Beginning of a Dream: Nanashi (Moon Route)

[yumemiruuu]

 MOON ROUTE
6: Hectic Escapade
7: Untouched Secrets
8: Someday, your Dream

Moon Route Chapter 1: Hectic Escapade

Nanashi: We're being watched. Maybe around 4 or 5 people.

Nanashi: They're pretty good.

Emma: … Eh?

Nanashi's words prompted me to take a look at our surroundings.

The men in hiding slowly appeared after taking note of our alertness.

Nanashi: …. Emma, stay as close to me as possible.

Emma: O-Okay…

Nanashi shot a careful glance at the men surrounding us.

Nanashi: … As you can see, I'm on a date. I hope you don't do anything to disturb our precious time.

Leader: Please excuse us but it's an urgent matter.

Leader: I was wondering if you'd be willing to give us the pocket watch you bought from the junk shop yesterday.

Emma: Pocket watch…?

[Flashback Start]

Shopkeeper: Ah, dear customer… That watch is a little…

Nanashi: Hm? What's wrong?

Shopkeeper: N-Nothing. It's just a little old so I thought it might not work…

Emma: Oh, it's alright. We'll fix it.

Shopkeeper: Ah… I understand. Thank you for stopping by, please come again

[Flashback End]

Emma: Why do you need that watch?

Leader: I can't answer that question but rest assured that I will compensate you handsomely for it.

Nanashi: … Or so he says. What do you think?

Emma: …

Emma: (I can tell from the vibe they're giving off that this isn't something to be taken lightly.)

Emma: (If by any chance this is linked to some crime…)

I looked at Nanashi and nodded. He furrowed his eyebrows in response, seemingly getting my message.

Nanashi: I feel the same way. 

Letting out a light chuckle, Nanashi handed me something behind my back.

Emma: (This is…)

I can't look behind me if I want to keep our intentions hidden from the men. Judging from the shape and texture of the item, it must be a smoke bomb.

Nanashi & Emma: …

After a brief moment of eye contact with him, I turn back to look at the men.

Emma: I can't give you the watch until you tell me the reason why.

Leader: … Negotiations have broken down.

Leader: Then we have no choice but to use force.

At the leader's signal, all the other men lunged forward and prepared to attack.

Emma: !?

At the same time, I threw the item Nanashi handed to me towards the men's feet.

Emma: (Red smoke!?)

Nanashi: Nice work Emma ♪ Your timing is perfect~ 

Emma: Woah!

Nanashi picked me up and dashed through the distracted men. He leapt slightly and landed on top of the square's fountain.

Man 1: Gaah! My eyes…. My eyes…!!!

Nanashi: It's my special "Tyrant Chili Bomb", pretty hot isn't it?

Emma: Ugh…

Nanashi: What's wrong? Did you start tearing up at how cool I am?

Emma: It's getting to me too, you know!

Nanashi: Ahaha… I didn't have time to explain. Sorry about that.

Nanashi: But don't worry, I made it in a way that won't cause permanent harm to your body.

Emma: It stings…!

Nanashi: Hmm… Looks like you won't be able to run for a while.

Nanashi: In that case, hold on tight.

Emma: Wai—!

Nanashi turned his back from the fountain and made a run for it.

Nanashi: It'll wear off after a while! We'll be on our way then~!

Leader: Damn it…! What are you all doing!? Don't let him get away!

Nanashi: Oh, they're working hard. They're still on our tail.

Emma: It's great that they're determined but…

I glanced over Nanashi's shoulder, the silhouette of the men chasing after us slowly becoming blurred.

Perhaps it's because I was also exposed to Nanashi's Tyrant Chili Bomb but I can't help but feel a little bad for them.

Moon Route Chapter 2: Untouched Secrets

That night—

[A rising land • Grey City]

Forest near the waterfront 

In a forest near the waterside over the Moon Road, there was a figure scurrying about. 

As he looked around, another figure made itself known as they stepped out of hiding.

Nanashi: Good evening. I finally found you, dear shopkeeper.

Junk Shop Owner: H-Huh!? I-It's you from yesterday…!

Nanashi: That's no good. Were you trying to run away after selling something so dangerous?

Nanashi: That kind of "evil" should be cleaned up… right?

[A rising land • Grey City]

Houndsweeper Hideout

Nanashi: —And so I gave the watch back to the owner. They're probably hunting him down as we speak.

Emma: That's…. Oh well, good work.

Nanashi: That was super draining. I didn't get much sleep because of that… yawn

With a loud yawn, Nanashi sat down on the sofa beside me.

Nanashi: Anyway, I'm kind of hoping for a lap pillow~

Emma: Not happening.

Nanashi: What a shame, I'm disappointed~

Emma: But still, I wasn't expecting the owner to be a journalist.

The pocket watch we bought from the junk shop wasn't just an ordinary watch, but a recording device.

The contents of the device was a recorded scandal involving an important person from another country. It would be "very bad" if it got leaked.

The owner was forced to flee from his country and hid in this area. When they felt the presence of their pursuers, they took the chance to get rid of the watch and run away.

Emma: If he just decided to throw it away or destroy it, we wouldn't have gotten involved…

Nanashi: He said he couldn't give up. He was betting on the chance that someone might pick it up and release it for him.

Nanashi: He knew he was being watched so he couldn't make a wrong move or else he'll be killed. So he decided to sell it to us, bystanders who have nothing to do with this.

Nanashi: It is a big scoop for a reporter but to us, it's nothing but a huge pain.

Nanashi: The men that attacked us were soldiers from said country, too. I told them we've returned the watch so they should be off our case now.

Emma: But now that we know… They're not gonna go and try to keep us quiet later, right?

Nanashi: It's fine, It's fine ♪ I got ourselves a good deal with them.

Emma: Does it have something to do with being the Federation's president?

Nanashi: Fufu, I'll leave it to your imagination.

He didn't give me a clear answer and I felt a little frustrated by that.

Emma: (Speaking of…)

[Flashback Start]

Emma: There aren't any more secrets you're keeping, right? 

Nanashi: … Fufu.

Nanashi: That's a secret ♪

_______

Nanashi: Pretty good, huh? What is learned in the cradle is carried to the grave… right?

_______

Nanashi: So, at the very least, I want to make sure that they don't have to go through any necessary hardships. I want them to follow their dreams straight on.

Nanashi: —No, they have to. They make up this world, after all.

Nanashi: That's… what I think.

[Flashback End]

Even after all this time, I can't help but feel that there are more things about Nanashi I don't know about.

Emma: Why did you become president?

Nanashi: Oh? What's this? Are you finally curious about me?

Emma: I-It's not like—

Emma: Actually, just a bit…

Nanashi: Uwa, I'm stoked ♪ We're making a lot of progress.

Nanashi: But… Sorry. I'll have to answer that question another time. If you have another question I can answer, I will.

Emma: (... It would be weird if I held onto the question, wouldn't it?)

Although I didn't get an answer to the question I was most curious about, I decided to think of another question.

Emma: Then, what do you like?

Nanashi: You.

Emma: That's not a proper answer.

Nanashi: No, there's nothing else that comes to mind. Okay, next question.

Emma: Um… Favorite food?

Nanashi: Cookies that aren't too sweet. Will you bake me some next time?

Emma: Sure, when I get the chance.

Nanashi: Fufu, thank you. Anything else?

Emma: Hmm… Hobbies?

Nanashi: Running away ★

Emma: Motto?

Nanashi: Just take the good with the bad~

Emma: Age?

Nanashi: That's. A. Secret ♪

I asked a few more questions after that but the unease in my heart still hasn't gone away.

Emma: (Just what are you…)

I looked at Nanashi as if I was asking him.

Nanashi: ….

With an apologetic smile, he caressed my cheek with his fingers.

Moon Route Chapter 3: Someday, your Dream—

That night, I had a dream.

I dreamt of a man who came to my rescue when I was kidnapped. 

Emma: Nanashi! Thank you for coming to my rescue!

Nanashi: It wouldn't do if my prized possession got stolen away, that would ruin my reputation as a thief. 

Nanashi: You, as well as your heart—I've taken it back. 

Emma: Yeah… I've already become your captive.

Nanashi: Fufu…. Then, my precious princess, shall we go?

Nanashi: I'll be your escort on this beautiful moonlit escapade. 

______

Emma: !?

When I woke up, it was still dark outside.

Emma: (What kind of dream was that!?)

I tried to lie back down and go to sleep but with the way my heart kept pounding, I couldn't.

I was contemplating on counting sheep when I heard the door creak.

Emma: (Who is it?)

I went out to the living room to see what was going on and caught Nanashi preparing to leave.

Emma: (Where is he going at this hour…?)

For some reason, I couldn't let this go. I dressed up quickly and left to follow him.

Emma: (Where did he go…?)

I surprised myself when I realized I made it all the way to the park.

Emma: (Ugh… What am I doing?)

I tried to talk sense into myself and slowly made my way back to the hideout.

Emma: !?

All of a sudden, a pair of arms were wrapped around me.

Emma: Who—!?

???: What's a pretty girl like you doing walking alone at this hour?

Emma: That voice… Nanashi?

Nanashi: Didn't I tell you before that some other thief might steal you away?

His voice tickled my ear.

Even after discovering it was him, he didn't let go.

Nanashi: Did you follow me?

Emma: … Yes.

Nanashi: Were you perhaps worried about me?

Emma: Of course I'm worried. It's late.

Nanashi: Fufu, I'm glad. This is something I wouldn't have thought of happening back then.

He slowly released me from his arms. When I turned around to face him, I was greeted by his usual smile.

Nanashi: I was just taking a walk for a change of pace.

Emma: Really?

Nanashi: Really.

Maybe it's because I still felt uneasy, but his smile couldn't tell me if he was being sincere or not.

I was frustrated.

Emma: (Up until now, I didn't give it any thought.)

Emma: (Why am I so frustrated about being kept in the dark?)

Nanashi: Haha…. I give up. I really do have a weakness when it comes to you.

Nanashi: Ah, are you doing this on purpose? If you are, then this is hardly fair.

Emma: … Hehe.

I can't help but smile at his tone. But then—

Nanashi took off his hat and placed it on top of my head.

Emma: Nanashi…?

Nanashi: …

I stared at him in confusion before he brought his finger and pressed it against his lips, whispering.

Nanashi: I'm pretty selfish.

Nanashi: Really, if I'm being honest. I don't want anyone else to see that smile of yours.

Emma: !

Nanashi: But… You have a dream.

Nanashi: Now, I'm doing everything I can to protect that.

Nanashi: I wish for nothing but a happy future for you. I'll support you, even if it's out of my reach.

Emma: …

Nanashi's words were heartfelt. Although—

I couldn't help but feel as if he drew a line between us. A sense of loneliness spread through my chest.

Emma: … Thank you.

Nanashi: Mhm.

Are you sensing what's going through my heart, Nanashi?

He lowered his eyes apologetically.

Emma: (I can't go any further now but—)

Emma: Hey, Nanashi…

Emma: Someday, when you have your dream, will you let me be beside you?

Nanashi: … Fufu. I've never really thought about it before.

Nanashi: A future with you by my side.

Nanashi: Maybe one day I'll have such a happy dream.

His response was still as vague as ever.

Emma: (It's not possible now but… One day, I'll be there to support his dream.)

There was a certain warmth in his voice and I couldn't help but feel relieved.

Nanashi: Hey, Emma. While we're here, why don't we take a walk together?

Emma: Is it okay for me to tag along?

Nanashi: Of course. It's a beautiful night with a beautiful moon, after all.

Nanashi held out his hand towards me.

Nanashi: I'll be your escort on this moonlit escapade, if you'll have me.

Emma: … Haha, are you trying to act cool?

Nanashi: No good? I thought that was pretty okay.

I gently grasped the hand he was holding out.

The warmth of his hand was all I could think about now.