Chapter 240

Chapter 240: Hera / Star on the Rooftop

Translator: Reflet
Editor: ryunakama

　Taiyou Castle at nighttime, on the tiled roof .

　The butterfly-winged fairy was flapping her wings in the air, floating above the tiles .

　Ahead of her gaze was dark red harvest moon floating in the sky .

　There was a satisfied smile on her face as she gazed at the moon .

「So you were here」

「Ooo, well if it isn’t Yuri-chan~」

「Don’t call me by that name」

　Hera turned around 180 degrees midair .

　Ahead of her gaze was the twintailed Youran, climbing up the ladder to the roof .

　While smiling wryly, Youran came to Hera’s side, pushing in her skirt and sat atop the tiles .

　Even atop the unstable roof, Youran’s back was straight as ever .

「You call Kohaku-san『Kohaku-tan』, so why do you hafta call me that?」

「Cause Yuri-chan is Yuri-chan . Did you not call yourself that when we first met？」

「Oof」

「So it’s the same with Kohaku-tan~」

「But what about the real『Yuri』」

「Mmm, but no, Yuri-chan is still Yuri-chan」

　Youran’s face become more and more bitter .

　Yuri-chan was the name she had called herself when meeting Taiyou for the first time .

　Yurikago .

　That was the alternate way to say 揺籃 Youran, taken from the same kanji .

　It was meant at the time to be a dig at Shirokiyami, telling her to call her「Yuri」 .

　It was a mere prank; childishness spurred on from the hesitation of a single moment .

　Because she had said that she was only tagging along with Taiyou for that period of time .

「Anyhow, calling me『Yuri』will just make things confusing, so quit while you’re ahead」

「It will indeed make things confusing？」

「Won’t it？」

「Indeed, I see」

　Hera clapped her hands after thinking about it briefly .

「I indeed understand . Then I will call the next Yuri-chan『Yuri Yuri』」

「……Well, guess that’s alright」

「Yes indeed」

　Youran nodded silently at Hera, who was smiling innocently .

　She had no inclination to interject, so the air between the two of them didn’t change at all .

「So whatcha doing here？」

「I was indeed looking at the moon」

「You always have such interests？」

「I like Moon-san . I indeed like looking at it~」

「Yeah?」

「Come to think of it, Yuri-chan is New Moon-san, right?」

「New Moon Director, yeah . Well, it does have some relation to the new moon itself」

「That is indeed very cool」

「Cuz it’s old」

　As Youran said that, Hera slowly flew over, landing on her shoulder .

　Hera had been truly doing this sort of thing a lot recently .

　Stopping on the shoulders of Taiyou’s「brides」 .

　It had once just been Taiyou she did that to, but now she did it often to the brides .

「Umm, might I have a bit of a serious conversation with you？」

「Mm? Well I won’t refuse――Just didn’t see that one coming」

「Yes indeed . I’m the happiest about Yuri-chan becoming Taiyou-chan’s wife」

「You are？」

「Yes indeed」

「Why？」

「It is because you were the first one that Taiyou-chan had to conquest」

「……」

　Youran’s expression changed .

　Not unpleasantly . It wasn’t like she couldn’t understand .

　Her face showed that she somewhat got it, but was waiting for more of a complete explanation .

「Kotone-chan and Suzune-chan and Kazane-chan were all lovey-dovey with Taiyou-chan from the beginning . Kohaku-tan was also lovey-dovey with him, and Aoba went with the flow」

「Not detailed enough」

「Of the two whom Taiyou-chan himself sought out, the first one he succeeded with was Yuri-chan」

「Ohhh」

「So, thank you indeed」

　Hera “embraced” Youran’s cheeks .

　Her small body closely adhered to it .

「Thank you indeed . Success indeed spurs men on to greater heights」

「But you’re the one who’s making him stronger」

「No, I am different . Those are different things」

「How so?」

　Youran sighed, half exasperated .

　The two of them looked up at the sky together .

「Moon-san is indeed pretty」

「What kind of moons do you like？」

「New moons！」

　Hera answered promptly .

「Thought you’d say that . But you can’t even see new moons」

「It is indeed best that way」

「Yeah？」

　Youran looked at Hera with doubtful eyes .

　Hera flew off from her shoulders, stopping in front of Youran’s eyes, aiming her body at her .

「It is indeed true . After all, Kohaku-tan is “amber”」

「Hm？」

　Youran wondered what she was on about . Right afterwards…

「Taiyou-chan is “sun”」

「……」

「So I indeed like new moons . I also like full moons . Everyone likes Moon-san」

「……」

　Youran looked up at the moon while looking at Hera .

　After thinking briefly, she spoke .

「Then why don’t you just become the moon？」

「No, I’m always a star――Uwaaaaah」

　Quicker than Hera could finish, Youran had hit the fairy’s small body .

　She flew off like a shooting star, returning after a bit .

「Hey, what did you do that for, Youran-chan?」

「I sorta feel like I’ve understood how that guy feels . Couldja at least stop the teasing when you’re trying to have a serious conversation?」

「I am not teasing」

　Hera spoke with a smile on her face in front of her――but with just a tone of seriousness .

「See, I am the stars」

「……」

「Moon-san can also be seen when the sun comes out, see, but the stars cannot be seen . Butt, they are definitely there . I have always been so up until now, and I am fine with that from now on」

「……You really are？」

「I really am . After all…」

　Hera grinned mischieviously .

「It’s decided that I will die the same instant Taiyou-chan does」

「……Huh」

「I cannot be killed by anyone other than Taiyou-chan . But Taiyou-chan will definitely not kill me . And the moment Taiyou-chan dies, I also die . So I will be together with Taiyou-chan until the very end, and die in the same moment he does~」

「……」

「The sun and the stars are “together”, see」

　Youran discerned that this was a double meaning . 　

「……I might be a bit jealous of that」

「Huhun」

　Hera puffed her chest out, purposefully making an “ahem” sound .

「So I will be the stars from now on too」

「Yeah, I gotcha」

「So I look forward to working with you, Moon-sama」

「……Likewise」

　While resting her chin in her hands, Youran smiled as she shook Hera’s small, outstretched hand .