At that time, she -

Stand in the wind.

The wind from the northern border of Grancis, with a slight dampness, gently walked on the pale green lawn against the sloping knoll. I followed her without hurry, trying not to disturb her.

Her long hair fluttered in the wind. There is a slight smell of fresh grass around me.

-- The sea of palm groves in the distance swayed in the wind, making a low chorus.

Before I met her, I had always lived alone. On the edge of the lake, crisscrossed by a basin between the Grannes Mountains, there is a small wooden house.

Father

Mother

Missing.

- After being forced to join the infamous monster raiding team.

I still don't understand why the people of the capital would let those who are unarmed fight monsters with confusion and fear.

There is no chance of winning at all......

After realizing this, it was already too late.

Late one night, I couldn't stand the loneliness any longer, so I ran into the forest crying alone, on the edge of darkness. In the corner, a little bit of pale blue shimmer and red light intersect. In normal times, I would have trembled with fear. However, what fills my heart is only simple numbness.

――In the sea of flowers where the moon anise gathers and opens, a slender figure is curled up.

The bright moonlight was slowly pouring on the ground through the gaps in the branches and leaves.

That's when I met her unconscious.

Shion Igwini, a mysterious girl three years older than me.

..........................................................................................

The road was mercilessly disconnected.

At this time, she was standing at the top of the Grancis Mountains. The glow from the sky lingers on the distant mountains and sea. Behind it is a wide lake that reflects the dazzling sunlight.

Shion's breathing was a little rapid, but she kept looking into the distance.

"Now, Allen......"

- "What ......is there on the other side of the sea?"

“...... Who knows....... Maybe it's the dragon's habitat. I looked at her streamer's back and replied aimlessly.

- "The sky, the sea, the birds......"

-- "Far Away-- "

Shion tilted her head slightly, revealing a hint of a smile.

A smiling girl in the magnificent landscape of Glancis.

It's like stepping into a fairy tale.

Once again, my gaze was off into the distance.

"Allen...... What kind of person do you want to be in the future......" Shion asked slightly.

“...... Even if you ask me now......"

- "Do you want to do something?"

“...... Belch...... Let me think about it. ”

I said, shaking my head.

"I've always wanted to be a ship, a ship that can fly freely in the sky. Take everyone on a journey to the unknown distance. ”

“............。 ”

Shion gently turned her face away, and even stopped breathing for a moment. Her smile was so clear and transparent that I didn't feel a trace of confusion or regret.

- "Alan, you're really cute......

The sudden answer of "poof......" caught me off guard for a while. After trying to calm myself down, I said as coldly as possible.

"Definitely won't forget ....... Happy time living with Alan. ”

She shifted her gaze to the sky again.

"A little more ......"

Like a sincere praying saint.

"Just a little bit more....... "

- "I want to stay under this sky with Alan. Her eyes were clear and deep.

-- It was her insignificant wish.

- "Alan!"

"What?"

"I want to be with you—"

"Aster, it's already noon. Will you go back first?" I said to the girl behind me.

Who knew she would..................

--"There's nothing to do when I go back-"

"Alan doesn't want to treat me as a guest, I hope I'm useful!"

The voice that became serious in vain made me smile bitterly.

In that case, I naturally have nothing to refute her.

“...... Then you can help pick the berries. ”

Shion undoubtedly knows more about this world than I know. Suddenly appeared in the gloomy forest, unconscious.

"Hmm!"

Shion nodded without hesitation.

At noon, the slightly cold and humid air in the berry grove by the lake exudes a faint fruity aroma, creating a gorgeous contrast with the warm, dry air under the sun's rays. In front of me and Aster was a succulent berry tree of considerable age, like the eggs of some creature, with golden fruits hanging high on the branches.

- "Next ......"

I walked up to the tree, grabbed the trunk with my arms, and prepared to climb up.

Undeniably touched the gaze behind the scenes.

"Now, are you going to try it too?" I said, pretending to be light-hearted.

It is not easy for the average person without any experience to climb such a straight tree.

What's more, Aster is just a girl a few years older than herself.

There was a sudden silence behind the "............".

“............”

“...... Allan...... It's cunning. The vain tone of descent made me look back in a little surprise.

There was a faint sense of loss on her face, and her jewel-like pupils were clouded with a layer of fog.

It looks a little frustrated, isn't it a bit too much bullying. I suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of guilt in my heart.

“...... I can't help you......"

I said helplessly.

The next second, as expected, ...................

On the contrary, it was she who showed the smile of the victor after the victory.

- "Next, I'm going to go!"

The girl with her whole body on my neck said.

“...... Uh-huh......"

Feeling the warm body temperature from Shion's body, the soft touch of her legs and the incomparably elegant fragrance unique to her body came to her. It made me a little embarrassed for a while.

- But her body is extremely light.

The asters, located above, were reaching out to a sizable berry overhead.

"Hey...... Wouldn't it be nice to pick the smaller ones nearby......" I protested below.

- "But this is the biggest one!"

Shion said angrily.

Her cheeks flushed slightly when she noticed my upward gaze. Of course, it won't be because of physical discomfort.

――No matter how natural it is, do you still realize the difference between men and women?

"Well, I've objected to it before. But Aster, you didn't shy away from it......"

"So ......?"

“............ All in all, in good condition. Ready to get started?"

I said slowly.

“......。 She looked confused.

I stiffened my body and lifted the asters above to a higher place.

"Eh, eh...... Alan?"

"Ahh ”

She struggled to keep herself under control, reaching for the fruit.

The broad leaves of the trees are falling down.

"Ahh

"Huh?" I questioned.

- "Got it!!"

Now such a child-like straightforward astster, naturally makes people laugh.

"Alan!!" Shion stared into my eyes.

"Huh?"

"Thank you!" her emerald green eyes sparkled.

As evening came, Aster and I walked together on the way back to the hut. She was holding the huge berries she had picked at noon in her arms, with a happy smile on her face. It seems to have received a lot of shock. I glared at her softly, wordlessly.

After putting today's harvest in the kitchen, I walked up to my room on the second floor and took out my notes. Write another stroke on it.

――Today is the forty-fifth day of meeting Shion Igwini.

The dinner menu is also simple, with bread and slices of grilled meat with lettuce, and vegetable soup with a pinch of salt. Then there is the juice of the berries with golden skin. The girl had a smile on her face all the time.

- "The food made by Allen is delicious!"

“......。 It's over. "

I'll honestly admit it. Actually, I don't really cook. At most, I just follow my mother's notes and make food that anyone can make. Before I met Aster, I didn't prepare such formal food for myself when I was living alone. Just a man, hiding in the dark and munching on air-dried bacon.

When the berry juice after the meal is placed in front of the asters, the orange-yellow liquid in the cup shines with a warm glow under the light in the room. I prepared one for myself, too, and sat down across from the asters.

――The berry juice has a flavor like a mixture of pomegranate and lemon.

“...... Eh....... ”

Shion took a slow sip of the juice and then made an unexpected sound.

Sure enough, the taste was as sour as I expected.

"......? What are you looking at?"

“...... Yes...... No, nothing ......."

She looked at me strangely, then looked at the cup again.

- "...... today"

“？”

- "I had a great day. Really, living such a day with Alan. ”

“......”

There was nothing else to do, and Shion and I labored every day from morning to night for food.

Such an ordinary life, but she said that she was very happy. It made me sad. She was unconscious in the forest, and she was wounded by something. A mysterious girl who is more elegant and lovely than anyone else.,Aster Igwini.。

"Then I'll go take a shower first~" Shion stood up from her chair and bowed gracefully to me.

"Hmm. I'll clean it up first. "I folded the plates together and prepared to head to the kitchen.

As a result, she never left.

"Allen ......"

"What's wrong?" I looked back at her.

- "Alan, come along?"

"Poof. "I was so scared that I almost dropped my plate on the floor.

"What the hell are you thinking?"

- "When you take a bath alone, it will be very troublesome to wash......"

"Okay, let's go wash it. I hurriedly urged.

Shion slowly left the living room with some regret.

-- What a headache for a girl. Watching Shion speak and move defenselessly. I couldn't help but sigh.

Looking at the asters after falling asleep, I got up slightly and prepared to leave the room. Shion's hand ran out of the quilt at some point, and I gently held her hand, intending to put it back in the quilt.

At that time, Shion held me tightly. The smooth and slender hands were a little cold.

“――？"

Shion's lips quivered slightly in her dream.

It's like muttering something.

“......”

I put my ear close to her mouth to make sure. Her face could feel her breathing steadily.

- For a moment I couldn't move as if I was frozen, and I could see clearly even in the dark.

A line of tears flowed from the girl's closed eyes.

Are you grieving for something?

Are you crying because of someone?

She could only be alone in her dreams, bearing the despair in her heart......

I slowly let go of her hand and gently wiped away her tears. It is impossible to forget the time spent with her.