Ichige Hokuto - Animate Story

“Only One Treasure Star”

You are my shining star, more than the top star of the sparkling Christmas tree.

… Winter

With Christmas fast approaching, the city becomes more vibrant than ever.

In particular, the display windows of street-front shops are lined with special products prepared for this season, and are lavishly decorated to make them look even more beautiful. When we go out, it is a regular thing for me and Hoku-chan to look at each one and share our impressions. And today, there is an added purpose to that regular thing.

Hoku-chan and I were at a Christmas market in the city center to buy ornaments for our new tree.

"Hey, hey, Hoku-chan. Mulled wine! It looks delicious. Want to have some?"

“Okay. But wouldn't it be better if you bought what you wanted first? There are a lot of people there, and it would be a pain if the things you like were sold out, right?”

"Uh... that's right! Then let's start by looking at that store!!”

I saw Christmas heather on TV some time ago and I was intrigued by it. Heather has small white flowers that look like lily of the valley and white snow.

The flower is called "Christmas Heather" when it is pruned into a tree shape. I was surprised when Hoku-chan rang the intercom at my house one day in early December and was holding a pot of Christmas Heather.

"But I never thought you would remember what I said last year! As expected of you, Hoku-chan."

"I actually did check back then to see if I could get some, but they had just finished accepting shipments. So this year I placed my order with the flower farmers early."

"I heard that the stock at Fill Flower sold out almost immediately."

"Yes. So next year we need to increase the number of stocks. We've brought in quite a lot for our first attempt. We'd like to reserve some for our regular customers.”

"Because it's so cute. And the size is just right for decorating a room, so everyone wants one."

"Thanks to you, we've created a great product to recommend for the Christmas season. Thank you."

"That's not true. I just wanted it, and it was Hoku-chan who did the preparations to get it on the shelves."

"But what you wanted was a guide for me. It always helps me."

I don't mind being told that. If my materialistic desires can help Hoku-chan even a little, I'm happy.

"So today's date is also a way of thanking you. Don't worry, you can choose whatever you like."

"Yay! Thank you."

I've always been pampered by Hoku-chan. When I was little, I often refrained, but I stopped when Hoku-chan looked really sad.

When I stepped into the special shop set up in the Christmas market, I saw a lot of ornaments hanging on the walls. There were red and green Christmas balls, candy-themed ones, wooden ones, yellow ones, and so on.

The jewel-like ornaments, sparkling in gold, silver, and pearl, are all so cute that it's hard to choose.

"There are so many, I can't choose!"

As I sighed at my luxurious problem, Hoku-chan laughed next to me.

"Let's choose carefully. We have time."

"Yeah. What do you think would be good, Hoku-chan?"

"Me? Hmm, I guess..."

It was my habit to ask Hoku-chan for his opinion when I was in doubt, and that hasn't changed even after we became lovers.

"The white flowers of Christmas heather really stand out. I think it's good to have ornaments that don't get in the way of the flowers."

"You get me! Those flowers are so cute. All the ornaments are lovely, but if the flowers get covered, they're useless... Ah!"

While I was looking around the store, I noticed the corner with tree ribbons. Among them, the one that caught my eye the most was a ribbon with a pale pink and elegant luster. It was shining only on the white lace pattern, and the soft needles seem to have gold in it, as its shape can be changed.

"How about this? The sauce part is long, so I'll roll it up in a spiral and pour it on top!"

"Wow, it's beautiful. I think it's good."

"That's right. Yeah, let's go with this one."

"Then all that's left is the top star. It's in the other corner."

Hoku-chan grabbed my hand so we wouldn't get separated in the crowded store. However, he didn't miss the moment I hesitated.

"What's wrong?"

"The top star is... well, I've already decided. I have it at home so it's fine.”

"I see. There's no need to buy anything. It's best to display things you like."

Hoku-chan smiled brightly and took the tree ribbon I had picked out from me.

"Let’s see... this and this..."

After returning home, I took out an old treasure chest from a shelf in my room. It contained a pure white shell I found at the beach when I was little, a bookmark made from a pressed anemone flower that bloomed in the flower bed in my garden, and a matching hair accessory I bought with a friend when I was a student. I took out the most important item from the box and held it up to look at.

"Fufu, it's still cute."

It was a top star made of golden origami paper.

When I was a child, the tree that was decorated in the living room fell over right before Christmas. When it fell, the top star broke off and I started crying. Hoku-chan felt sorry for me and gave me this star the next day.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and when I answered it, Hoku-chan, who had gone home to drop off some luggage, showed up.

"Perfect timing. Do you remember this?"

He widens his eyes when he sees the top star in my hand.

"Oh, that...! You still have it?"

"Of course. I was so happy when I got this."

Hoku-chan sat down next to me on the rug and scratched the back of his neck with a bashful look on his face.

"That was just meant to be a temporary fix for that time... I'm sure they used a new top star the following year, right?”

"Yeah. I still use the new one I bought back then on the tree in the living room. Origami gets damaged easily, so I stored it like this."

A large hand reaches out from the side and touches the star. Hoku-chan's head rests on my shoulder as he leans against me, and I can feel the vibrations of his smile.

"I don't think I can break this right now."

He had manly, callous fingers, and the top star was so small that he could fit in just one hand.

"Even though I folded it so many times back then, I don't remember how to fold it at all."

"Oh, that's what I wanted to ask! I thought you must have given me the most beautiful one out of all the ones you folded. How many did you fold?"

"Hmm... I can't really remember, but the tree that year was decorated with stars."

"Oh, I didn't know that! I wanted to see it."

"Mom put it up because she thought it was a waste. She didn't want you to see it, so she tried really hard not to get caught."

Hoku-chan laughs in amazement, but when I think of Hoku-chan as a little boy, trying so hard to fold this star, I can't help but feel fond of him.

"I wanted to decorate the tree with this top star for Christmas."

I pulled a small white flower tree nearby, tied the ribbon I had just bought on it, and decorated the top with an origami star.

"Look, Hoku-chan! This is my Christmas tree, the only one of its kind in the world."

"Ahh... you're so cute."

I felt the arms around my waist tighten, so I turned my face. I couldn't resist the sweet atmosphere between us. Our lips slowly met, and gradually our kiss deepened, swallowing my shallow breaths. His hands were on my neck and cheeks so that I couldn't look away, and the heat that was transmitted through my skin was melting me.

It was Hoku-chan who always made me smile when I was a crybaby. His hands always give me magic. First the anemone, then the top star. And countless memories and emotions. Each one of them was an irreplaceable treasure.

You are more precious to me than the top star of the sparkling Christmas tree.

The one and only star who will gently embrace and guide me.

Donate ❤