Touya - Prince of Hourai - Moon End

Touya - Prince of Hourai - Moon End

Chapter 6 - Love Budding

When the ceremony ended, Touya-san had released all the laughs that he has been holding in. Then, all the heavy ice in the lake began to dissolve. 

After such a long winter, a bright spring has arrived. 

Man: The purification ceremony has brought us spring!

Everyone threw their haoris in the air and began going into an uproar. 

Touya: Haha...! Everyone looks so happy. 

Touya-san narrowed his eyes brightly as he looked at the townspeople smiling. 

(This is the first time that I've seen Touya-san's smile...) 

Before I knew it, Touya-san looked at me with an innocent smile. 

(Huh, I...?) 

Touya: Thank you... Thanks to you, I was able to hold myself back from laughing until the end somehow. 

When Touya-san turned towards me, he gave me a kind smile. 

(Who would have thought that a person with a kind smile would think that...) 

Along with Touya-san's smile and the warm spring arriving... A faint feeling of love has begun to bud within my heart... 

Chapter 7 - Feelings Growing

After the important ceremony was over, Touya-san's expression has brightened up. 

MC: Good job, Touya-san. 

When Touya-san looked at me, he smiled with a nod. 

Touya: Thanks for your help at the ceremony. Somehow, saying that makes me feel like I've been saved by you. 

(I'm happy. Being thanked by Touya-san as he's smiling. This whole time, I've only seen Touya-san making a moody face...) 

As I gave him a friendly smile, he suddenly blinked. 

Touya: Ah, that's right... I should apologize first. 

Before I knew it, Touya-san looked at me with wide eyes. 

Touya: I'm sorry that I've been unsociable with you up till now. 

Touya-san looked at me as he said that awkwardly. 

Touya: Even though you wanted to get to know me... I ended up being rude to you. 

MC: No, it's okay. You explained the situation to me properly. Also... During the times when you were moody, I knew that you were a kind person. 

When I told Touya-san that, he took a deep breath. 

Touya: Thanks to you, I was able to send winter away safely. Wont' you let me thank you again? 

MC: No, thanking me is... 

As I was being reserved, Touya-san lightly pounded the palm of his hand when he thought of something. 

Touya: I just thought of a good idea. 

(A good idea...?) 

Touya: Since I was unable to smile during the entire winter, my face still feels a little stiff. If it's all right, won't you come with me to relax? 

When I accepted Touya-san's invitation, the two of us went off. Since spring has come, there were flowers that gave the capital an elegant look. 

Touya: Now that it's spring, I can go to the theater and laugh. 

MC: The theater, huh? That sounds like fun. 

Touya: A lot of popular storytellers are there, so I thought that you would be interested in it. 

When we entered the theater, it was flourished with everyone's laughter. The next storyteller showed up and began to tell a funny story. 

Touya: The story right now is the best. 

I looked over beside me and Touya-san was laughing happily. 

(How did Touya-san handle the long winter till now...?) 

I imagined Touya-san quietly looked at the cold winter by himself as he was forbidden to smile. 

(Now that spring has come, he can smile to his heart's content...) 

Touya: MC, are you having fun? 

MC: Yes, I really am. 

Looking at Touya-san's smile gave me a feeling that was like there's a small bud opening in my heart. Before I knew it, the hidden love that I hold towards him bloomed and overwhelmed me... 

Last Chapter - The Season Coming Around

After having fun with Touya-san at the storytellers' theater... 

Touya: Aah, I feel like I've let out a year's worth of laughter.

As Touya-san said that, he rubbed his cheeks with satisfaction. 

MC: Has your face gone back to normal? 

Touya: Yeah, want to touch it? 

(Eh...)

Touya-san held my hand and gently placed it against his cheek. It could be because he was laughing a lot, but his face felt a little warm. 

Touya: Doesn't it feel nice? 

MC: I-It does... 

Even though I only touched him for a bit, my heart was becoming very noisy. 

(That was suddenly surprising...) 

Touya: I'm hungry from all that laughing. 

MC: Come to think of it... The sun has already gone down. 

Touya: Even though we came all the way here... MC, is it all right if we stay out longer? 

(Eh...?) 

My cheeks became warm when he said that. 

Touya: If it's okay, would you like to have dinner together? 

MC: Sure... I'd love to. 

I looked at Touya-san and nodded. 

After we had fun at the bustling theater... We went to a well-fashioned boiled tofu restaurant that Touya-san wanted to go to. 

MC: Wow, it looks delicious. 

When we removed the pot lid, the refined scent of konbu was lingering. As steam was emitting from the tofu in the bowl, I held it in a spoon and placed it in my mouth. 

MC: Hot...

It was hotter than I thought and I ended up burning my tongue. 

Touya: MC, are you okay? 

While enduring it, I continued eating the tofu in my mouth. 

(I have to answer him...) 

When I thought of that, I swallowed the hot boiled tofu as I was chewing it... 

Touya: Pfft... 

Touya-san was unable to stand it and lets out a laugh. 

Touya: Geez... Why must you be so cute? 

(Eh? He said cute just now...) 

Touya: Are you okay? Was it too hot? 

MC: Y-Yes...

Touya-san scooped up some boiled tofu and blew on it to cool it off. 

(Doing something like this...) 

Touya: There's no need to rush, just take your time to eat it, okay? 

Feeling embarrassed, I nervously opened my mouth... Then, Touya-san gently placed the spoon in it. 

MC: It's good... 

Touya: ...That's good. 

Even though spring has arrived, night was still chilly. When I entered the kotatsu that's around the pot of boiled tofu, Touya-san and I exchanged smiles. 

(Somehow, I feel so warm...) 

Smiling with Touya-san was filling me up with warmth. 

(Is this because of Touya-san's power? Or maybe...) 

Touya: Today, I was able to laugh fully after such a long time. 

MC: Same here. Like I thought, laughing is a nice thing. 

Touya: Yeah... It is.

After saying that, Touya-san made a serious look. 

Touya: But, it's my duty to watch over the winter of Hourai. I thought that carrying out my duty would make this kingdom happy. 

(Touya-san...) 

Touya: Along with this season... Life goes around. 

The duty that Touya-san has been bestowed with is really important. 

Touya: Also, spending the time without smiling is quite a thrill and fun. 

Touya-san looked at me humorously. 

MC: Fufu, is that so... 

(Looks like Touya-san has been looking forward to it during the days he can't smile.) 

Touya: MC... 

When he took his warm hand out of the kotatsu, he gently placed it on mine. 

Touya: The seasons go around. When winter comes, I can't smile... Whenever I think about you, I feel happy. 

(Touya-san...) 

As Touya-san's hand was on mine, he squeezed it tightly. 

MC: Me too... Just thinking about you makes me smile. 

Touya-san brought out his other hand and held my chin with it. 

Touya: In that case... During winter, will you smile in my place? 

MC: Yes. I'll do a lot of smiling. 

Touya-san narrowed his eyes and slowly pulled me towards him by the jaw. 

Touya: Then... I'll have to be careful and get used to not smiling. 

When our feelings became clear to each other, our lips met... 

Touya: Doing something like this feels warm... 

As Touya-san wrapped his arm around my shoulder, he gently hugged me. When I rested my head against his shoulder... We cuddled up together in the warm kotatsu for a while... 

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