Tommy slid something out from inside his clothes.

It was a long, thin stick. He explained that if you pressed the button in the center of the toy, it would pop right out with a snap! Then he even showed me himself.

“Whoa.”

“Ahem. Pretty cool, right?”

“Hey! Tommy! I told you to give me just one—damn it!”

The brown-eyed boy started to complain, but the moment he looked at my face, he grumbled and shut up anyway.

Out of the five sticks Tommy held out to me, I took only two, out of basic decency. T-to be honest, taking only one would’ve been betraying my heart. I don’t want to lie to myself! One is too few!

“I think... this should be enough.”

Ugh. Why is my voice this small and awkward? This is embarrassing, embarrassing, embarrassing! It felt like my cheeks were trembling.

“Are you doing that because of me?! We’ve got a ton of these! A peddler sells them, and each toy takes different sparkly refills. Once you leave our village, they’re hard to get. We can get them right away here!”

“Yeah! Ren, so just take them. Okay? Please take them!” 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

“Huh? W-wait......”

Tommy glared at the boy who’d spoken first, but when the boy started eagerly explaining, Tommy turned back to me and nodded like crazy. His face was so red it looked ready to burst. No, seriously, is he okay?! His whole face is completely red.

Though... wait. Wasn’t he unhappy about me taking them? Maybe I should’ve taken just one after all. It’d be nice if they just shared them among themselves... though maybe even thinking that is rude, since they’re not mine.

I blinked stupidly for a moment, then in the end I wound up accepting all the sticks Tommy shoved into my arms!

“Ren. Should we get going now?”

“Gah, did we keep you too long?! Sorry!”

“Oh, not at all.”

Jepeto smiled with that easygoing face of his and waved both hands.

I awkwardly pushed myself up from where I’d been sitting.

I-I have to say it!

“Thank you!”

I ended up blurting it out like a shout. For one second the whole inn went quiet, then the voices started up again. If it had stayed silent any longer, I would’ve died of embarrassment. My cheeks were burning. Ughhh!

“Thanks. The toy... was fun....... And thanks for this too. Um. Thanks for... worrying about me.”

Even while I was saying it, I kept second-guessing myself. They were worried about me, right?

As I counted the things off on my fingers, the boys’ eyes went huge.

“I-I’m Bashua! My name’s Bashua!”

“I’m Tommy! Call me Tommy!”

After that, two or three more boys stuck their hands out and shouted their names at me. Only after a flurry of greetings and a ton of frantic effort to hold down the excitement could I finally make it outside the inn. Luman was wearing a deeply satisfied smile, so I pouted for no reason.

I was so ridiculously embarrassed.

As we were climbing into the carriage, a girl came running up late, nearly tripping because she had her arms full of bread. “Whoa there!” Luman caught her before she could fall. The girl looked up at him, her face going bright red, then thrust the bread toward him and shouted, “My name is Delshu!” before bolting back inside the inn like she was fleeing for her life. Luman called out a loud thank-you toward the inn. His voice was soft and sweet.

Isn’t he kind of a flirt? Being nice to everybody like that.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Luman, you’re pretty popular, huh?”

I meant it as a tease, but Luman only smiled like he was used to it and looked down at me. His eyes glittered with amusement.

“Children sure do make a spectacle out of saying goodbye.”

I started trembling.

Children?!

“Ha!! Children? I’m not a kid, you know?”

“Sure, sure. Ren. Ren’s not a child.”

“.......”

His mouth was saying no, so why did it still feel like he was making fun of me? It’s not like there’s even that much of an age gap between us!

Should I bite him?

Yeah, I should! At this rate, it’s dangerous. My heart’s getting all soft and mushy. What if saying goodbye starts feeling too sad?! This is bad. Really bad!

I drew myself up, ready to finally show some temper for the first time in a while—but before I could even open my mouth, Temar looked at me.

Ghk, did he catch me right before I was about to bite him?

“Ren, get in already.”

“Mm.”

Tch. I shut my mouth obediently.

“Alright, alright, let’s get in!”

Jepeto held out a hand to help me into the carriage, then immediately made a face like ah, right.

For no reason, I snatched his hand fast and climbed up.

He must’ve remembered how I’d leaped down by myself yesterday and ignored his hand. When I looked at him, he cleared his throat and turned his head away.

'Should I apologize for ignoring his hand yesterday?'

No, wait. I just thought this earlier too. This is bad. I need to stay on guard. Even if it was only indigestion, I still collapsed at dawn. Sharing affection with people I’m going to part ways with anyway is a luxury. All that does is make the goodbye hurt more.

Harden your heart! I cheered myself on.

When the carriage started moving, my body swayed with it. We slowly picked up speed as we left the village, but then all of a sudden the carriage began slowing down. I’d been staring blankly outside and didn’t even notice until Jepeto’s eyes widened and he leaned to look out the window.

“What is it?”

“Ren, that friend from earlier is chasing after the carriage!”

“Who?”

When I leaned my head out, Tommy was running after us!

He was sprinting absurdly fast, gasping for air. The sounds of splashing water and pounding feet kept getting closer. Behind him, melted snow and droplets were flying everywhere.

“Reeeen! I-I, I......!”

“Me?”

I pointed at myself.

The carriage kept slowing, and the distance between us and Tommy kept shrinking.

“I-I like you! I-I think... I fell for you!”

“What? What the hell does that—”

“I like you! I think I fell for you! Let’s meet again later! You’re an angel—!”

“Wh-what? What kind of b-bull, bullshit is that?!”

I stammered in panic, then ended up shouting.

An angel?! What angel?! What kind of bullshit is that?! Are you trying to humiliate me?! I immediately ducked my face back into the carriage.

“Pff—hahaha.”

I hated Luman for bursting out laughing!

Pretend you didn’t hear it!

“Ghk...... kh... ghk.......”

No, just laugh if you’re gonna laugh! Ughhh!

Jepeto had curled himself up in the corner of the carriage and had practically started sobbing. If you’re gonna be like that, then just laugh out loud! Aaaagh!

The carriage came to a full stop.

“Why are we stopping?! Go! Just go already!”

“He’s still running after us. Hh... hahahaha!”

“Aaaah!”

I curled in on myself and clawed at my hair.

Angel?! This is torture—!

“R-Ren... huff, huff. Ren!”

I couldn’t just ignore him either... ughhh! The toy in my inner pocket was making its heavy presence known. You’re not supposed to accept gifts carelessly! Fuck, goddammit!

In the end, I had no choice but to poke just my head out the window. It felt like the toy was telling me to keep my conscience intact.

Luman’s laughter and Jepeto’s suppressed snickering buzzed around my ears like insects, and I had to fight the urge to smack my ears raw. Is my brother laughing too?! Brother! Please, at least you don’t laugh at me!

“S-sorry, Ren! I-I’m really sorry! I thought if not today, I might not get another chance! I was too worried, in too much of a hurry, and I panicked... hhk... huff. Panicked... hhuuuff!”

“......Slow down and breathe. You’re gonna die like that.”

“Oh! Yeah, hhk. Hhuff. Hoo. Hhk. Th-thanks.”

Even though my answer was curt, Tommy thanked me.

More than that, I didn’t expect him to apologize. That just makes me feel bad, so why are you apologizing?!

“.......”

“Um... uh, s-safe travels!”

“......That’s it?”

“Huh? Yeah!! Thanks! For waiting!”

Tommy pressed a hand to his chest and tried to steady his breathing while still fighting to hold it back. His chest and shoulders kept rising and falling hard without pause.

I literally just told him what kind of bullshit he was saying.

And even so, Tommy broke into this huge bright smile.

Ughhh! It was embarrassing. And I hated it! But... I didn’t hate it that much.

“Don’t call me an angel. It’s embarrassing.”

“Huh? But, Ren, you really are kind of like an angel......”

“I said don’t!”

I barely managed to soften what was almost 'Shut the hell up!' Whether from anger or embarrassment, the top of my head felt burning hot.

“Oh? Okay! Got it.”

Tommy answered immediately, then asked awkwardly,

“What about just thinking it to myself?”

“You can do whatever you want with your own thoughts! Don’t ask me! Don’t ask me!”

“Okay! I definitely will!”

“You... your nose is bleeding.”

“Yeah! It’s proof I’m healthy! I’ve got a strong heart!”

Tommy laughed as he casually wiped the nosebleed off with his sleeve. He was still smiling that bright smile.

Unbelievable. What kind of bullshit is that supposed to mean? I narrowed my eyes. Tommy’s weird. A laugh slipped out of me before I knew it.

“Ghk!”

Tommy clutched at his chest and bit his lip tight. For a second I thought, 'Is he hurting somewhere?!' But then I saw the way his face had split into a grin so wide I could barely see his eyes and realized that wasn’t it.

Seriously unbelievable.

How much do you even know about me that you can go and fall for me?! No, is love at first sight actually a thing?!

Angel, my ass!

Suddenly I remembered Lante saying Looks pass! Ah, maybe it’s the same kind of thing? Hmm.

“Take care. Bye.”

I called that out softly, then pulled my head right back inside. The carriage started moving again.

I thought maybe he was finally gone, but then Tommy’s voice rang through the wind like an echo.

“Ren! Thank you—! Travel safe! We’ve gotta meet again someday—! If you ever pass by, you have to stop here—! I’m really sorry for startling you—!”

Soooorryyyy—!

Startled, I looked back out the window again. Far away now, Tommy was just a tiny figure waving. Near him, I could also see two men standing there looking this way.

But then the carriage turned the corner, and they disappeared from sight.

***

The carriage kept rolling down the road.

As I stared blankly outside, the feelings that had been churning all over the place slowly started to settle.

Whew. What the hell kind of day even is this? Don’t get shaken around. I’m going to keep my heart locked down tight.

“Ren. Do you know what village we’re heading to right now?”

“Tempesto Village.”

“Oh!”

Jepeto smiled and nodded.

“It just so happens there’s a festival happening in that village.”

“Really?”

Mm. I see. A festival.

I rested my chin on my hand and looked out the window, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} when I felt someone staring right at me. Jepeto looked weirdly disappointed.

“What’s with that face?”

I asked bluntly, and Jepeto let out an exaggerated sigh.

“No, I just... thought you’d be excited! Haah, I asked the villagers so diligently in case there was something fun you might enjoy. Listen, Ren.”

Jepeto’s eyes lit up with total seriousness. Then he launched into a long explanation about the sights in Tempesto Village, how the peddlers gathered there sold all kinds of rare and wonderful goods, how some of them were cheap too so if you looked carefully enough you could find something excellent for a low price, and how it counted as one of the bigger villages along the way to the capital. He even stressed that getting to experience a village festival was a very, very fun and happy thing.

“Alright, I got it! I said I got it! I’m really looking forward to it!”

“Right!? I knew it! I just knew Ren would like it.”

Jepeto smiled to himself in satisfaction.

No, you basically forced me to like it!

Whether I stared at him in disbelief or not, Jepeto just kept grinning.

Ah! Wait, has Jepeto maybe never been to a village festival before? Hmm. In that case, I guess I’ll keep him company out of pity.

***

“Hey, Temar.”

Still barely holding back the laughter he’d exploded into at Tommy’s confession, Luman finally looked over to the side. He’d been laughing too hard to notice earlier, but Temar’s expression as he rode his horse beside the carriage was set in a grim, severe line.

It was beyond cold. It was frightening.

If Tommy had seen Temar’s face, he never would’ve dared confess in the first place.

“Temar.”

Even when Luman called him, Temar didn’t answer. The tension in his jaw, pulled tight like he was clenching his teeth, seemed to say everything about his mood.

Good grief. Why’s he so pissed off?

Luman clicked his tongue. Guess the talk about the oracle will have to wait until we get to the village. Ah, right. He needed to teach Ren too. A life was precious, and he only had one, so next time he was never, ever to throw it away for someone else.

Luman smiled bitterly.