Apollo - The Enchanting Cherry Blossoms in the Moonlight - Sun End

Apollo - The Enchanting Cherry Blossoms in the Moonlight - Sun End

Chapter 6 - Unwavering Belief

After that...

Apollo: I've talked with them. I'm going to get rid of that tree right now. 

MC: ...

(Even if I say something, Apollo isn't going to change his mind.) 

Holding down my frustrations, I clenched my hand tightly. 

Apollo: Why are you making that face? 

MC: ...I understand what you're thinking. But... I really want you to take your life into consideration. If you end up losing your life from using your power... 

When I couldn't hold back my uneasiness and let it all out, Apollo spoke without hesitation. 

Apollo: I'm a man that's going to become king. I'm not going to waste my life. Also, this matter is urgent. 

MC: Eh...? 

Apollo: The people in Soga are falling one after another... The flowers that are majestically blooming in that cherry blossom tree are affecting them.

MC: Could it be that... It's absorbing everyone's live?

When I said that dubiously, Apollo narrowed his eyes affirmatively. 

Apollo: The Prince of Soga is doing everything he can, but there's not much he can do. 

Suddenly... Apollo smiled arrogantly. 

Apollo: ...It wouldn't be so bad to have him owe a debt to me. 

With nothing else to say at the moment... I headed over to the cherry blossom tree from yesterday with Apollo.

Chapter 7 - A Light Pink Memory

As a lukewarm spring nightly breeze blew, we arrived at the beautiful cherry blossom tree again. The flowers in the cherry blossom tree were blooming more majestically than the last time we saw it as they emitted an ominously pale light. 

Apollo: Stay close to me. 

MC: Okay...

Apollo held my shoulder firmly with his left arm. Suddenly... The cold atmosphere at night shook. 

"Give me... that woman..." 

Along with getting an ominous feeling from the cherry blossom tree, I heard a voice echoing in my head. 

MC: ...

When my body trembled in fear, Apollo held me closer to him firmly. 

Apollo: Burn... 

Apollo's body heat rose. When he raised his right arm, swaying flames were flaring up. 

Apollo: These are my crimson flames!!

The flames that Apollo summoned with his right arm strongly created a vortex and went around the big tree. But...

Apollo: ...!

(No way...!) 

Not a single burn was made on the cherry blossom tree as it bloomed beautifully... Instead, it absorbed the flames as if it was sucking up Apollo's life... 

Apollo: Haa, uu...!

Even so, Apollo squeezed out more flames to burn the cherry blossom tree. 

MC: Stop... Apollo! If you keep this up...!

As he still continued to attack... The flames finally disappeared as he held his chest. 

MC: ...Apollo! Hang in there!

Apollo: ...

(His face is pale. At this rate, he'll really...) 

"Come here..."

My heart throbbed. 

(...If I go... Will that satisfy him?) 

"If only you were here, I would..." 

(If I do... Apollo's suffering will stop...)

As I looked at the cherry blossom tree that was tempting me, I spoke with resolve. 

MC: ...Don't lay a hand on Apollo any more than this. 

Apollo: MC! Wait...!

I got out of Apollo's arm that lost it's grip and slowly walked forward. The next moment... A blizzard of cherry blossom petals went around me as if they were concealing me. 

(Ah...) 

Just when I thought I was going to get engulfed in a light pink world... 

(This is...) 

The man's love towards the woman flowed into my mind. Without anyone noticing, they would exchange their love to each other for a short time... 

"Even though it wouldn't be accepted... I love you." 

A promise to look at the cherry blossoms together next year...

"We're... together again..." 

(So sad...) 

Just as I was about to offer myself to the cherry blossom tree as painful feelings were crushing my heart... 

MC: ...!

The cherry blossom petals around me emitted a bright light. 

Apollo: I won't let you... I'm not going to let you protect me!

When I heard that angry voice, my vision was blocked by a wide back. Protecting me, Apollo stood against the cherry blossom tree again. 

MC: ...

Feeling his warmth, I became deeply relieved... 

(The only person that I love... is Apollo.)

As he separated me from the cherry blossom tree, I got closer to him. Standing in front of me was his haggard face and eyes that were shining brightly. 

Apollo: Fulfilling your wishes by sacrificing everything else... That's stubbornly grand. But, no matter what, I won't ever let you lay a hand on MC! Flames!!

Using all his strength, more ferocious flames engulfed the cherry blossom tree. As if Apollo's anger was taking form... The flames flared up with a roar. 

Apollo: MC, the man you dedicate your feelings to... Guh... 

MC: ...!

When I ran over to Apollo as he grimaced and held his chest in pain... I placed my hand over his hand that the flames from earlier were dwelling within.

MC: The one I dedicate my feelings to... is only you, Apollo.

My burning feelings that were for only one person... I conveyed them to Apollo... 

Last Chapter - The Light of Life

As the cherry blossoms flew to the ground in flames... The large tree that has lived for hundreds of years got burned by Apollo's flames... and it's life was put to an end now. 

(It's all over now...) 

When I sighed from either relief or sadness, the moment I looked up at Apollo... 

MC: Apollo...!

Just as I held up his staggering body in a panic, we both fell down due to his weight. 

Apollo: ...

MC: Apollo! Are you- ...!

His eyes were closed shut and his mouth was slightly opened... 

(No way...) 

Feeling no pulse, he was showing no sign of life. I felt the blood in my face being drained away. 

MC: Apollo...!!

My shout disappeared into the dark night along with the burned flower petals... 

......

Once Apollo was taken to the Soga castle, he was given medical treatment immediately. Since I wasn't allowed to see him... All I did was pray for him. 

(Please...) 

I recalled the feelings of the cherry blossom tree that lost his beloved. When I thought about his warmth disappearing before, my heart felt like it was being crushed.

(Without Apollo, I...)

The time I spent doing nothing, but praying felt like an eternity...

......

Then, a few days later... Apollo has safely escaped death. 

(What a relief...) 

Once I was allowed to see him, I went to Apollo's room to check on him, but... 

MC: Huh...? 

The room was completely empty and the servants were panicking. 

(With his body like that... Where could he have gone to?) 

......

No matter where I looked, I couldn't find Apollo. 

(Where could he be?) 

With uneasiness holding me, I headed to the last place I thought of. A cherry blossom tree that had all it's flowers scattered around was sadly standing in isolation. Hearing the birds chirping in the area, I couldn't hear that man's voice anymore. 

MC: ...

Getting a painful feeling, I got closer and... 

Apollo: Is that you, MC?

MC: ...!

The person I was looking for was lying on top of the carpet of scattered cherry blossom petals. When Apollo looked at the burnt branches, he smiled. 

Apollo: There are still traces of it left, but... It's too bad.

MC: Apollo! What are you doing here? Your body-

Just as I approached him in a hurry and sat down next to him... 

MC: ...!

Apollo grabbed my arm and strongly pulled me. Paying no mind to me falling, he held me to his chest...

Apollo: Were you worried? 

Within the close distance, his scarlet eyes narrowed. 

MC: Of course I was worried! If you had died at that moment, I would've...

Looking at me as I was talking uneasily, Apollo softly narrowed his eyes. 

(Apollo...?) 

His unusually soft expression made my heartbeat go fast... 

Apollo: I'm not some kind of coward that would just go off and die and leave you behind. 

MC: ...Apollo... 

Apollo: Well... I'm aware that I overdid it and caused you to make that worried face. 

With a smile, Apollo's hand gently combed through my hair. When my face was placed on Apollo's chest, I felt his heartbeat a little. 

(Apollo... I'm so glad that he's alive.)

Hearing his breathing and heartbeat made tears of relief rise. 

MC: Do you have any idea... how you made me felt? 

Apollo: Don't say it. I know. 

Apollo gently wiped a tear from my eye with his finger. 

Apollo: Living with that loud mouth of yours... It's pretty troubling... 

MC: ...? Apollo...? 

Just when his voice became softer... I started to hear him making breathing sounds in his sleep. 

(Such a happy looking sleeping face...) 

Seeing him make such an innocent expression for the first time, my heart was happily beating. 

Apollo: ... 

The beautiful spring in the afternoon... Feeling Apollo's body warmth as he was making an innocent sleeping face was slowly making me drowsy. 

(...You don't have to be so majestic. As long as we're together... I'm happy.) 

When I gently picked up a petal that was on his hair, Apollo's eyelid twitched a little. 

Apollo: Mm... 

I snuggled up to him and slowly closed my eyes. Covered in the gentle sunlight, I felt happy from being with him like this right now... 

Main Story

Moon End