There are two girls on the stage.
　Only two girls in the world, only two in the world, and they stare at each other with stillness as if to say that, and a girl like snow.

　Shtel, who moved on instinct, not even holding out a piece of colored paper to sign or a pen, tilted her head adorably.
　She just reached out her hand.
　In Shtel's mind, the distance between her and the girl was next to nonexistent. She reached out her hand to see the girl where she could reach her, and she wanted to talk to her.

(Daddy's going to be mad at me, okay?)

　Mom would probably laugh, but Stell thinks that Dad might be offended.
　But curiosity, follow your instincts, was what her mother had taught her.
　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can get away with this," he thought, thinking like a child. Naturally, no matter what was going on around him or on the off-limits stage, it didn't exist in his mind.
　It's because in Shtel's mind, it's just the two of us from the beginning.



　The moment the girl barely replied to the sparkling eyes Stelle. The time that had been stopped begins to move.

''Crooked!''

Hey, where do you--Hiyuki-sama, give me your hand-me-down.

　A person leaps out of the shadows of the stage.
　Dressed in inconspicuous black and ash garb, they belonged to the shadows known as shinobi.
　Apart from the guards standing in front, they were probably waiting in reserve to protect her. There was no hesitation, as they were only guards for the princess maiden, and the kotai and agony were closing in on Shtel.
　But.

Well you're late....

　The level of skill between a mere human and Shtel is too different before the level difference.
　The years of life are just as much a part of a shtetl's experience. Shtel used to train for hundreds or even thousands of years, mastering all kinds of martial arts in his spare time. It is no exaggeration to say that Shtel is the highest-ranking warrior in the world, not only in the traditional elven combat arts of spirit magic, bow and sword, but also in all kinds of martial arts.

''Do you want to play with Shtel?''

　From the point of view of such a shtetl, it was a child's play, even if it was an elite move.
　There was no need to pull out the armor he received from Nacht.
　While stepping back and avoiding the agony, he took the arm of the person he was slashing at and used the difference in size to throw it with his body as he entered his bosom.
　A black-robed woman is slammed onto the stage, spinning neatly in mid-air. Properly, it was really just a game to Stel around killing the impact without letting go of the puller.

　However, seeing the escort that was clearly tamed and then put away, Hyuki moved away from Stel.

''Ah, wait...!

　Shtel reaches out to Hyukki, but the guards who arrived late to intercept him split the gap between him and Hyukki.

''Mmm........''

　It's very disturbing.　
　Shtel just wanted to talk to the girl who was dancing so beautifully.

(I won't ask your permission...)

　A good argument echoed in the back of his mind, but the ratio of irritation and frustration in Shtel's mind was a little higher than reason.

'Get out of my way, Shtel, don't you dare!

　Shtel's hand, trying to force his way through.

No, Stern!　For bothering you all, already!

　Aisha, who was accompanied by Nacht, grabbed onto the stage.

'But... because...!　Shtel wanted to have a chat!

No, don't be selfish, like Master Nacht.
　Aisha's eyes were cold. That's why I'm afraid.
　Shtel winced and shrugged.

'That's terrible Aisha...'
　Aisha says of Nacht as if he is an example of a bad thing.
　Aisha doesn't even look at Nacht, who slumps her shoulders, and glares at Shtel.
　It's a good thing that you're able to do that.

It's a good idea to have a good time with them. Let's be sorry.



　And just when the problem was resolved among his people in a good way, Nacht poked and prodded Aisha's side.

''Huh, what is it, Nacht-sama?''

　Aisha was unaware of the situation around her, as she was too preoccupied with Shtel.

'Already, it looks like you won't be able to get me to forgive you for your apology alone, Aisha.

　There are roughly twenty guards deployed to protect Hyuki, and ten shadowy figures secretly aiming at us outside of them.
　The only reason they didn't attack at all is because Nahat, who didn't want to interrupt the family's story, was aware of every single one of them and kept them in check.

''Huh........um.......what should we do.......?

Let's get out of here. I'm sorry about this, okay?

What...?

　With Shtel on his shoulder and Aisha back in his arms, Nacht moves.
　Nacht and the others have disappeared, and the next thing everyone around them knows

'Huh...e...why...why...'

　Nahat, carrying Shtel and Aisha, was right in front of Hyuki's eyes.
　The skill (skill), a combination of illusionary dragon and translucent dragon, of course, would never be seen by anyone's eyes.
　Nacht bent down to the spot so that the girl's eyes were the same as those of Shtel on her shoulder.

'I'm sorry for the inconvenience, I'm sorry. But I don't mean any harm to this girl. I just couldn't contain my curiosity. I wish you could be friendly with him, if you can. After all, you're the first person Stell has ever been selfish with.

　Nacht said as he lowered his head.

'See, Shtel,'

　At Aisha's urging, Shtel lowered her head on Nacht's shoulder.

''I'm ... sorry ... sai ...''
　Shtel is a small child.
　Except for his special powers, he's no more or less than that.
　Such a child was desperately bowing his head with a crumpled face.

''No, well, I'm fine - more importantly, you all are........''

　Hyuki accepted the apology and was concerned for Nacht and the others.

'Ha, I'm leaving for today - maybe, but we'll see each other again soon, I have a feeling.

　Just before Nacht took off.

I'm really sorry, but I'll see you later.

　Yes, Stell said the best he could.





◇





　The sky was like a jewel box.
　The two moons huddled together at the top of the heavens, the numerous stars shining brilliantly.
　As if to contrast with the bright, beautiful starry sky, a depressed Shtel leaned on Nacht's lap.

...I'm scared.......Mommy!

　Aisha was quite worried about Shtel.
　Naturally, the sermon would be a long one for that.
　Aisha is afraid when she gets angry. That time when she can hit him with a straight face and righteousness in a matter-of-fact manner is moderately painful.
　When he was finally freed, Shtel pulled on Nacht to indulge him.

''Aisha is a worrier, you know...''

Shtel, I'm sorry about that...

Yes....but stay put. Don't hold back on the things you want to do. Don't give up what you think you want. The way you did it was wrong, but your thoughts are not wrong. Shtel's actions may have been rash, but they're not wrong.

　What lies beyond repressing, stifling, and enduring thoughts is a void.
　A gaping void.
　The void grows larger and larger and larger, and before long we lose the meaning of our lives.
　Nacht knows that better than anyone.

"Are you sure?

'Yeah, you can do whatever you want to do. That's a child's prerogative. Most of all, though, if you do anything you're not supposed to do, you'll get a lecture from your dad.

'It's ... well ... no ... no ... no ...'

　Shtel puts her head on Nacht's lap and opens her eyes with a snap.

''But the boy was patient.

Yeah, you feel that?

　Shtel closes one eye as if he were thinking about something.

'It was just like the old Shtel. It wasn't something I wanted to do, it was something I had to do. But it was still beautiful. So surely it would be more beautiful if she danced from her heart.

　Nacht patted the little head on his lap.

'Right. Then we'll have some fun.

Okay, Stern, I'll try.
　The two of us were secretly laughing at each other.

--what, are you two plotting again?

　Aisha threw an intimidating voice at me.

'Ha, that's not true. We were just reflecting on it, both of us.'


　Aisha laughed at Shtel's blatantly freaked out reaction.

'Don't be so frightened. I'm not mad at you anymore.'

.... really...?　

　Shtel, looking up at Aisha, asks in a weak voice.

'Yes. But please give me a proper shout this time. 'I was worried about you.'

I'm sorry.

　Aisha patted Shtel's head as she said that.

''Yes, Shtel is a good boy who can be properly remorseful and apologize.

Heh.

　When Aisha complimented him, Shtel chuckled.

Then let's all take a bath together to make up for it. Let's get fancy with some naked company!

　Nacht holds them up as if it were a decision.

'Whew!　

Bath!　I'm with my mom and dad~!

'Look, it's for Shtel's sake, Aisha. And don't worry, I won't do anything weird in front of my daughter!

That line doesn't make me feel safe already...!

Isn't it good, isn't it good, isn't it good?

No?

　Needless to say, the result of a strict majority vote, the three of them bathing in good company was the earliest confirmed future.






◇





　A room that is obviously large and excessively luxurious for a single person to live in.
　Even now, seven years later, I still feel a sense of discomfort at the fact that it's my--Hiyuki's room.

　And also it was lonely.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on some of these things.

　What a waste, I thought with all my heart.
　From then on, I tried to use everything that was given to me as much as possible.
　For example, I would ask people to use different plates for each meal, or pass around uneaten sweets, and so on, and try to use them in various ways so that they wouldn't get thrown away.

　It would be the right thing to do.
　I truly believe that we should do that.
　But - in the back of my mind, for some reason, the proportion of emptiness is greater than the sense of accomplishment, I mock myself for having become extravagant.

　The princess miko's private room, which no one but her personal maidens are allowed to enter without permission.
　There.

I'm coming in.

　Not many people can enter without permission.

'Your mother-in-law,'

　My mother-in-law, almost forty years old, was a woman young enough to pass in her twenties.
　She had a cheery smile and sharp eyes that seemed to ruin it. She insists that her eyesight is just bad, but I think she's probably lying and just using it as an excuse for her poor eyesight.

'I heard you had trouble today. Were you okay?

'Uh-huh. It's just a few people getting excited about Kagura coming onto the stage for a bit, so it's okay.

　That's the way it's supposed to be.
　In fact, I still can't believe it with my own eyes, but it seems to have been a child running amok, and as a hijuki who doesn't want to take care of it and put the blame on the security people, it's more convenient for me to leave it that way.

　Most importantly, there were a lot of people watching, and I don't think I could fool my mother-in-law, who is in charge of the management and operation of the earth spirit festival. But even so, the spirit of the festival and the big day is just around the corner, and I'm sure my mother-in-law and I are in agreement that we don't want to take any chances on this one.

Then, please take care of yourself. I'm sure you're tired today, so now, good night.

'Yes, I will. Good night.

　As her mother-in-law left the room, Hyuki sloppily lay down on the futon and stared at the ceiling of the dark room.

'You're Shtel-chan--'

　A little girl with childlike skills and looks that looked like a child was burned into my brain, and I couldn't get away from her.

I'm not going to be able to get rid of it. And...

　He was childlike, innocent, and free of it.
　The words leak out as I think back to whether such a time was for me, too.
　I mock myself for talking to myself more and more, but my ears are lonely and my heart is lonely, so I naturally open my mouth.

''-- She was such a pretty girl...''