Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Drole - Prince of Circo - Sun End
Chapter 6 - I'll Prepare You a Special Seat
After many days have passed since then...
Drole: ...
Drole-kun has still been practicing tightrope walking without the use of a lifeline. Whenever I see that, I would get nervous...
MC: Please, Drole-kun. Use the lifeline.
Drole: Eh... No matter what?
MC: No matter what. If something were to happen to you, Drole-kun...
Drole: Let's see...
Drole-kun stared at me. When I looked straight back at him, he nodded satisfied.
Drole: Then, come see the real thing. I'll prepare a special seat for you, so don't leave until then.
MC: If I do that, will you put on the lifeline?
Drole-kun was still hung up on that...
Drole: Let's see, I'll think about it.
Those words came out of his mouth.
MC: Drole-kun... Okay, I understand. I will come see you.
After telling him that, he narrowed his eyes in satisfaction...
Chapter 7 - Why?
-Flashback-
Drole: Then, come see the real thing. I'll prepare a special seat for you, so don't leave until then.
MC: If I do that, will you put on the lifeline?
Drole: Let's see, I'll think about it.
-Flashback-
When I promised to watch the circus... Drole-kun did what he promised and put the lifeline on.
(That's good...)
As I was finally watching him practice at ease, one day...
Drole: No, hurry and get down here!
Drole-kun's sharp voice surprised me and I turned around. Ahead of his gaze was a boy that was making an instable pose on top of the rope.
MC: Drole-kun!? That boy...
Drole: That's a technique that not even I can do well. But, if I worked hard on it more... Ah~... No good, he can't move. You watch him from here. I'll go save him.
MC: Okay...!
When I nodded, Drole-kun quickly ascended the ladder to the top of the rope. Despite being in an unstable situation, Drole-kun walked forward...
Drole: Come on, reach out to me. Don't worry, there's nothing to be scared of.
When he said that to reassure the boy that couldn't move, he held his hand firmly. After that, Drole-kun jumped down from the rope while holding him.
MC: ...
Just as I held my breath when the rope stretched out from Drole-kun's body... The two of them landed on top of the net as if they were being gently held in it.
MC: What a relief...
Once I became relieved, Drole-kun walked over to me while carrying the boy.
Drole: It's thanks to you for telling me to put this lifeline on repeatedly.
MC: Eh...
Drole: If you haven't, the two of us would've ended up getting hurt. Thanks to that, I was able to save this child safely.
After putting down the boy that he was holding, Drole-kun made a serious expression.
Drole: Don't do that again. Don't you know that technique is dangerous?
Boy: ...But, I just wanted to be like Drole-sama.
Drole: I'm happy about your feelings. But, now's not the time to be doing that. You don't need to rush. It's okay to take things slowly.
Boy: ...
While the boy was biting his lip, he turned around and left.
MC: Will he be okay...?
Drole: ...I'll talk to him in a bit. But... Why?
MC: Eh?
Drole: Why are you worried?
(Why, he says...?)
I tilted my head as I was unable to understand his intentions behind that question. While looking at me, Drole-kun made an odd look.
Drole: That child is neither your family nor friend. Yet, why were you so worried about him?
M: Even though he's not my family nor friend, I get worried about things that are worrying...
Drole: I don't understand. Why does it matter? People besides family and friends.
MC: But, you were kind to me, who's an outsider.
Drole: Eh?
Drole-kun widened his eyes greatly. After blinking repeatedly, Drole-kun...
Drole: You're right. I wonder why...
He held his chin and thought about it.
Drole: ...How strange.
His somewhat happy murmuring reached my ears...
Last Chapter - You're Strange
Then, a few days later... When the boy that Drole-kun saved have returned, everyone was working hard into practicing for the circus performance. Although...
Drole: Looks like that guy still hasn't given up.
While watching the boy practice, Drole-kun murmured that, so that only I can hear him.
Drole: Doing that technique requires doing complicated movements on top of the rope, so he'll fall if he makes a mistake. There was someone who lost their life by doing that in the past... That's why it's forbidden.
MC: So, something like that has happened...
Drole: Of course, I watch him to be on the safe side. But...
Just as he said that, he looked like he suddenly realized something and stopped his words. Then...
Drole: ...So, that must be how you felt.
MC: Eh?
Drole: You must've been worried about me this whole time... So, it was that kind of feeling, I finally understand now.
As he frowned, Drole-kun smiled sadly.
MC: Drole-kun...
His eyes filled with melancholy were very beautiful.
Drole: Anyway, since today's the performance... I'll show you that nothing will happen.
MC: Okay, good luck.
Drole-kun deeply nodded and headed to the stage...
......
When the circus began with no problems, performances were going on one after another.
(I wonder if Drole-kun and the boy will be okay...)
Drole: ...
On both ends of the rope, the two of them appeared. From both sides of the rope, the two of them did some performances in order, but...
(Ah... That technique...!)
The boy that took a step was about to do the same technique that Drole-kun had stopped him from doing during practice that day.
Drole: ...
While Drole-kun was on the other side of the rope, his expression was making me nervous. Although, the stage had already started...
(Oh, no...!)
The boy lost his balance on top of the rope. At that moment, Drole-kun looked like he had readied himself and took a step on top of the rope. Then, he caught the boy and dropped down in a beautiful form that he seemed to have gone with...
......
While Drole-kun was furrowing his brow, the boy from earlier was hanging his head down downheartedly in front of him.
Drole: Why did you do that even though I told you not to?
His expression was more stern than usual... I could tell that he was holding back his anger from his voice.
Boy: That's because... I wanted to hurry and be like Drole-sama... I wanted to surprise you...
When the boy explained himself towards Drole-kun's unforgiving gaze, he suddenly bursts into tears.
Drole: Didn't I tell you before? You don't need to rush. Also, not doing what you were told to isn't a good thing to do. Otherwise, you won't become a full-fledged person.
Boy: ...I'm sorry.
Drole: Go reflect on yourself for today. Understand?
Boy: ...Yes.
After seeing the boy off as he left while trudging, Drole-kun sighed.
Drole: Hey... Do you think what I said to him just now hurt his feelings?
MC: I think he'll be okay. Because... Just now, you were stern because you're kind.
Drole: Then, that's good. I don't want to hurt other people.
When he smiled after saying that, he looked very mature.
MC: You really are an amazingly reliable person, Drole-kun.
Drole: Eh? Me...?
MC: Yes. You think about what you can do for the circus and you take action for people... I thought that's mature of you.
Drole: Hmm, it feels like that doesn't have anything to do with being an adult or child, but... I guess that's because it's you who's saying that. But, don't say that in front of Nero-nii-san. Nero-nii-san says that we don't need adults.
MC: Fufu... I understand.
Drole: It's just that...
Drole-kun slowly reached out to me.
(Eh...)
Both of my hands were being lightly held in his hands.
Drole: You're strange. When I'm with you, it fills me up with questions. There are a lot of things I still don't understand, but I...
The warmth that I felt from the palm of his hands was comforting...
Drole: Family and friends... Then, I think about wanting to protect you. These feelings have nothing to do with whether you're an adult or child... Everyone is a very important treasure to me.
MC: Yes... That's a very nice way of thinking.
Drole: ...Then, that's good.
He looked at me with a soft smile filled with warmth.
(Even though Drole-kun and the others say that they don't need adults... He's a proper adult like this...)
Since that day I begged him to put on the lifeline, he kept his promise. Along with that, there hasn't been an increase in new injuries...
MC: ...Thank you.
Drole: MC?
With the Drole-kun that said he likes pain on that day disappearing, in front of me was Drole-kun as he was looking at me with a firm look in his eyes, those were what is filling me with a warm feeling...
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