my rival, but she is a fellow perverted maid. It is only natural to celebrate for a comrade.”

“You’re the only perverted maid.”

“Since we’re doing it, let’s make it a surprise party.”

When Nazuna agreed with me, Kaorun showed a smile and opened her mouth.

“Yeah, that’s a good idea, but… don’t you have any work to do? You technically are a maid, right?”

…As always, she treated Hijiri’s younger brother so cruelly. Actually, could she really push the work on him? A bit worried, I faced Hijiri.

“Yeah. I’m sure he’ll understand if we explain the circumstances. Besides, he obediently listened to anything that Kaoru-san tells him. Though he rarely listens to my requests.”

When I asked a bit curious, Hijiri gave a small nod and dropped her voice.

“No, no, please understand the boy’s delicate heart in puberty.”

I opened my mouth to get back on the topic and while heading for school, we all discussed various things regarding Luna’s birthday…

With classes over, it was after school. After explaining things to Elni in a mail, we decided to have a meeting. The topic was of course Luna’s birthday party. The meeting was held… in my room for some reason.

Keeping in mind that we should hold future meeting at Hijiri’s house, I faced the girls.

And Kaorun, entrusted with the role as chairwoman, had leaned a small white board, wherever she got it from, against the wall and while holding a pen in one hand, she opened her mouth.

As the meeting was progressing as such, suddenly there was a knock on the door and Luna showed up.

Amidst that, Luna tilted her head bewildered and came into the room. She was holding a try with drinks.

Luna placed the tea on the table and then asked with a smile.

On that request, everyone avoided her gaze at once and I as well was troubled for an answer.

“Luna-sama, my apologies, but we are discussing something important. Please take your leave.”

“No, that is not really the case and it is rather troubling if you make such a teary expression…”

“Ahh! Please wait! Ehm, please look at this, Luna-sama! It is a live picture of Shinobu-sama changing!”

Saying something outrageous, Kaorun pulled out a kind of picture from her pocket, whereupon Luna turned bright red and took it with both hands.

I was taken aback a bit, when Kaorun confidently puffed up her well-formed chest.

“All of them, please!”

“Like always…. I am not that perverted! I only do it at times!”

“…No comment.”

There Kaorun shifted her gaze back to Luna and said teasingly.

“I, I am not doing such things, probably.”

“How does it come to that!? Ah, Kaoru-san, please stop… Yahn… Uhn… No… Yahn!”

There Kaorun chased after her with a somewhat happy expression… Soon enough Luna’s erotic voice sounded even back to my room.

“…Actually, you quite like Luna, right?”

On Kaorun’s words, Nazuna saluted with a “Meow!”. Then she tightly grabbed Hijiri’s hand.

“Yeah, okay.”

“You come as well, Machina-chan.”

Replying shortly, Machina took Nazuna’s hand. However, Machina might actually have wanted to attend the meeting. She faced us with a little regretful expression, then left the room together with Nazuna and Hijiri.

Okay, we should settle things as far as we could with these members.

“….Huh? Isn’t this member constellation the worst?”

For a moment, Elni and Kaorun both puffed up their cheeks a little and each of them said dissatisfied.

“It is as Elni-sama says! Just what is so wrong about us?”

When I replied so, for some reason Elni acknowledged it with a “Certainly” and even Kaorun affirmed it with an “Indeed”.

“I already anticipated to a certain extent that the meeting would fail, just by the fact that we were gathering in your room, Shinobu-sama. As long as Luna-sama remains in the house, she will be wary of our secret conversation…”

“Now, now, Shinobu-sama. We have plenty of time, so let us not rush. Hijiri-chan also seemed keen on seeing your room, so please let her sleep in your bed later on. I am certain that she will be pleased.”

I retorted while shrugging my shoulders, then we resumed the meeting to decided at least on things we could.

But, one problem arose in our discussion and we all crossed our arms and started to pondered with our mouth closed.

The former wasn’t all that hard to prepare, but the latter was a problem.

We considered that a birthday song or the birthday cake itself could be a present from us, but in the end we dismissed it as unsuited.

“Shinobu, we should just gift Luna romantic.”

“Well then, Shinobu-sama, will it not be alright to just give Luna-sama yourself as a present? Like the cliché ’The present is m.y.s.e.l.f’. It might feel a bit cheap, but should prove best in this case.”

Giving the xth dismissal, I made a big sigh in my heart, whereupon Kaorun clapped her hands for no apparent reason.

“That’s it, Kaorun!”

“I’m sure Luna will be happy if Shinobu presents her with some wonderful words!”

When I put my retort on hold and asked, Elni put her hand onto her chin and after pondering for a bit, she answered.

“Okay.”

“You’re obscene.”

“…Yeah, I think you better deny it?”

“Hey, is it just me or do you guys have forgotten our aim? Why is the present suddenly only from me? Think about something we can do together. Also, why are you even fooling around more than necessary?”

“Even I want to fool around!”

“I believe he was envious of us.”

“…No use talking with you two. I’ll go ask Luna directly if there’s anything she wants.”

“If so, it’s hard to understand. We’re going to keep the party a secret from Luna until the day, right?”

Replying so to Kaorun and Elni, I left my room. Then I showed up in the kitchen, as I concluded to find Luna there preparing dinner at this time, which turned out to be right.

…Luna was always cooking delicious food and took care of all the house chores. I properly wanted to celebrate her birthday with feelings of gratitude.

I approached Luna and called out to her softly.

“Ah, Shinobu-san. I’m making croquettes today…Are you already done with your talking?”

“Yeah, we’re done for today. Anyway, it’s been on my mind a bit, but what are you usually doing while I’m at school?”

Midway in her sentence Luna coughed to brush it over.

“I am reading books as well.”

“Yes. A while ago Tomoe-san told me ‘You can use the garden as you want’, so I was planning to plant some flower seeds in the garden next time.”

“By the way, do you have any other interests besides gardening?”

“Piano? You can play a piano?”

…I didn’t know that. Once more I made a note in my heart.

“Yes, but I also quite liked the baumkuchen you bought for me before.”

“Mhm~ Nothing in particular.”

“I like a kind person.”

“Well then, Luna, tell me your three sizes from the top on this occasion.”

“Don’t fret it. Anyway, I’m going to take a picture now, so take off a layer of clothing.”

“I don’t mind at all. Lastly, tell me if there’s anything you want.”

Using this chance, I tried a direct approach, whereupon Luna put her index finger against her red cheek and pondered, then she suddenly faced me and turned even redder for some reason. Now she fidgeted both her index fingers against each other in front of her chest and answered with a small voice while staring at me.

“PFT!”

Inadvertently I snorted, but I should calm down for now. To hide my initiation, I played cool. I looked back into Luna’s eyes and opened my mouth.

“…Are you singing?”

…Frankly, I couldn’t hide my agitation at all. For some reason I felt embarrassed.

There, in the living room were Hijiri and Nazuna.

“Ahh, you really are so cute, Nazuna-chan…”

Amidst that, Hijiri hesitated a bit, then opened her mouth timidly.

“…Eh? Really? If I change the way I call you, Gogyou-san, I’ll probably fawn over you a lot. Are you sure?”

“I don’t mind if it’s from you. You can even think of me as an older sister. My real brother won’t fawn over me at all recently… B- Besides, in the future, well, I want to become your sister-in-law…”

Nazuna, as she probably couldn’t hear it well just like me, tilted her head. But not all too bothered by it, she flushed her cheeks a bit and said while staring at Hijiri.

“….Could it be you’re just as shy as Shinobu-kun? I wish you wouldn’t fool around at a time like this…”

Hijiri dropped her shoulders. Nazuna panicked. I, an observer, desperately tried to suppress a laughter.

When I wallowed in reminiscences, Nazuna lightly grabbed Hijiri’s sleeve and opened her mouth with upturned eyes.

Instantly, Hijiri embraced Nazuna. Well, I could relate. Even if you ignored my favouritism for a relative, her behaviour was just cute.

“Hey, sorry to interrupt your flirting with Hijiri, but where did Machina go?”

While answering, Nazuna’s cheeks were rubbed by Hijiri’s in a happy mood. Hijiri on the other hand didn’t seem to listen to our conversation, as she was once again spellbound by embracing Nazuna.

“I’ll go check on her.”

“What are you doing here? Thinking about something?”

“…While everyone was discussing stuff for Sister, I kinda felt pathetic for myself. I thought about a lot of stuff…”

“That’s not it. I meant the birthday. I was with her all the time in the demon realm, yet I never did such a thing for her…”

“I told you before, that I acted quite spoiled with her over a long time. Even though I knew that she was originally human and a kind of strange devil. I should have known how painful it was for her not to have a birthday, if I had given it a bit of thought… Yet I didn’t do anything for her.”

“Just like Mother gave Father a birthday, I should have given Sister one way earlier. She gives me so much, but I can’t offer anything in return.”

Softly, I denied it.

Reaching out my hand for Machina, I opened my mouth once more with “Besides” while petting her head.

“…..Yeah, you might be right.”

But tears dwelled up in her eyes and to change her mood, I cracked a joke like always in the end.

“…Even if you ask me, I’m not sure. How would you present her that?”

Along with my words, I rested my hands on her shoulders and declared sentimental.

“Oh my, thanks. That’s the ultimate compliment for— As if! It’s the worst kind of insult! It’s not touching my heart, but stabbing it! Are you making fun of me!?”

Now I put my hand on Machina’s chin and said whispering.

“Eh? What’s this so sudden? Geez, you’re so helpless. Just for a bit— wait, I won’t be fooled! I won’t fall for that trick again! Actually, do you want to touch my breasts that bad!?”

“Even at our first meeting you said something weird and touched my breasts! And a while ago, you touched them through a clever scheme of ‘Do they give milk?’! Are you a boobie alien!? How is it!?”

“What the! Forget it! Stupid Shinobu! Pervert! Lecher!”

As words of comfort they were the lowest, but it was the best I could do. I watched the sunset while lightly scratching my head, then slowly went back into the living room…

From them on I was busy until the day of Luna’s birthday.

Amidst that, everyone settles on presents for Luna through repeated meetings and we came to feel some kind of backlash.

But on the other hand, Luna lost her vigor by the day and on the appointed day with all preparations done, I took Luna outside, so that the living room could be decorated for the party. When we went to the park together, she said somewhat depressed.

I had sat down on a bench and Luna took seat besides me while looking down.

Every time they were about to spill the beans, my mother, Machina or I kept making follow ups and due to that Luna surely felt that we were hiding something.

Shaking my shoulders with teary eyes, she had said that she would like to apologize if she unknowingly made everyone angry. She wanted me to tell her if I knew anything.

“Shinobu-san, is it something you cannot tell to me? It IS something you cannot tell me, right? Then at least please give me a hint! I beg you!”

“…Right now I can only sing sad songs…”

…This wasn’t good. I was about to give in. When I pondered how to fool her, the ring tone of my cell phone finally sounded.

“Mad Dog here. Preparations are done. Jackal, initiate the plan. And make it cool. That’s important after all.”

Replying shortly and hanging up, I took Luna’s hand.

“…Please show me hope to face a tomorrow. I feel disheartened.”

And when we reached our house, Luna tilted her head a bit.

“Yeah, it has something even better than the hope to face tomorrow. Just think that I tricked you and get inside.”

There Luna stood in front of the front door together with me while making a puzzled expression and then slowly opened the door.

“—Welcome home, my Lady!”

…Okay, what? Why maid clothes? We never discussed this before. Just like Luna, who had widened her eyes, I was surprised, whereas the others all launched the crackers that they had hidden behind their backs and said together.

Along with a nice PLOP sound, the confetti from the cracker flutter about in the air.

“T- Today is Shinobu-san’s birthday!? I did not know at all! Wh- What should I do! I am supposed to give a birthday present, right? I do not have prepared anything! Aww, just what should I do?”

I again pulled on Luna’s hand and took her to the living room.

Balloons and paper chains were displayed in the room and there was even a banner with “Happy Birthday!” written on it.

There I gently rested my hand on her shoulder and explained.

Momentarily stopping my words, I then continued along with a smile.

“…Ehm, well, a birthday party for me? But, I, do not know my own birthday…”

Turning around, I asked so, whereupon the girls, who had watched over Luna with a smile, nodded without hesitation. Then Elni and Nazuna took Luna’s hands and made her sit on the sofa. Hijiri and Kaorun brought some snacks and tea, whereas Machina and my mother brought a big self-baked cake.

By the way, the candles were not lit yet. We had decided to do that last and apparently we were right with that decision.

Today was Luna’s first birthday party. She could take her time. Waiting for Luna to calm down, we then decided to give her the presents first.

Nazuna gave her a wolf plush-toy as big as her love for Luna.

Hijiri, who said that she actually would like to present her a piano, gave her a keyboard.

While everyone was giving her the presents, Luna finally perceived it as reality, as tears gradually dwelled up in her eyes.

There I softly clapped Luna’s shoulder and pointed at my mother’s present, the cell phone.

When Luna took the cell phone and opened it as I told her, I continued further.

Luna was bad with machines. She surely didn’t know how to operate it. I gently overlapped my hand with Luna’s and operated the cell phone, opening the profile menu.

“…Ah.”

The profile showed the phone’s number, mail address and the name [Luna].

Luna was called “Luna”, because she was abandoned by her mother on a night with a full moon. But Machina previously told me that she didn’t really like her own name and actually wanted to get one from her parents.

I had the idea. It might be a selfish thing, as a name is something precious, but I wanted Luna to like her own name. I didn’t want her to hate it.

“If you like, would you accept that name?”

Facing everyone, Luna’s voice trembled a bit.

“Of course. We all want to celebrate with you, since you’re precious to all of us.”

“…As a kid, I… thought that it is for the best that… I do not know my birthday. Because even if I had one… no one would celebrate it with me… I had given up on it… but, actually I was always envious of it…”

“But… everyone hated me…so I could not invite them to a birthday party…I, just do not know… what am I supposed to do at a time like this… I know I should not be crying, but… I am sorry…”

Unable to watch any longer, I draw Luna closer and tightly embraced her onto my chest.

Along with my words, I gently petted her head, whereupon a crying voice raised from Luna’s mouth. That voice echoed loudly through the living room and Luna continued to cry just like a baby.

Such thoughts crossed my mind as I held back my tears that were about to naturally flow out. When Luna had calmed down, I shifted my gaze back to everyone.

Everyone except for Kaorun was devastated.

“C’mon Nazuna, we’re going to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ now, so stop crying, okay?”

“I, I see. Then Machina with her beautiful voice will have to sing it by herself.”

“Hic… My voice is unstable… I… can’t sing…”

“Ehm, then let’s sing with the rest. Hijiri, can you do it?”

No, I appreciated the thought, but it looks impossible as well.

“..Uhh… Luna-chan… you can always stay with us, okay…”

In other words, my mother was useless as well.

“…Shinobu, allow me to take on that role. I want to do it.”

Meanwhile, Kaorun closed the curtains of the living room and turned off the lights, so when all candles were lit, I called out to everyone.

On my calling, even the crying members technically started to sing Happy Birthday, but the mixture of crying and singing was rather troubling.

…When I looked into Kaorun’s eyes earlier, they seemed rather wet, but I decided to pay it no mind. I lightly clapped Luna’s shoulder.

“…Yes…I hope… hic… that I can always stay… together with everyone…”

I pondered about that in my heart, whereupon Kaorun, as to change the mood, cracked one of her usual jokes with still wet eyes.

“Don’t say such outrageous stuff! If that’s what you want, I’ll drip wax onto you!”

Like that, Kaorun and I dared to fool around.

Elni got angry on a rare occasion and continued while puffing up her cheeks a bit.

“Well then, I will drip the wax onto you, Elni-sama.”

When Elni raised a pathetic scream, everyone snorted with laughter a bit and even Luna showed a smile. She took a deep breath to blow out the candles.

“Shinobu-sama, please do not do anything perverted once the room turns completely dark.”

“Fufu.”

In that moment, my mother started to raise an erotic voice… and when I doubtful turned on the lights, Kaorun was fondled my mother’s breasts from behind.

“No, you have the wrong idea. I just mistook her for Hijiri-chan.”

“…Ah, it is time for me to sing an anthem, so I will take my leave now.”

“Just sing the anthem here. In a nice voice, okay.”

“Ahn… My apologies… Hyah… Please forgive me….!”

“Kyahn! Uhhn! Not my bottom… Please do not touch it… Noo!”

“Oh my, oh my, the little maid likes it on the butt. I’ll gladly comply.”

While reddening her cheeks, Kaorun sought help from Hijiri.

“…Kaoru-san, you do better to reflect a bit on your actions.”

Well, of course she would be cold to the perverted maid that tried to fondle her breasts in the confusion of the darkness. However, if I were to hear any more of Kaorun’s erotic voice, I wouldn’t calm down.

“Mom, why don’t you leave it at that? I’ll give you Hijiri instead, so put up with that.”

On my words, Hijiri fidgeted with red cheeks, whereupon my mother pulled on my sleeve with a smile.

“…But don’t do anything funny.”

Speaking like a politician, my mother embraced Hijiri. Upon that, even Nazuna and Elni clung to Hijiri and in the end Luna joined them as well.

“Shinobu-sama, I, came to like Tomoe-sama quite a lot. I might not be all that opposed to being treated that forcefully.”

I retorted wearily…

Even after blowing out the candles, the birthday party continued happily.

Amidst that, Nazuna came over quite curiously.

“…You can’t, Nazuna. You’re still a minor.”

“Hey Mom, how does alcohol taste?”

My mother replied so, whereupon Nazuna widened her eyes for some reason.

Yeah, I didn’t think she meant it like that. I inadvertently became weary, whereupon my mother gave a wry smile.

“Ehh!? You ate dad!?”

There Kaorun came over to me curiously now and immediately rested her chin on my shoulder, listening to the conversation. Furthermore, on a closer look, I noticed Hijiri slowly approaching in our direction as well.

“Ehm, well, I truly thank you for today. It is my first birthday, so I am really happy. I would like to repay you somehow—”

Softly cutting into her words, I continued gently.

Of course they were a lot of opinions.

“We’re happy to have met you, so we express our feelings of gratitude. You, the star today, don’t have to do anything. Still, if you want to repay us, then keep that feeling until the birthday of the next person.”

“—But if you insist, Luna, I’ll gladly accept it.”

Kaorun and Elni both mimicked me and turned the serious atmosphere into a comedic one at once. I was about to retort to them half-wearily, but

Luna seemed to take their joke serious and approached Elni.

“Elni-chan, I love you.”

Getting a kiss from Luna on the cheek, Elni was surprised, whereupon Nazuna raised her hand with attitude.

“Yes, I love you as well, Nazuna-chan.”

“Ehm, Luna-sama? I will pass on it. I am content with the sentiment alone…”

“L- Love me, e- even if you say something like that, I, uhm…”

“Uhm, Gogyou-san, I have a little favour to ask. …Can I call you Hijiri-san from now on?”

“Thank you.”

Then Luna got closer to Machina and tightly hugged her onto her chest.

“No, I’m sorry for not noticing about your birthday up till now…”

…To Luna and Machina, who came from abroad, a kiss surely was just a greeting. They kissed each other on the cheek and embraced each other once more.

I was looking over the two of them, when Luna softly got away from Machina and slowly came over to me.

“Yep, your always cool Shinobu-san. Bring it on.”

Upon that, Luna blushed and looked at me with wet eyes, bringing her face closer.

She overlapped her lips with mine.

Before I had noticed it, the atmosphere in the room had become cold and Luna hastily got away from me, as she probably didn’t intend for it herself, while touching her lips.

“E- Ehm, well, I made a mistake.”

Hijiri raised her voice first.

Kaorun followed after Hijiri.

Machina also protested with teary eyes.

It ended with Elni saying some nonsense.

I had trouble coping with the situation, but… it wasn’t something serious.
Even while everyone was angry, they also showed a smile. Same applied for me. It might have become a bit wild, but it was okay for today. Also,

—I want to celebrate Luna’s birthday like this again next year.

While watching everyone’s smiles, I thought so at the bottom of my heart.
16th September— Luna’s birthday. This day surely would become a special day for us now. Having that premonition, I approached the smiling girls…

A night with a full moon. A small baby. A coughing woman. Swaying blonde hair.

With a trembling voice, the woman reached out for the baby and started to cough again.

That warmth filled up the woman’s chest, but likewise tightened it.

At some point she had forgotten what she was born for and later she even didn’t know why she was still alive. She lived on with the thought that she would die a miserable death without knowing why she was born into this world.

But, the born child looked at her and smiled.

It was a wish she had since her childhood. The moment her dream, which she had forgotten about at some point due to her wearing life, came true.

Just by having such a trivial wish granted, her chest overflowed with love and her tears wouldn’t stop.

She wanted to watch that smile forever. She wanted to feel that soft warmth forever. She wanted to be together forever.

The woman was painfully aware that she couldn’t raise this child. That she had to say good-bye. That she didn’t have much longer herself.

With that in mind, she had no other choice but to leave her child, which was more precious to her than anything, in front of the church door. For her that was the most painful action.

Spilling words of apology along with tears, the woman mumbled “I love you” in her heart.

“…I hope you’ll find someone that says it to you.”

“I love you— -chan.”

The baby, who lost it’s mother, continued to cry in front of the church. Like calling for the mother, it continued to cry forever…

—It was a dream. It was vague and unclear, but a really gentle dream.

Upon waking up, the woman’s child quietly spilled tears.

…Suddenly feeling a soft warmth on my body, I slowly opened my eyes.

While thinking so half-asleep, I turned my vision, whereupon there was Luna to my surprise.

It was the first time Luna did something like this, ever since she started to live here.

“…Mom.”

It stopped my movements.

…I didn’t know what happened. I didn’t know either what kind of dream Luna was having. But, I no longer could get away from her.

“As long as you wish for it, I’ll stay by your side.”
While holding the warmth in my chest, I continued to pet Luna’s head until she would wake up…

Chapter end