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Keito (Whispering) May you find peace... |
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Hm? Aah! Rei-chan, wait up! |
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My father told me you should never pass by a headstone without at least offering a prayer for the dead. Besides... It's getting dark. If you walk too fast, you might trip on something... |
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Rei Is that so? I'll make sure to be more respectful then. |
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But you don't have to worry about me getting hurt, you know? My eyes can see just fine in the darkness. After all, Rei-chan is a vampire~ |
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Keito (I'm not so sure about that... But if Rei-chan says so, then I don't have much of a choice but to believe him, right? I suppose he's always been a little different, though. Even the people who visit our temple seem to worship him whenever they see us playing together.) |
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Well, even if you really are a vampire, you aren't immune to falling and getting hurt. If you get injured, then the adults will scold us, and we won't be able to hang out together anymore. |
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Rei Hm~m... You do have a point. Kuku, you're so smart, Kei-kun. Seems like I still have a lot left to learn. |
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Since you've already taught me about the importance of praying while passing through a cemetery and about watching where I step, could you tell me more about other human customs? I want to learn as much as I can. |
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Keito (He called me smart just now, didn't he? I hope he meant it. Ah, but something else is bothering me--Do his parents not teach him anything? It's strange because it's not as if he lacks common sense, but he seems a little detached from other human beings. Maybe if I show Rei-chan how perfectly grown-up I am, he'll start relying on me more.) |
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Ahem-- I-I guess it can't be helped, then. I'll teach you whatever you want to know, but you'd better listen closely because I won't repeat myself, okay? |
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Rei (How fascinating... Even though Kei-kun is trying so hard to act indifferent, deep down, he's still eager. Kukuku, humans are not as good as they think at hiding their own excitement. Their eyes grow to the size of grapefruits, and the corners of their mouths twitch while they try to hold back their enthusiasm.) |
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(Kei-kun reacts no differently from those humans, but my heart feels strangely warm anyway.) |
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Tell me, how should I pray for the dead? I've never done it before. |
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Keito Here, watch me. First you join your hands like this... Make sure you bow your head a little. Then you wish for something like peace or restfulness. |
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Rei ... |
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Am I doing it right? |
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Keito Your hands are... Here, let me--- |
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(---Rei-chan's skin is so cold, yet his fingers look pretty. They're slightly longer and more graceful than my stubby ones. Ah- I shouldn't be staring for too long, or else he'll probably get creeped out.) |
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Okay, now think of something you want to say to this headstone here. |
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Rei (Staring at Keito) I wish for... You to be eternally at peace. |
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Keito H-Hey, don't look at me while you say it--look at the headstone! I told you I'd only teach it to you once, so do it properly. |
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Rei (Mm...So many rules. What's so important about praying to a slab of stone, anyway? It's not like those who are already gone can come back. Well, if Kei-kun looks serious about this, maybe I should try to be too.) |
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(Those small, warm hands of his, that have only ever turned the pages of books, are tightly clasped together, too--to be expected of a temple boy.) |
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Keito Um, anyway, did you know that the stones stacked up over here are symbolic of the five elements? I read about it in one of my parents' funerary pamphlets lying around at home. Apparently their shape is what indicates it--for example, that lotus-shaped one at the top is meant to symbolize "void." |
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(Rei-chan is still staring at me with those gentle red eyes. I thought by now he would've mentioned that he's already read about all of this in one of his books, but for some reason, he hasn't interrupted once.) |
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Rei (Interesting. Looks like he memorized all of that so he could recite it back to me. Unfortunate for you, Kei-kun, I remember reading that same pamphlet while staying over at your family's temple. I don't think I'll say anything, though. It's way more fun this way.) |
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...You're a very knowledgeable boy, Kei-kun~ I think I could listen to your charming explanations forever. At my house, we have many books on all sorts of subjects, but reading by myself isn't as fun as hearing you explain it. |
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Keito Now you're just teasing me, Rei-chan! We're practically the same age, so quit treating me like a child. Anyway, I-I already had a feeling you'd read about these stones before... So, why did you let me keep rambling on like that!? |
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Rei Because you looked so determined while doing it, I wouldn't dare interrupt you. And besides, I like hearing you explain things. Isn't that answer enough? |
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Keito I was trying to be helpful, you idiot! How is it that you know so much, yet so little at the same time? Ugh, I don't understand it at all... |
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Sometimes it feels like you aren't even a kid like me... |
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Rei ...As you already know, I can't go outside during the daytime to play with other kids. But doesn't that just prove how special you are to me, Kei-kun? Despite being a vampire, I'm willing to come all this way so that you can still teach me what it means to be a human. |
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If it's your explanations, then Rei-chan won't be so different anymore, and you won't ever have to be jealous of me hanging out with anyone else~ |
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Keito ---H-Huh, who said anything about being j-jealous?! Also, you keep saying you're a vampire, but you're a human, too, you know?! |
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Ugh, forget it... Just stop saying weird things like that out of nowhere, Rei-chan. It's not like I'm going to be sitting around every day waiting for the sun to go down. I-If you need me to tell you how to be "human" so badly, then I guess I can help, but don't get the wrong idea. It's only natural--we're friends... |
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Rei (Friends... It was only ever a matter of time till other kids ran away from me, but somehow Kei-kun's been patient in his own way. I mean, how scary could a boy who's barely been outside and lacks first-hand experience be?) |
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Keito --Another thing you should know is that staring is considered impolite. Most humans will be scared if you look at them like that, Rei-chan, so try not to do it so much. |
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Rei (Quickly turning his face away) Ah, sorry! I can't help it. Human expressions are just so captivating to look at... |
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Keito No, It's fine! You don't have to look away if it's just me. I'm not afraid of you... I-I just meant in general, "humans" are not as tolerant. |
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Rei Kuku, I'm happy to hear you aren't afraid of me, Kei-kun. It'd be pretty bad if my first-ever friend couldn't stand being by my side anymore. |
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Keito First-ever friend...? Aren't you pretty popular with everyone you meet, Rei-chan? How could you have not had any friends before me? |
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Well, as y-your first friend, it's my duty to guide you! |
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Rei Duty? You're quite serious about this, Kei-ku--- |
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Keito (Takes Rei's hands) D-Don't worry, Rei-chan! Even if you can't be out in the sun or if the other kids don't want to be your friend, I'll be here to teach you all the things you don't know! |
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Ah- Um, sorry, I didn't mean to... |
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Rei ... |
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Wait, don't let go. |
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Keito (He's actually blushing... I think that's the first time I've ever seen Rei-chan get shy. It's surprisingly cute. But now that I think about it, there probably aren't that many people other than me who've seen Rei-chan this vulnerable.) |
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We can keep holding hands while walking through the rest of the cemetery, um, if you want to. Obviously, someone has to make sure you don't fall and get hurt... and I can continue teaching you some more while we're at it. |
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Rei (Tightens grip) I see. Then, lead the way~ |