Heartless Edgar/Chapter 1

v **·** e

* English
* Japanese

> **Chapter 1 - Autumn Dawn**
>
> Rays of light spilled through the curtains, brightening the walls of the bedroom before finally coming to rest on my face. I slowly opened my bleary eyes and made my way to the window. I gently touched my fingertips against the dew-covered glass, feeling the sun's warmth.
>
> I turned around to see you still lying in bed, asleep. Your tranquil expression was illuminated by the same dawn light that had stirred me from my slumber. I moved in close, pressing my nose against yours, but you didn't stir. I gently stroked your hair, but you still refused to wake. In one final attempt to rouse you, I pinched your cheek, but all you did was make a face and roll over. Gently chuckling to myself, I straightened the bedsheets and left the room.
>
> I went to the kitchen and began warming up the soup left over from last night. Next, I started making the salads we were going to have for lunch later. Lettuce, ham, and hard-boiled eggs. I cut up a tomato, taking care to only add the slices to one of the salads. After all, you don't like tomatoes.
>
> I remember you telling me the story.
>
> 'I think I was about four years old. My father tried to feed me a tomato, and I spat it right back out at him. I have no idea why, but I just can't eat them.' You laughed and looked away, a twinge of guilt playing across your eyes.
>
> Just as I was finishing up with the food, I saw the bedroom door swing open.
>
> 'Good morning,' you said, stretching. It was clear you'd enjoyed your doze.
>
> 'Hey, Edgar.' You looked at me.
>
> 'Edgar?' You called my name.
>
> 'Edgaaar...' You called my name over and over.
>
> 'HEY! EDGAR!'
>
> You...
>
>
> 'Huh?'
>
> My eyelids snapped open. My ears were suddenly filled with sound.
>
> I was in a restaurant in town. Sitting across from me was my friend, Henry. His long, green hair was unkempt, as though he'd just rolled out of bed. A small trail of steam rose upward from the hot plate of food he had in front of him. I instantly understood what was going on.
>
> 'Um... Can I get you some water?'
>
> The waitress, Clementine, was standing over us. I looked up into her eyes. They were as clear and blue as a summer sky.
>
> 'Oh. Yeah, I--' Henry started to say.
>
> 'No, we're okay. Don't worry about us,' I interrupted.
>
> Clementine looked confused, but stepped away to see to the other customers.
>
> 'What do you mean, 'Don't worry about us'? What if I'm thirsty?!' Henry furrowed his brow at me.
>
> 'I don't want to bother her,' I said, glancing in Clementine's direction for the briefest moment.
>
> 'Bother her? It's just a glass of water, man.'
>
> Henry sighed and began sullenly chomping on his food.
>
> 'Here. Have mine, too.' I pushed the plate bearing my untouched sandwich toward him.
>
> 'My head's all muddled. I don't think I have much of an appetite anymore.'
>
> 'That's been happening a lot lately. You okay, man?'
>
> Henry's dour expression turned to one of concern.
>
> 'I'm not sure. I keep getting flashes of this one scene. It feels like a memory, but...I don't recognize it at all.'
>
> I raised my gaze and stole another glance at Clementine as she walked through the restaurant, smiling and talking with the customers.
>
> Henry followed my gaze toward her, and a look of understanding came over his face.
>
> 'Now that I think about it, this all started after you first noticed her, huh? Ah, I should've known. I've seen the sad eyes of a lovesick fool before.' He nodded to himself, knowingly.
>
> 'Is that what it is?' I questioned Henry, yet I couldn't take my eyes off Clementine.
>
> 'Well, I guess you know me best, Henry...'
>
> As I spoke, Clementine noticed my gaze and gave me a warm smile before returning to her work.
>
> '...since I don't seem to know myself anymore? I sighed.
>
> All my dearest friend could give in response was a troubled chuckle.
>
>
> September, S.1294.
>
> Leman--home to the headquarters of the Epstein Foundation.
>
> I'd planned to devote my time here to performing research alongside the other members of the foundation.
>
> But then I fell in love.
>
>

> **第１巻　　「始まりの秋」**
>
>
> カーテンの隙間から、淡く光が漏れている。のっそりと起き
> 上がって、寝ぼけ眼で窓に近づく。結露でいっぱいのガラスを
> 指で撫でると、そこだけ太陽の暖かさを感じられる気がした。
>
> 　後ろを振り返れば、君の寝顔がある。鼻がくっつくくらい顔
> を寄せたけれど、ピクリともしない。前髪をそっと触っても、
> 目は開かない。ほっぺたをつまんだら嫌そうに寝返りをうった
> ので、掛け布団を直して寝室を出た。
> 台所に行って、鍋に残っていた昨日のスープを火にかける。
> 次はサラダを。レタスにハムにゆで卵。トマトはくし形切りに
> して、２つ並んだ片方の皿だけに盛る。
> 　君は、生のトマトを嫌っているから。
> 「４歳の時だったかな。
> 　お父さんが食べさせようとしたトマトを、
> 　口に入れた途端に吐き出したんだって」
> 「何がダメだったのか自分でも分からないけれど」
> 「飲みこむのも嫌なんて、ひどいよね」
> 　申し訳なさそうに、君は言っていた。
>
> 　支度が整ったところで、寝室のドアが開いた。
> 「おはよう」
> 　君は気持ち良さそうに背伸びをする。
> 「ねぇ、エドガー」
> 　君はぼくを見る。
> 「エドガー？」
> 　君はぼくの名前を呼ぶ。
> 「エドガー」
> 　何度も名前を呼んでくれる。
> 「おい、エドガー！」
> 　君は――
>
> 「――！」
> 　勢い良く広がる視界。耳に駆けこんでくる喧噪。
> 　ここは町の食堂。向かいに座っているのは友人のヘンリー。
> 伸びかけの若葉色の髪に、寝癖をつけっぱなしだ。目の前には
> 彼が注文した料理が。瞬時に状況を整理する。
> 「あの、お水を持ってきましょうか？」
> 　声をかけてきたのは、ウェイトレスの少女・クレム。ぼくを
> 見つめる瞳は、青空のような色を宿している。
> 「ああ、一応……」
> 「いえ、大丈夫です。お構いなく」
> 　ヘンリーの言葉を遮り、彼女に断りを入れる。クレムは困惑
> しながらも、テーブルを離れていった。
> 「なーにが『お構いなく』だ。イイ人ぶりやがって」
> 「余計な手間をかけさせたくない」
> 「まぁ、水を飲んだところでって話か」
> 　ヘンリーはまたムシャムシャと食事を再開した。
> 「これ、ぼくの分もあげるよ」
> 　手をつけていないハーブサンドを勧める。
> 「頭が重くて、食べられそうにないから」
> 「最近、そういうの多いよな」
> 「うん。しかも急に。自分じゃ知らない風景が映るんだ」
> 　視線を上げると、忙しなく歩き回るクレムが見えた。食堂に
> 集まる客に話しかけられ、笑顔で返事をしている。
>
> 「思うに、あの子のことを意識し始めてからだよな。
> 　恋い焦がれる野郎共を散々見てきた俺には分かる」
> 　うんうん、と頷くヘンリー。
> 「そう、なのかな」
> 　ついクレムを目で追いかける。
> 「ぼくのことはヘンリーに聞くのが一番だね」
> 　視線に気づいた彼女は、こちらに優しく微笑んでくれる。
> 「なんだか自分が分からなくなってきたから」
> 　ため息を吐くぼくに、親愛なる友は困ったように笑った。
> 　――七耀暦1294年、９月。エプスタイン財団の本部を抱える
> レマン自治州にて。財団の一員であるぼくはヘンリーと共に、
> これまで通り研究と実験にこの身を費やすつもりだった。
>
> 　１人の少女に、恋をするまでは。
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