Editing Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 2===


When Ren was eventually released from Kannon it was already past 7 p.m. As a matter of course, during this time they didn’t just drink tea. Having been made to accompany her endlessly at shopping and karaoke and the like, Ren couldn’t run from Kannon’s devil paw (Serisawa joke) pressing closer with no regard for the public gaze, without concentrating all his power.

“.........I’m worn-out.”

The sun already set. While walking alone on the street at night, Ren let out a mutter packed with many thoughts. 

It’s not like he hates Kannon. Rather, he harbors friendly feelings towards her. And in addition to that, if he were pushed to say it in less ambiguous terms, he can clearly declare those feelings as “like”.

However.

Ren’s like and Kannon’s like are completely different. Because he knows that, he can’t help but be troubled by it. He didn’t experience the emotion called “love” until now.

First on the list, among the members of the family there are a lot of people he likes. But, using an extreme argument, the emotion felt for them all is the same. The emotion is strong. There is also a priority. However, there is decidedly no contradiction between the affection felt for those countless people.

That hot emotion for that around the world one-irreplaceable person’s existence, he doesn’t know it.
For this reason, towards that girl trying to force that feeling onto him, he can’t help but feel perplexed.

''Actually, why is it me..........?''

Ren never thought he possesses that manly appeal. The girly features and a personality weak under pressure, he cannot think of nothing but “minus” ingredients for a man.

If it’s about a “fine man”, it must be a man undoubtedly similar to big brother.
Lately, he frequently compares himself with his big brother.

Yagami Kazuma.

A well trained body. A shaped<!--sharp?--> mind. Owning the unshakeable title of the absolute strongest man – Ren is considerably glorifying him. Nevertheless, the brother he met after four years, he seemed exactly like the ideal embodiment of the boy.

Someday, I want to become like big brother...

With a child-like innocence, Ren is yearning after Kazuma. Towards the inanimate nature of cutting everything down, without concerning oneself about it, for the sake of one’s important person, toward the man who thinks one’s gentleness is nothing but naiveté, a merit that ought to be learned can be felt. 
The weight of the chosen act, the significance of cutting down everything, Ren didn’t understand it yet.

“.........huh?”

On the way returning home, it happened when approaching the entrance of a public park. Having a faint, uncomfortable feeling, Ren peered inside the park.

“...................a singing voice?”

It was a children’s park, established in a quiet, residential area. The place had a clandestine character because of a few people with rude conduct and after dark the place was completely empty. 
However, it seems there is an exception tonight. The singing audible voice coming from inside the shade of the trees was unmistakably human and, in addition to that, belonged to a young girl.  

Being charmed by the firm, crystal-like soprano, Ren walked into the park. There was no need to search for it. At the moment he entered the park, an extremely violent compelling force bound Ren’s consciousness. 

The jungle-gym’s highest step. The slender body standing on tip-toes on the pole, the figure of a girl sonorously singing.
In this cold weather she is wearing one white, thin dress. The wind is playing with her soft, wavy black hair stretching below her back, the girl is innocently singing.

In the sky is the close, slightly chipped circle of the moon. The descending white light shines on the young lady.

“....................”

From Ren’s awareness, the entire world lost its meaning. Reflected in his eyes are the sparkling moon and the maiden’s shape blessed by the moon.

Throb.

The heart starts beating very loudly. A conspicuously great pulsation. Even without proof, Ren firmly believes he heard that sound. He can sense the blood running through the blood vessels.

Throb, throb. 

The all too excited blood flow makes his limbs vibrate. The heartbeats resound deafeningly in his ears. And yet the girl’s voice naturally penetrates into his hearing.
Is she offering her song to the moon or is she praying? That shape, sincere like a shrine maiden serving God is too pure, too noble.

“I....what am I looking at?”

A guilty feeling as if peaking at a miracle swept over his heart. Nevertheless, he couldn’t take his eyes off it. Even to think about separation is unbearable. The things reflected in his eyes are the glittery moonlight and the figure of a maiden blessed by it...

“.........eh.......”

Is this real? Is she human? Or an angel or a fairy ... or else a devil?

“...........Hey..........”

''I don’t understand....I don’t understand anything!''

“I said hey!”

“Waah!?”

Because of the large voice shouted from overhead, Ren finally calmed down. Looking up, almost right overhead is the above mentioned girl. The jungle-gym was supposed to be more then ten meters away, it seemed he was stepping up to it from within his consciousness. 

''This, this is bad...''

While fascinated by the seemingly puzzled young girl overlooking him, Ren was stunned from the bottom of his heart. The suspicious girl singing at night in an uninhabited park cannot be compared with his questionable self that was staring at her with an ecstatic expression.

Furthermore, the relation between both their locations was very risky. That angle, almost like looking up from right under...it was clearly perverted.

''I must say something''... from the mouth of the impatient boy, some very ordinary and regarding this situation, unsuitable words came out:

“Ah, err.......good evening.”

''What the hell am I saying!!!''

Ren rebutted himself loudly in his heart. But instead of screaming, the trusting girl returned the greeting with a smile.

“Good evening. It’s a lovely night, isn’t it?”

“...huh? Ah, yes, that’s right.”

“Could you please step aside just a little?”

“...........ugh, I’m – I’m sorry!”

With a bright red face, Ren jumped aside with force as if he was struck by a car. Watching that excessive response, the girl tilted her head on the side appearing curious and without hesitation jumped from the jungle-gym.  

“Ah...”

Although the playground equipment was intended for children, from the top of it to the ground there are more than two meters. The landing’s impact was supposed to be considerable but without bending her knees, the girl got down lightly and easily.
As though the ground gently caught her.

“What’s the matter?”

“Ah, no, that is ...”

In front of the smiling girl, Ren mumbles. He doesn’t understand why but he is frozen solid. When looking at the girl’s face his mind becomes blank and he can think of nothing else.

On the other side, the girl doesn’t pay attention to Ren’s strangeness, looking up to the sky.

“The night sky is really fair........ I didn’t know the moon could be so large........”

''Fair.......?''

Ren looked up in doubt. Even if it was clear, this is Tokyo’s sky after all. With countless stars showing, the sky cut up by inelegant skyscrapers was narrow at best. The girl gazed innocently at that sky. Escaping the gravity’s binding she is longing to reach that place. But at the same time, it seem she understands that such a thing can never come true.

''So beautiful........''

For a second time, from Ren’s consciousness everything except the girl disappeared. He wanted wings – he strongly thought so. If he could fly into the sky, he would take her beyond the stars.

“Hey.”
Abruptly she shifted her attention to Ren. 

“W-what?”
To a Ren responding while being perplexed, she extended her hand quite naturally.

“Let’s play.”

That penetrating expression that sensed even God, present when looking at the sky, already disappeared. The one standing in front of his eyes was a charming but ordinary girl. She seemed to be approximately the same age as Ren. When he saw he was a bit taller, Ren faintly felt relief.

“...........”

Being too fascinated by her, he forgot to answer. Taking that for a refusal she made a completely lonely face.

“.........no?”

“No no. Of course not, let’s play.”

“Hooray!”

Showing a smile that bloomed openly on her whole face, the girl seized Ren’s arms with both her hands. Feeling the warm hands, Ren turned red up to his ears.

''...............warm?''

Ren suddenly felt the problem. In this cold weather she wore a thin dress....

“It’s not good being so lightly dressed in this weather. You’ll catch a cold!”

Rushing, he took his own coat and put it on the girl. 

"I’m fine.”

“No! Wear it.”

Unusually forceful, Ren passed her arm through the sleeve of the coat. After buttoning it precisely with his own hands, he let out a long, relieved breath.

“Now it’s good.”

“...............”

With a bewildered appearance she stared fixedly at the coat forced on her. But, it didn’t seem she felt annoyed, moving her small body, checking the feel of the coat. Expressing a gentle and soft smile, she hugged her own body.

“So warm......”

“...........................ah”

When the girl smiled so happily, Ren felt a crash as if his head was hit. Just by thinking that smile was intended for him was enough to envelop him in a feeling of bliss that made him dizzy. Wanting to greet her, Ren realized he forgot a very important thing.

“S-say.......”

“Eh?”

“Can I ask for your name?”

“.........................”

Just like that her expression clouded. Assaulted by an unbelievable feeling of guilt, panicking, Ren took his question back.

“Ah, actually it’s fine if you don’t want to, but...”

The girl shook her head in silence and murmured, sighing:

“..............Ayumi.”

“Oh, it’s Ayumi-chan? How do you write it?”

“With hiragana.”

Her voice sank even deeper. The impatient Ren, trying to somehow enliven the situation, with a deliberate cheerful voice told her his name.

“Eh, my name is Ren. The Ren from Purgatory. Do you know it?”

“Yes, it’s a very cool name,” Ayumi nodded, slightly recovering her smile.

With just that, Ren foolishly lost his head, blushing.

“A-ha-ha – somehow I have a feeling I don’t live up to my name.”

“That’s not true. It suits you.” 

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

Forgetting the awkwardness from just before, both their smiles harmoniously met.

“Let me see, let’s play. What do you want to play with?”

“The swings!”

Without wavering, Ayumi immediately replied at Ren’s question, pulling himself together.

“I tried it just a little bit but I couldn’t swing very well. As I thought, it has no meaning, only knowing the way to do it.”

“Then I’ll push you.”

While bewildered by her queer expression, Ren proposed that. But – 

“That’s useless! I want to do it by myself!” Ayumi obstinately insisted.

Appearing full of surprising independence, she sat on the swing and started to push awkwardly by herself.

“That’s not good.”

Because the rhythm was completely off, the swing’s movement was instantly stopped. From the swing next to her, he showed a sample and lectured her carefully about the way of swinging.

“Like that, and now kick your legs.”

Appearing a quick learner, Ayumi instantly grasped the skill. The swing’s movement gradually became smooth and the swinging much larger. Ren judged there is no more need to show her the way and began swinging standing up.
He hadn't rode in swings for the last four, five years and swinging after a long time was pretty pleasant. 

Wanting to show off to the girl next to him, his feelings also a part of it, Ren kicked out the swing inserting much more power.

“..................”

Staring at Ren’s posing back, Ayumi, bearing an antagonistic feeling, boldly challenged him by swinging standing.

“Eh, wait........”

When Ren tried to restrain her, the focused Ayumi didn’t notice. Uncertainly getting up on the board she sat down on until now, she swung by imitating what she saw. Becoming the victim of the height of her own learning ability, the swing Ayumi rode, instantly began inclining at an angle dangerous for a beginner.

"Ayumi-chan! Stop!” Ren cried in a big voice. But one pace too late.

Ayumi’s hand slipped and with force, as if shot from a catapult, was thrown diagonally into the upper air.

“Kyaa –” 

“ – uh.”

Faster than thinking, Ren’s body moved. Kicking the swing’s board with all his strength, he jumps at an angle close to horizontal. He seized Ayumi in the air just before she crashed into the ground. Without change, making sure that he embraced that small body, he landed on his back. Although he rolled on the ground to disperse the shock, because wanting to protect Ayumi was more important, he practically didn’t make any defense.

Although his back and head hit the ground bitterly, Ren held onto his consciousness with his fighting spirit and willpower.
After finally rolling on the ground for five times, Ren finally set free the shock of the fall. Ignoring the many stars twinkling in his field of vision, before everything else he confirmed Ayumi’s condition.

“Are you all right?”

“Ah, yes...”

Because he covered her very skillfully Ayumi didn’t feel any pain, not to mention injuries. In her pupils opened blankly, nothing but surprise at facing an unexpected situation floated.

“I’m glad...............”

Confirming Ayumi’s safety Ren stretched out on the ground exhausted. The crash caused by the fall thoroughly hurt his body, but because he didn’t budge, the feeling of being able to protect her well satisfied him.

“Ren? Does it hurt?”

Seeing Ayumi looking at him with unease, Ren shook his head laughing.

“I’m fine. But....” he continued including a slight rebuke in his tone:

“Because swinging standing can be dangerous, please stop it.”

“................Yes.”

Although nodding meekly, she immediately smiled pulling Ren’s sleeve.

“Hey, hey, next I want to ride that.” 

She pointed at a simply made seesaw. Without being discouraged by the splendid blunder, staring with a bitter smile at the girl itching to play, Ren stood up and led her by the hand.

“Yes, yes. As the young lady commands.”

Joining hands cordially both of them ran up to the seesaw. Forgetting about the passing time they continued playing together. They rode in the seesaw, glided in the slide, played with sand in the sand-pit.  Although it was clear Ayumi had burning aspirations of “completing” all the park’s playground equipment, Ren stubbornly didn’t gave permission for the horizontal bar. A beginner with a skirt shouldn’t be allowed to pull herself onto the bar.