Little Pink Starfish

──────・・・・・・

Voices echoed from a distance. Children’s voices. Yet, Asher couldn’t clearly see them.

Two small figures played together happily, and Asher could only watch from afar. He wanted to go closer, but his feet wouldn’t move. The moment he tried to crouch down, the entire scene warped and twisted around him.

Now, he was seated in a chair. A familiar voice spoke beside him. “──Thus, in our kingdom of Dias, discrimination against beastmen is strictly prohibited.”

Marquis Clarke’s voice.

Asher tried to look around, but his neck wouldn’t move. And more than anything, everything seemed… lower than usual.

“What’s wrong? You seem distracted.”
“I often see older boys outside.”
“Ah, they must be your older brothers.”
“They play together…”
“Why don’t you try speaking to them next time? I’m sure they’ll let you join.”
“…”
“……It seems you can’t focus on your studies today. Shall we take a break with some tea?”
“Yes! And sweets too!”

Young Asher answered enthusiastically, making Marquis Clarke laugh in his usual peculiar way.

This was a memory. A very old memory from when Asher was small.

The scene warped again. Now, he was in complete darkness.

Where is this…?

As he looked around, he saw the two shadows again. He instinctively moved toward them. As he approached, their forms became clearer. A silver-haired boy and a red-haired boy. They both turned to look at him, then froze.

Suddenly, the red-haired boy shoved Asher forcefully, making him stumble backward.

“Don’t come near us. No one wants to play with you. We hate you.“

The boy’s words pierced Asher like a dagger. Desperate, he looked up at the silver-haired boy, seeking reassurance. But the boy only looked down at him coldly, as if Asher were nothing.

“Everyone hates you. Your brothers. Your father.”

The red-haired boy’s words echoed in his mind. Asher covered his ears, curled up, and sobbed. By the time he looked up again, the two boys had vanished. He was alone in the darkness once more. Then—

A massive presence emerged from the shadows. A towering figure loomed over him.

His breath hitched as its form became visible. A wolf-like face. A grotesque mouth lined with bloodied fangs.

“…A beastman?”

Asher barely managed to whisper before their eyes met. A wave of terror surged through him.

He turned and ran as fast as he could. But before he could escape, the beastman seized him. He screamed, struggling in vain as the creature’s putrid breath filled his nose. It smelled of rot. Its foul breath reeked of blood. He gagged. Sharp claws dug into his skin, holding him in place.

No matter how much he resisted, it was useless.

The beastman opened its massive jaws wide— Its fangs gleamed as they descended toward his throat.

──── No.
──── I don’t want this.
──── Somebody help me.

“…Ugh!!” Asher’s eyes snapped open.

He was in his bed. His familiar bedroom ceiling stared back at him.

Slowly, he sat up, pressing a hand to his sweat-drenched forehead. “…A dream.”

His breathing was ragged. But it had felt too real. Even now, he swore he could still smell that horrible stench.

He wiped his face and moved to change his damp nightclothes. But the moment he rose from the bed—

He saw it. A single blue flower. Placed in a vase by his bedside.

Memories from the night before flooded back. His entire face turned red. And before he knew it, he had buried himself back under the covers.

──── That’s right. That happened.

Last night. The moment Theodore left his room, Asher had been a complete mess. He had been so distracted that he spilled his dinner. He had nearly passed out from overheating in the bath. Even his maid, Ellie, had worried for him the entire evening.

But it couldn’t be helped. Because the impossible had happened.

“…A k-kiss. Twice… in two days…!” Just saying it made his face burn hotter.

He kicked his feet against the mattress in frustration.

The first kiss on the balcony had been forceful. At the time, Theodore’s cold gaze had paralyzed him. Even now, Asher wondered why he hadn’t run away.

But last night’s kiss was—

“Ughhhhhh…!!” He knew. If he had taken just one step back, he could have avoided it.

But he hadn’t. He had stood completely still. Looking straight at Theodore as he leaned in.

──── I knew what was coming.

“I… I…”

His heart pounded violently in his chest. Because last night—

Theodore had looked at him with such gentle eyes. His touch had been warm. The way he whispered in his ear—

“Happy adulthood, Your Highness.”

Asher squeezed his hands over his ears. “What face am I supposed to make when I see him…?!”

Unlike before, last night, Asher had accepted the kiss. His face burned hotter as the realization set in.

He had allowed it. Worse, he hadn’t wanted to move away.

When Theodore touched him, his chest ached. But—

It wasn’t unpleasant. He didn’t want it to stop.

…No.

He shook his head furiously. This is wrong. He said he hates me. He hates me.

His mind screamed the words. But for some reason—

That only made his heart clench harder. He let out a breathless laugh. As his gaze drifted to the blue flower once more, he let out a quiet whisper. “This is bad.” Because no matter how much he tried to deny it—

Theodore’s presence had started to consume his thoughts.