Blood Of Platinum
Chapter 52. Kino and Theo
With a smile on his lips, Theo repeated the name again and again.
“Kino...Kino-nii.
Kino who didn't quite hear what Theo's lips said only looked at it while paying attention to where they were standing right now. With so many people passing by and the situation crowded, the public street was not a place to chat.
“It seems like this is not the right place to talk. We can move to a more comfortable place. Is there a good place that Theo-kun can show me?”
“Te–good place?! You want me to show you..place...place that ba–good?! I'm the..show me?!”
Theo was so nervous that he could not speak properly to answer Kino's question. Kino just looked at him and thought of taking him somewhere in the city.
“If indeed Theo-kun does not know, how about we go to a more relaxed place? Have you had breakfast?”
“Eat? Um...I ate..three apples today”.
“Apel? Besides?”
“.....” Theo just shook his head
“Only apple?!” Kino looks worried
“Umm” Theo nodded honestly when asked by him
Kino who showed such a clear anxious face finally could only advise her to find a place to eat first.
“Then, is there any food you want, Theo-kun? We can get there now”
“But, I don't have any money to buy it”
“Who said Theo-kun paid? Because I'm the one who brought you to eat, of course I'll pay for it”
“Eh?! Can it be like that?” Theo was shocked and could not believe what Kino said
“Of course you can. We better get out of here. Come!”
Kino took Theo's hand. At first Theo was embarrassed but he was very happy to see the big brother again. Not only did they meet, but they already knew each other's names and now they were going to eat together. For Theo, Kino was the first adult to get close to him and help him with a smile.
**
Looking from Kino's side earlier when meeting the boy.
At that moment, he did not know that there was a child standing in front of him. The boy looked a little embarrassed and lowered his head. Kino could only speak inwardly looking at the child.
‘This child in front of me..Isn't that child yesterday?’
Noting all the obvious features, Kino's view instantly changed. Straight black hair with orange-colored clothes and the exact same brown hat he wore yesterday. The bruised scars of yesterday that are slightly blue can also still be seen clearly.
‘Child who accidentally bumped into me and Ryou at the altar, the boy who was yesterday with me on the steps and the boy who…. That must be a boy named Theo. Somehow I'm sure it's’
Kino could not hide her feelings of pleasure and directly approached the child.
“You were the kid yesterday, right?. I'm so glad to see you again”
When asking him, Kino could tell what the boy was feeling. The boy who looked embarrassed to meet him looked happy. When the boy tried to answer her, he looked nervous that Kino couldn't hold back his laughter. And when he asked Kino about her name, of course Kino smiled at him.
“My name is Theo. Do I...can you know your sister's name too?”
Kino was silent without saying anything.
‘He really is Theo-kun! This child was meant by Michaela-chan. I'm sure she's the one who's always with Stelani-chan and the other kids at the altar. Can I assume this is a lucky break for me to meet him?’
Kino tried to stop thinking about anything else and with a smile towards the child in front of her, she immediately revealed her name.
“Of course. Greetings Theo-kun, my name is Yuki Kino”
Kino could see how happy the boy was to hear his name. Even though he saw the child like he was moving his mouth and saying something, he did not really hear it and looked at the surrounding area.
“It seems like this is not the right place to talk. We can move to a more comfortable place. Is there a good place that Theo-kun can show me?”
A good approach that Kino can take right now is to start two-way communication that will create a comfortable atmosphere for both parties.
‘After all I should be as close as possible to this child and not make him suspicious’ Kino thought inwardly
By holding her hand and moving to another place, Kino walked away from the area to a better place to chat.
**
Currently, they were walking on the main street in the center of the city. Because it is located close to the city center that is so crowded, it is clear that there are many people there. Even the number of people was more than what was seen on the big streets of the city.
Theo walked in with his hand held tightly by Kino starting to call out his name.
“Um...Kino-nii..”.
“What's up, Theo-kun?” Kino looked towards the child who was beside her
“Ta–hanku..” while shy Theo glanced at his hand
“Ah!. I'm sorry”
Kino let go of his hand and smiled while apologizing. It wasn't that Theo didn't like it, it was just that he was embarrassed if treated like a child by it. After a few minutes of walking, they saw a garden chair under a tree on the side of the road.
“Theo-kun, will you wait for me for a moment?”
“....” Theo nodded
Kino tells Theo to wait for him in the garden chair on the shady tree and go to look for food. While waiting for him, Theo looked so happy.
“I didn't expect to see that brother again here. Kino-nii yes, I can't believe now I even know his name”
‘I shouldn't have met him. After what I did to him yesterday morning while at the altar, shouldn't I be happy like this?. You should have shame, Theo!’
Theo with all his heavy thoughts. Guilt continued to envelop him as he recalled that he had stolen something from Kino but was actually very happy when he could meet her again now.
“I have to apologize to Kino-nii. I don't want him to hate me” Theo muttered with a gloomy face and a sorry tone
After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Kino returned with many bags of cold food and drinks.
“Sorry to be waiting. Look at this, Theo-kun!. There are lots of good food and cold drinks. Let's eat!” Kino smiled at the boy
“Ke–why did you buy this much, Kino-nii!!. Who will spend all that?!”
“Eh? Of course Theo-kun has to spend it. Didn't you just eat three apples this morning? Since I've bought this much so Theo-kun has to spend it, understand”
“A..”
There is no denial for that. Finally, the two of them sat on a chair under the shade of a tree and saw the many passersby in the city. Kino gave all the food to Theo and asked him to eat it. Although Theo initially hesitated, he eventually accepted it because of the urge from the stomach voice that forced him.
“How does the meat sandwich sandwich taste? Tastier? I bought all for you”
“Nak! Tastes good!. Kino-nii should also eat it” Theo gives one bread to Kino
Kino shook her head while saying “I'm already full” with a reassuring face. While they were in a calm state, Kino watched the child beside her for a while before starting the conversation.
“Is the wound really okay?”
“It's better. Wounds like this are common for me so no need to worry”
“About ordinary?”
Kino suddenly recalled what Michaela had said earlier.
[Kino-niichan, Justin-sama is so evil. He also had no hair and his body was huge with many creepy tattoos. Theo-niichan always calls him a gorilla and he hates him so much]
At first, Kino wanted to ask Theo about various things including his pocket watch, but he ignored his intentions and continued to pretend he still did not know anything.
Theo continued to grab the meat sandwich while holding the cold drink beside him. Since Kino was only silent while waiting for him to eat, Theo stopped for a moment.
“Did I eat too much so Kino-nii won't talk to me?”
His face looked glum all of a sudden and stopped to chew. Kino just smiled looking at him and rubbed his hat-covered head.
“I want to talk to Theo-kun, but since you are still eating so I will wait until you finish eating”
“I'm fine if Kino-nii wants to talk! I...I'll listen to you!”
“Some time ago I also accompanied other people to eat but because I too often asked him to talk he became choked. That's why I'll chat with Theo-kun when you're done eating. Enjoy your mealtime, Theo-kun”
Hearing that, the child's face turned happy and he quickly tried to finish his meal. After all the sandwiches and drinks were gone, she sat back down to stretch her body and lower the food on her stomach.
“It's done?” Kino asked Theo
“Already. Thank you very much for the food, Kino-nii”
“Then now we can talk a lot of hal”
Kino sighed for a while and tried to self-drill. Many fatal things he wanted to ask at once to Theo. But considering Theo only knew him, Kino thought that it would be best if he behaved like he didn't know anything.
‘At the end I will be able to connect all the threads of this problem. Therefore do not try to rush, Kino. Make this child calm and comfortable to be by your side so that all will end well’ muttered Kino inwardly
Kino had already tried to control his mind and started having casual conversations.
“How are you doing today, Theo-kun?”
“Um...pretty good”
“I sure saw you at the altar yesterday. Actually I went to the altar this morning but I didn't see you”
Theo was confused to answer him, but he had no intention of lying to this brother and ended up speaking honestly.
“I...I didn't go to the altar today because there was a little affair”
“Urusan? What business?”
“I'm looking for a job in town to earn money. I offered my services to work. I would do anything, lift a sack or move things, wash dirty dishes and stuff. I'll do it for the sake of earning money”
Kino looked at him with a calm expression because he already had a shadow of why such a small child would want to do such a thing. However, he still could not hide his sad feelings.
“Is it only you yourself that do it?”
“That's. I do it for my friends. If I get the money, I'll be able to get the bread for them to eat”
Slightly deviated from his original plan, Kino took something out of his pocket and gave it to Theo.
“This...100 Franc?! Kino-nii gave me this much money!. Why?”
Of course the boy was shocked and shocked. Despite that, Kino rubbed her head back with a smile.
“Theo-kun has fought well. If you really need money, want to help me this morning?”
“Help? What can I do for Kino-nii?”
“Will you help me find my lost thing?”
Upon hearing his request, Theo's pale face immediately seemed to describe his fear.
******
