Chapter 100 Yggdrasil, the Eternal Burning Tree 2 (1/2)

'ARGHHHH!!! WHY DID I DO THAT?!?!?!'

As the night deepened and the moon shone brightly on the inhabitants of the world, a certain black-haired boy was having trouble going to sleep. It was way past midnight, and the boy was supposed to be tucked in a long time ago. However, every time the image of him embracing his childhood friend emerged from the depths of his mind, his eyes would open up wide as he kicked the cotton bedding. Rolling about the bed in embarrassment, Shin covered his blushing face with the luxurious pillows provided by the Mushinkei.

Raising his hands up, Shin's azure pupils began to dilate as he remembered the warmth of Ariel's milky, smooth skin. Cringing in shame, Shin sat up straight on the bed and recalled what had happened. After he had comforted Ariel, the two children suddenly became aware of their close proximity to each other and shyly separated. Unable to bear with the awkward atmosphere, Ariel promptly retreated back into her abode, leaving Shin alone with his bamboo mat.

It took him a short while, but eventually, he realised how brazen he was being. Suppressing the urge to bang his head against the wall, Shin rolled up the bamboo mat and ran back to his room. Diving into his bed began to roll around, causing a strange noise to echo out from his room.

”Damn it, Shin! Stop being so noisy!”

At that moment, there was a loud banging at Shin's door. Junius, who had an early day tomorrow, had been hearing the shuffling of Shin's bedsheets against his thighs for the past hour. Thinking that it would die down after the boy went to sleep, Junius ignored the noise and tried his best to enter slumberland himself. However, the incessant disturbance was too much to bear, and Junius decided to give Shin a piece of his mind.

Jerking out of his bed, Shin swiftly headed to the entrance and cautiously opened his door.

”Hey, Shin! Do you know how early I… Hmmm? Why is your face so red?”

When Junius was about to reprimand his younger brother on how vital his sleep was, the youth noticed that Shin was about as red as a tomato. Putting his hand on the boy's forehead, Junius checked if his younger brother had caught a fever.

”No, your temperature is just fine...”

”I-I'm fine!”

”You don't look fine… Don't tell me something good happened with Ariel?”

”N-no-no-no-nothing happened!!!”

”No way… You guys really...”

Seeing Shin get flustered after he mentioned Ariel, confirmed Junius' suspicions. Earlier on, when he tactfully retreated from the roof to give the two some alone time, he did it in a teasing manner. Junius did not expect that there would actually be some progress with their relationship.

”Y-you're misunderstanding the situation!”

”Hahahaha, don't worry! I support your relationship anyway. In fact, everyone back home does so too! Arghhh, I had the bet that you would get together when you reached fifteen though, I think Lia bet you would get together at a younger age...”

Regretting that he had placed the wrong bet, Junius eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

”WE ARE NOT TOGETHER!!!”

Exasperated by how Junius was ignoring his words, Shin hollered out with an impassioned roar.

”Right… Right… Could you do me a favour and get together a few years later? Over a dozen food tickets are on the line!”

When Junius and the other orphans made the bet, they had used the most valuable things they owned, food tickets for the cafeteria. If someone had won, they would be able to feast like a king would.

”Just get out of my room!”

As he was done with Junius teasing, Shin attempted to push the youth out with all his might.

”Right, Shin! You have to get up early tomorrow right? You're taking Lady Seph's test! Don't stay up too late!”

Before he left, Junius managed to get in one word in as the door slammed shut in his face.

”Hah...”

With his back placed on the door, Shin gently slid down and took a deep breath. Seeing Junius had reminded him of their earlier conversation.

”Junius wants to become a general and Ariel wants to chase Yggdrasil to revive her parents... Even Gawil Jefferson wanted to become famous so that everyone could remember his name… Everyone has a goal… What is mine?”

It was a question that had been plaguing his mind since that fateful day in the Watkin Shoebox. Everyone he met had a goal. Some small, some large. However, no matter how much he thought of what he wanted to accomplish, Shin's mind always drew blank.

”What is my dream?”