Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Shigure - A Wish to a Star - Main Story
Chapter 1 - The Star Festival
One day as the downpouring rain was making the tree leaves shake...
I came to hang out in Shigure-san's kingdom, the Kingdom of Darkness, Mei.
Shigure: Despite that you came all the way here...
As Shigure-san placed his hand on the window frame, he looked outside. The breeze that had the scent of rain blew into the room.
Shigure: It would be nice if it was clear on the day of the festival...
MC: Festival?
Shigure: Yes. I was planning to go to the Star Festival in the Galassia Kingdom* on my next day off.
T/N: Altair and Vega's kingdom
Shigure-san explained to me about the festival in the Galassia Kingdom.
Shigure: The east and the west sides of Galassia in the Kingdom of Stars don't get along with each other. But, once a year, there's a day when both royal families see each other. That day is the day of the Star Festival.
MC: The Star Festival...
Shigure: It's customary to make a wish on a star in the festival. They say that if you write down your wish on a tanzaku slip and hang it up on a bamboo stalk, it'll come true.
MC: I see...
(It sounds like a fun festival... It's just like Tanabata.)
Shigure: Could it be that... you're interested?
Shigure-san looked at my face.
MC: Yes. It sounds very fun.
Shigure: U-Um... If you'd like... W-Would you like to... go... go together?
After saying that very bashfully, Shigure-san hung his head down as his ears were turning red.
MC: Of course!
When I said that, Shigure-san raised his face and happily smiled.
(Shigure-san is looking teary eyed...)
Somehow, that expression looked very adorable. It made my heart throb sweetly a little...
Chapter 2 - A Secret Wish
The next day after Shigure-san promised to take me to the Star Festival in Galassia...
(Wishes on tanzaku slips... I wonder what I should write.)
I thought about it in a daze during the comforting afternoon.
(What will Shigure-san write?)
MC: Are you going to write down a wish on a tanzaku slip, Shigure-san?
When I asked that to Shigure-san as he was making a teru teru bozu wholeheartedly, he looked up in surprise.
Shigure: Eh... I...
After thinking for a bit, he blushed a little.
Shigure: You know what... I-I'm not going to say it!
(What's wrong with Shigure-san?)
///Choices///
- Try asking (☼)
MC: Shigure-san, what's wrong?
Shigure: Eh... About what!?
Shigure-san's cheeks were turning red even more.
- Don't ask (☽)
(I want to ask, but that'll surely trouble Shigure-san...)
When I took a glance at him, Shigure-san looked bashfully troubled.
///Choices///
Shigure: What about you... What are you going to wish for?
MC: Uh...
(I'm going to wish to spend every day smiling with the people I love... and for everyone to stay healthy, I guess? But...)
As I thought about it more, I became unable to decide on one.
MC: Hmm... I'm going to take my time to think about it until the festival.
Shigure: Yeah... I guess so... I'm looking forward to it.
Shigure-san looked outside the window again.
(I'm really looking forward to it...)
While looking at the ongoing drizzling rain, we thought about it for the next few days until the Star Festival.
-A week later, the day of the Star Festival-
Shigure-san and I took the bus to the area where the Moon Road was supposed to appear.
(S-So many people...!)
Since it was the day of the Star Festival, the bus was very cramped inside.
Shigure: I-It's so cramped...
MC: Y-Yes...
Shigure-san was in pain as he was being crushed by the crowd of people.
Shigure: MC, are... are you okay?
Even though he couldn't move himself, he looked at me concernedly.
(He's worried about others even at a time like this... That's just like Shigure-san.)
Just as we were about to get slightly separated by the crowd of people, Shigure-san slowly reached out to me.
MC: ...!
(His hand...!)
The moment I saw his fingers were about to touch me...
Shigure: Ah, sorry... I wasn't trying to...
In a panic, Shigure-san pulled his hand back. Although, at that moment...
MC: ...!
Shigure: ...!
The moment the bus made a sudden stop, Shigure-san lost his balance. When he tried to steady himself, his face ended up falling onto my chest.
(Ah...)
I got worried if Shigure-san could hear my fast heartbeat or not.
Shigure: I-I-I-I-I'm so sorry!!!
MC: P-Please don't worry about it... It's okay.
Shigure-san apologized to me many times.
(Shigure-san... Even his ears are turning red.)
Then, Shigure-san had a gloomy look in his eyes.
(What would've been the right thing to say...)
Until the bus arrived at our destination, we didn't say anything to each other as time went by. I was a little relieved that the people's voices were loud...
Chapter 3 - Looking at the View Together
The bus arrived at the location where the Moon Road was supposed to appear peacefully.
Shigure: Just a little bit more.
MC: Yes.
Covered in the moonlight, it shined brightly in front of us. The dazzling light made us close our eyes a little.
After crossing the Moon Road, we descended upon Galassia. Going along with the waves of people, we've arrived at the plaza of the Star Festival.
Shigure: ...Haa.
Shigure-san lightly sighed. As he was slightly slouched, he seemed to be still concerned about what happened on the bus.
(Shigure-san... He doesn't have to worry about that.)
///Choices///
- I'm okay (☽)
MC: Shigure-san, I'm okay now.
Shigure: It's... It's not... okay! Because I was... on MC's c-chest...
Shigure-san's face turned red again.
MC: Since we're here at the Star Festival, let's enjoy it!
- Don't worry about it (☼)
MC: Shigure-san, please don't worry about what happened earlier.
///Choices///
When I said that, Shigure-san finally raised his face.
Shigure: I-I guess so... We should enjoy the festival...
(That's good... Shigure-san cheered up a little.)
Then, when we walked into the plaza...
MC: Wow... Pretty!
In front of us, there was a tall bamboo archway on display. There were also ornamental flower balls and washi paper fluttering from the breeze. The vast and colorful scene before us made me sigh admiringly.
Shigure: That's good... You're happy. The Star Festival is famous for being very beautiful, that's why I wanted you to see it...
///Choices///
- Thank you (☽)
MC: Thank you, Shigure-san.
Shigure: If you're happy, then I'm happy too.
Shigure-san smiled gently.
- I'm happy (☼)
MC: ...You feeling that way makes me happy, Shigure-san.
Shigure: I-I... That's because I wanted to see you being happy the most...
Shigure-san's face turned bright red.
///Choices///
Shigure: Shall we try looking around more?
MC: Sure!
When we went deeper into the plaza, there were even more colorful decorations on display. I couldn't keep my eyes off that mystical view.
Shigure: ...I'm really glad that we came here.
Shigure-san murmured that.
Shigure: Seeing this with you makes the view look so much beautiful...
(Shigure-san...)
Just as Shigure-san made a surprised look, he spoke in a panic.
Shigure: Ah... That's right! Should we write on some tanzaku slips?
MC: I-I guess so...
(Tanzaku slips, where could they be?)
I found some tanzaku slips on a table that wasn't too far from here.
MC: Shigure-san, they seem to be over there.
Just as I was about to go get some...
MC: ...!
I bumped into a large man that came in front and fell.
(Ow...)
Although, that man didn't even glance towards me and kept on moving.
Shigure: W-Wa... Wait!
With a trembling voice, Shigure-san called out to stop the man.
(Shigure-san...!)
When the man slowly turned around, he glared at Shigure-san.
Shigure: ...!
The man was at least twice the size of Shigure-san. Shigure-san became surprised and trembled a little.
MC: Shigure-san... I'm okay.
Shigure: No... He needs to apologize properly...!
The man slowly got closer to us with big steps. Shigure-san looked back at the man while trembling.
Large Man: Huh? What do you want?
Shigure: Um... Just now, you bumped into her.
Shigure-san's voice was dwindling and was getting softer.
Large Man: Huh? Your voice is too soft, I can't hear you.
Shigure: J-Just now, you b-b-b-bumped into her! Please... apologize!
Shigure-san clenched his fist and spoke loudly with all his strength.
(Shigure-san...!)
Shigure-san and the man looked at each other for a while. It felt like time was going very slowly as if it had stopped. Then, the next moment...
Large Man: Sorry, I got so distracted by the festival that I didn't notice...
The man frowned and apologized to us.
MC: Ah, yes... It's okay.
After the man bowed, he left.
(That's a relief...)
MC: Um... Shigure-san, thank you. Getting mad for my sake... That makes me really happy.
After I said that, Shigure-san happily smiled.
(Shigure-san's gentle smile... It really is nice.)
His smile brightened up the dark view.
When I looked up at the sky as the sun was setting, I saw the first star shining brightly. The Star Festival was just barely starting...
Chapter 4 - Curious About a Wish
Shigure: Let's write our wishes on the tanzaku slips.
MC: Yes.
Once we finally got some tanzaku slips and were about to write our wishes down, we heard a girl's voice.
Girl: You're not supposed to let anyone see your wish on the tanzaku slip until you hang it up?
(Eh...!?)
Father: Yes, your wish won't come true if you show it before hanging it up.
When the girl's father said that, he picked her up and hung the tanzaku slip on the bamboo stalk.
Shigure: You're not supposed to show it until you hang it up...
MC: ...We must be careful.
Shigure: Y-Yeah...
Shigure-san gripped the tanzaku slip tightly.
(My wish is...)
I tried thinking about it.
(It'd be nice if I could come here with Shigure-san again next year... Ah... I know, then I should...)
Realizing those feelings, I softly wrote on the tanzaku slip.
(I wonder what Shigure-san wrote.)
When I glanced towards Shigure-san, our eyes met.
MC: ...
Shigure: ...
///Choices///
- Smile (☼)
When I felt that Shigure-san was thinking the same thing for some reason, I broke into a smile Then, Shigure-san smiled at me.
Shigure: I really am curious.
MC: Yes.
- Be silent (☽)
(Could Shigure-san be thinking the same thing? But, I shouldn't ask...)
Unsure if I should speak or not, I became perplexed...
Shigure: I really am curious.
Shigure-san made a troubled smile.
MC: I guess so.
///Choices///
Curious about each other's wishes, we held back from asking, so that they'd come true.
Before we knew it, our shadows near our feet disappeared. When we looked up at the sky, the sun went down completely and disappeared and we saw the moon and the stars.
With just the ornamental lanterns being lit up, the plaza started to become enveloped in a warm light.
MC: ...Pretty.
Shigure: ...
Just as I felt Shigure-san's gaze and turned towards him, he turned away soon after.
Shigure: Sorry... for staring...
MC: Eh...
Shigure: The view is pretty, but I think you're the one... that's pretty...
When Shigure-san's voice became soft, I didn't hear that last part well.
(Shigure-san...?)
As Shigure-san's face was red, he moved his gaze towards the far-out distance. Unable to hear the surrounding noise, my heart throbbed loudly.
Shigure: Ah...
MC: ?
When I looked up at the sky, a shooting star made a long bright line diagonally...
MC: A shooting star... Today has been nice.
Shigure: Yes, I guess so.
We looked at the night sky for a while.
Shigure: Actually, I knew what I was going to wish for from the start.
MC: Eh, you did?
Shigure: But, until I hang it up on a bamboo stalk... I'm keeping it a secret.
(I wonder what Shigure-san's wish is.)
Shigure: Now then, let's go hang up the tanzaku slips.
MC: Okay.
Shigure: If we hang them up at a tall spot, do you think our wishes will reach the stars? Let's try going over there.
Shigure-san and I searched for a tall bamboo stalk.
(Ah, again...)
Just as a shooting star went by, one and another came coming down. It was as if the stars were enjoying the festival...
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