nhp | (Sutamai) Event: ‘The Hidden Princess Kaguya’, Part 2

EVENT STORY INDEX

13.

Chamberlain: … —master. Young master!

-Young Noble’s Estate: Cloister-

Scion (Hinata): …?

Chamberlain: Once again, in a place like this…

You’ll catch a cold, you know.

Scion (Hinata): … Was I asleep?

Chamberlain: Yes. Although you were playing your flute up until a moment ago…

Scion (Hinata): The flute…?

Chamberlain: That’s right. I came here upon hearing it.

Scion (Hinata): ……

Chamberlain: Lady Kaguya hasn’t been coming by lately, and I understand your impatience with waiting.

But I’m sure she wouldn’t come visiting at this hour. How about for tonight—

Scion (Hinata): … Kaguya?

Chamberlain: Pardon?

Scion (Hinata): Who… is Kaguya?

* * *

-Hotel: Bedroom-

Woman: ……

Man (Otani): … Thus, when he woke up, all traces of Kaguya were completely gone from his memories.

Woman: … “The End”?

Man (Otani): For the first person, yes.

Kaguya was on friendly terms with five noblemen in total.

The first nobleman wasn’t aware of Kaguya’s whereabouts.

So the messengers of the moon headed for the second nobleman’s place.

{Page flips}

* * *

-Young Noble’s Estate: Gardens-

Scion (Miyase): ……

… Why, good evening. It’s a lovely night, isn’t it?

Prince (Kaname): ……

You’re not surprised even though people you don’t know have suddenly turned up in your garden.

Scion (Miyase): I suppose. Perhaps… it’s because it’s not so sudden.

Messenger (Maki): …?

Scion (Miyase): After all, I had heard from Lady Kaguya…

That the messengers from the moon would presumably come pay me a visit in due time.

Messenger (Arakida): !

Prince (Kaname): … So she revealed to you that she was a person of the moon.

Scion (Miyase): That’s right. Although it was when we were saying our goodbyes.

She said that the people who come visiting will definitely ask about her.

So she wanted me to tell it like how it is when that time came.

Messenger (Kagura): (… “Saying our goodbyes”, so in other words…)

Scion (Miyase): Unfortunately, Lady Kaguya is not here.

She would not tell me where she was going or what her objective was.

That is the truth.

Prince (Kaname): ……

Scion (Miyase): What you’re all wanting to ask me is…

About my meeting with Lady Kaguya, thereafter, and the last time I saw her. Am I correct?

Messenger (Maki): … Did you also hear that from her?

Scion (Miyase): Yes.

Prince (Kaname): ……

Scion (Miyase): Well then, I’ll begin the story.

My encounter with Lady Kaguya was truly a coincidence.

From time to time, I would take a walk in the mountains or along the river to get some fresh air, while also admiring the flowers.

But it happened on the day I first came upon that mountain at the village where she lived in.

Messenger (Arakida): ……

Scion (Miyase): Although it was rather sunny that day…

It began to rain all of a sudden.

16.

-In the mountains-

Scion (Miyase): (Well, this… doesn’t fare well.)

The light rain that I had prayed would lift started coming down harder on the trees.

Without a choice, I turned back along the path I came from at a brisk pace. And then—

Scion (Miyase): !

I immediately stopped in my tracks at the snake that had emerged from out of the bush.

Scion (Miyase): (… It’s a little bit big to casually side-step around.)

It was when I was considering whether to drive it off or to take a slight detour, that in the next moment—

???: … Don’t move.

Scion (Miyase): Huh?

She suddenly appeared before my eyes, along with the scent of invigorating flowers.

Scion (Miyase): (… Up until just a second ago, there weren’t any signs of anyone being here. Not even the sound of footsteps.)

(How is it possible that she was able to come this close to me without my noticing…?)

While I was unable to comprehend what had happened—

I managed to just grasp the situation as being that she had stepped out in front of me to act as my cover, and was facing off with the snake.

So I pulled on her arm and hid her behind my back.

Scion (Miyase): It’s dangerous, you know.

???: Huh…?

Hngh! In front—!!

Scion (Miyase): !

[Fwoop]

Scion (Miyase): (… Oh.)

The rock at my feet that I had abruptly kicked had fortunately hit its target, and the snake continued to remain motionless.

???: You did it, huh!

Scion (Miyase): Indeed. Are you hurt anywhere…

(… Huh?)

Of all things to do…

She mightily hoisted up the lifeless snake with a beaming smile.

???: What a great catch.

Scion (Miyase): ……

???: … O-Oh, I’m sorry. Of course, by that, I don’t mean I’m stealing your kill or anything!

Here you go.

Scion (Miyase): … Um?

???: Yeah?

Scion (Miyase): ……

When you say, “here you go”, you mean…?

???: … Oh…

Are you perhaps from a region where they don’t eat snakes?

Scion (Miyase): … A region where…

In the midst of the increasingly fierce downpour of rain, and with the snake in one hand…

She irritatingly wiped at the raindrops falling onto her face with her sleeve, as she asked me that question with a most serious expression.

Scion (Miyase): … Pfft—haha—.

???: Huh?

Scion (Miyase): Forgive me. Let’s see… I’m most likely a person from that sort of region then.

Which is why, if you’d like, please take it.

???: Oh! Are you sure?

Scion (Miyase): Yes.

Also…

Will you please tell me your name?

18.

-Young Noble’s Estate: Gardens-

Scion (Miyase): Even now, when I think about that time, I can’t stop myself from smiling.

Messenger (Maki) & Prince (Kaname): (… My head’s starting to hurt…)

Messengers (Kagura & Arakida): …………

Scion (Miyase): She was always naturally herself, and never putting up a pretense. She was an incredibly beautiful person.

It was almost a mystery as to how she had been living, such that she could remain so straightforward and lovely…

Messenger (Arakida): ……

Scion (Miyase): That’s why, even when I heard that she was the Moon Princess, I wasn’t surprised.

Or rather, I believe it was as if the feeling of it being a given was a lot stronger.

… If only that hadn’t been our final farewell.

If that had been something that she couldn’t reveal…

Then I would have wanted to not hear about it for the rest of my life, if possible.

Prince (Kaname): … This “final farewell”.

Scion (Miyase): It wasn’t as much of a full moon as it is today.

But some time ago, on a bright moonlit night…

Lady Kaguya invited me out, saying that she had something she wanted to show me.

* * *

-In the mountains-

Scion (Miyase): … Is it still further in?

Kaguya: We’re almost there. Just a little bit more up ahead, and…

… We’re here!

Scion (Miyase): …!

After leaving the intricate mountain trail, there were vibrant red flowers blooming at our destination.

I inadvertently swallowed my breath at the beauty of it.

Scion (Miyase): These are… rhododendrons? But these flowers aren’t meant to be in bloom at this time of the year…

Kaguya: It’s an out-of-season bloom. I think it’s called off-season flowering, if I’m not mistaken.

Scion (Miyase): ……

Kaguya: I stumbled upon it by coincidence the other day.

And I thought of wanting to show it to you.

Scion (Miyase): … Did you look at this view and think of me?

Kaguya: Yes.

Scion (Miyase): I see…

That makes me happy—very much so.

Thank you.

Kaguya: … It’s nothing.

Of course, looking at this place under the moonlight like this is wonderful.

But it’s most beautiful when bathed in the morning glow!

Scion (Miyase): That is something to look forward to.

Well then, let’s come here together again soon.

Kaguya: … It really is lovely, so please look forward to it.

Scion (Miyase): … Lady Kaguya?

Kaguya: … I’m sorry.

Today is the last day I can see you.

Scion (Miyase): What…

20.

-In the mountains-

With each passing, the wind carried away with it all sound.

Her long hair fluttered, and I couldn’t make out her expression very well as she spoke.

Kaguya: … This is farewell.

Scion (Miyase): Wait—please.

Kaguya: … I’m sorry.

I’m not very good at straight up facing someone and saying goodbye.

Scion (Miyase): … In that case, I’ll apologise first.

I’m sorry.

Kaguya: …?

Hngh!

Scion (Miyase): Even if that were so…

At least for our final parting, please allow me to look at your eyes clearly and say it.

Kaguya: ……

After placing my hand on top of hers, I had slightly forced her to face my way.

I could faintly see my own features being reflected in her eyes.

Scion (Miyase): … I had thought of you as someone whom I shouldn’t seize by force, so I had planned to take my time.

But I see that I’ve failed.

Kaguya: … Don’t cry.

Scion (Miyase): I’m smiling, aren’t I?

Because if I don’t, I fear that I may just end up crying.

Kaguya: ……

Scion (Miyase): This is today’s… No, this is my thanks for everything up until today.

In her bewildered state, I inserted a forget-me-not ornament into her hair.

Scion (Miyase): It suits you well.

Kaguya: … All I do is take from you.

Scion (Miyase): That’s not true. I, too, have received plenty of things from you.

… Yet even then, I still want more. You must be sick of me for being so greedy.

Kaguya: ……

Scion (Miyase): Please allow me to ask this one last time for good.

Will you… not stay by my side as it is?

Kaguya: ……

I peered at her straight in the eye.

But in the end, she never said a word as she gradually put distance between us.

That was her answer.

Kaguya: I will treasure what you’ve given me forever.

Thank you.

Scion (Miyase): … And I, as well.

After saying farewell for one last time, she slowly disappeared out of sight.

I thought of wanting to chase after her many times, but ultimately, my body would not move.

The tips of my fingers had grown cold, and there was no strength left in the hands clenching them.

Scion (Miyase): (… I can’t even laugh.)

(A tomorrow without you… terrifies me this much.)

* * *

-Young Noble’s Estate: Gardens-

Scion (Miyase): And that is the end of that.

Prince (Kaname): … So you didn’t ask her where she was headed.

Scion (Miyase): She had said that she was going somewhere far away.

Wherever that was, she was leaving for a place that I would no longer be able to reach.

In which case, I had believed there would be no meaning to knowing that.

Messenger (Maki): ……

Scion (Miyase): … Between me, who could only give her up, and all of you, who can only continue to pursue her even then—

Just exactly which of us is the miserable one here?

Messenger (Arakida): … What was that?

Messenger (Kagura): Knock it off.

Prince (Kaname): ……

Is that all you wish to say?

Scion (Miyase): … Yes.

That’s everything for what I had hoped to speak about.

Prince (Kaname): Right. Looks like he’s done.

Messenger (Maki): … Okay.

{Bells jingle}

{Thud}

Prince (Kaname): Which of us is the miserable one, huh. I don’t feel as if there’s any point in comparing that.

But I pity a human who can’t give up despite being unable to do anything else.