A Florist Under a Snake’s Gaze (2)
Ufufu, well aren’t you just the cutest?
Hisssss ♪
It ended up wrapping itself around your arm like it was shaking it, Kuguri-san…
I’m picking up a strong, foreboding scent… I can see black roses1 behind you too.
Hiss… hissss~
Hmm… It seems this little one’s a pet snake.
Its cage was left open by accident, and it ended up in this alley when it wandered out for a little stroll.
It might’ve had a little scare when you suddenly froze up after it wanted to ask you how to get back home.
You can understand it…? That’s amazing.
I’m sensing there might even be something god-like at play here.
It’s just like talking to a dog or cat.
But… they’re quiet and voiceless creatures.
The fact that they can’t cry or scream is why I prefer them.
I prefer that even more in humans.
…
…Nagi? What’s the matter?
……
Did the snake’s gaze turn you into stone?2
………
Or is there, perhaps, something on my face?
…! Bwah…!
B-Being this close to someone so beautiful, that’s… bad for the heart…
What a strange boy you are, suddenly going all quiet like that.
Oh. It’s just that you said you usually prefer humans quiet, Kuguri-san…
Yet here I was going on and on about the best way to die…
So you not only stopped talking… but you even held your breath?
Ufufu, you have such an odd way of thinking.
I don’t hate people with interesting things to say, you know.
You don’t hate them… Okay, good. That’s a relief.
Now, how about we take this little one back to its owner?
Hiss~!
I’ll tell some of my funniest tales on the way, then.
My leg hath been bitten by a snake, bringing me to a tragic end. O’ snake…
…We won’t be needing any of that.
Hisssss!
Got it. I’ll shut up then.