Hinoto - Prince of Kuyou - Sun End

Hinoto - Prince of Kuyou - Sun End

Chapter 7 - Don't Turn Around

As the town of Kuyou was basked in the moonlight... 

MC: I'm sorry... I did something so mean to you.

Hinoto: No, I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly before. 

MC: But, I'm the one who was at fault-

Hinoto: No, you don't have to say anything. I've been regretting it ever since. 

Interrupting me, Hinoto-san continued. 

Hinoto: If I had told you that I wanted to hang out with you, I never would've thought how crucial your feelings were. It felt like you were distracting me from my loneliness... Since it didn't seem like you had any suspicions about my feelings. 

He said that with a smile, but that smile made it look like he was forcing himself. 

(No... I don't want him to make that kind of face.) 

Hinoto: Sorry. I need to be somewhere after this, so... 

MC: Wait! Please hear me out. 

I called out to stop him just as he was about to turn around... 

Chapter 8 - Realizing Love

While lights were shining magically in the town at night before the divine ritual... 

MC: Wait! Please hear me out. 

I called out to Hinoto-san to stop him before he left. 

MC: I'm really sorry... I did have my suspicions about your feelings. You were so sudden that I couldn't trust you right away... 

I told Hinoto-san... About when I became curious about his relationship with the secretary and what I've heard from the secretary herself.

Hinoto: That's... Are you saying that you were jealous of her? 

MC: ...That's-

(Was that it...? Was that why I was unable to accept Hinoto-san's honest feelings...?) 

When I nodded troubledly... 

Hinoto: MC...

Just as he showed a surprised look, he started smiling softly.

Hinoto: What should I do... That's just so cute. Also, I'm really happy!

MC: ... 

Just as he suddenly extended his arms, I held my breath. Before I knew it, he was right in front of me and I was being hugged in his arms. 

MC: U-Um...!

When I looked up at him from within his arms in a panic... Hinoto-san was looking down at me with his face all red. 

(Eh...?) 

I was taken aback as I looked at his red face. 

(He's making that kind of face...) 

He looked like a boy that has found his first love... 

Hinoto: ...MC, it's embarrassing when you're looking at me with your eyes wide like that. 

MC: Eh... Ah, I'm sorry...

Affected by his feelings, my face became warm as well. As we stayed like that for a while as time was fleeting vexingly... 

Hinoto: Oh, um... There's a place that I want to take you to, is that okay? 

When he said that in his usual manner, he sounded hesitant.

As he pulling my hand, the place that he took me to was a temple that was both quiet and gorgeous. The bright light of the bonfire made the stage stand out as it lit up the darkness. 

MC: This place is...? 

Hinoto: This is the sacred stage, where the blessing ceremony is going to take place soon. 

MC: Is that today? 

Hinoto: Yes. The position was switched to me last year, but it would've been nice if you saw me at that time... Kanoe will be doing it this year, but... Well, since it's him, he'll be doing it properly. 

MC: Kanoe-san?

I repeated the name that I have heard sometimes before... 

Hinoto: I'll tell you about him later. Look, it's starting.

MC: ...

When Hinoto-san placed his index finger on his lips, he softly said that with a shh. Just as I followed his gaze towards the sacred stage, the next moment, it became silent in the area and the intense sound of a flute was heard...

Chapter 9 - Hidden Kindness

-Flashback-

MC: This place is...? 

Hinoto: This is the sacred stage, where the blessing ceremony is going to take place soon. 

---

Hinoto: Yes. The position was switched to me last year, but it would've been nice if you saw me at that time...

-Flashback-

The blessing ceremony that happens repeatedly in front of us was a deeply emotional event. Along with the magical sound of the flute, representing the Monkey Clan, the leader did a dance performance. 

MC: How nice...

The lively looking dance made me say that in admiration. Then, Hinoto-san, who was beside me, held my hand tightly. The comforting warmth that I felt from his fingers made my noisy heart settle down. 

Hinoto: ...

When I looked up at him beside me while holding back my lively heart, his eyes were leisurely looking at the dance presentation on the sacred stage... 

......

Even after the blessing ceremony ended, my heart was still filled with noise. 

MC: That was really wonderful...

When I looked at Hinoto-san as I sighed, he happily smiled and held my hand again. 

Hinoto: I prepared a special spot where you can see it easily just for you. 

MC: That's... Thank you. 

Hinoto: I thought about doing something even more special for you as thanks. So, I personally helped the prince that was in charge of the ceremony. 

When he winked as an amorous gesture, Hinoto-san hugged me. 

MC: By help... 

At that moment, I noticed the musicians that I saw in his office before among the people that were performing on the stage. 

MC: Could it be that...

Hinoto: Yes, there's been an increase of people, but they do a good job. I was helping with rehearsals as well.

When he said that proudly, he did a gesture of beating taiko drums. 

MC: How kind of you... 

Hinoto: You think so? That can't be true. Well, but... He was probably too soft on them... That's what I thought, but I'm glad that Kanoe and the others took over with a nice performance. 

His fingers that were holding my hand slowly entwined with mine. On the palm of that hand, there were some small blisters on it. 

(Hinoto-san... He really is kind.)

Then, just as we got up to return to the castle...

Secretary: Hinoto-sama, you should go do some greetings as the predecessor after this... 

Hinoto: ...!

The secretary appeared while she was in waiting just as Hinoto-san got up. 

Hinoto: Uh, that's...

(Ah...) 

-Flashback-

Hinoto: How troubling... Even though I prepared myself properly. 

MC: Prepared yourself...? 

Hinoto: ...For this conversation. 

-Flashback-

(By preparing himself, was he talking about this...?) 

I slowly looked up at Hinoto-san's face from aside... 

Hinoto: ...I forgot that I had to help out the others. I won't make it in time at all. 

When he whispered that to me with an unsettling smile... 

Hinoto: I'll leave the rest to you!

MC: Eh!?

Just as my vision went up at that moment, he picked me up and sneaked out of the blessing ceremony area while taking me along with him.

Last Chapter - The Results of Eloping

Instead of doing some greeting after the blessing ceremony ended, Hinoto-san ran away from there while carrying me. 

MC: Hinoto-san!? Are you sure about this? 

The secretary called out to him from behind as he was running. 

Hinoto: It'll be fine, this year is the year of Kanoe's clan. I've already been dismissed from my duty. The ceremony is important, but I feel like being with the woman that I love more right now. 

MC: ...

When I became speechless from his sudden actions, he tilted his head to the side while looking at me. 

Hinoto: What are you making that face for? It's you, MC. 

MC: Hinoto-san... 

Heat instantly rose in my face. As I couldn't bring myself to say anything from embarrassment rising, I gripped his chest tightly...

Once we arrived at his room, Hinoto-san placed me down on the bed. As I was sitting on top of the soft feathers, I looked at him as thousands of stars were shining outside the window behind him. 

MC: U-Um... Hinoto-san?

While my heart was being noisy... His long fingers held my hand and placed his lips on top of it. 

Hinoto: You were so cute when you were being emotionally moved from the blessing ceremony, but... I felt a little jealous. 

MC: Eh...? 

(Hinoto-san, towards me...?) 

When the unexpected words made me look up, he looked at me with his eye that was shown through the gap of his hair. 

Hinoto: You said that I was kind, but that's not true at all. I'm only kind to the people that I want to be kind to... Humans are creatures that repay kindness with kindness after all. 

MC: ... 

After he said that with a heated, yet calm gaze, I became troubled on how to respond. 

MC: ...Um. 

Hinoto: Are you really trying to disillusion me? 

I frantically shook my head towards that face as it was clouding up sadly. Then, he became relieved and spoke again. 

Hinoto: Really... Aside from being kind to you, I want to cherish you more than anything. 

MC: Cherish...

Hinoto: Yes, I want to cherish the woman I love... Otherwise, this loneliness will never disappear. 

MC: Ah...

The next moment, he gracefully embraced me. 

Hinoto: It can't be anyone else, but you, this is the first time that someone has made me feel like this. I want you... I want MC. 

MC: Hinoto... -san. 

The affectionately pained voice of the lonely man made my heart tighten slowly. As he was only looking at me seriously, his bright eyes trembled. 

Hinoto: I want to be kind to you... If you're not around... I'll be lonely. 

When he embraced me deeply, it felt slightly cramped as my body was being embraced in his arms. But, I didn't dislike being confined like this at all... 

(Being in Hinoto-san's arms is warm...) 

Right now, his feelings that were hidden among the lonely expression that he would show sometimes felt very lovable. 

Hinoto: Stay by my side... MC. 

Accepting the embrace, I silently listened to him carefully as I was in his arms. I could hear that his pounding heart was going at the same rhythm as my slightly fast heartbeat... 

(It's really going fast... Hinoto-san's is the same as mine.) 

Hinoto: Hey. 

As his voice tickled my ear, I opened my eyes again. His eyes that had the moonlight dwelling within them were shaking uneasily. 

Hinoto: I want to be special to you. I want to get my feelings through to you properly... What do you think? 

MC: I... 

My heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest at any moment now. When I softly gripped his arm while my feelings were rising... 

MC: Me too... I want you to be my special someone as well.

Hinoto: MC... Thank you. 

When I told him how I honestly felt, he placed a kiss on my lips as a response. It was affectionately sweet and also, very gentle... 

(A kind... and innocent person.) 

I couldn't feel a single ounce of uneasiness as I accepted the warm kiss... 

Main Story

Moon End