Volume 1 - CH 6

Guess the Name of the Sleeping Beauty (6)

Translated by LyraDhani

Edited by LyraDhani

Staring seriously at the boy, he could see a mischievous smile on the young face.

“But I’m also a hired shopkeeper.”

Even as a hired help, it was not normal for a child in his early teens to be in charge of a store.

It really felt like he was being transformed by a fairy. Masato leaned back deeply in his chair and exhaled.

“I’m surprised… Who are you?”

“Oh, you never told me your name, but you ask for mine?”

The boy tilted his head and smiled.

Masato, too, chuckled along with him. It seemed that the game of guessing names was still going on.

“Then, I guess it’s my turn to guess your identity next time.”

“You’re right. …Well, then, instead of granting a wish, how about you guess my name? Three days is not long, so let’s say I hire you for three months for now. If you can guess my name during that time, I will continue to hire you. I will pay the rent after that. How would you like that?”

“…Are you not the Sleeping Beauty, but Rumpelstiltskin himself?”

The dwarf who granted his wishes-or rather, the mysterious child.

Masato smiled.

“Of course, it’s a wish come true for me, but isn’t that one-sidedly convenient?”

“I have always wanted to hire people, so as long as you work hard, I won’t have any problems. The rent will not be too much of a burden since I own the building. …Oh, yes. If you guess my name, rest assured I won’t rip myself to pieces.”

Is this conversation, which could be considered the continuation of a game, serious or joking?

The sunroom alone with the boy, surrounded by the dark shadows created by the noon light and the scent of the greenery in the garden, gave the illusion of being in a forest.

Who is this boy, really?

Despite being suspicious, his curiosity grew.

The boring everyday life turned into a mysterious and extraordinary one.

How long had it been since he have been this excited? He’d been living aimlessly and lazily for the past two years, and this was the most fun he’d had in a long time.

Masato let out a giggle and was thinking of what witty answer to give when he heard a light clacking of heels approaching.

“–Oh, did you come here?”

The woman who appeared in the sunroom was a beautiful woman dressed in Western-style clothing.

She had a bob haircut and wore a pale wisteria-colored cloche hat, and a similarly-colored, one-piece dress on her thin body. The large white collar and thin cuffs were decorated with lace folds and combined with a long, double-layered pearl necklace, the dress was elegant yet glamorous.

Her fine face was thinly coated with white powder, and her eyebrows were thin and well balanced. Her lips were covered with bright crimson lipstick. The scent of violet wafted through the air.

She was the owner of the salon, Otogi Fumiko.

Masato got up from his chair, walked in front of her, and bowed reverently.

“It has been a while, Mrs. Otogi.”

“Good day to you, Senzaki-san.”

Mrs. Otogi’s rouged lips were covered with a lustrous smile. She must have been over forty years old, but her lively and energetic expression and straight posture made her look younger and more beautiful.

“Is the poetry going well? Oh, that’s right. If you like, why don’t you have lunch with me…”

Her words, which she said with a smile, stopped halfway. Mrs. Otogi’s eyes were on the boy sitting in the chaise lounge behind Masato.

“Oh… Oh my.”

Mrs. Otogi, who put her hand on her mouth, looked at Masato and the boy and smiled happily.

“You both got to know each other. Did I get in the way?”

“I’ve only just made his acquaintance a short time ago. Unfortunately, I still can’t tell you his name.”

“Oh, I see.”

Just as she was about to introduce him, the boy interrupted.

“Fumiko, you can’t do that. Actually, I’m making a bet with him right now, to see if he can guess my name.”

The boy held up an index finger in front of his lips, telling him not to cheat. Masato cowered his shoulders and Mrs. Otogi’s eyes lit up.

“Oh, what is it? You are doing something very interesting, aren’t you?”

Masato gave a brief explanation of the bet to Mrs. Otogi, who inquired with amusement.

Speaking of the café waiter, it seemed that Mrs. Otogi was the owner, or in other words, the employer, of the boy’s store. She gave her consent to hire Masato.

“That’s right, I understand. But isn’t it inconvenient without a name?”

Certainly, it would be tasteless to just use ‘you’ from now on. “What should I call you?” Masato looked at the boy and saw that he was puzzled by the unexpected question.

Before the boy could answer, Mrs. Otogi suggested.

“How about ‘Kahoru’?”

“Fumiko.”

“Oh, that’s good. …Let’s, go with ‘Ono Kahoru’.”

Mrs. Otogi clasped her hands together in agreement.

The boy’s slight frown suggested that the name had some meaning to him. Masato asked, wondering in the corner of his mind if it would be a suggestion to guess his name.

“Then, should I call you Kahoru?”

“…Please, call me whatever you like.”

The boy-’Ono Kahoru’ – stood up with a small sigh.

Kahoru was only about the height of Masato’s chest, and it made him realize once again that he was just a child. However, the look in his eyes as he looked up was so calm and intelligent that it was hard to believe he was a child.

Masato held out his hand to the unidentified child.

“Take care of me from now on, Kahoru-kun.”

“Yes, please take care of me as well.”

He held the small hand that fit snugly in his large one.

Masato, looking forward to the game ahead, smiled naturally. He did not notice that Kahoru quickly looked away at the unpretentious smile, but Mrs. Otogi beside him laughed happily.