Otoha (2)
“Living beings die if they don’t eat.”
Three days of absent-mindedness before lunch. My memories were becoming fragmented. I somehow managed to go to school frequently. It was Hitachimaru who spoke to me. I don’t remember how I responded.
Next thing I knew, I was at Hitachimaru’s house, being embraced by his mother. Prince Hiiro seemed to be there too. The memories were fuzzy, but I was carefully taken care of and given something to eat.
“When you’re in trouble, say you need help. When you’re lonely, say you’re lonely. When it’s hard, try crying.”
Hitachimaru’s mother repeated this patiently while holding me. Holding my thin hands, Hitachimaru cried. He cried because he didn’t want me to die.
I didn’t know I was lonely when Yoshino left. I didn’t know the words to ask for help.
I seemed to have stayed at Hitachimaru’s house and then at Senmonin’s house for a while. My parents either didn’t send anyone to pick me up, or my foster mother, who had become my legal guardian, didn’t come to get up.
When Yoshino finally came to pick me up, I cried.
After returning to school, Hitachimaru, who worried about me, never left my side. Despite being the escort of Prince Hiiro at school, he prioritized me. His overwhelming care gradually filled the emptiness inside me.
At family gatherings, the loud voice of Uncle Kujou echoed around. Princess Otoha saved two lives from a very young age, what an amazing child you are.
When Prince Hiiro and Hitachimaru were going to war, I said something only to Prince Hiiro.
“I think I will die too if Hitachimaru dies.”
I said it as if it were someone else’s problem. Prince Hiiro said he would definitely bring him back. At that time, I didn’t know that the hole opened in my heart wasn’t closed.
“He won’t eat. He just keeps repeating ‘I’m fine.'”
I heard the bewildered voice of Ikumatsu.
Naru didn’t know what it meant to be lonely.