Becoming Aware of these Feelings

Sometimes I recall my past life. No matter how difficult, how painful things were, I dealt with it all. It could not be helped that each day I felt I could not take it anymore; however, I could not escape the stifled air. Like a fish on land, I felt that I did not belong here. Before I realized it, I was born as Altis in a different world, so now I’m unsure of what it was like as Saitou Yos.h.i.+ko. The last memory I had as Saitou Yos.h.i.+ko is the usual, of which I am heading to bed being tired from work. But that memory, as the fog began to take over, it became vague and hazy so I do not remember much of it.

[Al, Al, get up. Please.]

Aa, it’s Foruna’s voice. I have to get up. Nn~, it’s heavy.

When I opened my eyes, Foruna was there and he was looking worried. I don’t know why, but my heart becomes lighter and so I reached out to hug him by the neck.

[Foruna…]

[So you were okay, Al. I was beginning to think you would never wake up. Although such a thing is impossible.]

Towards Foruna’s statement, I say what I am thinking.

[If I could not stay with Foruna, I would have been better off if I had stayed asleep…]

I found that Foruna had stiffened up as I hugged him. From that reaction you can tell Foruna was immediately troubled. Oh no, I did not mean to be a bother to Foruna, I did not mean to say such a thing. It’s just that I really wanted the two of us to stay together forever. I could not stop as I recalled that. It might be, since the time Foruna picked me up, he has never been happy. As an adult, although it’s not shown, mentally you would feel slightly annoyed because there are plenty of other things you can do. Due to crying, my eyes have turned puffy. Still the tears have not stopped yet and a layer of it was stretched like film over my eyes.

At this moment, I was still hugging Foruna and he strongly returned the hug. While being puzzled by that momentary event, Foruna began talking slowly.

[Ano ne, Al. Did you come to my work last time as well?… I’m not blaming Al, so it’s okay. I did not properly explain that I was bad. However, despite being young, Al… have you seen that before? Everything was my doing. Yes, everything. When you saw that did you hate me?… Hehe, I’m happy, because I also love Al very much. I want to be together forever. But, by staying with me, there will always be danger. I do not want Al to be scared and I do not want to put you in danger. Is this the love of a stupid parent?… That’s why, Al, you saw my acquaintance, Baan, right? I was asking Baan, to help put you up at a good orphanage at the royal capital.]

With that last word, I hugged Foruna and gave him a good punch on the back.

[I’m sorry, Al. Now that I think about it, it was pretty selfish of me. Naturally, Al should be angry. I should have properly talked it over with you and have you decide.]

To ease my worries, Foruna caressed my head with his large and warm hand. I want to stay together with Foruna forever. I want to. At that moment, I realized something.

[But, it’s good that I was able to know Al’s feelings. From now on, shall we be together forever?]

[Forever, always forever.]

[Un, always forever.]

I like Foruna.