Hanare - Prince of Kuyou - Moon End

Hanare - Prince of Kuyou - Moon End

Chapter 7 - Serious Tone

-Flashback-

Hanare: No! Wait!

-Flashback-

Just as he raised his voice loudly, everyone in the room turned towards him. 

MC: Um... Hanare-san? 

Teacher: Is something the matter? 

Being the center of everyone's attention, he held in his words. 

Hanare: It's not that I'm feeling unwell or anything. It's just that... I want to postpone my practice time. Please. 

Teacher: ...Hanare-sama... 

Due to how very unusual he was behaving, the teacher thought about it for a while... 

Teacher: I understand... Please take care of yourself. 

After nodding silently, the teacher, along with the servant, left. Then, it was just me and Hanare-san left in the room. 

(What should I do...) 

Unable to understand what was happening, I was unsure on what to say. As Hanare-san was looking exhausted... 

(I wonder if he's really feeling okay. I want to talk to him, but... It'd be best to do so another time.) 

MC: Hanare-san, I'm going to return to my room. 

Although...

Hanare: No, don't go... I want to talk to you. 

MC: Eh...? 

I stopped in place from his forceful serious tone... 

Chapter 8 - Words of Giving Up

-Flashback-

Hanare: No, don't go... I want to talk to you.

-Flashback-

With just the two of us in the room, a somewhat heavy atmosphere was hanging... 

(I wonder... what he wants to talk about.) 

My uneasiness grew from Hanare-san's dark expression, but... 

Hanare: ...

MC: ...

(He's not... saying anything?) 

MC: Um...!

Just as I spoke to break the silence, Hanare-san strongly grabbed my shoulder. 

MC: ...!

Hanare: I'm sorry for making you feel uncomfortable. But, I want to reassure you. ...I'm giving up my feelings towards you. 

MC: Eh...?

(Giving up... his feelings...?) 

With confusion going on in my head, I recalled Hanare-san's words from that time. 

-Flashback-

Hanare: I... I had the wrong idea. But, I love you, so... 

-Flashback-

(Hanare-san really does have feelings towards me... But, giving them up...) 

As warmth was filling me up, I felt those torn up feelings. 

Hanare: Ah... No, please don't get the wrong idea! It doesn't mean that I hate you. I'm just doing my best to be a good friend to you. So... 

(Hanare-san is sad because he thinks I dislike him... I...) 

MC: Hanare-san... Um... 

Hanare: You don't need to worry about it anymore... 

When he casted his eyes down sadly, he lets go of my shoulder. 

Hanare: But, I want you to come see me dance... Please. 

MC: ...

(I... What do I think of him?) 

Trying to grasp that unformed answer, I couldn't bring out the words clearly. With his serious gaze on me, I was hesitant to respond with a half-baked answer. 

Hanare: I'm sorry for saying something so selfish. But, please. 

MC: Ah. 

After saying that, he brought me outside of the room and closed the sliding door...

......

After a while since then... While Hanare-san was busy with practice, the days continued on with us not seeing each other... 

As the evening sunlight was shining in, I was sitting alone in a corner of the room. 

(I couldn't see him today either...) 

As the days passed, I became even lonelier. 

-Flashback-

Hanare: It doesn't mean that I hate you. I'm just doing my best to be a good friend to you. So... 

-Flashback-

(A friend... Huh.) 

When I looked at the view of outside being colored by the blazing sunlight, I sighed. 

MC: I want to see Hanare-san... 

Unexpectedly... During the time of not seeing each other, the feelings within my heart became bigger...

Chapter 9 - A Present in Hand

The next day... When the sun went down, the servant arrived at the room that I was staying in. 

Servant: MC-sama, there's a special night market happening tonight, would you like to see it? 

MC: A night market... 

Since I felt like doing a change of pace, I went to town with the servant... 

As the town was brightened up with lights at night, it was bustling with people that came to check out the market. 

(What a nice view... I wonder what Hanare-san is doing right now.) 

As I went around the night market with that thought in my head, I saw an elegant looking makeup kit that was for sell in one of the stalls. 

(Ah, this... This would look good on Hanare-san.) 

When I picked up was a beautifully colored rouge. 

(If he uses this when he's on stage, he'll surely look beautiful...) 

I thought of that as I remembered his dance practice that I saw some time ago. 

Servant: MC-sama? Is something wrong? 

MC: Ah... I was just thinking that this would look good on Hanare-san...

(I... I'm only thinking of him.) 

Servant: ...Then, how about you give it to him as a present?

MC: Eh...? 

Servant: "Make MC happy during her stay"... That's the first time he has made that kind of order. He really cherishes you, MC-sama. 

MC: ...

Those clumsy, yet, honest feelings made me warm. 

(I, towards Hanare-san...) 

When I bought the rouge, I headed over to where Hanare-san was... 

......

After hearing that he was in his room from a servant, I called out to him from outside of the sliding door. Then, Hanare-san showed his face. 

Hanare: MC...

Once he saw my face, he looked down at me harshly. 

Hanare: What is it...? Do you... need something? 

When he said that sadly, I felt a sharp pain in my heart. 

MC: I'm sorry for coming here this late at night, I...

To keep my own feelings in check, I clenched my hand... 

Last Chapter - Conflicted Feelings

-Flashback-

Hanare: What is it...? Do you... need something? 

-Flashback-

Hanare-san's sad voice faded away in the gloomy room... 

MC: I... 

As I tightly gripped the rouge in my hand, I looked up. 

MC: Hanare-san, there's something I want to tell you... 

Hanare: Your face is red... You're out of breath. Are you feeling unwell? 

MC: No, that's not it... 

When I shook my head, Hanare-san frowned troubledly. 

Hanare: Sorry. Even though I said that I want to be friends, it's not possible for me to do that right now. Well... I'm still giving up. It's just that being with you... is hard. 

After saying, he turned his back on me. 

MC: Please wait...!

When I grabbed Hanare-san's clothes tightly, I called out to stop him. 

Hanare: ...MC? 

His beautiful light crimson eyes widened greatly. 

MC: ...I want to talk to you properly. 

Hanare: ...? 

MC: Please don't say that you're giving up. 

My heart throbbed loudly with nervousness. When I raised my face, I looked at Hanare-san firmly. 

MC: ...I love you too, Hanare-san. 

Hanare: ! ...Eh...? 

When I finally said that, Hanare-san lets out a yelp. 

Hanare: ...It can't be. You're so kind, so if you're taking me into consideration-

MC: Hanare-san, that's not it! I-

Hanare: Stop... 

With one hand placed on his face, Hanare-san made a distorted look. 

(I didn't get through to him...?) 

When he refused the feelings that I finally realized, my heart felt like it was going to break, but... 

(Hanare-san must've felt this kind of pain too.)

MC: Please listen, I... 

Just as I was about to speak again with all my strength...

Hanare: Don't lie... 

MC: !!

Hanare-san pulled my arm and pushed me against the sliding door. With my back pressed against the sliding door, he closed the distance between us. 

(His face is close...) 

Hanare: I'm trying to give up! Because I don't want to be a burden to you! Yet...

Within the distance where our breaths could touch, my heart was gradually getting louder. I became speechless from how angry Hanare-san looked. 

(But... If I stay silent here, we'll be at odds for sure.) 

MC: Hanare-san... Please listen to me. I'm not lying to you. 

Hanare: ...Really/ You're not doing it out of pity?

MC: ...Yes. 

When I said that shakily, he continued to look at me without blinking. 

Hanare: I... I thought I had the wrong idea. 

One at a time, slowly... Hanare-san spoke out his own feelings. 

Hanare: I wasn't intending on troubling you. But, it's really hard... ...Even so, wasn't that it? I had the wrong idea about everything... I jumped to the wrong conclusion too quickly. 

MC: I'm sorry... I should've realized my own feelings sooner. 

Our gazes met within the close distance. As Hanare-san looked at me strangely... He shrunk the distance between us and placed his lips near my ear. 

Hanare: Do you... love me? What is it...? 

MC: ...I love you. 

I responded back to his question firmly. 

Hanare: ...

He continued to look at me in the eye as if he was making sure of it. 

Hanare: ...I made things complicated again. I've always been like that since back then. Quick on making the wrong assumptions... That's something I'm unexpectedly good at. But, this time was bad... I'm really sorry. 

MC: ...It wasn't bad. 

When I smiled, Hanare-san's elegant eyes narrowed. 

(Pretty...) 

Hanare: I feel so hopeless. It's because of you hanging out with me. So, right now... I'm going to say it properly. I love you. Since the first time I saw you, I thought that you were cute. 

When he told me that honestly, my heart became noisy again. As I was looking up, his face got closer. 

Hanare: I don't want to hand you over to anyone. You're mine. 

MC: ...That makes me happy. 

As I slowly closed my eyes, I placed my hands on his back. Then, Hanare-san strongly hugged me... 

(I'm so happy...) 

With my hands around his back, I tightly gripped the rouge that was in my hand. 

(I wonder if Hanare-san will be happy.) 

-Flashback-

Hanare: The dance that I was practicing just now, I'll be performing it in the upcoming blessing ceremony. Until then, I'll be wearing a beautiful kimono to make the performance even more gorgeous. 

-Flashback-

I was looking forward to seeing how beautiful Hanare-san will become once he puts on this rouge, but... Now that our feelings are finally connected, we hugged each other deeply...

Main Story

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