Deneb

I rushed to my room.

Sure enough, I could see the helmet there on my desk.

Illuminated by the light descending from the moon, I gently picked it up.

Even though six years had passed since my father disappeared, even though it would have been made even before then, it hadn’t deteriorated in the slightest.

It must have been stored very carefully. The same way you would a treasure.

“…”

This was surely an expression of my mother’s feelings.

That if I believed in my father, if I would continue to insist he was abducted, then I should go to space to meet him—that’s how I interpreted it.

“Yes, that must be it.”

In that case, I wanted my mother to feel at ease, and continue on the path she believed in.

While I, myself, continued on the path I decided.

I tried on the helmet. I looked at my surroundings through the visor.

It fit perfectly, like I’d been wearing it for a long time.

My field of vision was clear, and I could breathe naturally, as if it had always been a part of my body.

My stepfather was a good person.

I understood why my mother chose him. He’d definitely make a good father.

He’d definitely make my mother happy.

But my only father would always be him.

Only the one who was a space-loving weirdo, that you found yourself loving regardless.

“…”

Regarding my younger sister, who was yet to be born.

I was considerably shocked when I first heard my mother was pregnant, but now, when I thought about the fact that I’d have a younger sister, I felt incredibly blessed.

I’d have a sibling.

It was a new step forward, that I would properly take as well.

Once my younger sister was born, I wanted to give her lots of affection, and do everything I could to make her happy.

And so—

I’d wear the helmet from my father every day from then on.

Training is required to go to space. This is part of it.

And more than anything, it’s an expression of my determination.

“Wait for me, father.”

I will, absolutely, become an astronaut.

☆

When Kinugawa and I arrived at Hama House with our princesses, Uu-chan was there to greet us.

As promised, he treated us to strawberry chocolate donuts.

Though he seemed occupied with reading one of those thin books by “sensei”, so he rushed through the formalities and returned to our room.

“I love Ushio-kun’s sweets. They’re always sooo tasty.”

“That guy called Ushio-kun made these? Then I’m gonna be Ushio-kun’s bride!”

“You can’t, do, that, I won’t, allow it…”

Kinugawa shakes his head with deep creases between his brows, and our little sisters laugh at the sight.

“You’re also very doting, Kinugawa,” I laugh, and Kinugawa turns red.

We wipe the stickiness from our sister’s mouths, and give them warm milk tea.

We listen carefully to their excited chatter.

—It’s a peaceful scene.

“…”

Several years have passed since the day I took on my father’s purpose and decided I would absolutely go out and find him.

Communicating with space still isn’t going well. I haven’t gained any information on UFOs, either.

“I’ll bring back my father, and get my life back on track.”

That is my dearest wish.

Since joining the Regional Revitalisation Club, my focus had somewhat shifted to other things, but—I know that my time had stopped, that day on the prairie when my father disappeared.

So even now, seeing such a peaceful, happy scene unfold before my eyes, I can’t help but think…

What comes after bringing my dad back…?

“…No.”

I shouldn’t think about that right now. I still haven’t found him.

And there is surely more time yet until I do.

I still have time to think about it… I must.

“Onii-chan, do you love me?”

“Yes.”

“Am I cuuute?”

“Of course, you’re so cute that I just want to swallow you whole.”

“…Love, is sca…ry.”

After that, Kinugawa goes ahead and takes his little sister home first. She leaves behind a handwritten note for Uu-chan that says “thanks ushiokun”.

As for me, I have to kill some time before the archery class my mother is holding finishes.

“Onii-chan, read me a picture book before we go!”

I accede to the Princess’s pleading.

“Got it. What book shall we read today…”

“Princess Kaguya!”

“Understood.”

It will only take a short while, so I begin to read the Princess’s favourite picture book when…

“Ooh~♪ is that Princess Kaguya?”

Yowa-san appears, holding a bag with “Cafe369” printed on it like some sort of code.

“I’ve read that one too! I like the plot, so I remember it well. It reminds me of a man I met on a star not too long ago—he was also a descendant of Princess Kaguya.”

“What?”

A flash of light filled my brain.

Questions dominate the inside of my mind, spinning around and around.

“A descendant of Princess Kaguya…?”

“Yes, that’s exactly right♪”

And then—at Yowa-san’s smile, I feel as though the pieces start to come together.

“A traitor of the moon.”

I become transfixed, unable to avert my gaze for a while.