See You Tomorrow
After dinner, I rested my chin on the windowsill of my room and gazed up at the sky, where an enormous full moon hung low and luminous.
"I wonder if she's okay."
It would have been a lie to say I wasn't worried. We'd been friends for five years now, and if anything happened to her, it would all be my fault. The thought alone was enough to send a thread of anxiety crawling through my chest.
"Just try coming back hurt. I'll lecture you until your ears fall off, I swear."
As the night deepened, the moonlight only seemed to shine brighter. I watched that full moon for a long while before finally lying down in bed. For a ten-year-old, fighting off sleep was a surprisingly difficult battle.
"I should visit the estate tomorrow."
Mind made up, I pulled the blanket up over my upper body—and that was when my fingertips began to glow with a pale blue light.
"Huh? What's this?"
I sat up and stared at the glow spilling from my hand. The pattern had appeared again, this time etched into the ring finger of my right hand, shimmering faintly.
"What on earth is this thing......"
Then, without quite meaning to, I drifted toward the window and looked up at the sky. The great full moon was still there—only something was different about it now.
"......What's that little dot in the middle of it?"
Something like a tiny black speck hung against the moon's surface. And it was growing larger.
The instant it did, the pattern on my finger flared with an even more brilliant light.
"It's not just light...... I can feel it. Cold."
I watched my own breath curl white in the air and realized the temperature in my room was dropping, degree by degree.
"But then why...... why am I not freezing?"
Before I could even begin to puzzle it out, the dot kept swelling, closer and closer.
And then I saw it.
"Wait—that's not a dot at all."
I hurried out of my room and into the yard, craning my neck toward the sky. And then I understood. That thing descending from the moon was nothing like a dot.
"Iris!"
My childhood friend of five years was gliding down from the heavens, straight toward my house.
Moments later, Iris touched down lightly in front of my door.
"Iris, you're safe!"
Overjoyed, I sprinted to her and threw my arms around her.
"You dummy, I was so worried! Do you have any idea how much I......"
But as I looked at her properly for the first time, I froze on the spot. Her new white dress was torn in a dozen places, her whole body smeared with blood, dark bruises blooming across her skin.
"Iris, are you okay?"
One glance told me she was hurt, and I searched her face for an answer. The corners of her mouth were turned upward. She was smiling.
"Hey, Iris! I asked if you're okay! Say something!"
I grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, and only then did she finally speak.
"Leon."
"Iris, are you really all right......?"
"Now you and I will be together forever."
"......What? Why are you saying something like that all of a sudden?"
"This."
She held up a small necklace between us.
"Don't tell me—that's......?"
"That's right. With this, Leon, you no longer have to die from my cold."
"You went into the labyrinth alone to get this?"
"Mm-hm."
"......Why?"
"Hm?"
"Why would you do something so reckless? Pendant or not, we could have looked for another way to control your cold together. Why do something so stupid and make everyone worry about you!"
"Because of that."
"What?"
"I hate it when you worry about me. That's why I went."
I couldn't find a single word to say. She kept going.
"Of course I'd rather die than see you freeze because of my cold. But watching you worry about me, always me, all the time—I hated that even more. Because to me, Leon, you're more precious than anything else in this world."
"......"
"So I found it. That old book in Father's study."
"And it told you about the pendant."
"Yes. And then I was certain. With this in hand, you could stay by my side forever."
There it was again. Forever. I'd heard that word from her more times than I could count.
But I didn't dwell on it. She'd figure it out someday on her own anyway—that a human and a dragon could never truly be together forever.
She spoke again.
"I came to you this morning because I thought hiding it would hurt you."
"You didn't want me to get hurt. You just didn't want me to worry."
"Well... that was part of it."
"And so you brought it back like this?"
"Yeah. Now you and I can be together forev—"
"YOU IDIOT!!!!"
The words burst out of me louder than I intended.
"Le...on?"
She looked up at my face and couldn't close her mouth. The boy she loved was standing there with tears running down his cheeks.
"How could you go to a place that dangerous all by yourself? I—I've been sick with worry this whole time, terrified something might happen to you!"
"......"
"I've been thinking about it ever since the day we met. If something happened to you and I was left alone in this world, I'd have no reason to go on living at all!"
"Leon......"
"I hate it! I hate it, do you hear me? I can't stand the thought of you sacrificing yourself for my sake!"
Then I pulled her close into my arms and said it quietly.
"Never do that again. Please. I'm begging you. Start valuing your own life a little more."
At my words, she didn't so much as flinch.
"Iris, are you even listening to—"
In that instant, her body crumpled.
"Iris? Hey, what's wrong—Iris! Snap out of it!"
She had lost consciousness without warning. I scooped her into my arms and ran for the house.
"Dad! Mom!"
The next morning, Iris forced her heavy eyelids open.
"......Where am I?"
She sat up in a bed she didn't recognize, looking herself over from head to toe. The tattered dress was gone, replaced by a clean, ordinary one, and bandages wrapped her body here and there.
"Who did this......?"
That was when her eyes fell on a boy slumped over the edge of her bed.
"Leon?"
Leon was fast asleep beside her, folded over the mattress. Next to his head lay a wet cloth.
"Leon... don't tell me you nursed me through the whole night?"
The moment she realized it, her heart began to pound.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
Faster and faster it raced.
"Hah... hah... hah...... Leon, my love."
She ran her icy fingers gently through his hair.
"Hmm... what if I just carried you off to the estate and locked you in my room? Then you'd never have to worry about me again, would you?"
In a flash, Iris clapped both hands over her own mouth.
D-did I just say that out loud?!
Her mind went completely blank.
Lock Leon up? Where on earth did that thought come from?
She pressed a hand to her chest.
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
Her heart was still hammering away.
Calm down. Calm down, me!
It took her several seconds to steady herself, and when she finally did, she looked down at Leon again.
"I'm sorry, Leon. I made you worry."
"Then don't do it again."
"......You were awake?"
Leon lifted his head and blinked up at her.
"Since the moment you started stroking my head. Something suddenly went ice-cold and scared the sleep right out of me. Thanks a lot, by the way."
"Eep!"
Her face went up in flames.
"Leon... do you remember what I said? While I was, um, touching your hair."
"Nope, no memory of that either. Why? Did you say something?"
"......No. It's better that you didn't hear it."
Privately, though, she breathed a sigh of relief. I'll have to be much more careful from now on, she resolved.
"So where are we, anyway?"
"You don't remember? This is my house."
"Oh, right. That's right."
"Can you walk? Your parents are waiting in the living room right now."
"My parents?"
"Yeah. After you collapsed, I carried you here. They panicked at first, but the moment they saw the state you were in, your father flew off toward the estate and my mom started treating your wounds."
"......I see."
Her eyes shone with a mixture of gratitude and guilt. I met that gaze and shook my head.
"You have nothing to apologize for."
"But......"
"You don't need to carry all that guilt around. Although......"
"Although......?"
"......Never mind. Let's head to the living room. Can you stand?"
She slipped out of bed and rose unsteadily on both legs.
"Wow. I guess that's just what being a dragon gets you—your recovery speed is incredible."
"Is that a compliment, or are you making fun of me?"
"Both, you dummy."
"Hmph......"
She took slow, careful steps forward, one foot after another, and we left the room together, heading for the people waiting for us in the living room. On one side of the room sat my parents; on the other, Iris's.
The moment he saw us, my father spoke first.
"Leon, did you get any sleep?"
Truly, a father through and through—right down to his very first words.
"I couldn't sleep, sir. My friend was injured. How could I possibly have slept?"
"Well, well. Honey practically dripping off this boy."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Just that you two suit each other so well."
At my father's remark, both my face and Iris's went scarlet.
"Dad, stop saying weird stuff!"
"Why? It's true, isn't it?"
"Even so, not in front of them......"
"Rex already knows everything, you know?"
At those words, Iris turned toward her parents.
"Father... Mother......"
"......"
"......I'm sorry."
She bowed her head low as she spoke. After a long silence, Uncle Rex finally opened his mouth.
"Iris."
"Yes, Father."
"You understand what you've done, don't you?"
"......Yes."
"Good. That's enough, then. But from now on, you talk to me before you go charging off, understand?"
"......You're not going to punish me?"
"Because I know exactly why you did it. If I'd been in your position, I'd have acted without a second thought too."
"......Father."
"However. Actions and outcomes are two different things, my daughter. Think about what your actions will bring before you act. And don't make your boyfriend cry, hm?"
"!"
"Oh my, look at that—she really does turn red. And so easily, too. She may be my daughter, but I had no idea it was this simple."
"Father!"
"Yes, yes, I get it, I get it."
Uncle Rex turned to me with a warm, contented smile.
"And Leon."
"Yes, sir?"
"I'm sorry."
"I'm... not sure what you mean......"
"This whole mess started because of what I said to you. The responsibility is mine and mine alone."
"I heard it too, Leon. 'Stay by Iris's side and you'll freeze to death,' was it?"
At my father's words, I found I had nothing to say at all.
"Tsk. You little fool. Why did you hide it from us?"
"I didn't want to worry you and Mom. And more than anything......"
I stole a quick glance at Iris's face before answering.
"The thought of having to be apart from Iris...... I just...... hated it...... sir."
The room fell utterly silent the instant those words left my mouth. The only sound was breathing.
I rolled my eyes around, taking stock of everyone. My parents were simply smiling at me, while Uncle Rex stared at me for a long, long moment.
"You hate... being away from me."
Iris murmured it softly, her eyes fixed on me—and for an instant, I could have sworn her pupils shifted into the shape of little hearts.
"Whew......"
Uncle Rex let out a long sigh.
"Bale, my friend."
"What?"
"What are you planning to do about this?"
"Do about what? What can we possibly do?"
"Exactly my point, no?"
"And as for that pendant—if all it takes is having one, then the problem's already solved, isn't it?"
"Good heavens. She may be my daughter, but to think she could clear a labyrinth all by herself."
Uncle Rex's gaze settled on the pendant hanging at Iris's throat.
"The cold really is being suppressed. With that, there's no reason the two of them can't stay together."
"Father, does that mean......"
"It does. The order to stay apart is hereby revoked."
The moment the words were out, Iris flung herself at me.
"Yes, yes, yes! Leon, we don't have to be apart anymore!"
"That's a relief, Iris!"
We threw our arms around each other.
"You two look about ready to die of happiness."
We sprang apart in a panicked hurry at that one dry remark.
Afterward, Iris was the first to speak up.
"Father, may I step outside for a little while? With Leon?"
"Do as you like. I need to have a word with Bale anyway."
Permission granted from Uncle Rex.
"Son, you head out too. I've got some talking to do myself."
My father gave his blessing as well. Hand in hand, the two of us stepped outside.
"Where should we go?"
"How about the place we always used to play?"
We made our way to the great tree we'd climbed and played beneath since we were small. When we arrived, we turned to face each other.
"Leon, I don't have to leave you anymore."
"Me neither. I'm so glad I don't have to be apart from you, Iris."
And after that, we played and laughed and lost all track of time.
How long had it been?
When I saw the sun beginning to sink, I turned to Iris.
"It's gotten late. You should head home."
"Leon."
"Yeah?"
Chu.
My head had been turned away, and for a moment I had no idea what had just happened. I stood there in a daze for a long while before raising a finger to my own lips.
Her cheeks flushed pink, she spoke.
"So? What do you think, Leon?"
"Iris, you just......"
"......Did you hate it?"
"No! I mean, it's not that I hated it, it's just......"
"Then that's all I need to know."
"......"
"See you tomorrow, Leon."
She unfurled her wings and shot off into the sky, gone in the blink of an eye. I stood watching her silhouette until it vanished from view entirely.
"I just...... got kissed?"
There was no other way to interpret it. Anything else simply didn't make sense.
Her lips. They were warm.
And the same was true for her.
"IdiditIdiditIdiditIdiditIdiditIdidit."
Leon's lips had been warmer than she had ever let herself imagine.
"Ahhhh...... Leon."
Her heart began to pound with wild, unrelenting force.
"There's no longer any need to hide it, is there."
She closed one hand around the pendant at her throat.
"Leon, you and I will be together forever. No one—not anyone in this world—will ever tear us apart. Never."
She made her vow as she soared through the evening sky.
No one would ever lay a hand on Leon.
No one would ever harm Leon.
No one... would ever be allowed to take Leon away from her.