Chapter 7: The Crown of the Most Beloved Blesses the Two with its Holy Light

Chapter 7

The Crown of the Most Beloved Blesses

the Two with its Holy Light

A gentle breeze blew across the garden in Maiden Park. Enveloped by the quiet spring sunlight, Shizuma sat next to Nagisa. “Thanks for your hard work. It was a really fun Étoile competition, wasn’t it?” Shizuma said.

“Yes. We had just a little bit of trouble, but still…” Nagisa remembered how she had almost fallen off the platform and grinned wryly.

Shizuma looked lovingly at Nagisa. “I’m truly thankful. Thanks to you, I was able to have that much fun again.”

“Not at all—it wasn’t me. You’re such a wonderful person, wonderful things always happen around you. You have such a spectacular school life, yet you chose someone like me…someone like me…”

I can’t let myself get drawn in by Shizuma’s relaxed attitude. I can’t let myself become arrogant. Nagisa hung her head. She smiled, biting her lips the whole time.

“I’m sure I misunderstood a little. I didn’t know anything. I had just transferred in, so I didn’t know anything. I didn’t even know how popular you were at this school. Or that someone like me doesn’t even deserve to be next to you.”

Or that you used to have someone who you loved, and that you made such a perfect couple with her no one could help but admire you…

That was what Nagisa wanted to say more than anything, but she couldn’t say it, and it echoed in her heart.

With a sad expression, Shizuma said, “I don’t know how much you know or what people have told you. I don’t want to know, either. I have a feeling it’s better if I don’t. But I do want to say this.”

She took Nagisa’s chin in her hand and made her look into her eyes.

Ahh, she really is an undeniably beautiful goddess, Nagisa thought as she gazed into Shizuma’s eyes.

“When it comes to my personal affairs, please believe only what I tell you. I am Hanazono Shizuma. I do not lie.”

Nagisa nodded.

“I have memories of days that were like a dream, fun and beautiful, and memories of days that were so painful and sad they tore me apart inside. And together they make up all the wonderful memories that live inside me. Of course, there are some I would rather not remember ever again.”

Days that were as fun and beautiful as a dream, and days that were so sad they tore her apart inside—something about those words pricked Nagisa’s heart a little.

“Even so, I don’t want to deny those memories. I don’t want to erase them. Because no matter how bitter they are, they make up a part of the life I’ve lived. They’ve made me who I am now—Hanazono Shizuma.”

Shizuma looked off into the clear blue sky, her gaze unwavering. Her profile gave off a deep, profound silence.

Nagisa was filled with new feelings toward Shizuma—a little different from the sadness she’d felt since learning about the existence of the girl named Sakuragi Kaori.

Painful memories she doesn’t want to ever remember again… I see, Shizuma-oneesama lost someone very…very precious to her.

Nagisa suddenly realized something. Maybe I’ve been thinking only about myself all this time. I’m positive Shizuma-oneesama loved Kaori a lot more than she does me. Why would she pick someone like me to take her place? I’m sure she just wants to have fun with me, and I can never replace the one she lost.

Nagisa felt sorry for herself.

I wonder what it feels like to lose someone you love. No matter how much you miss her, you’ll never be able to see her again. No matter how much you want to hear her voice, you’ll never be able to talk to her. No matter how much you want to touch her, you’ll never feel her warmth. All that’s left are memories that grow hazier and further away as days go by.

Nagisa hadn’t lost anyone that important to her yet, but…just imagining it made her body tremble.

Shizuma lives with memories like that—and such painful feelings—inside her.

Shizuma-oneesama…Shizuma-oneesama…waaaaah! I feel so sorry for Shizuma-oneesama!

Nagisa wanted to cry.

Looking at the sky, Shizuma spoke.

“What I love is…right now, this very moment, the one I want to have with all my body and soul is you and only you. The person I’ve been up until now never had such a feeling before.”

The person she’s been up until now… Which means…

A faint sense of expectation arose deep in Nagisa’s heart, but she worked desperately to suppress it.

“I don’t want to compare people… I don’t want to compare the person I was in the past with the person I am now. But there’s something I want to tell you. No matter what other people have said.”

Shizuma brought her face close to Nagisa’s. “I love you. Even right now, even being together like this right now, I’m afraid that you’re going to jump out of my arms and leave. You’re the only one who can make me feel so vulnerable.”

Nagisa had a feeling she already knew what was coming next, but…

“May I? Nagisa?”

For some reason, today she was able to relax.

If it can make Shizuma-oneesama happy, even just a little, then…I’ll do it. I can only do a little bit. If that’s what Shizuma-oneesama wants, then no matter how much of a mismatch I am, even if people laugh at me, I will stay by Shizuma-oneesama’s side. Until the day when Shizuma-oneesama can truly shake off those painful memories…

On top of the bright, lush hill, the two figures became one.

Flower petals fluttered on the spring breeze.

***

Shizuma lay on the slope of the green hill and gazed at Nagisa’s profile as she slept. In the distance, from across the hill, she heard cheers and fanfare.

She murmured softly, “It couldn’t be helped this time, because you weren’t used to it. But the bond between us is stronger now, so we absolutely must clear the second competition. You’d better prepare yourself.”

As she grinned, a yawn came out of nowhere. The brilliant spring sunlight shone down, warming Shizuma’s body.

“But, well, this is enough for today.” Because I got what I really wanted.

Shizuma turned on her side, stretched her hand toward the bright sky, and closed her eyes. She felt like she could enter Nagisa’s dreams.