Javier took another small sip of the wine, leaning back against Buddy's warm, feathery side. The setting sun turned the sky into soft gold and crimson, casting long shadows across the clearing.
He tilted his head lazily to look at Buddy.
"You know, Buddy?"
Cuquawked? Buddy turned his big head toward him, blinking those wide, curious eyes.
Javier chuckled quietly.
"Now I'm thirteen in this world." He lifted his hand, fingers spread out toward the sky. "Plus my twenty-four years from my old life as Nakamura Junichi. Back in Japan."
He closed his hand slowly, like trying to catch a star he couldn't reach.
"Man… I miss those days."
He laughed softly, a little bitter, a little warm.
"The days when I could just enjoy life like a real brat… flipping Liana's skirt, sneaking a peek at the maids' panties..."
Buddy tilted his head slowly.
He took another sip of the wine, letting the memory linger.
"But now…"
He stared at the rising stars, the soft wind brushing past the trees.
