MCPTD 05

Chapter – 05

Ah… why did I come?

On the day of the orphanage play, I sighed as I stared at the stage.

I absolutely wasn’t planning to come. Yet somehow my feet had moved on their own toward the orphanage. How strange.

I wrapped my face completely and even disguised myself. I shouldn’t stand out.

I had no intention of meeting the boy in the yellow raincoat. I promised myself I would only watch from very far away.

And so I sat in the very last seat of the old theater and watched the performance.

The title of the play was “The Saved Tree.”

The voice of the child narrator echoed loudly through the hall.

“On a rainy day, deep in the forest, a lonely tree fell down with a loud thud. At that moment, a passing girl spoke to it.”

As the narration ended, a small girl ran toward the fallen tree and asked:

“Ppu-ppu, are you okay?”

At those words, the leaf covering Ppu-ppu’s face—the 13th leaf—fluttered gently. His face was hidden behind a mask, but I immediately knew.

It was the boy in the yellow raincoat who had sent the letter.

The narration continued.

“When the girl called the name ‘Ppu-ppu,’ the leaf turned into light and was engraved into her heart. And just like that, the wounded leaf and the girl became each other’s first friend.”

At the same time, children dressed as the tree’s leaves appeared with a flourish.

Ppu-ppu, his face hidden behind a leaf mask, was passionately acting as Leaf Number 13 at the very end.

But why isn’t he the main character? That’s ridiculous.

He was acting so earnestly just standing there. Yet he was only Leaf 13?

Not even a supporting role.

Still, he tried his best.

“I-I may be Leaf 13… but I’m happy… to be a-alive.”

It was just one line, and he even stuttered. Objectively speaking, it wasn’t good acting.

Still… he did well.

Maybe I was biased, but to me he just looked admirable.

While silently commenting to myself, the play eventually ended.

The children came out together and bowed proudly on stage.

Thunderous applause followed.

I’ve seen it. That’s enough.

I turned around immediately.

After leaving the orphanage, wearing my dark robe, I walked through a quiet alley when I heard someone following me.

Without hesitation, I turned my head.

“Who is it?”

And then—

Crash!

With a loud noise, a boy wearing a fresh green leaf mask appeared, having tripped and fallen.

“Th-thank you… for coming.”

“Yeah. Goodbye.”

Despite my cold reply, the boy hurriedly stood up and said:

“Um… I gave myself a name. I didn’t have one before. I wanted to tell you…”

“I don’t want to know.”

Calling each other by name isn’t such a big interaction.

But…

Anyone else would be fine. But not him.

I looked at the small child.

Even without seeing his eyes behind the mask, I could tell from his attitude.

This child was blind in his attachment. Right now, I was the only one he had.

I’m someone whose ending is already decided. I can’t form that kind of deep connection.

If a boy with no one to rely on lost me too, it would only hurt him more.

I only meant to do something kind. I never intended to become someone special to anyone.

“Don’t say it.”

So I cut him off firmly.

But despite being rejected, the boy remained brave.

“Th-then… there’s a playground nearby…”

“……”

“If you could just go with me once…”

The moment I saw the violet eyes shining through the mask, I realized something.

I wasn’t someone who could be completely cold.

I couldn’t refuse him.

At least, not this time.

“I… always wanted to come here every day…”

“Yeah.”

“But today… I came.”

The child was captivated by the playground.

Honestly, it wasn’t anything special.

Just a creaky swing, a seesaw, some old toy dishes someone had left behind, and oddly enough, a single carousel horse sitting there alone.

And yet the boy smiled like he had come to the best place in the world.

“I want to live here, Ppu-ppu!”

“……Ppu-ppu?”

“It was the leaf’s name. Someone said it was cute… so I made it my nickname…”

I quietly looked at the child fidgeting awkwardly.

He was tiny, wore a leaf mask, and called himself Ppu-ppu.

“Yeah… it is kind of cute.”

“Right? Ppu-ppu is cute.”

The boy puffed his shoulders proudly. His small build made him look even cuter.

Is cuteness really unbeatable? I keep getting drawn in.

This is bad. I need to get a grip.

I shook my head and spoke firmly.

“You’ve seen enough. Let’s go now.”

“……!”

Because I couldn’t see his face, I had grown used to reading his body language.

That movement clearly meant:

“I haven’t ridden the carousel yet.”

It wasn’t magical or impressive. Just a cheaply made thing that spun once.

Normally, I wouldn’t allow it.

But how could I reject a child who had never even been to an amusement park?

“Go on.”

“T-together.”

I really was getting weaker around this kid.

“……Fine. Just today.”

The small carousel carrying the two of us spun while glowing faintly.

Just one rotation.

“That was so fun!”

“I’m glad.”

Looking down at his flushed hands, I spoke quietly.

“Let’s go now. It’s too late.”

“……”

“What? You don’t want to go home?”

“That’s not it… will we… not see each other again?”

“No.”

“Th-then… I won’t bother you…”

“Right.”

“Letters… would that be okay?”

The child murmured while biting his lip.

He was small.

And far too fragile.

I had seen someone like this before.

Myself, in my previous life, after my entire family died and I was left alone.

So I spoke even more harshly on purpose.

“If you can’t reach me, just assume I died. I can’t be your family.”

The boy lowered his head.

“……It’s okay.”

Even though he could barely speak properly.

I immediately noticed the tears in his voice.

“……You still came to the playground with me. You came to the orphanage. You gave me a gift. You watched Leaf Ppu-ppu…”

“All of it ends today.”

The boy’s shoulders trembled.

I quietly watched the small shoulders of a child who looked under ten.

The child who had suddenly entered the empty place left by my lost family was becoming a problem.

Then he spoke softly:

“I… I’m going to become a knight.”

“……A knight?”

“Yes. I read in a spelling book… that if you become a knight… you can protect someone precious.”

To become a knight, you need noble status and great skill.

Normally I would have said that blunt reality.

But strangely, I couldn’t say it to him.

Instead, I whispered quietly:

“You can do it.”

“Yes! So if I succeed… I’ll protect—”

I cut him off firmly.

“No. You shouldn’t make promises like that carelessly. Someday you’ll have a precious lady your own age.”

“……”

“You’ll love each other and be loved. So I won’t ask your name, and I won’t tell you mine.”

“……”

“This isn’t even my real face. Just forget everything about me.”

The boy quietly looked at me.

Despite my cold words drawing a line between us, he was smiling instead.

“Even if it’s not your real face… it’s okay.”

“……What?”

Now I was the one caught off guard.

Like casting a spell, he said:

“I’ll recognize you no matter what.”

“……”

“I won’t promise to find you. You wouldn’t like that.”

Something felt different. His tone suddenly sounded more mature and firm.

“But… if we meet by chance…”

In the strongest voice I had ever heard from him, he whispered:

“……I won’t let go. Never.”