--Beginning now, this moment!　Do something different!

　In retrospect, that was probably the biggest beginning of all.

　-- you -- the hero's story!

　Yes, it definitely started at that moment........




　When I finished showing Kite the accommodations, before I knew it, it was time to call it a night. It's a big place.
　To be honest, I might have been a little too enthusiastic about it, but when I thought about it for Kaito-kun's sake, I couldn't help but overdo it.

　Normally, I would have gone straight to dinner, but before that, I wanted to go somewhere with Kaito. Kite suggested that we go somewhere I wanted to go before dinner, and so I and Kite moved to a place.

　The sun had gone down and the sky was filled with starlight. This was the roof of the central tower, the highest point in the area.

''No, so why the tatami?''
Haha, I knew 'Otukimi' was a tatami!
...but you're having a baby sponge cake for tea, right?
Of course!

　I can't help but smile at the words I've missed.
　As it is, I move over to the Tatami and sit on it, lightly tapping my knee as I look at Kaito-kun.

But before we eat our snacks, Kite, here....
What's going on here all of a sudden...

　I'm sure you're not the only one, but I'm sure you're not the only one.
　I've always loved doing that with my knee pillow, Kite. The warmth of my knee and the feel of my skin on it makes me realize that I'm with my kite.

　I gently stroke Kite's head as he lies down, and I gently move my eyes to the sky.

I'm not going to be able to get a good look at you.
Yeah?
Remember?　The first night you came to this world, Kite, we looked at the moon and stars together like this.
Yeah, I remember it well.

　A comfortable night breeze gently caresses my cheek, enveloping me in a peaceful atmosphere.
　Without exchanging any further words, I stroke my head and Kite closes his eyes, looking comfortable.

I'll be able to sleep a little longer, Kite, okay?
Yeah. Is this where Black wanted to go?
Yeah. I love star gazing at the stars with my kite, and I'm in love with it.
I see.

　Today....well, I think it's a little bit on me, but maybe I'm tired because of all the things that happened.
　When Kite heard my words, he spoke to me softly in a sleepy voice.

　It's really just idle chatter. I can't help but feel happy about it. That is, of course, because I'm with you, Kaito-kun.

　The first night I saw the stars with you, I never dreamed it would be like this.
　You're a baby bird, and you look like you're afraid of what you can reach out to.
　That's why I wanted to raise you. I wanted to raise you, like I've done so many times before.

　I was so excited to see how beautiful your wings would be when you got them and took off.
　But you've easily surpassed my imagination. The wings you spread out were much larger than I had expected, and they were so dazzlingly beautiful.

　I've been raising baby birds all my life, but I've given up on flying and now you're willing to take me along for the ride.

　Hey, Kite?　Remember?
　I said to you then, didn't I? I told you that we were going to start your story here.
　But now, I'm wondering if it was our story that started then. It was just the beginning of your story, you and me. Ha-ha, am I being too vain?　But you've given me so much more than that.

　Since that second night with you at the barbecue, you've changed. You're much cooler and stronger than you've ever been.
　No, you were probably stronger than anyone else in the beginning. But I forgot how strong you were. I hope I was able to help you remember that.　If I could I'd be happy to do that for you.

　The third time I saw the stars with you was at the Treasure Festival, wasn't it?
　Looking back on it, it was probably since then that you became more and more important to me.
　It didn't take long for me to fall in love with you.

　I'm sure you'll love it.
　I'm sure you'll love the monster that is me, and you'll reach out to me and tell me how much you love me. I still can't find the words to describe how happy I was.

　You went from being a friend to a lover and the world is more beautiful than ever before.
　I'm sure I've seen the stars countless times before, but just having Kite by my side makes all the difference.

　That's when I finally realized that you're not the only one who's grown up. You're not the only one who's grown up, and because of you, my heart is stronger than ever.
　And now I'm even stronger than ever, even White. I can beat anyone to get the job done, Kite. I can be stronger and brighter than anyone else. That's what I believe.

　Kaito-kun........you are truly amazing.
　It's only been a half year since we met, and if you think about it, the time since I've been here is as short as the blink of an eye. I'm going to be able to tell you what to do.
　I can close my eyes and picture your face, and I can remember exactly what we said to each other.

　And you saved not only me, you saved Fea, too. You've been the one to pick up the pieces I couldn't, and the ones I dropped... you've been the one to pick up the pieces I couldn't, and you've been the one to put them in front of me.
　It's really hard for me to fully express my feelings for you. I love you so much that I don't know how to put it into words.
　I wish I could just let you know that I love you so much that I can't even begin to express it.

　I'm enjoying every single day of my life right now. Every time I see you smile and talk to you, I fall more and more in love with you. I love you so much that I think there is no limit to how much I can love you.
　I don't know how to describe this feeling.　Oh, I'm sure you'll say............................

"...Kite. I love you.

　He whispered softly to Kite, who was beginning to breathe peacefully in his sleep.
　It's different from the one I had for my precious family members. The feeling of wanting to walk together and support each other, instead of watching over them and protecting them.
　Loving someone you love is such a happy thing. I think I've lived for a long time, but I still have a lot to learn about the world.

　Is it Kite?　Remember?　I remember very vividly the first time we saw the sky together. I remember the first time we saw the night sky together and the words we said to each other.
　And the future with you will be happier than ever before.
　It's not a hunch, it's a conviction, because if you're with me, Kite, you can keep your smile on your face forever.

　You can't help but look up at the starry sky and see how far it stretches. The world is this big.

"....let's continue to see more things. "Let's continue to see more things, let's smile more. I'll be with you, my darling, more than anyone else in the world...

Yeah. I'll be here with you, Kite. I always have and I always will.

　I kissed the sleeping Kite on the cheek and turned my attention back to the starry sky.
　Yes, today's starry sky is...the most beautiful one ever.