Archive of Our Own

Minoru had come to learn a great deal about gemstones in the few months he had spent living with Seigi and Richard. Between the two of them, they owned enough books on the topic to keep Minoru entertained for hours at a time. He hadn’t seen very many precious stones in person before this—mostly familiarising himself with pictures in the books—but he’d occasionally be shown ones that had been procured for customers, and sometimes Richard or Seigi would let him view their private collections. Even so, the number and variety had nothing on the stunning display that presently lay before Minoru, neatly arranged in cushioned boxes and glittering as the rays of sunlight entering through Jewelry Étranger’s window struck their faceted surfaces. 

“Is that ruby heated?”, Minoru asked, pointing at one particularly beautiful red stone. His eyes gleamed, not much unlike the stone itself, as he thought back to the table he’d seen in one of Richard’s books on rubies and heat treatment. He could easily recall the nostalgia Seigi’s eyes seemed to hold as he had peered over their shoulders to gander a look at the pages. 

“It is. Most rubies in the market are heated after all”, Richard confirmed, smiling proudly. “But I’m quite surprised you remember. It has been some time since we discussed heat treatment. Minoru-sama certainly is quite a bright student.”

Minoru blushed and looked down at his hands, which were balled in his lap, as he suppressed a grin. “It was interesting so I read up a bit on my own later.”

“Is that so? Good for you.”

Good for you , Minoru had heard the well pronounced words being uttered by Richard before. It was mostly directed towards Seigi—often accompanied by a teasing or, dare he say, flirtatious grin. Of course, that wasn’t to say Minoru had never heard the words directed towards his own self. They lacked the mischief that they held for Seigi, replaced instead by well-meaning sincerity. 

Minoru let the grin slip through this time. It felt nice to be praised. 

“Um… I’ve been meaning to ask, do you only sell loose stones?”, he then said, cocking his head lightly as he looked up at Richard, brimming with curiosity. “Don’t most jewellers have accessories and other stuff on display? But I’ve only ever seen you and Seigi-san bring home loose stones.”

“Most requests for accessories we receive are made to order, and the designs are handled by an old friend. That said, we do have a small collection of pre-made accessories. Would you like to have a look?”

“Yes please!”, Minoru said, and Richard smiled oh so elegantly in response. His beauty was truly unreal, to the point where it was hard to believe a person as beautiful as Richard actually existed. 

“Well then, I will return shortly”, Richard said as he stood and buttoned up his jacket. Minoru nodded in response, and then he was left alone. He looked around the room as he idled, taking in the simple decoration which mostly consisted of books and a plastic plant in one corner. He’d heard there used to be a real potted plant in its place, but it had to be moved once it had gotten too big. 

“Minoru-kun!”, Seigi’s voice caught his attention as the man himself walked out of the kitchen where he had been making preparations for the day. “Could you come here for a bit?”

Minoru jumped out of the sofa and obediently followed after his older brother. “Is there anything I can do to help?”, he asked expectantly. He was beginning to feel a bit awkward, sitting alone in the shop as he was with nothing to do.

“There is”, Seigi answered him with a smile as he opened some of the cupboards. To Minoru’s surprise, they were stocked top to bottom with sweets of all kinds—cookies, cake, macaroons; anything sweet Minoru could think of, it was there. And it wasn’t just one cupboard either, but several. 

“Does Richard-san actually eat all this?!”

It was only when Seigi laughed that Minoru realised what had unwittingly slipped out of his lips and blushed furiously. “We always keep our pantry stocked up to meet our guests’ preferences”, Seigi explained. “We even have savoy treats too, see!” Minoru did: just a little over half a cupboard was dedicated to rice cakes and potato chips and the like. “Well, Richard does eat a good many of the sweets himself, so we need to restock surprisingly often.”

“Um… what do you need me to do?”

“Ah, that’s right”, Seigi bent down to be closer to Minoru’s eye level and pointed at the cupboards. “Pick whichever you want!”

“Huh? But aren’t they for guests?”

“Minoru-sama is a guest here today, is he not?”, Richard spoke up from behind him. “Please feel free to choose whatever you wish to eat. And don’t worry, you can take your time deciding. I shall wait for you.”

“Oh, um…” Minoru hadn’t expected such a situation. He didn’t want to keep Richard waiting for too long, but there was so much to choose from! Should he go with cake? Or the macaroons? And weren't those the cookies Seigi had brought home some time ago? Minoru remembered they were delicious.

“Uh… the-the brownies!”, Minoru said finally, picking what was in his field of view at the time. He liked brownies anyway, so he was happy with his choice. 

“Brownies, huh? Got it. Go back to Richard and I’ll be out with it in a bit. Oh, and for the drink, are you alright with royal milk tea?”

“Y-Yes! I’d like that very much!”

“Good!”, his brother grinned and Minoru stiffly made his way back to the sofa. Was this really how all guests were treated here? He had never heard of such a jewellery shop. 

There was an open box on the coffee table—and when Minoru peered inside upon receiving the go ahead from Richard, he saw a beautiful collection of simple and yet elegant rings and necklaces. “Pretty…”, he found himself muttering as he stood transfixed. 

“Feel free to have a closer look.”

“May I really?”

“Of course.”

There was one necklace in particular that had caught Minoru’s eye during his initial perusal—a beautiful piece, though not to intricate, consisting of a silver chain and a pendant. The metal which formed the casing of the pendant curled delicately around a blue-grey stone, and it was this stone that Minoru focused on.

“That’s a celestite, isn’t it?”, he asked as he leaned forward to get a better view of the necklace. “Seigi-san has one too. He showed it to me once.” He reached out towards it and looked at Richard expectantly, waiting for the permission to pick it up; which he was granted by a simple movement of the beautiful jeweller’s hand. 

With the chain draped over Minoru’s fingers, he carefully lifted the necklace, allowing the pendant to dangle in the air. It was beautiful. “Seigi-san told me looking at the celestite reminds him of you.”

Minoru noticed the cracks appear in Richard’s cool façade, as the usually composed adult coughed into his fist while his cheeks took on a rosy hue. “Is that so?”, he said with an air of pretend nonchalance, not that it fooled Minoru. 

“I didn’t really understand though”, Minoru continued, frowning to himself. “If it were me… I’d say you’re more like a diamond or a sapphire or something, shiny and eye-catching. It’s not that I don’t think celestites are pretty, but I still don’t understand what Seigi-san meant. He got a phone call just as I was about to ask him, so I didn’t get the chance…”

“It’s his eyes. Don’t you think the colour is similar?”

“Ah!”

Minoru’s exclamation was more in surprise at the voice that had sounded with no warning next to his ear, than in triumph of a realisation. He heard a laugh from behind him, and he turned around to come face to face with his brother. 

“Oh, did I surprise you?”, Seigi said, a few chuckles still escaping him. 

“Please don’t sneak up on me like that, Seigi-san!”, Minoru whined with a playful pout. Seigi really was unexpectedly good at being sneaky. Minoru still remembered how the bandages had disappeared from his pocket. 

“Yes, yes. I’m sorry.” Seigi placed a tray of tea and brownies down on the coffee table before kneeling next to Minoru’s sofa. His fingers gently caressed Minoru’s skin as they wrapped around his hand, and raised it until the pendant dangled at the same level as Richard’s face—from Minoru’s perspective at least. “Now, don’t you think it’s similar?”

“Seigi—”

“It’s true!”

Minoru should really have apologised for cutting Richard off the way he did, but at that moment it didn’t quite occur to him. The lovely blue-grey eyes narrowed at Seigi as a light flush coloured Richard’s cheeks. Richard-san already knew what Seigi-san had meant , Minoru noticed, suppressing a smile. That was the likely cause for Richard reacting as he had. 

“Not to mention…”

Minoru focused his attention on his brother once again, who smiled at him gently. Richard was definitely the prettier one of the two, but Minoru could easily imagine people having just as much of a hard time with Seigi’s smile directed towards them. “Yes?”

“Celestites may not sparkle as much as diamonds or sapphires, but they have their own beauty unique to them.” Seigi guided Minoru’s hand again until the pendant was bathed in the mid-morning sun rays. Within was a beautiful display of various shades of blue under the smooth surface of the teardrop shaped stone as the light reflected off of it, giving it a look Minoru hadn’t seen in many other gems. Unique, as Seigi had said. Minoru nodded in understanding. 

Seigi grinned as he let go of his little brother’s hand. “It wouldn’t do for me to compare Richard to something that isn’t beautiful, after all.”

Richard pointedly cleared his throat, simultaneously looking flustered and yet pleased. “Seigi, our first appointment for today is Tanaka-sama, is it not? Please prepare barley tea for him. And he mentioned he likes hazelnut cheesecake the last time he was here. Do we have any in stock?”

“We do”, Seigi replied without hesitation. 

“Good. Have a serving ready before he arrives.”

“I’ll get right to it, boss!”

Minoru stared after Seigi, finding the whole situation a bit amusing, to say the least. “I’ve… never actually seen you order Seigi-san around like that”, he told Richard. “You’re so gentle with him at home.”

“… Even though I’m not entirely happy with this being the case, but I am still his boss on paper. And as the manager of this shop, I do need to put our customers’ needs above all else”, Richard explained and, despite his professional air, Minoru could hear a clear displeasure in his voice. 

Minoru nodded, suppressing his giggle. “I understand”, he said before taking a sip of his tea, not wanting it to turn cold. The now familiar sweet taste filled his mouth, and he let out an involuntary humm, only catching himself when he heard Richard chuckle beside him. 

“Seigi is quite adept at making royal milk tea, isn’t he?”, Richard said with a smug grin. 

“He is! But I like the tea you make too. Seigi-san told me that it was you who taught him.”

“Indeed.” Richard nodded, a nostalgic smile gracing his beautiful face. He was sitting on the sofa closer to the window, and the light that reflected off of his golden hair seemed to form a halo around his head. It was a beautiful sight indeed, and Minoru almost wanted to bring Seigi over so he could see it too. “Minoru-sama”, Richard said before Minoru had had the chance to even try to seek out his brother, “we were talking about what jewels might resemble me , but I am curious to know which you find to be comparable to Seigi.”

“Pink sapphire”, Minoru replied without missing a beat. “It means ‘justice for the weak’, doesn’t it? I remember you telling me that when you showed me the ring you have. It’s a perfect fit for Seigi-san.”

“Did I ever mention that the ring actually belongs to Seigi?”

“It does?” Minoru hadn’t heard about that before. 

“Seigi had given it to me many years ago for safekeeping.”

“What are you two talking about?”, Seigi asked, walking back out from the kitchen. “The tea and drinks are ready”, he added to Richard. 

“Thank you. I was telling Minoru-sama of the time you had given me your grandmother’s ring.”

“It feels like forever ago, doesn’t it?”

“It has been about seven or eight years now. I still remember that time like it was yesterday. I would like for us to never have to go through such an experience ever again.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to think up a less reckless plan if we ever find ourselves in a similar situation again!”

“You have matured a lot since then, but your tendency to act on your feelings without much thought hasn’t completely left you. That said, I’m not complaining. I find that aspect of yours quite charming.”

Minoru quietly observed the exchange, watching as the two adults shared tender gazes and teasing smiles, and opted not to interfere. He knew his brother and Richard had known each other for a long time, but he wondered just how far back they went. 

“Minoru-kun, I don’t think I’ve ever told you about my grandma, have I?”, Seigi asked, and Minoru shook his head. 

“But Richard-san once mentioned that you really look up to her. She must have been amazing!”

Seigi laughed upon seeing the excited gleam in Minoru’s eyes. “She certainly was amazing, alright. It’s nearly time for us to open, so remind me to tell you about her later.”

“Okay! Um… I just wanted to make sure but… is it really okay for me to stay here? I won’t be getting in the way?”

“Of course not!”, Richard said adamantly. “I would never have suggested this in the first place if that were the case. Besides, Minoru-sama was the one who was curious about our work, isn’t that right? You wouldn’t get to see us working if you go elsewhere. That said, I can imagine it might get a little dull at times, so feel free to leave if you are getting bored.”

“But if you decide to go out, just don’t wander too far”, Seigi added, smiling down at Minoru. “You don’t know your way around Tokyo as well as Yokohama.”

Minoru nodded in agreement. “I won’t. But, er, at least for now… I’d like to stay here and watch you work.”

Minoru didn’t understand why he was blushing as he was, but Richard and Seigi shared a glance as they smiled at each other. 

“I suppose we should put all we have into our work today, shouldn’t we?”, Richard said. “Minoru-sama will be observing us, after all.”

Seigi nodded enthusiastically. “But of course! I’m feeling extra motivated today!”, he announced as he began to clear the table for the arrival of their first customer of the day. 

Minoru involuntarily hid behind Seigi as his brother and Richard bowed deeply to the newcomer. An elderly gentleman smiled and returned the bow in greeting before turning his curious gaze onto Minoru. “And who might this young man be?”, he asked with a smile. Minoru was reminded of the kind old grandfathers he’d often read about in stories. 

“This is Minoru-sama, Seigi’s younger brother. He was curious about his brother’s job, so I offered him to come and observe for today. Of course, if that would be a problem…”

“Oh, no, it’s no problem at all!”, the gentleman, Tanaka-san, laughed kindly, before carefully bending his knees to get to Minoru’s eye level. “Tell me young man, are you also interested in gemstones?”

Minoru slowly nodded, feeling nervous upon receiving such attention from a stranger. “I don’t know much about them, but I like looking at gems. They’re pretty.”

Tanaka straightened his knees as he stood and chuckled heartily. “Good! Being able to appreciate beauty is the most important thing needed to enjoy gemstones.”

“Shall we head inside?”, Richard said, holding out a hand to gesture towards the main sitting area. 

“Of course”, Tanaka nodded and followed after Richard, with Seigi and Minoru taking up the rear. 

“Please have a seat. I have the rubies we had talked about over the phone right here.” Richard opened the box containing the beautiful ruby Minoru had seen just earlier. “Seigi, please bring the tea.”

“Yes, I’ll be right back.”

Minoru stood where he was, awkwardly wondering if he should follow after Seigi or stay with Richard. Richard had, perhaps, noticed his dilemma as, with a flick of his wrist, he gestured Minoru to take the seat beside him; and Minoru happily complied. 

The gentleman picked up each of the rubies in turn, placing them between his gloved fingers and holding them up to the light. “And how much would this one cost?”, he asked while inspecting the same ruby that had piqued Minoru’s interest a while ago. “Of course, I mean to ask for the quotation including the cost of the ring.”

“Would we be going with a simple design, then?”

“Men’s jewellery don’t usually have much going for them in terms of design, do they?”

“While lacking in comparison to women’s accessories, even jewellery made for men can have a variety of intricacies. The designer our shop collaborates with had previously sent some sample designs for another customer, but would you like to have a look at them?”

“Well, I certainly wouldn’t mind that!” Tanaka sat up straight as he looked at Richard expectantly, who gave his signature elegant smile in response. 

“Certainly, please do wait here for a moment. Minoru-sama, could I ask you to keep our guest company until either Seigi or I return?”

Shortly after having served tea, Seigi had retreated into the room in the back as the phone rang, and he’d been inside ever since. It must be an important call, Minoru mused. 

“Alright”, he nodded to Richard even as his heart thumped in his chest. How was he supposed to keep the customer “company”? What if he messed something up and accidentally offended Tanaka instead?

The gentleman had perhaps noticed Minoru’s predicament as he laughed. “Now, now… There’s no need to get so nervous, young man. I don’t think Richard-san meant anything much by his words. But if you’d like, we can have a conversation.”

The gentle, grandfatherly countenance soothed Minoru’s nerves and he found himself nodding. Tanaka smiled at him, clearly pleased. 

“The ring… are you buying that for yourself?”, Minoru said the first thing that had occurred to him. 

He could tell Tanaka was taken aback, and he had just begun to wonder if he had misspoken when the elderly man chuckled. “No, not for myself. I’m buying it for my partner as an anniversary present. We could never get married, but we’d have been together for fifty years by the end of next month.”

“Fifty years?!”

Minoru was only thirteen, and Seigi was twenty eight. Even Richard was only in his thirties, though Minoru never had asked his exact age. Fifty years felt like an impossibly long time. How long had Richard and Seigi known each other? It had to be at least eight years, right? Would they still be together in fifty years? Minoru had no doubts they would spend the rest of their life together, but fifty years still felt like an unimaginable length of time.

“Loving the same person for fifty years… is amazing.”

Tanaka chuckled at Minoru’s words. “I’d wager Richard-san and your brother would stay together for just as long. Sometimes when I see those two youngsters I find myself thinking back on when my own partner and I had just begun our relationship.”

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Tanaka-sama”, Richard said as he re-entered the room with some papers in hand and Seigi in tow, who greeted Tanaka once again with a polite bow and an apology of his own. 

Tanaka smiled at the two. “It’s quite alright. I very much enjoyed my conversation with this young man here”, he said, playfully winking at Minoru. “Nakata-san, your brother certainly is a polite child! And at such a young age too!”

“He is, isn’t he? I was a lot rowdier when I was his age!”, Seigi said with a laugh as he made to stand beside Minoru’s sofa. Richard took his prior seat next to Minoru, and the young boy came to the sudden realisation that his brother had been left without a place to sit. Certainly, the sofa next to Tanaka was unoccupied, but even Minoru understood Seigi couldn’t just sit next to the customer. 

As the grown ups around him discussed ring designs, Minoru fretted over how he could offer Seigi his seat in a manner that would not draw too much attention. 

“Seigi-san”, he whispered to his brother when Seigi went to refill Tanaka’s tea. “I’ll stand, so please sit here. You’ve been standing this whole time.”

Seigi stifled a laugh, one that neither Richard or Tanaka had noticed. “Don’t worry about me”, Seigi whispered back with an amused smile. “It would look strange if you were to get up now anyway. You don’t want to distract Tanaka-sama, right?”

Seigi was right, Minoru was a visitor and the last thing he wanted to do was get in the way of Richard and Seigi’s work. His hands formed fists on his lap as they clenched and unclenched. 

“Young man, which of these do you think looks better?”, Tanaka was addressing him, while pointing at two of the designs on the sheet of paper. 

Minoru looked at Richard, wondering if it was appropriate for him to give his opinion. He was met with a smile and a nod, so he turned to inspect the two designs. 

“I think this one is better”, he said, pointing at what would be a silver band with a strip of darker grey running through the middle upon completion, while the jewel itself would be lined on either side by smaller diamonds. Even though the picture itself was drawn in pencil with notes and colours indicated through arrows, Minoru could easily imagine the bright red ruby standing out amidst the grey and silver beautifully. 

Tanaka’s face glowed at Minoru’s response. “I thought the same. My partner likes the colour red, so I wanted to give him something that would make the colour, how do the youngsters say it these days… Ah, yes: pop ! Richard-san, how much time would this ring take?”

“Anywhere between two weeks to a month.”

“So it should be ready before our anniversary.”

“I will negotiate with the designer to guarantee it. However, as we are going for a non-standard design, I will have to get an exact quotation from the designer. I can only inform you of the final cost by tomorrow.”

“That will be fine. Please go ahead and place the order. I will pay whatever is necessary for a ring like this.”

Whatever is necessary? Minoru recalled Richard mentioning that the price of the jewel alone would be around seven million yen. If he were to add onto that the cost of the accent diamonds… Wait, how much did accent diamonds even cost? How many school lunches would he be able to afford with that kind of money? Minoru felt dizzy just thinking about it. 

Tanaka, very much unaware of Minoru’s tumultuous state due to his own mental arithmetics, smiled in satisfaction. “I had been to quite a few other jewellers before coming here, you know? I wanted to find the perfect stone for him. I’m glad that this is where I found it.” The elderly gentleman picked up the hat he’d taken off and placed on the table in front of him. “I’m certain I will be visiting your shop again in the future.”

“I am pleased to hear that. We will be looking forward to your continued patronage.”

Both Seigi and Richard bowed deeply as they saw the elderly gentleman off, not rising until Tanaka had made his way down the stairs. 

“So, Minoru-kun, what did you think?”, Seigi asked his still dazed younger brother. 

“Um… do all your customers have so much money?”

The adults both chuckled at Minoru’s question. “A lot of them do”, Seigi responded, an amused smile playing on his lips. “That said, we do get a fair number of customers who receive average salary man wages. Not all gems in our store are as expensive as that ruby.”

Minoru let out a sigh he hadn’t realised he’d been holding. Somehow he had begun to feel tense sitting in the shop he’d assumed only extremely rich people visited. It was like he was encroaching on a space that he did not belong in. 

Seigi’s words were comforting. 

“Hey, Richard, you should get ready to leave too”, Minoru vaguely heard Seigi calling out as his brother walked into the kitchen with the used teacups and plates. “You’ll miss the train if you don’t leave soon.”

“Ah, yes. I’d lost track of the time. Thank you for reminding me.”

“Are you going somewhere?”, Minoru asked as he followed Richard into the back room. He hadn’t heard of this…

“Yes, though only for a bit”, Richard did not turn to face Minoru as he spoke, his focus on checking a box of jewels which he then put into his bag. Minoru found this curious, he’d only ever seen Richard carry gems in his suitcase. Though he did suppose that taking the entire suitcase for one box didn’t make too much sense. “One of our long-time customers wishes to purchase a gem for her daughter-in-law, but is unable to come here in person due to mobility issues. Since today was a day that worked out for us both, I decided it would be best to visit her at her home.”

Minoru nodded at Richard’s words. “Will you be back before dinner?” Minoru had been curious about Shiseido Parlour for a while—he’d heard so much about this restaurant that had been an important place for both his brother and for Richard. Seigi had told him of the many dinners he’d had there with Richard back when he worked part time at Jewellery Étranger, and when Minoru showed an interest Richard had declared that they’d eat there before heading back to the hotel they were staying in for the evening. That was the only opportunity for Minoru to visit Shiseido, as the three planned on heading back to Yokohama the next evening after the shop closed. Minoru had school on Monday, after all. 

“I should hopefully be back before we close for the day”, Richard said with a pleasing smile adorning his handsome face. 

“Okay. I’ll help Seigi-san with the snacks then! That way he can stay with the customers!”

Richard, as proper as ever, brought a hand up to his lips as he laughed politely. “We will be counting on you then.”

“Yes!”

“By the way, you found it a bit disappointing when Seigi took on a more background role with Tanaka-sama, did you not?”

Minoru’s cheeks flushed. Was it that obvious? “I-I’m sorry, Richard-san, I—”

“There’s no need to get so worked up, I haven’t taken any offence.”

“…”

Minoru couldn’t find any words to say and turned his gaze downward. Richard sounded the same as always, and he was still smiling gently, but Minoru would probably have felt hurt were he in Richard’s position. 

“You said you wanted to see ‘Seigi-san’ working, did you not?”

Minoru nodded slowly. “I did. But I really did think that Richard-san was cool too.”

Richard laughed again and gently ruffled Minoru’s hair. It was something Seigi had started, and Richard ended up copying. “I am glad to hear that. But you know…” Placing his bag on the sofa, Richard knelt down until he was at eye level with Minoru. “Seigi looks even cooler than me while working. Of course, I do think he’s cool most of the time, though he can be a bit awkward. But I suppose that’s one of his many charms, isn’t it?”

“Y-Yes!” Minoru hadn’t known Seigi for terribly long, but he had come to adore and look up to his older brother a great deal regardless. A grin slipped onto his face, he could always count on Richard to understand him when it came to Seigi. 

Richard smiled in satisfaction at Minoru’s response and straightened himself once again. “Seigi will be handling all the customers for the rest of the day, so I’m certain you will have many opportunities to see just how cool he is.”

“Richard— Oh, sorry, am I interrupting?”

Before Minoru could reply, Seigi appeared at the doorway with a packed lunch box in hand—Minoru had seen him prepare three of them that morning—and smiling at the scene before him. 

“No, it’s fine”, Richard said as he stood back up and accepted the lunch box with a polite ‘thank you’. “Is the cab here already?”

“It just arrived.”

“Alright. I will call you when I’m on my way back.”

“Okay. You know, if you come back early you should just head back to the hotel. Rest up a bit and then meet up with us at Shiseido.”

“We’ll see.”

“And say hello to Miyashita-san for me!”

“Don’t worry, I will.”

The loving smile Richard only ever directed at Seigi had never missed Minoru’s attention. Seigi, too, would look at Richard just as adoringly. But now that the three were standing at the doorway leading out of the shop, seeing Richard off, Minoru couldn’t help but be reminded of the kind of scenes he’d encountered in manga and on television. A close knit family, the child and one of the parents wishing a safe journey to the other. It was a scene that made Minoru envious at times. And yet, there he was, living through such a moment. He felt his heart twinge as he thought of how his mother could not be part of this scene, but perhaps once she has somewhat recovered…

“Minoru-kun, I’ll be getting things ready for our next customer. Do you want some snacks in the meantime?”

Minoru shook his head. “No, thank you. I’m still full from the brownies. Can I help you instead? I’ll just get bored sitting here on my own anyway.”

Seigi paused to think for a moment. “Are you sure you don’t want to just sit and relax? You’re not used to travelling, and we left pretty early this morning. Aren’t you feeling tired?”

“I’m fine”, Minoru quickly replied. “I really want to help! Please?”

Seigi let out a defeated sigh even as a smile of amusement played on his lips. “Alright then… Do you remember where the baumkuchen was?”

“I do!”

“Could you please prepare two plates, with about a quarter of the cake on each? I will prepare the gems for our next customer in the meantime.”

Minoru nodded his head with enthusiasm. “Is there anything else I can do?”

Seigi laughed and ruffled Minoru’s hair, just like Richard had done not long ago. “That would be all for now. Oh, and the knife is in the drawer next to the sink. Can you cut the cake without hurting yourself?”

“I’ll be fine. You’ve been pretty strict with the knife whenever you’re teaching me how to cook. I don’t think I’ll mess up.”

Seigi nodded, though he still looked much too concerned. “Just be careful, alright?”

“I will.”

Minoru waited for Seigi to disappear into the room at the back of the store before bursting out into giggles. His older brother was an admirable man, but also way too much of a worry-wart!

Richard wasn’t exaggerating when he’d said Seigi was cool while working. From his greetings—which were accompanied by a professional smile somehow both reminiscent of Richards and yet altogether different—to the way he’d charm the customers with his friendly nature, and even how he switched languages on a fly to accommodate foreign guests—Minoru found himself constantly in a state of awe. 

“Richard taught me everything I know”, Seigi had said when Minoru voiced his thoughts at one point after they had seen an Indian gentleman off. “From the languages to how to interact with the guests. Richard is the one who’s really cool!”

In Minoru’s eyes they were both incredibly cool, and yet both Richard and Seigi seemed adamant that they paled in comparison to the other. It was somehow quite amusing. 

The guests seemingly agreed with Minoru’s assessment, or at least the ones he could communicate with did. Multiple customers had caught him gazing admiringly at his older brother, and some of them had even let slip smiles of amusement. 

“Do you enjoy watching your brother work?”, a woman who Minoru assumed might be around his mother’s age asked. 

And Minoru nodded. “He’s really cool”, he said, and the lady chuckled. 

“He certainly is, isn’t he? Both he and Richard-san are quite knowledgeable about gemstones.”

“They are! I really love listening to them talk about stones.”

The lady smiled ever so gently down at him. “So do I.”

Most of the customers were ones Seigi had already been expecting, but they did have one unexpected guest that day. She came in the afternoon and didn’t have an appointment. Minoru was surprised, the girl couldn’t have been out of high school yet. What was she doing in a jewellery store by herself?

The girl didn’t introduce herself even as she was led inside the shop; all she did was produce a thick, worn out envelope from her bag. “This is all the money I have saved over the last few years. Please give me a gemstone that can heal my brother.”

Minoru couldn’t guess what kind of expression he had on, though he hoped it wasn’t one that would come off as rude, and he turned to see Seigi’s reaction. His older brother who sat on the sofa next to him looked as composed as he had all day, quite unlike how surprised Minoru was feeling. 

“Well, first off, would you like some tea?”

The girl introduced herself as Sakurai Chiho, a seventeen year old high school student. She explained how her brother was born with a weak heart and had been in and out of the hospital all his life. His condition had worsened a few months ago, and it was recently determined he needed surgery. 

“His body is weak”, Sakurai said. “The surgery has a high chance of success but even if the doctors do everything right, there’s still a possibility the stress his body would be put through might be enough to kill him. He’s loved gemstones for as long as I can remember. He’d tell me about these… spiritual powers that stones supposedly have. How some of them would keep away negative energy, or would bring the ones who held them luck. I always scoffed at the idea. After all, they’re stones ! How are stones supposed to have these supernatural powers?!”

“But even so, he loves them. Even if they don’t have powers, they’re pretty to look at—is what he always says. I thought it would be nice to buy him a gemstone, one that he could keep with him all the time. But we’re not exactly wealthy , and my parents did not want to compromise on either our education, or on my brother’s healthcare. Luxuries like gemstones were something we couldn’t afford. So I promised my brother that I would be the one buying him one! I took on a part time job, and I worked and I saved, and then… and then my brother just… collapsed one day. I pass by his middle school on my way home, so we often walk back together. That day, he told me he felt a bit tired but things were normal. But then…”

She trailed off, and Minoru saw tears falling from her downturned eyes. “Nakata-san, please… this is all the money I have. If there’s a stone that can make my brother better, please let me buy it!”

In Minoru’s eyes, gemstones were magical things; things that almost didn’t feel like they belonged in the same world as him. Sparkling and beautiful, it was easy to imagine them possessing some sort of otherworldly power. Minoru could see where Sakurai’s younger brother was coming from—he may not even truly believe in any such powers himself, and yet it was so easy to fool oneself into having faith. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t even know what I’m talking about anymore”, Sakurai said in a low voice, looking so… broken. Like she had lost all hope. Minoru couldn’t imagine what might have been going through her mind at that point. “Of course gemstones can’t heal him. They’re just stones…”

“Sakurai-sama, if you don’t mind me asking, does your brother have a favourite stone?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. He loves sapphires, especially blue sapphires. When we were little, Mom had once told us this bedtime story she’d made up. It was about a jeweller who had come across a magical blue sapphire that brought happiness and good fortune to whoever held it. That was when my brother’s interest in stones began. I think… he truly wished for a stone that could bring happiness to those around it to be real.”

“I understand”, Seigi said once Sakurai had finished and reached for the envelope of money lying on the table. After a quick look, he put the envelope back where it was and smiled at Sakurai. “Please wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

And so Minoru was left alone with the customer once again. He’d gotten used to it by that point. He lifted his cup to his lips and was about to take a sip when Sakurai spoke up. 

“You said you are Nakata-san’s younger brother? How old are you?”

“Huh? Uh… I’m about to turn thirteen soon.”

“So a year younger than my brother. Do you also like gems?”

He had already answered the same question numerous times that day, but it was the first time the words held something other than simple curiosity. He nodded somewhat carefully. “I like looking at them, at least. They’re pretty.”

“I think so too. I always listen whenever my brother goes into a spiel about the meaning behind different gemstones and the like, though I can barely remember any of them. But they are beautiful, and my brother is always happy when looking at them, even if they are just pictures in a book most of the time.” She fell silent after that; and Minoru sat awkwardly, wondering whether he should do something to break the silence. “You know, I really thought I’d have more time”, Sakurai said quietly. “Of course, it’s not like it’s a guarantee that things would go south, but this is the first time he’s going to be having such a major surgery and I…”, she trailed off with a sigh and a shake of her head. “I started off with saving up my allowance, as much of it as I could. Even if I did go out with my friends after school, I wouldn’t buy anything. I’ve been wanting to get a part time job for a long time, but my school doesn’t allow that. I nearly gave up; but when my brother suddenly got worse two months ago, I decided to search for one anyway. I took every shift I could; and I saved, and saved, and then I realised it still wasn’t enough. I wanted to buy him a blue sapphire, but a single Internet search told me just how expensive they can be. I’d never be able to afford one, so I thought I’d go for something cheaper instead. And if stones really do have mysterious powers, it would be nice if it could heal my brother… is what I thought. Silly, isn’t it?”

Minoru wondered if Sakurai was talking so much to distract herself from the pain. He knew people sometimes did that. He didn’t know how to respond, and so he remained silent. 

“Certainly blue sapphires considered to be the most beautiful are on the expensive side, but there are stones at a lower price range that are stunning to look at as well.”

“Seigi-san!”, Minoru exclaimed as he turned around to see his older brother standing behind him with a box in hand.

“I’m sorry for eavesdropping, but I accidentally overheard your conversation.”

“It’s… not like I was trying to keep all that a secret.”

Seigi smiled softly at the young girl, and then opened the box for her to see its contents. Several blue sapphires glittered inside, and though Minoru was aware there were much more brilliant stones in Jewelry Étranger’s collection, even among the sapphires, he still found himself awed by their beauty.

“These stones would fit into your budget.”

Minoru had guessed Sakurai would be pleased, or even as awestruck as him upon seeing the jewels, but she instead frowned at Seigi. “Is this supposed to be some kind of joke? Or am I being scammed? I know these are too expensive for me! The money I gave you wouldn’t even cover the cheapest one!”

“Sakurai-sama’s research is more detailed than I had imagined”, Seigi responded to the accusations with a polite chuckle, and Sakurai turned red. “I can understand if you would be hesitant in trusting in my words, but I’d be willing to lower the cost of one of these gems for you. Provided, that is, you would allow me to speak to either of your parents before we finalise the transaction.”

“Hah? My parents? What do they have to do with this?”

“Sakurai-sama, I cannot claim to fully understand your pain, but I do have a younger brother of my own. That feeling of wanting to make your precious little brother happy is something I do understand. All too well, in fact.” Seigi’s words were sincere, and clearly not spoken for the sole purpose of connecting with Sakurai. Minoru felt his face heat up. “That said, if you were to suddenly show up with an expensive looking gemstone, would your parents not be concerned? I thought it might be better for me to explain the situation to them, even more so as the money you have brought here is not a small amount. The history of gemstones is filled with fraud. Who is to say I’m not trying to sell you a fake? In fact, that is what you had considered when you asked if this was a scam, isn’t it?”

“…”

“Your parents might also worry about the same, especially taking into consideration the amount of money.”

“… They don’t know how much I’ve saved up. I never told them I’m working part time.”

Minoru noticed Seigi stiffen ever so slightly out of the corner of his eye. 

“Then that’s all the more reason to inform them. There will no doubt be questions about the stone.”

“… And that would lead back to them being worried that I was scammed, is that it? Alright, already! I’ll call my mom…”

Minoru let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He wondered just how much money the envelope really held, and just how much Sakurai had been holding back on to have been able to save such an amount. 

Sakurai handed Seigi her phone after talking to her mother for a minute, and Seigi proceeded to narrate everything that had happened. Finally, after a short conversation, Seigi returned the phone to Sakurai. 

“Your mother has asked you to wait until she arrives.”

“… She’s coming?”

Sakurai’s mother had fortunately been close by, having been visiting her son who was hospitalised near Ginza. 

“Mind explaining what’s going on here, young lady?”

“Um… Nakata-san already explained over the phone, didn’t he?”

“I want to hear it from you . Starting from why you’re here in the first place. You’ve never had any interest in stones and the like. Is it for Hiro?”

Sakurai nodded in form of answer. 

“If you wanted to get him a gemstone, why didn’t you just come to your father or I? Why go out of your way to get a secret part time job?”

“I didn’t think you’d agree. I mean, you guys were worried about how much you’re spending on our schools and Hiro’s medicines, aren’t you?”

“We can afford to buy a gemstone”, Sakurai’s mother deadpanned. “Well, so long as it’s not too expensive.”

“Then why didn’t you buy one?!” Minoru jumped in his seat when Sakurai suddenly raised her voice. “Hiro has loved gemstones since forever , so did it just never occur to you and dad that perhaps he would be happy to receive one, even if it’s cheap?”

“Of course it did! We asked him if he would like one, and even which he’d prefer! Hiro told us not to bother with it! He said that he enjoys looking at them even if they’re just pictures, and he’d rather us spend the money buying him more books. We asked him many times, and the answer was always the same!”

“But he… agreed to me buying him one…”

“He probably didn’t think it would even be possible for you to have that kind of money, at least not until a few years in the future, what with how strict your school is when it comes to part time jobs. What were you even planning on doing if you were found out?”

“The café I’m working at is pretty far, so I guess I was hoping that they… wouldn’t… find out?”

“So in other words you would have thought about how to deal with it only when the time came”, the older woman deadpanned. 

“Err…”

“You are always like this… if you’re going to do something stupid, at least think about how to deal with the possible outcomes!”

The problem isn’t with her breaking school rules in the first place?

Seigi’s expression told Minoru he was probably thinking something similar. 

“Putting that aside for the time being—not that it means you’re off the hook, young lady!—but when did you even go to work? You spend all day either out with your friends or studying at home.”

“Most of the time meeting my friends was an excuse. I’d tell Hiro and grandma I was going out with friends, and then return home before you or dad would be back from work so you’d have no reason to ever call me during that time or get suspicious.”

“So even Hiro didn’t know?”

“I was worried that he might let it slip by accident. He’s never been good at keeping secrets after all.”

Sakurai’s mother shook her head with a sigh before turning to Seigi, who had been silently waiting next to Minoru as they watched the scene play out. “Nakata-san, was it? Those stones… are they real?”

“They are.”

“And you said you are willing to reduce the cost?”

“… I was not trying to scam your daughter.”

“I know, you never would have called me if that were the case. It’s just…” She sighed again. “I’m sorry for all the trouble my daughter has put you through, and thank you for involving me in this. There is no need to give Chiho any discount. I’ll pay the difference.”

“Mom…”

“That does not mean you’re not in trouble, young lady! You are lucky Nakata-san is such a kind man! What would you have done if this was a scam, hm? And then there’s that secret part time job!”

“I’m sorry, but Hiro—”

“I know you did it for Hiro! That’s the only reason I’m even letting you buy this gemstone! But there were much better ways for you to have gone about all this! Again, you could have told your father and I, for one! Anyway, we are wasting Nakata-san’s time. Pick one out.”

“M-Me?! Shouldn’t you help me decide?”

“ You are the one who did all this for Hiro’s sake, did you not? So what’s the point if you don’t choose yourself? But hurry it up, your brother is waiting for me to return.”

“R-Right!” Sakurai approached the box of gems still lying on the coffee table and leaned over to take a closer look. After a few seconds, she raised her gaze to meet Seigi’s eyes. Minoru noticed the light blush that covered her cheeks. Was she embarrassed that they had witnessed such a conversation between her and her mother?

“Nakata-san, blue sapphires don’t have any meanings associated with health, do they? Is it really alright for me to give such a stone to Hiro? Wouldn’t getting him a gemstone that’s said to make people healthy be better?”

The smile Seigi directed at her was kind and reassuring. “If that is the kind of stone that Sakurai-sama wishes to give Hiro-sama, I will bring some that match the criteria you are looking for. But if it’s blue sapphires you have always wished to give him, in my opinion that is what you should go with. After all, didn’t you say you have a hard time believing that gemstones have any kind of powers? While it is true that there is no clear proof for the more spiritual abilities that are associated with gemstones, I do believe that all gemstones have a special power, and that is the power to make people happy. Ultimately, isn’t that what you wish for for your brother?”

Sakurai’s eyes grew moist with tears as she nodded. “Yes, it is”, she said, and her voice sounded thick. Her gaze focused once more unto the collection of blue gems, each one subtly unique from the others; and after a few minutes of careful consideration, she sniffed and turned back to face her mother. “Mom, what do you think about this one?”

The jewel she pointed at was maybe the middle of the bunch in terms of beauty, in Minoru’s opinion. Pretty, but not one that particularly stood out—even more so seeing as it was positioned right underneath the clearest and most stunning gem. 

Sakurai’s mother scrunched her eyebrows as she studied it. “Well, it is pretty, but don’t you think this one is more beautiful? If it’s the cost you’re worried about—”

“No, that’s not it! Remember that story you told Hiro and I when we were kids? The one about the blue sapphire?”

“I… do somewhat recall it?”

“The sapphire in the story… you described it to be not the most beautiful, and yet with a mysterious charm. A dull blue, but one that still shone lightly; like it was trying its best to match the beautiful gems that surrounded it in the jeweller’s shop. This stone here is similar to how you described it in the story! So it has to be this one! This is the one I’m giving Hiro!”

It was the first time Minoru had seen Sakurai smile properly since she’d arrived at the shop, a smile showed her youthful exuberance, and it was the first time Minoru had really registered that she was only a few years older than him. He looked at the older of the two customers, and saw the mother gazing gently at her daughter, love and pride clear in her eyes. 

“Oh, alright”, Sakurai’s mother huffed out, looking nowhere near as troubled as she was very clearly pretending to sound. “Don’t create a ruckus now, please. Nakata-san, how much would this one cost?”

Fifteen minutes later, the transaction was complete. Seigi made sure to give Sakurai’s mother a certificate that detailed everything there was to know about the sapphire they had just purchased. 

“Feel free to get the stone valuated at any shop of your choosing to put your mind at ease.”

“I don’t believe there’s any chance we’re being scammed at this point, but thank you regardless.”

The two brothers were standing at the doorway to say their goodbyes when Sakurai Chiho crouched down in front of Minoru. “Thanks for listening to my ramblings”, she said softly, and Minoru thought she looked a bit embarrassed. 

“I’m sorry all I did was listen. I couldn’t even say anything.”

“It’s fine! Just listening was enough!”, Sakurai said, giggling to herself. “You are a good kid, you know that? You should meet Hiro. I think you two would become fast friends.”

“Oh! I-I’d like to meet him after he’s better!”

“How about this then? I’ll bring him here once he’s out of the hospital. You should ask your brother to bring you over again too.” Minoru nodded his head vigorously and Sakurai laughed. “It’s a promise then! Oh right, speaking of your brother…”

They both glanced at the two adults, who were still busy talking amongst themselves and not paying much attention to the children’s conversation. Sakurai inched closer to Minoru nonetheless to whisper into his ear. “Nakata-san is really cool! I want to come see him again sometime!”

Minoru gawked at Sakurai, who grinned at him with a reddened face. 

“Chiho, come on! I told Hiro you’ll be coming with me.”

“Coming!” Standing up, Sakurai gave Seigi a polite bow and waved at Minoru, before running down the stairs after her mother. 

“She seems like a cheerful girl”, Seigi said with a slight chuckle. “I hope her brother will find strength after seeing the gemstone she has worked so hard to get for him.”

“Yes, I hope so too. She said she’ll bring him here when he’s better so I can meet him.”

“She did? Well then, I suppose you would have to take another trip here when the time comes.”

“Mm. Seigi-san, can I… ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“When you told Sakurai-sama you’d lower the price of the gem… could you really do that?”, Minoru said hesitantly. “Won’t Richard-san be angry if you did that?”

“I think he’d probably do the same if he were in my position”, Seigi told him with a chuckle. “That said, I wasn’t planning on having the shop lose money. I have a fair bit saved up, so I was gonna cover the difference from that.”

“Is that really okay?!”

“I don’t see why not”, Seigi shrugged. “While there were a couple of more expensive pieces among the ones I’d brought out, even the most expensive ones weren’t vastly out of Sakurai-sama’s budget. I can understand why she felt pressured on time, but she probably would have been able to afford it on her own after a few months of her part time job. She really had been saving quite diligently.”

“… You don’t do something similar every time someone wants a gem they can’t afford, do you?”

“Heh…”, Seigi quickly turned away, but the way his shoulders shook lightly told Minoru he was laughing. “Ah, sorry about that. No, I don’t do that every time. Not to mention, we hardly ever get potential customers who are unable to afford the gemstones they want.”

“Why did you consider it this time?”

“It’s like I said, I understand that feeling of wanting to make your little brother happy.” 

So it wasn’t just lip service for the customer. Heat rose to Minoru’s cheeks again. 

And perhaps Seigi had an idea about Minoru’s thoughts as he smiled. “Minoru-kun, I know we have only known each other for a few months, but believe me when I say I would do anything in my power to make sure you’re happy. This time… the reason I wanted to help Sakurai-sama was because I could sympathise with her. I also know how it feels to be painfully aware that your hands are tied; and I, too, have experience of doing, frankly speaking, stupid things in order to help the person dear to me. My desire to help Sakurai-sama this time around came from an emotional response. So there’s no need to worry, I won’t drain my bank account to help everyone who comes through the door!”

Seigi laughed somewhat bashfully after the short speech. “Sorry, I’ve always been the type to act on my emotions. It’s embarrassing, but I’m honestly a lot better now compared to when I was still working here part time!”

“I don’t think it’s embarrassing”, Minoru said with a shake of his head. “The Seigi-san who’s always kind to others… is really cool!”

Minoru couldn’t tell at first if Seigi was going to laugh or cry, and worried for a moment that he’d said something wrong. But when Seigi smiled brightly and tightly hugged him, Minoru could understand his brother’s feelings without even having to see his face. 

“Minoru-kun… I’m really glad you’re my brother. I know I’m still lacking, but I promise I’ll work hard so I can be an older brother you’ll be proud of.”

“You already are that older brother, Seigi-san!” Minoru laughed as he returned the embrace. 

Minoru hadn’t known Seigi for very long, and he knew it would take some time before their bond could resemble that shared between typical siblings; but they would get there in time, he was certain of that. After all, his adoration for Seigi was second only to Richard’s!

“I hope today was a fruitful experience”, Minoru could hear Richard say over the sound of the hairdryer. The sky outside their hotel room in Tokyo was already dark, and they had long since finished dinner at Shiseido Parlour. 

“It was! I had fun!”, he replied back, raising his voice to be audible. “I’ve never seen so many foreigners in one day before! It’s amazing how Seigi-san could speak all those languages!” The hairdryer switched off and Minoru took the opportunity to quickly turn around to look up at Richard with eyes filled with wonder. “He told me that you’re the one who taught him almost all of them. You’re amazing, Richard-san! Both you and Seigi-san are amazing!”

Richard smiled and ruffled Minoru’s now dry hair. “Seigi mentioned you want to accompany us again sometime?”

“When Sakurai-san’s brother gets better, yes. She said she’ll introduce us. He likes gemstones too!”

“So I’ve heard.”

“Gemstones are… really amazing. Sakurai-san sent Seigi-san an email afterwards. It was a picture of her brother. He was holding the sapphire Sakurai-san had bought for him, and he looked so happy. And it wasn’t just him! Sakurai-san looked really upset when she’d arrived, but she was also smiling in the picture. And Tanaka-san and everyone else who visited Étranger all looked really happy as well. It’s because of the gemstones, isn’t it? Looking at them makes people happy.”

“The people who come to our shop are generally those who hold gemstones in high regard. After all, who would spend money on something that holds no value whatsoever to them? No matter what their reasoning might be, they come to Jewelry Étranger because they seek something from these jewels. And even if that weren’t the case, beautiful things have a special ability to bring smiles to people, wouldn’t you say so?”

“Yes!”, Minoru nodded excitedly in agreement. “Speaking of, Seigi-san always looks really happy when he sees you too!”

Richard looked away as he let out a pointed cough. “Minoru-sama, I was under the impression we were talking about gemstones?”

“Well, yes. But if we’re talking about things that are beautiful…”

“He’s right you know, Richard”, Seigi interjected as he exited the bathroom in his night clothes, with a towel rubbing his still dripping hair. “That said, Minoru-kun, Richard’s beauty isn’t the only reason I’m happy when I’m with him.”

“I know. It’s Richard-san himself who makes you happy.”

“That’s right! My little brother sure is smart!”

“Seigi!” Richard’s cheeks had coloured red and his voice cracked slightly. He cleared his throat and tried to look as cool and composed as was possible—something Minoru felt he was truly failing at, and his uncombed hair certainly didn’t help matters much. Richard picked the hairdryer back up before turning to meet Seigi’s teasing gaze and patting the spot Minoru had vacated in front of him. “Come here, I shall dry your hair.”

“Ah, it’s fine. I can do it myself.”

Richard clearly wasn’t happy with such an answer as the momentum with which he hit the bed increased. “No. Come here, I’ll do it.”

“You just did Minoru’s! It’s fine!”

“You dried my hair earlier, did you not? Allow me to return the favour.”

“You really don’t need to! Why are you being so insistent anyway?”

“Because you’re refusing!” Richard tugged on the unsuspecting Seigi’s hand, and Minoru watched as his brother stumbled and ended up right where Richard wanted him. 

Minoru hadn’t really paid much attention to it before, but Richard was actually pretty bossy even in private. 

“… There’s really no need to bother. Aren’t you tired after today?”

“And you’re not? Didn’t you have a busy day at Étranger?”

“It wasn’t all that bad.”

“It wasn’t all that bad for me either. Now, just be quiet and let me do this. You are always going out of your way to pamper me, so please let me do the same every now and then.”

“You already pamper me a lot as is!”

Even as he said so, Seigi let out a quiet sigh as he allowed Richard to do as he pleased. Minoru noticed the way the beautiful Englishman’s slender fingers moved through Seigi’s hair; and the serene smile that settled on his face, out of Seigi’s view. 

“Umm… I’ll work on my homework for a bit”, Minoru said, with a distinct feeling of intruding into something private. He quietly slipped behind a partition, behind which was a smaller room to be used as an office. He assumed it was for those who had to deal with online meetings even when on vacation with their families. 

The room wasn’t entirely cut off from the rest of the suite, and Minoru could still hear the tender voices of Richard and his brother talking. He sat at the desk with his notebook open in front of him, and yet his gaze fell not on the pages but past the large windows and to the night sky twinkling with stars, each of which shone not much unlike the beautiful stones he’d gotten to see that day.