~ sieben
~
Since I
first met her, ten years have passed.
—... I
strongly remember the feeling even now.
Back then,
I lived with my father and mother, just the three of us. We led a life without
any discomfort.
When the
demise of that life occurred, I was four years old.
The village
I lived in was just inside the border of this kingdom, and felt many influences
of the war with the neighboring kingdom. Even though it was a nice village, it
was a place where you never stopped hearing stories like, “So-and-so from here-or-there died.”
My
parents had started talking about how it might be best if we lived somewhere
else.
... It was
the day before we’d be moving.
I had been
asked to go out for a little shopping, and soon set out for a nearby shop. “Even though you’re so young, how admirable of you~.” The old lady
there praised me and rewarded me with a lovely piece of candy.
Holding it
up to the light, it was a very transparent, deep, deep... blue.
Even as I
was thinking it was too nice to eat, the sweet taste spread through my mouth. I
was happy for that, and walked home a little gleefully.
And
awaiting me when I arrived was—... a pillar of
bright red fire.
Around this
time... it was a common story.
... But I
was sure it would never happen to me.
“... Wh-y...”
I was...
sure of it.
As I stood
frozen in a daze, the house I lived in crumbled. But, all I could do was watch.
Night came,
morning came. Then night again. I wonder how many days
passed? I didn’t know.
... Nothing... matters now.
Did I hurt,
was I sad, was I lonely?
Even that I
didn’t know.
As I sat I
closed my eyes. My tears wouldn’t fall anymore.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
The sound of many footsteps. ...
Ahh, soldiers from the enemy kingdom? I wonder if
I’ll be captured? ... That’s fine.
Anything is fine now.
“What are
you doing? In a place like this?”
In the next
instant... suddenly, I heard—... a soft voice.
Raising my
face from my knees, I looked up to find a beautiful blue... the same color as
the candy I’d gotten on that happy day.
“... Don’t
cry...?”
The arms
that tightly hugged me were somehow very warm. At that voice, I felt tears that
should have been dried up begin to fall again.
I later
heard, that at that time she was returning from one of the sister kingdoms.
When she found me sitting on the roadside she had been surprised, and with a
shy
“I hated
visiting the sister kingdoms... but thanks to that I was able to meet you, Hayate-chan.”
but happy-looking smile, she laughed.
After that
they took me in, and having been told that I had some magical talent, I decided
to enter the army.
Maybe Nanoha-chan felt responsible for
me, but she took interest in me for some reason, and would occasionally come to
watch me practice. “I’ll do it, too!” she’d say, swinging a sword recklessly... and for a bit I’d
let her pretend we were having a sword fight...
After all
that, I became a knight and was appointed the heavy responsibility of being the
princess’s steward. It was a hard time where I’d often hear rumors about how
the only reason I’d risen so fast was because someone had pulled the strings.
—... But.
“Nyahaha. It’s because you’re so
skilled!”
Even now,
she probably doesn’t know how much those words helped me. How much that smiling
face helped me, I’ll probably... never tell her.
I’ll
probably... never be able to tell her.
So, I
swore.
For her,
who is a little thick and airheaded... but, incredibly kind.
For her,
who is always pretending to be okay, never once saying, “I’m lonely.”
I will...
even if it’s only me... no matter what should happen... I will be there as Nanoha-chan’s ally.
—... Not “Princess Nanoha,” who everyone loves.
But the ally of “Nanoha-chan,” who is curled up in
that shadow.
【
sieben ~ (Ratschlag) ~ 】
In the
painful silence, the sweet aroma of coffee didn’t match the situation. My
familiar room was unusually still without the Guardian Knights around.
The girl
who sat across from me, continued to look down without saying a word.
“... I’m
sorry, Fate-chan...”
“... Why
are you apologizing?”
Her bangs
covered her expression, so I couldn’t read it very well. Her hoarse voice was
so low I almost doubted it was hers. It was pitiful to hear.
“... I
didn’t intend... to hide it.”
“....”
At those
words, I noticed her hands again grip tightly and rigidly.
“... You, haven’t done... anything wrong.... Of
course, Nano-...”
Nanoha.
She started to say the word, then stopped. And then,
after a pause, she continued. “The princess, I
mean.”
“... Nanoha-chan... couldn’t
say anything either.”
“I
understand that... I understand!”
“I
understand.” She repeated the words over
and over again. She was probably... forcing herself to say them to convince
herself of it.
Over and
over, she shook her head. By the end... I couldn’t
even tell what she was saying anymore.
“... I
understand... but. ... I, don’t want to.”
It was, a small sentiment that resembled a scream.
“I didn’t
want... to understand.”
Every
morning before practice there were certain warnings I had to read without fail.
I’m sure Fate-chan had also read those warnings over
and over again until she was sick of it as well.
There was a
particular one amongst them.
One sentence, that exemplified the importance of royalty and its
sacred existence.
“I didn’t
want... to know.”
If I had
said something earlier... could this have been avoided? Nanoha-chan is a princess, so stop it. Forget about her.
If I had
said that, would it have ended without anyone getting hurt?
...
There’s... no way it would have.
“Now that
you know Nanoha-chan is a
princess... do you hate her?”
“... Haha, that’s true....”
The
expression that slowly rose on her face at that question,
“... I wonder...
how much easier that would be.”
was a terribly apathetic one.
“In the
years since you met, Nanoha-chan
has been very happy.”
“....”
“... To Nanoha-chan...
there is only you, Fate-chan.”
“Would
you... stop saying whatever you feel like...?”
It was
pitiful how I could only put her on the spot like this.
“... So
it’s okay if Nanoha-chan
gets taken away from you by some random spoiled brat!?”
“I’m
begging you! ... I’m beg, ging... you.”
My
inability to do anything... was frustrating.
“... I, don’t want to become Nanoha’s
weakness...”
It was a
time of war. When the time came, Fate-chan would have
to appear on the battlefield as well. If a connection with the princess was
known at such a time, and she was taken prisoner by the enemy, it would be
taken advantage of. In the worst case, the kingdom could be taken in one fell
swoop.
Certainly... I wasn’t able to say it couldn’t happen.
“But
still...!”
“As I am
now... if something happens... I can’t... protect Nanoha....
I’m not... separating myself... because I hate... her.”
Why, even though they love each other? ... This.
“I... want
to protect the Nanoha I love.”
I wonder if this the only way it can be done.
“So...
I’ll... separate myself... from... Nanoha...”
—... War, social status.
I really do... hate them.
“Right
now... that’s all... I can do for her...”
Her voice
sounded pained. But, she laughed, as if to hold back her tears. So... in place
of Fate-chan who refused to do it...
I thought
of Nanoha-chan, who I was
certain was crying even now
—... and out loud, I cried.
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