Longing for the Stars - Chapter 6

The unusual change happened three days later, at night.

It is common for patients who have received large-scale medical magic to remain unconscious for a while, so no one thought much of it, assuming this was the case.

I felt the same way, especially since I stayed in the same room and watched his complexion improve day by day. I could tell that Sirius’s characteristically strong mana was also recovering.

Both the medical team and I believed he would wake up in a few more days if things continued like this.

However, on the third night, just as I was thinking about going to sleep, I heard a low groan.

“Sirius.”

I stood up from my chair with a clatter and walked to the bed where Sirius slept with strides wider than usual.

Seeing him frown and stir, I realized he was close to waking up, and I immediately left the room.

I went to the infirmary to tell them Sirius was about to wake up, then headed to the captain’s room. Since it was late at night, the barracks were quiet, and the sound of my running echoed loudly in the hallway. I reached the room, knocked on the door, and went inside to report that Sirius was regaining consciousness. The captain stood up immediately and decided to head to the room with me.

By the time we arrived, the medical team was already there checking Sirius’s condition. Perhaps because he woke up sooner than expected, his mind was still foggy, but his eyes were open, and he was able to respond somewhat to their questions.

In the end, they decided Sirius’s condition was fine, and we finished for the day.

The room became very quiet once everyone left. It felt even quieter because there had been so many people just a moment ago. More than anything, tonight was the new moon. It was dark outside, and I could hear the sound of the wind.

On the night of a new moon, monsters become restless. Normally, I would have been on night watch, but because of Sirius, I had only been working day shifts for the last three days. If I sharpened my senses, I could feel mana clashing in the direction of the forest. Thinking that there must be a lot of fighting tonight, I turned my face toward Sirius.

He was sleeping again due to the magic applied by the medical team, but his expression looked a bit cloudy. It looked like a frustrated face to me, and the corners of my mouth turned up.

“…What, are you frustrated that you’re sleeping on the night of a new moon?”

This man is not a battle maniac, but he loves testing his own strength more than anything. That’s why he always looked forward to the new moon, when monsters move actively. To me, that’s unthinkable.

I do have a sense of rivalry toward Sirius. However, if possible, I don’t want to fight monsters at all. I actually wanted to work slowly as a researcher in the Royal Capital, but unfortunately, because I had a talent for magic that contributes to firepower, I was sent to the borderlands.

I hate getting tired and I hate pain. But I hate losing to him even more.

Since I am here now because of such childish jealousy, I think I am much more of a child than I realized.

“…Wake up soon. It’s no fun without you to compete with.”

There are many people here stronger than me. There are mountains of things to learn, yet I feel a bit unsatisfied just because Sirius isn’t here. I’m sure it’s because I’ve been competing with him on my own since we were ten. For eight years, we have competed, fought, and occasionally fought together every single day.

I hate him, but I don’t hate the time we spent pushing each other to improve. Of course, I still get angry about all sorts of things, but a Sirius who doesn’t argue back against my words is boring.

When Sirius is quiet, daily life is so tedious.

“…Al.”

“!”

It happened just as I was heading to my bed to sleep.

My name was called in a raspy voice, and I turned my whole body toward Sirius and approached the bed as if pulled by a magnet.

“Sirius, what’s wrong?”

Sirius was there, his eyes open blankly. It seemed the effect of the medical magic was weak, and he had woken up.

“Do you want some water? Actually, can you even sit up?”

“I don’t need it.”

The reply came in a voice that was unexpectedly clear. I blinked once, but I accepted it, thinking that this idiot definitely could fully recover in this amount of time.

“Any pain?”

“None. Hey, Al, come here.”

“I’m already close enough.”

“Not that. Bring your face closer.”

“Huh?”

Maybe it was because he was just recovering, but what he was saying made even less sense than usual. However, since he was recovering, I brought my face closer as I was told.

I would soon regret that mistake.

“Eh…”

Softly, I smelled something different than usual. It was a thick, flower-like scent.

The moment my attention was caught by it, my mouth was covered.

“!”

I learned for the first time then that when people are too surprised, they freeze.

Sirius’s face was so close that his features were blurred. Something soft was touching my mouth. From that point of contact, I could feel Sirius’s body temperature.

Oh, this is a kiss, my mind figured out with strange calmness.

“Al, open your mouth.”

His mouth pulled away just a tiny bit, and Sirius whispered to me in a voice I had never heard before. Just by him speaking, his breath and lips touched me. You couldn’t even call this “making space.” I didn’t understand what was being done to me or what he was trying to do. No, I understood I was being kissed.

I didn’t understand why Sirius was kissing me.

I was confused. My mind was more frantic than when Sirius had collapsed.

“Please.”

It was a voice like honey. I couldn’t even blink.

“No, wait…!”

The distance disappeared again. Hot breath entered inside me. My head was held from behind, and I couldn’t escape. The place where we touched was hot and soft; still not understanding what was happening, I pushed Sirius’s shoulders. Even though he was recovering, Sirius’s body didn’t budge at all. Perhaps finding my hands annoying, one of Sirius’s hands grabbed my wrists.

His hand was so hot that I knew instantly I wasn’t imagining things.

“Wait, Sirius…! You, you’re hot!”

“Yeah, I’m incredibly hot.”

His lips pulled away.

“I’m hot, so help me, Al.”

Sirius’s eyes glowed dully. I know these eyes of Sirius’s.

These are the eyes he has when he is aiming for prey.

“! Wait, wait, Sirius. You’re acting strange…!”

My captured wrists were pulled, and my back was pressed against the bed.

Sirius, making a face I had never seen before, was looking down at me. His eyes were those of a predator, yet his expression looked so happy it bordered on madness.

“…Yeah, I’m acting really strange right now. I am, but I thought it would be better to take advantage of this.”

“…What…?”

“Al, you’re just too kind.”

Sirius’s hand pinned my wrists to the bed with strong force. “That’s why you always lose to me in power battles, you know?” I remembered the words he said just a few days ago, but I didn’t have the luxury to feel frustrated about it now.

“You can’t push me away, can you?”

Sirius whispered with a voice and face that suited that certainty more than anything.