Chapter 5
‘Ah… why did I come?’
On the day of the orphanage play, I let out a sigh as I stared at the stage.
I had absolutely no intention of coming. And yet somehow, my feet had moved on their own toward the orphanage.
‘My face is completely covered, and I’m disguised. I won’t stand out.’
I had no plan to meet the boy in the raincoat. I told myself I would only watch from far away.
So I sat in the very last seat of the old theater and quietly watched the stage.
The title of the play was The Tree That Was Saved.
The child doing the narration spoke loudly, his voice echoing through the hall.
“On a rainy day, deep in the forest, a lonely tree fell down with a thud. Just then, a passing girl spoke to it.”
As the narration ended, a small girl ran toward the fallen tree and asked,
“Ppuppu, are you okay?”
At that, the leaf covering Ppuppu’s face fluttered.
Though his face was hidden by the mask, I knew at a glance.
It was the boy in the yellow raincoat who had written the letter.
The narration continued.
“When the girl called the name ‘Ppuppu,’ the leaf turned into light and was engraved into the girl’s heart. And so, the wounded leaf and the girl became each other’s first friend.”
At the same time, children dressed as giant tree leaves popped out onto the stage.
Ppuppu, wearing a leaf mask, stood at the very end—playing Leaf Number 13 with full dedication.
‘But why isn’t Ppuppu the main character? This is ridiculous.’
He was standing there acting so seriously, and he was only Leaf 13?
It wasn’t even a supporting role.
Even so, Ppuppu gave it his all.
“I-I’m Leaf 13, b-but I’m happy to be a-alive.”
He stumbled through his only line.
Objectively speaking, it wasn’t good acting at all.
‘Still, he’s doing great.’
Maybe I was biased, but to me, he just looked admirable.
As I watched while silently offering commentary in my head, the curtain fell.
The children came out together to bow. Their acting had been clumsy, but their faces were full of pride.
Thunderous applause followed.
‘I’ve seen enough. That’s it.’
I turned around and left.
As I walked through a quiet alley in my dark robe, I heard footsteps behind me.
I didn’t hesitate to turn my head.
“Who is it?”
And then—
Crash!
With a loud clatter, a boy wearing a bright green leaf mask stumbled and fell in front of me.
“Th-thank you f-for coming.”
“Mm. Goodbye.”
Despite my cold reply, the boy hurriedly stood up.
“I, um… I picked a name. I didn’t have one before. I wanted to tell you…”
“I don’t want to know.”
Calling each other by name isn’t such a big interaction.
But…
‘Anyone else would be fine. Not him.’
I looked at the small child.
I didn’t even need to see his eyes through the mask.
From his attitude alone, I could tell.
This child was blind in his devotion.
Right now, I was the only one in his world.
‘I’m someone with a fixed ending. I can’t build that kind of deep relationship.’
If he lost me, it would only hurt him more.
I decided to do good deeds.
I never decided to become someone special to anyone.
“Don’t say it.”
So I cut him off cleanly.
Even though I had rejected him, the boy still spoke bravely.
“Th-then… there’s a p-playground next to here…”
“…”
“If you could just come once…”
The moment I saw his violet eyes shining through the mask, I realized something.
I wasn’t capable of being completely cold.
I couldn’t refuse him.
At least, not this time.
***
“I’ve always wanted to c-come here every day…”
“I see.”
“I c-came today.”
The boy looked completely captivated by the playground.
It wasn’t even impressive.
There were only creaking swings, a seesaw, some old toy dishes someone had left behind, and a single lonely carousel horse that looked oddly out of place.
And yet the boy smiled like he had come to the best place in the world.
“Ppuppu wants to live here!”
“…Ppuppu?”
“It was my leaf name. You said it was cute, so I made it my nickname…”
I stared at the child fidgeting awkwardly.
Small as a puppy. Wearing a leaf mask. Calling himself Ppuppu.
“Well, it is kind of cute.”
“Right? Ppuppu is cute.”
He puffed out his shoulders proudly.
Because he was so tiny, he looked even cuter.
Is cuteness unbeatable? I keep getting swayed.’
This is bad. I need to get a grip.
I shook my head firmly.
“You’ve seen everything, right? Let’s go.”
“…!”
Since I couldn’t see his expression behind the mask, I had gotten used to reading his body language.
That movement clearly meant, “I haven’t even ridden the carousel yet.”
It wasn’t magical. It was just a cheaply made thing that spun in place.
Normally, I would have refused.
But how could I deny a child who had never even been to an amusement park?
“Go on.”
“W-with you.”
I kept giving in around this child.
“…Fine. Just today.”
The small carousel carrying the two of us began to spin, sparkling faintly.
Just one round.
“That was so fun!”
“I’m glad.”
Looking down at his reddened fingertips, I spoke quietly.
“Let’s go. It’s getting late.”
“…”
“What? Don’t want to go home?”
“That’s not it… Will we… not see each other anymore?”
“Mm.”
“S-so then, I won’t be clingy…”
“Mm.”
“Letters are okay, right?”
He bit his lip and muttered softly.
He was small.
And far too fragile.
I had seen a child like this before.
I, in my previous life, was left alone after my entire family died.
So I deliberately spoke more harshly.
“If you can’t reach me, just assume I’m dead. I can’t be your family.”
At my firm words, the boy lowered his head.
“…It’s okay.”
He could barely speak properly.
I immediately noticed the tremble in his voice.
“…But you came to the playground with me. You came to the orphanage. You gave gifts. You watched Leaf Ppuppu…”
“All of it ends today.”
His shoulders shook.
I quietly watched the small shoulders of a child who looked no older than ten.
The presence that had suddenly filled the emptiness left by my family was becoming inconvenient.
Then the boy murmured,
“I—I’m going to become a knight.”
“…A knight?”
“Yes. I saw in the spelling book… If you become a knight, you can protect someone precious.”
To become a knight, you need to be granted a noble title. You need the skill to match.
Normally, I would have thrown those facts at him coldly.
But strangely, I couldn’t say that in front of him.
Instead, I whispered softly,
“You can do it.”
“Yes! So if I do well, I’ll protect—”
I cut him off firmly.
“No. You shouldn’t make promises like that so lightly. One day, you’ll meet a precious lady your own age.”
“…”
“You’ll love each other and become something wonderful. So I won’t ask your name. And I won’t tell you mine.”
“…”
“This isn’t even my real face. Just forget everything. Everything about me.”
The boy stared at me quietly.
Even after my cold words drawing a clear line, he was smiling.
“It’s okay even if it’s not your real face.”
“…What?”
Now I was the one caught off guard.
As if casting a spell, the boy said,
“I’ll recognize you no matter what.”
“…”
“I won’t promise to find you no matter what. You don’t like that.”
It was strange.
He suddenly sounded older, speaking clearly and firmly.
“But if we meet by chance…”
He whispered in the strongest tone I had ever heard from him.
“…I won’t let go. Never.”
