Work Text:
"Leonard, are you free this weekend?"
Before leaving home today, Leonard had a feeling that something good was going to happen. Sure enough, not long after arriving at the company, he saw Klein standing by his desk.
Klein was a new colleague who had joined Blackthorn Security Company last year, and Leonard felt an immediate kinship with him. Even though they had only known each other for a little over half a year, Leonard often had the illusion that they had actually known each other for much longer. Most of the time, the moment Klein raised an eyebrow, Leonard could guess what he was about to say — and that guess was usually correct. The reverse was also true: sometimes, before Leonard could even figure out what he wanted, the other had already handed him the thing he was looking for.
"If you applied the intuition you use on your new colleague to your work, you'd probably have been promoted to Red Gloves by now." The one who always made such sarcastic remarks to Leonard was the Old Man who had adopted him, Pallez. Yes, Leonard was an orphan, but growing up under the Goddess's protection, he hadn't suffered much hardship. After being adopted by Pallez, his life wasn't much different from that of any other ordinary child.
Of course, Leonard occasionally wondered what kind of people his biological parents might have been, but it was mere curiosity, not something that caused him any great sorrow.
When he grew up, considering that he wasn't cut out for academics, with the help of the Old Man's connections and relying on his relatively healthy physique, he found a job at a security company.
Their work primarily involved providing all sorts of strange services to the residents of Tingen City. Thanks to a cooperative relationship with the police, their scope of service was quite broad—from providing ordinary security services to finding people's lost cats and dogs, assisting with order maintenance during major festivals, helping with promotions for new store openings, appraising historical artifacts, sorting books... they would take on all kinds of odd jobs.
The company also had employees from various backgrounds—some, like Leonard, had only finished church school before starting work, while others, like Klein, were highly educated and had even received a diploma.
No one really knew what the hiring criteria were, maybe it was based on looks? Of course, because the range of services they offered was so extensive, everyone who came to work at the company could always find something suitable for themselves. For example, someone like Leonard, who had some physical strength and was good-looking, had done everything from helping with moving and security work, to attracting customers and store promotions... He'd done all kinds of work. The strangest task, however, was when a client asked him to do a poetry recitation—actually, the client had originally wanted Leonard to write a poem himself and recite it. Unfortunately, Leonard really wasn't cut out for that. After he struggled for a long time, the client had to settle for having him recite a few classic poems by Roselle.
Everything was very peaceful—some might even say a bit boring. Sometimes Leonard would feel in a daze that his life shouldn't be so calm, but the Old Man would always mock him, saying he'd probably been reading too many adventure novels.
For a long time, he still felt that something was missing from his life. It was only after Klein joined that he felt that missing piece—the one that had been absent all along—finally fall into place.
Sometimes Leonard wondered why Klein, as a proper university graduate, hadn't sought a teaching position at an academy or done something more suited to an educated person, instead of coming to their little security company. But on the other hand, whatever reason had made Klein suddenly decide to join Blackthorn, Leonard was infinitely grateful for it, because it had given him the chance to meet Klein.
Ordinarily, Leonard didn't pay much attention to grooming himself and was rather sloppy. Even though he had objectively good looks, his neglect undoubtedly masked his appearance. Especially after he'd rolled down the stairs not long after joining the company, he had completely lost all dignity in the office. Anyone who knew him couldn't help but tease him whenever his name came up.
But on the day he met Klein, for the first time, he felt a twinge of regret that he hadn't paid more attention to his dress code—like ironing his shirt, tucking the hem into his trousers, fastening his buttons and tie, just like Klein, dressing more presentably. After all, Klein looked like a proper gentleman at first glance. Someone as casual as Leonard probably wouldn't make a very good impression on Klein.
He wasn't usually afraid of leaving a strange impression on people, nor did he care much about how others saw him besides the Old Man. But with Klein, from the very first meeting, he wanted this seemingly frail, bookish young man to like him.
Fortunately, Klein didn't seem to mind his casualness. Instead, he gave Leonard a gentle smile, and even brought him some homemade cookies the next day.
The cookies were delicious—almost perfectly suited to Leonard's taste. Not too sweet, with lots of butter, they practically melted in your mouth, perfect with a cup of coffee. After Leonard lavishly praised the cookies, Klein began bringing him treats every few days.
Actually, Leonard didn't like sweets. But for some reason, no matter what Klein made—even the ones that were clearly loaded with sugar—he never found them cloying. On the contrary, it felt like eating a dream so sweet it made you want to drown in it.
But Leonard still felt that something was wrong.
Ever since meeting Klein, he would get headaches from time to time. And when the headaches came, he would start to feel that many of his experiences were very strange.
For instance, the fact that Klein brought him snacks—it always struck him as odd. Some intuition kept telling him that none of this could possibly be happening.
Many other things also felt impossible to him—that Klein smiled at him, that Klein greeted him every time they met, that Klein always had some little gesture to touch him, that Klein seemed to enjoy making him blush, that Klein had been his colleague for over half a year, that Klein often walked to and from work with him... Even though these things were actually happening, his brain would always, after a sharp burst of pain, tell him that none of them had ever happened.
But Leonard couldn't deny that he enjoyed this kind of contact with Klein, even as his brain kept insisting that something was wrong.
And now, Klein was asking if he was free this weekend.
Leonard quickly changed his posture, sitting up straight as if being interrogated by the Captain, and hastily replied, "Yes, of course!"
Sorry, Old Man. I know I promised to celebrate my birthday with you this weekend, but the one asking me now is Klein. Even if he asked me to cover his shift, I'd still say yes.
"I was wondering if you have time this Saturday evening — just you and me, for a meal." Klein touched his nose. Normally confident, he looked uncharacteristically embarrassed.
This Saturday... Leonard didn't know if it was a coincidence, but a flush quickly spread across his cheeks. "Of course! I definitely have time!"
Damn, my voice came out a bit loud. Other colleagues seem to have noticed. Even Klein looks startled. He won't regret asking me out, will he... Seeing the young man across from him flinch as if startled, Leonard became the more nervous one. He fixed his gaze on the brown-eyed young man's slightly pale lips — probably from anemia — terrified that the next thing to come out of them would be "Ha ha, just kidding, pretend you didn't hear anything."
Fortunately, although those lips parted again, what they said was, "That's wonderful. Let's meet there, then."
He softly mentioned the name of a restaurant.
It was a place Leonard had never been to, supposedly, yet for some reason he felt a strange familiarity, as if he had eaten there before.
His head began to ache faintly again.
Leonard pressed his temples, suppressing the odd pain slightly, and then broke into the brightest smile he could imagine. "Okay!"
He thought he saw Klein's always warm, honey-like eyes light up with an overly bright spark at his answer.
Seeing him so happy makes me want to wag my tail... Wait, no! I'm not a dog, why would I think of wagging my tail?
Leonard scratched his head sheepishly, then saw Klein smile at him again before turning and returning to his desk.
The weekend. The weekend when I'll have a meal alone with Klein~ With this thought occupying his mind, Leonard's mood remained excellent for the next few days. Even when some clients deliberately made things difficult for him, he kept smiling throughout the entire task and even received extra tips for his good performance.
Of course, in the past, even if he managed to restrain his anger and avoid conflict, he would never have remained so cheerful for the rest of the workday. But now, just thinking about the upcoming weekend meal alone with Klein—and on his birthday, no less—put him in a great mood.
He even took the time to go to a clothing store and buy a new suit. Though Leonard had always been confident in his looks and didn't think he needed new clothes to attract attention, and certainly didn't think Klein was the type to judge people by their attire, he still wanted to dress up nicely to leave a deep impression on Klein.
The Old Man was so annoyed with him these days. Leonard had asked him several times whether he should use a tie clip, what color tie to wear, or maybe a bow tie would be better. Finally, probably tired of the questions, the Old Man holed up in his room and refused to come out, not saying a word no matter how much Leonard knocked on the door and yelled.
Well, Leonard knew he was a little too excited. But just thinking that this was his first time eating alone with Klein—and that Klein had asked him, and that it was his birthday—made him feel like a light bubble, filled with a joy so deep it could drown a person.
Time hurried along, urged on by Leonard's impatience, and finally the promised day arrived.
But Leonard's head seemed determined to ruin his happiness. Though he wasn't sick, from the moment he woke up, his head hurt as if it were splitting open. He hadn't had a single headache all week, and he'd thought that strange ailment had gone away. But it seemed all the problems had merely accumulated, waiting to explode today.
As it turned out, Leonard didn't get to wake up early and get his hair trimmed as he'd hoped. Fortunately, the flowers he'd ordered in advance arrived on time, and they looked just as good as he'd imagined.
Though he would have liked to send Klein a bouquet of red roses, he held back. After all, even though Klein had invited him to dinner, it didn't necessarily mean anything more.
Also, there was Klein's generally reserved and introverted nature—though Leonard doubted this impression, because at the company Klein was always confident and bold, sometimes even saying things that made Leonard blush. Yet he always felt that Klein was actually a shy, blushing little Seer who couldn't handle anything too exciting. Leonard didn't know where this impression of a "Seer" came from—Klein was indeed good at tarot divination, and many of his commissions were in that area—but saying he was a Seer seemed as unrealistic as saying there were Beyonders in the world.
In any case, Leonard finally chose a bouquet dominated by sunflowers and orange roses, with some white phalaenopsis orchids and blue forget-me-nots. It looked exceptionally warm and bright.
His shoulder-length hair, which he hadn't managed to get trimmed, ended up tied back with a dark green ribbon. Klein had given it to him sometime—he couldn't remember when.
It matched well with the emerald-studded tie clip he'd finally decided to use. The Old Man, despite saying he wouldn't help, had somehow found the clip for him—it looked very expensive and truly exquisite. But at the same time, though it was his first time seeing this tie clip, Leonard felt a familiarity, as if it were his own. And for some reason, his brain stubbornly told him that Klein had given it to him too—but this thing clearly wasn't cheap. How could they afford it on their salaries?
After getting dressed, Leonard looked at himself in the mirror. For the first time, he realized that, dressed like this, he didn't look much different from those high-society gentlemen. Especially when he suppressed his smile, he even had something of a high-ranking air, looking like someone of status.
...But I feel my hair should be longer. My expression should be quieter most of the time. I shouldn't look this happy and carefree.
The Leonard in the mirror now felt somewhat unfamiliar.
He reached out his hand, but just as he was about to touch his reflection, the headache that had subsided for a while returned with renewed intensity.
In the end, Leonard took two painkillers. He couldn't afford to miss his first date with Klein because of some so-called pain.
When he arrived at the restaurant Klein had named, at least half an hour early, he already saw Klein in the distance, holding a bouquet as well, along with a small box.
The thought that Klein was just as eager to see him as he was made Leonard so happy that he could cry. Even the fierce headache that had been bothering him since morning eased considerably.
He called out Klein's name loudly, and Klein turned to look at him almost instantly.
"You look really beautiful today..." Upon seeing Leonard clearly, Klein, who had just broken into a smile, froze in place. Leonard rarely saw this guy, who always liked to lean in and say strange things, blush. But today, he saw it.
This also gave him a strange sense of déjà vu—as if this person, face flushed, ears tinged with red, compared to the one who was always so composed, always making him blush with various little gestures, was actually the more familiar version.
"You look really good too, very handsome." After fully appreciating the rare, shy version of Klein, Leonard snapped back to reality and looked at the other's attire. Naturally, the ever-reliable highly educated man was dressed neatly today as well, but this suit wasn't in Leonard's memory either—he must have bought a whole new set for today's meeting.
Leonard also noticed that Klein's cufflinks and tie clip were adorned with green gemstones. Actually, to complement his eyes, brown or yellow stones might have been better, but thinking that green was the color of his own eyes made Leonard inexplicably happy again.
Besides that, the citrine pendant hanging from Klein's right hand—whether it was decoration or a charm—also gave Leonard a strange sense of familiarity.
He almost couldn't resist reaching out to touch it, and only after coming back to his senses did he realize he was already holding Klein's hand.
Naturally, at the company, whether by the other's design or just normal colleague contact, they had touched hands plenty of times.
But those times were always a brief touch and then separation. Now, the two of them were intimately holding hands, as if they had some special relationship—it was the first time...
Now Leonard was blushing too.
"M-maybe we should go inside..." Klein stammered. If he weren't holding flowers, Leonard suspected he might even be trying to cover his face.
Klein seemed more easily flustered than usual today. Leonard enjoyed this rare sight and felt his own blush fading a bit.
Sure enough, seeing someone else embarrassed makes you feel less so yourself. No wonder this guy always likes to tease me.
He unconsciously tightened his grip on the other's hand. Unlike his own hands, which still had some calluses from manual labor, Klein's hand was exceptionally soft and warm. But even though this was only their first time holding hands, Leonard again felt as if they had done this many times before.
The headache started again, but it was much milder than in the morning. Leonard felt as if something was about to burst out—just a little more time...
"Are you alright? If you're not feeling well, don't push yourself." Seeming puzzled by Leonard's stillness, Klein leaned in, his face full of concern.
This action made Leonard hold his breath. His heart felt like it was racing. At the company, Klein often leaned in for intimate gestures, but none of those were like this. This time, Leonard even had the illusion that if the other came any closer, he could kiss him.
"I'm fine, don't worry." Though the headache persisted, it was bearable, not really pushing himself. Leonard gave Klein a radiant smile. "It's just that holding your hand makes me a little dazed."
Klein blushed again. How come I never realized he was so easily embarrassed... Oh, at the company, Klein was always the one initiating the teasing. But today, I suppose I've gotten even. And if this is the case, if I were more proactive at the company, could I see this shy Klein more often? I could never get tired of that sight.
Finally, the two entered the restaurant holding hands—actually, given that each was carrying a bouquet, maintaining this position wasn't easy. But neither of them said "let go."
After being seated by the waiter, they finally let go of each other's hands after holding them for a long time.
Though neither had confessed, Leonard felt that the atmosphere between them had completely changed. In other words, if they weren't sitting in a restaurant, and if it weren't time for the long-awaited dinner with Klein, he might have wanted to lean across the table and kiss him—in fact, he felt he had done so at some point.
"I ordered the standard set menu. I don't know if there's anything you don't like—we can change it." Klein's face, which had been flushed, had faded somewhat after they let go, but Leonard could tell from his eyes that he was full of regret at having let go.
Then Leonard looked at the menu Klein pushed toward him. He had only meant to glance at it casually, but he was quickly stunned.
The appetizer was a salad, the main course was slow-braised beef in red wine, and the dessert was cheesecake.
It was a menu he was seeing for the first time, yet again he felt a strange familiarity.
Naturally, Leonard didn't like sweets. If he had come alone, he might have swapped the cheesecake for something less sweet. He even felt that Klein, knowing it was his birthday, might have brought a homemade birthday cake in that little box—these suspicions were completely unfounded, because if Klein had already prepared a cake, he would certainly have replaced the dessert course with something else.
But now, staring at the simple letters on the menu, he felt as if something was about to burst from his head, or something was about to fall from his eyes.
"Is there something wrong with the menu?" Hearing Klein's question, Leonard realized he had been staring for too long. He pressed his lips together and shook his head. "No, nothing. It's perfect."
"That's good." Klein looked relieved. He stood up and went to the waiter to say something. Watching him walk away, Leonard didn't know why he felt like crying.
I feel like I've been waiting for this meal for a long time...
It's not like Klein only asked me this week. Why do I feel that I've been waiting to have a meal with him like this for a very, very long time?
Leonard wiped away a tear that had unknowingly fallen from the corner of his eye and forced a smile.
Leonard was certain this was the first time he had dined at this restaurant. But from the pre-meal bread onwards, he felt an overwhelming familiarity.
He could even foresee that the salad would have lots of cherry tomatoes instead of bell peppers, that the braised beef would come with roasted potatoes and asparagus rather than mushrooms. Even before the cheesecake arrived, he already knew it would be a round, white cake, with two pink cream roses, decorated with chocolate-colored leaves, leaning against a layer of caramel brittle, with a dusting of cocoa powder on the plate—in short, delicate and beautiful.
And everything happened just as he had imagined.
Even the cheesecake was as sweet as he had envisioned.
After just one bite, Leonard already felt like crying. He felt that at some point in the past, he had had the idea of bringing Klein here to eat this cake.
And now, even though Klein was sitting right in front of him, he could only feel a great sadness welling up from the bottom of his heart — as if, at some moment, he had been alone at a table, enjoying this cake by himself, with no Klein to share the meal with him.
He knew his current mood was abnormal. He also knew that Klein across from him had noticed.
But the other didn't ask, as if he already knew the answer.
The previously harmonious atmosphere turned silent. Leonard, who didn't like sweets, finished the cake in front of him, just like he had done once in his memory.
After everything had been cleared away, Klein looked up at him again. His eyes had somehow turned a deep black.
"Happy birthday, Leonard."
So Klein knew it was his birthday. But how did Klein know?
Leonard was certain he had never told anyone at Blackthorn Security Company. He was certain he had never told Klein.
The restaurant, which had been filled with the murmur of other diners, became quiet, as if the world had shrunk to just Leonard and Klein in front of him.
Klein opened the box he had brought. Inside was a cake that looked like a dog at first glance—black fur, green eyes, and oddly, eight legs, each wearing something red like gloves.
This was a Demonic Wolf.
Though Leonard was sure he had never heard of such a creature—whether in reality or in some fantasy novel—the word burst directly into his mind, announcing its existence, as naturally as water being water, cake being cake, Klein being Klein.
Light the candles. Now let's make a wish, my dear Star.
Klein's tone was cheerful. He seemed more like Merlin now—but who was Merlin?
Sherlock, Gehrman, Dwayne... Who were those names?
And the Fool, Zhou Mingrui—who were they?
And why did he call me Star? Why did I feel that he should indeed call me Star?
Strange words kept forcing their way into Leonard's mind, yet they felt as familiar as if they had been there for a long time.
But he didn't stop Klein. He watched as the other lit the candles on the cake. With that small flame, the restaurant had somehow gone dark. The waiters who had been walking around, the other diners—all had vanished into the darkness.
They no longer existed.
Part of Leonard told him so.
Three.
Leonard leaned his face toward the candles and closed his eyes.
"Make a good wish."
Two.
Then he devoutly blew out the candles.
The small flame before his eyes vanished, and Leonard was enveloped in complete darkness. He could still hear Klein's breathing faintly across from him, light as a cat's footsteps.
One.
"My wish is..."
Leonard felt a finger press against his lips. He opened his eyes—even though there was no light around them, he could still see Klein sitting across from him, wearing a bitter smile.
"Are you sure that's the wish you want to come true, my Star?"
Leonard grasped that finger, slowly but firmly moving it away, and then spoke.
"My wish is—to wake up now."
Zero.
Like a bubble bursting, Leonard clearly saw everything before him—Klein, the cake on the table, the entire restaurant—all shatter into pieces.
He blinked. Then everything became clear again. He was sitting in Sefirah Castle, and before him was still Klein — Klein with Zhou Mingrui's features.
"Happy birthday, Leonard." Though the other was a deity, Leonard could somehow still see a hint of guilt on His face. "I thought I'd try to give you a simple, happy birthday as an ordinary person, without those painful memories. But it seems I messed up."
The Angel of Darkness blinked again. The memories the Lord of Mysteries had stolen or fooled all came rushing back. After figuring out what had happened, his shoulders shook a few times, and then he grabbed the Lord of Mysteries' hand tightly.
"Promise me, Klein," the Angel of Darkness, who always smiled in the Lord of Mysteries' presence, wore an expression of anger and sadness—a rare sight. Large tears streamed down his face. "Don't, don't ever do that again."
"...I'm sorry." The Lord of Mysteries apologized sincerely, then tentatively reached out a tentacle to pat the Angel of Darkness on the shoulder. "I just wanted to make you happy."
Hearing this, Leonard tried to force a smile, but he failed. Seeing this, Klein's face almost instantly took on an expression as if He had seen an Outer Deity attacking. Even His tentacles, which had been lying still under His seat out of guilt, became agitated, waving around wildly, trying to assert their presence, yet looking lost, as if they didn't know what to do.
"I know... that's why you shouldn't do it again." The Angel of Darkness sobbed as he continued with difficulty. "I just—the thought that I had completely forgotten so much about you, even if just for a moment—it makes me so sad."
"I can't accept that. Even if those memories aren't all happy, I don't want to forget."
Perhaps because he was so emotional, Leonard's ears gradually transformed into those of a Demonic Wolf, and even his tail emerged.
Ordinarily, Klein would have reached out to touch them. But now, having just done something wrong, even the Lord of Mysteries didn't dare.
Leonard noticed His struggle first. Though still crying because of Klein, he stood up, moved closer to Klein, and then, like a furry blanket, draped himself over Him.
"I'm still a bit sad, and a bit angry," he leaned close to the Lord of Mysteries' ear, "but if you want to touch, go ahead."
Oh my... Klein didn't know what to say. Though He was already an almighty deity, at this moment He felt like a child favored and spoiled, given more candy than any other child.
And the Angel of Darkness continued.
"This world expects so much of you. You have so much to bear. So if possible, I always want to be kinder to you."
"So please, please don't ever steal those heavy things away from me again. Even if it's just a tiny bit, I want to help share the burden."
"I want to love you completely, Klein."
So the fairy tales I read when I was Zhou Mingrui, the ones that always used tears and kisses to break curses—they were perfectly reasonable. Klein thought.
Because otherwise, why would my Poet 's tears falling on me make me feel as if the whole world loved me? I always used to think it was constantly demanding from me, asking me to give. Yet I only discovered today that it had already given me the best it could.
If I had a little more humanity, I should comfort my Poet, make him smile. I should promise him, make a sincere vow. I should, like any sensible person, cherish this person who loves me so much, treat him well, make him smile for me instead of cry. But the current me can only feel immense joy that his smile, his tears, everything about him, belongs to me.
I'm even happy that he's crying for me. Am I still normal?
Klein closed his eyes and imagined a dark night, dotted with starlight, and an almost boundless meadow, filled with Moon flowers and Slumber flowers.
Now he and Leonard were lying on such a meadow, as he had imagined. There was no moon in the night sky, but countless twinkling stars.
"Look, Leonard," He patted the Demonic Wolf's shoulder, gesturing for him to look up. "Do you see those stars?"
Leonard blinked his green eyes, momentarily stopping his tears.
Those are all the memories since I met you. The emotions and humanity I still have left in those memories.
There are so many of them that now they seem able to light up this world like the sun.
And even as you and I lie here, they are still being created, joining this starry sky, illuminating us together.
But my Leonard, my Poet, my Star.
I know there are many, many stars. Perhaps for an extremely long time to come, they will remain here, increasing, shining brightly.
But I cannot guarantee that as time passes, they will never fade, never dim, never disappear. I truly cannot guarantee that, Leonard.
Just as the thing supporting your humanity now is your immense love for me, I cannot guarantee that your love will never fade. Even though I have the authority of Fooling, and could make you love me as much as you did at the moment you loved me most, that would mean nothing.
What I want is love that comes from your own free will.
I can only try to love you a little more, and try to be loved a little more by you.
But if one day...
If one day, when our humanity has eroded to just a tiny bit, and this starry sky is no longer so bright, and you no longer smile at me or cry for me so easily without my having to do anything extra...
I might still do this again.
Let the purest love I have left for you, and the purest love you have left for me, meet again, accompany each other, and live through the life of an ordinary person.
Without the involvement of high-level mystical elements. Without the power of deities and angels.
Just you and me—the human parts of us—setting aside the memories we still can't bear to let go of, leaving only the simplest, most beautiful parts, to live an ordinary but happy life.
A short life, as mortals.
I don't doubt that this Fooling will happen sooner or later.
Even if not now.
So I won't promise you.
But until that moment arrives, for now, let us just be ordinary and quiet here, spending this brief yet eternal moment together.