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The night brimmers quietly, and the moon outside glistens quite proudly. I lay here in my own bed that was located at the inn of port Jugkettle. Even if I were to go to sleep, it becomes rather difficult at times to tell the difference between real life and the dream world. I often think that I only met you in my dreams, and you never really exist. But every time I wake up, I would eat a few boiled eggs, and eventually once you've woken up, you would get angry at me for eating so many.
I turned over and blinked to adjust my eyes in the dark. You are in the other bed, fast asleep. The smell of curry balms in our assigned room, and I thought about eating supper. After all, you had told me the stench of it created an odor in my backpack, but it is far too delicious to toss out. It was the only remnant I had left of home, before I decided to leave.
No—I just so happen not to be able to fall asleep because I stir with excitement. That is because just a few days ago, I had left to travel with you in hopes of becoming a hero, someday.
It is very quiet. I sit up to get out of bed, making sure I'm quiet enough to walk over to where your jacket is placed neatly on the dresser. One of your most prized possessions illuminates ever so brightly, where the moon honors your hard work in her silence. You have a star medal; it's very bright and brilliant to have a hold of. It's the symbol of a worthy idol who takes on duties to make sure everyone is safe. There aren't many villagers who owns this emblem, as it isn't very common to come across anyone who is as titled.
I wonder if I'll ever be as brave as you, Guntz.
I remember being asked from someone if I often made mistakes or changes from another villager in my hometown, Breezegale, about a few years ago. The question rang in my head, maybe because I never knew what it meant. I was younger, then, and it didn't make any sense to me. I didn't want to change anything in my life until the village elder—my grandfather—began to anoint those who sought out to protect the village with star medals. I think after a while, different villages, far and wide, began to follow his steps. And ever since then, I've always wanted to become a hero. It was especially of late since Breezegale was overran of rampant Moos.
Another villager, Miss Delia, often scolded me for worrying Grandpa, but most days it wouldn't be anything but a scratch. I was called reckless a lot, especially when I was younger. The first time I gotten hurt, I would try to let the scar dry out before I went back home. But Grandpa always saw through it, and because he is the elder of our village, he would always know right away. Miss Delia never kept quiet about that. Because of her, I would get in trouble and not be able to go outside for a while. I remember then that in order to leave home again, I would have to help my grandfather with cleaning our home. Now, my grandfather makes me bow my head and pray before I leave home. I don't mind it, anyway. It's better than having to tuck my bed in all the time.
I've been trying to prove myself...! But, it takes more than that to get a star medal. I would know so, because you have one.
My friend Lolo often worried for me in the same way Grandpa did, except she would brush it off after I showed her my arms, legs, and sometimes even my tummy. Then she would say something, like how I'm lucky I'm not a clutz like her. Lolo can be somewhat clumsy at times, and Popka would tell her to 'straighten up', or something like that. I think that she used to get teased for it when she was younger. I always ought that I should be worried for her, but she tells me I should keep my focus on taking down Moos to become a hero, so the village will notice me.
But, the others think I'm only being reckless! It's not fair, don't you think?
...Moos, huh? Oh, yeah—there was a time Lolo and I just sat around Breezegale plains, watching Moos walk around aimlessly. It was a few days after the monsoon season, where the flowers would start to bloom in full. I was picking some grass and letting it drift from my fingers when she told me something.
"Did you know," she said with joy enthused from her tone, "that if you tell someone 'the moon is beautiful tonight', then you are professing that you are in love with them?"
I remember shaking my head. "Where'd you learn that?" At the time, I saw that Lolo had blushed, but she told me anyway.
"In a romance book. It speaks of different love proverbs and anecdotes. Sometimes I read it when training is over, in my room."
I recall when Lolo told me she had got in trouble for reading a book that was unassigned for her studies. When I asked her, she simply shook her head—there, Lolo was blushing mad! I wonder what it was?
But hearing that she was reading a love book, I had only hummed. It's very much like Lolo to read something zealous. "The moon, huh...?"
"Yes." Lolo would ponder for a moment. Then her eyes lit up. "I remember, now! It's a foreign language, though a bit similar to ours. The reason why that is so is because 'tsuki'—which means 'love'—and the word 'suki'—that means 'moon'—can be misinterpreted; they sound awfully similar."
There was a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, if you were to ever slip up and take your words back, then you can simply say that person misheard you. Isn't that silly?"
Lolo had giggled that day, quite loudly. I wondered what she meant.
...It's not like you to go to sleep first, Guntz. You often told me you would keep watch when we traveled from Breezegale, and I would fall fast asleep. I trusted you, after all. We'd sleep on separate beds—or aside each other in a tent, if we can't find an inn and camp outside—and I wish at times, I could sleep next to you. I would be closer to you. Your fur is much better kept than mine, where my fur would go in different places because of the windy village I lived in. I also wonder... is it because I often travel by foot and get into scuffles with Moos, all the time? Or is it because you keep yourself so well appointed, only traveling by your mighty bike?
I still don't know why, but you stopped by in Breezegale. I wondered what your purpose was for being there. On the way back to the merchant district from taking down a few Moos because of the mating season—they were overpopulated in the outskirts of our town—someone mentioned a mysterious guy on a bike. They said you were near Bell Hill, where Lolo were to depart that day. I think you were coming and going through different villages; it was as if you were looking for something. Nobody knew who you were, and you seemed awfully shady. I heard talks around the town, and, well, to be honest, you didn't catch my attention at all until I heard someone said that you had a hero medal.
I spoke with Lolo, and she told me that there were huge Moos at Bell Hill. I think it was fate for us to meet, at that moment.
I remember the first time I rode on your bike. Riding on the Red Clan is fun, now. After you gotten it fixed, you yelled at me for messing it up—but you were the one who challenged me to get the Radiant Flower back from you. Even still, I argued with you back. It really annoys me when you call me a kid, all the time...! The Red Clan was scary at first since the engine roared a lot, but it's kind of exhilarating. The villagers in my hometown hated it when I first heard of you; a few merchants complained that it was too loud, too noisy, once you ventured through Breezegale. The first time I held onto you, Guntz, you had this grin on your face that annoyed me very much when you taunted me in our spar. Even in the midst of our quarrel, you left unscathed.
...I envy you, sometimes, Guntz. I want to be just like you. And if I told you this, you would probably laugh at me. There were also times I thought you didn't really deserve a medal, with your attitude. You took the Radiant Flower I planned to give to Lolo because you had saved me, though not from the goodness of your heart. After all, a bounty-hunter tends to take payment in valuables; the shine in your eyes when you saw how rare the Radiant Flower was was quite foretelling of your nature. So, you took it and left, but I still caught up to you and managed to beat you in a spar after training, because you told me to get stronger. So I did.
But even in my absence, you took care of it because it had a butterfly in it. I wonder if you like beautiful things of that nature. And, it makes me wonder why you act like a big jerk, at times. After all, I think you take good care of yourself, for a bounty hunter, at that. And I can't see them right now, but your eyes are just as a brilliant shade of blue.
I think you are beautiful, Guntz.
I had given the flower to Lolo before she had left, and the village had felt a bit emptier without her. But when I was on my way back to Grandpa, you had stopped me while on your bike and told me that you were also leaving the village. I thought that I would have never been able to see you again; even with our clashing, I would have like to become your friend. Then, you asked me if I wanted to be your partner, because you were a bounty-hunter. You had a calm air about you, yet your eyes sought for a crusade—away from the sleepy village of Breezegale. I had accepted happily.
I can't quite figure it out... but, I know in my heart that you are kind, even if you don't want to admit it. And even still, it grew on me. I learn a lot about you underneath that cool exterior, at times. You can be quite funny, Guntz. To think that you get seasick easily...!
...Thank you, Guntz. Only my friends know how much I want to be a hero. If I told Grandpa, he would be very upset with me. He'd lecture me, for many days and nights, if I told him I was leaving the village. I'm glad I never thought to tell him. I left home to be with you, Guntz; I wanted to be as strong and as brave as you. And someday, just someday, I'll be able to have a star medal of my own. Maybe then, you'll see me in a different light. I wouldn't just be some kid to you, anymore.
I hope that one day, just one day, you would see me, somehow.
...
The moon is rather beautiful tonight, Guntz.