Chapter 12:

Vol. 2 Ch. 3 Celeste

Quina


Chapter 3

Celeste

We went to the bench.

"So?.... what are we doing here?"

"Can you sit down?"

I sat down the bench.

"Ummm..."

She looked uneasy and don't know what to do.

"What?"

"I-I'm sorry for intruding!"

"Huh?"

She sat beside me.

"......."

"So this is the sight you always look at... it feels good... like it feels free..."

"......."

"Nameless-san?"

"....this just feels weird....having someone sit with me on this bench... this is the first time this ever happened."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

She turned red and faced down.

"So? What do you want?"

"...I just want to stay with you for one last time...."

"Eh? last time? you're going to die?"

"I'm not!"

She looked up the sky and told her story.

".....the truth is, tomorrow will be my last day in town... my parents will send me to school at the capital tomorrow... I was the one who requested it because I wanted to see more of the world rather than being locked up in the school."

"Back at home, I was also sheltered and was never allowed to go outside, I always felt that I was missing out on a lot of things and that I'm just wasting time inside a box with time not moving."

"It was the same at this school, it was fun at first, but it seemed to become smaller, after a while... the school was just another box with stopped time too."

"For the past 2 years, the only thing that was making me stay was my friendship with Xeline-chan, which was enough reason for time to flow again for that box...."

"She said she was not enough reason for me to stop doing what I want.... She was the one who suggested that I should just do what I want and leave Quina. I told her that it doesn't matter, but she said she would stop being friends with me if I don't do it."

"That brats heartless huh?"

"No! I know she's just doing this for me... I think she wants it because she thinks it is for the better."

"...is it for the better? do you want to leave?"

"...I want to see the world outside, I was actually reluctant to do it at first, but because of you... I realized that it was what I really wanted."

"Huh? Because of me?"

"Yes... when you took me out of school... the truth is I was scared, what would happen if I go out? would I get in trouble? Does the world outside not be as good as I think it is?"

"But just these two days I was with you, a lot has happened. I saw another side to Xeline, I became friends with Aceilette-sama, I saw Cecil's love bloom, and I also ran around town wearing a costume and got carried around by a person."

"Because of this, I figured out that those fears are worth nothing compared to the feeling I had for those two days... Those were the most fun times I had in my life."

"But still, the feeling of being forced to go back to that box still scares me... I don't know what to do."

"Then, just stay here... I'll just sneak you out like before... Based on your story, you will be closed in your box again when you return to the capital."

"Yes, I want to stay... but.....I don't want that... I want to be able to learn to escape the box myself... If I always rely on you, I would never be free... I want to be free and not be a burden.... I want to walk beside you as an equal."

"Walk beside me?"

"Yes... when that happens."

She placed her right hand over my left cheek.

".......?"

"......."

She removed them.

"I'll tell you when that time comes..."

"Huh?"

"......this box of yours."

"what?"

"It has no walls."

"......."

"...I want it too...."

"Don't live outside, it's dangerous."

"Hehehe."

As she giggled I looked at the sun, it's setting.

"Oi, let's go."

"Okay."

We went to the lake where the window is placed so I can carry her back to the school.

"Nameless-san."

"What?"

"Can I have one of those nails?"

"Why?"

"I want it as a remembrance of this town."

"A nail? Seriously?"

"Yes."

"...no way."

"What?!"

"I need those."

"......."

"Come on, let's go."

I carried her in a princess carry.

"I'll give you something tomorrow, the ones I don't need to keep."

I jumped up to the window.

"You alright?"

"Yes."

"Well, then... this is goodbye."

"Goodbye, Nameless-san."

"Oh, wait... I want to copy a scene from a book, it was a book about a person with the same circumstances as you."

"Eh?"

I grabbed her left hand with my right hand, looking like I was about to pull her towards me.

"If they won't let you out, I'll take you by force... my princess."

Celeste became beet red when she saw me do this.

"Hmmmm... I guess fiction books are also good sources of getting the heart rate increase... I should've just read those instead of that psychology books."

"B-B-Baka!"

"Eh?!"

Why did this shy girl call me stupid? I would not know.

Maybe because I used her as a test subject? Do people really don't like that? It was the same when Aceilette experimented on Onee-chan.

When I was about to jump down.

".....you don't need to take me.... I will be the one to go to you... my prince..."

When I turned back, she was already walking upstairs.

"So... she knew that book too?"

I dropped down the window and went to the bench to rest for a little.

"I guess this will be a busy night..."

With that, I went around the town making something.

-Celeste point of view-

I looked at the clock in my room.

It was 1:00pm, I just finished fixing my things.

Today was the last time I see this room so I looked around.

"....Yoshi...."(Okay!)

I made a small guts pose after I finished packing up.

I went down and went to the northern part of the town.

There I saw 5 people.

It was Xeline-chan, Roxelle-senpai, Cecil-chan, Alex-san, and Aceilette-sama.

I looked around but didn't see the sixth person that I wanted to see.

I would've never have thought that in the last day, the number of people I know in this town has increased.

I thought I would only miss Xeline-chan but now, there are a whole lot of people that I would miss.

"Celeste-chan!"

Roxelle-senpai hugged me tight.

"Celeste-chan! why didn't you tell me you were going to leave today! I should've have forced you to sleep with us than in the school!"

"....sorry...."

"It's fine! But you better not forget me and send me presents!"

"Okay senpai..."

Cecil went near me.

"Celeste-chan.... it's been only two days, but you were my partner in love... I will also support you in your love."

"What! Celeste-chan loves someone?! Who is it! Tell me! Tell me!"

"Sorry Roxelle, it's our special secret."

"Buuuu..."

Xeline-chan went to me with a lonely look on her face.

"............."

"Xeline-chan..."

"....Celeste-chan, you better do what I told you to do, you hear?!"

"Y-Yes!"

"This is not goodbye, I'll check up on you when I go to the capital, you better have progressed or I will pour you a potion that turns you back into a infant!"

"E-eh?!"

Xeline-chan is so amazing! She can do that?!

"We leave in 10 minutes!"

"Where is Center-chan! I also went to his bench, but he wasn't there!"

"Speaking of Nameless, he went to the library last night after he sent Celeste back to school."

"Forget that kid, he doesn't need to be here."

I wonder where he is... is our meeting last night truly our last meeting?

But if it was, I was okay with it... she called me his princess....

His princess.....

No! He only got it from a book! It was not something else! What am I thinking!

"Come to think about it, Nameless-kun went to my shop last night, he seemed like he was doing something."

"You too Alex? He went to my shop too and knocked late at night, he told me to give him the book about the materials and suddenly used the workshop."

"Eh? What is Center-chan doing?"

"Not only that, after he finished, I saw him go to the woodworking shop across the street. He knocked on the door then the old man went out shouting but he forced himself in."

"That boy just does whatever he wants."

That person... even at night time, his time was moving... Nothing to stop him and he just did what he wanted... He is my dream...

"Don't be sad Celeste-chan! I'm pretty sure something just came up."

"Actually... senpai... I have a gift for you."

"Eh? What is it."

I whispered something to Senpai.

"....senpai, please keep this a secret..."

"Oh? Oh? What is it?"

"....He already said goodbye to me last night..."

"Then? then?"

"He called me 'my princess'"

"Kyaaaaa! Kyaaa! So that means that the person you.....! Kyaaaa!"

"Shhh-senpai! Shhhh!"

Senpai exploded with a red face and started squealing uncontrollably.

Alex-san, Cecil-chan, and Xeline-chan tilted their heads wonderinh what I whispered to Roxelle-senpai.

"5 minutes remaining!"

I took a step back then looked at everyone's faces.

"I know that it has only been a short time... but thank you for being with me! Being with you all was so fun!"

Everyone smiled at me with wide smile showing their teeth.

"....Xeline-chan..."

I hugged Xeline-chan tight.

"......"

"..*hic*......*hic*...."

Tears just started flowing down my face without me being able to control it.

I have been with Xeline-chan for so long... because of her, my time in this school was worth it.

I would even stay at this school even if it was just Xeline-chan and me, but she wanted me to be happy.

She understood me even though I knew it was hard for her to understand others.

She was always supporting me and giving me strength.

"*hic*... Xeline-chan....you better gain more friends...."

"Wha?! I don't need other people!"

"Heehee... that is so you..."

"Two minutes!"

I released Xeline-chan and took a step back.

"Celeste-chan...."

Tears suddenly fell on Xeline-chan's eyes... this made me happy and at the same time, lonely...

"Xeline-chan, thank you."

"........."

I looked at everyone's faces one by one the closed my eyes and nodded.

I looked at them with a happy smile with tears on my face.

"....well then, until we meet again."

"Goodbye Celeste-chann."

"Let's get to know each other more next time, Celeste-san."

"Bye, Celeste, be sure to tell me about your knowledge about the capital next time."

"*Hic*... Celeste-chan!!!!!!!"

Roxelles-senpai shouted at me cheerfully.

"Celeste-chan... bye bye."

Xeline waved her hand at me.

".....Bye bye... my dearest Xeline-chan."

I rode the carriage.

"Okay! We're ready! Time to depart!"

The carriage started moving.

While the carriage is moving and shaking around, I remembered all the times I had in this town.

Almost all of those times are with Xeline-chan.

But those times, I felt special because of Xeline-chan.

The last two days were the most fun.

It was because it was the first time I truly felt free.

And the boy who made that happen is....

"Halt!!!!"

"?!!!"

The carriage stopped.

"Oi! There is someone on the right side!"

I looked at the window and I saw a figure.

It was a person who was as tall as me.

"Is that a kid?!"

The person was wearing a gray jacket and his hood was covering his head.

He also had white cloth covering his face.

"Wait-Wait- What is that person doing!"

The person suddenly winded up something.

It was a bow.

He was aiming at the caravan.

No, he was aiming at my carriage.

Why?! Who is he?

He suddenly released the arrow.

*Thud*

"Wha?!"

"Oi! Why didn't you stop him!"

"Guard the caravan!"

"Little girl, are you okay?!"

"I-I'm fine!"

I had no Idea what has happened.

The arrow went to the side of my head and just missed me barely.

It shocked me and left me stunned.

Then the person suddenly moved again.

When I looked at him he was rising an arrow on his right hand, and he was pointing at it with his index finger on his left hand.

"What is he doing?"

He is pointing at the arrow, does he mean to look at the arrow?

I looked at the arrow behind me and there was something there.

There was a bracelet that was tied up to the arrow by a piece of paper.

The bracelet had stones around it.

The stones were Big blue gemstones and small white gemstone that alternate each other.

In between, there was a wood carving of a white bird with its wings opened wide.

I looked took a look at the paper.

[You thought that my box was as small as that? Don't underestimate me.

By the way, you are a rich person right? That isn't free, you need to pay for your souvenirs, and also my services for jumping over that window.... be sure to pay me back with interest. -You Know Who]

My heart started beating uncontrollably.

"Oi! That guy is doing something!"

"Go get him! Vanguard! What are you doing!"

The person waved at me as if saying goodbye then ran off to the forest... I hope no one will catch him...

That person.... I'm sure it was him...

I looked at the bracelet again.

The stones are something that I have read from a book in school before.

The Blue stones are called 'Celeste'.

The White stones are called 'Clear' it means a clean slate.

The white wood that made up the bird is 'Blanc' which means Hope

And the bird with open wings means freedom.

I faced down and my heart started beating rapidly.

Was he doing this all night for me?

Aah... this feeling... I want to see him again....

I hugged the bracelet towards my chest.

His box was the whole world, with no boundaries....

That person destroyed the walls of my box...

I can't believe in two days he made me feel like this...

This feeling... I want it to last forever...

This feeling was the best thing he gave me...

"....I fell in love with an amazing person..."