He looked a little different than the Christo I remembered.
He had stubble and shaggy hair back then.
Probably because he had fled the country when it went down and he didn''t have time to worry about his appearance.
The one in front of me now was Christo, who had tightly trimmed golden hair, no beard, and a normally handsome young man - with the vibe of a prince.
''Dad, don''t get my name wrong. My name is Christopher Begonia. There''s no Leo in there.
A familiar, slightly low voice. Christo said as he stared at his father, His Majesty Leo.
''''What! You''re supposed to put your parents'' names in your middle name!
I don''t want my father''s name on it.
I want in!
I don''t want to be in there.
They''re so close to each other that their foreheads almost collide.
''I really wanted to name him Christo. ''Farr, you don''t have to put the word,''
Marina named him Christo and I put the fur in.
''Yeah, your mother tells me. That''s why I''d be Christo Begonia if you hadn''t done something weird.
"How dare you speak to your parents!
Only to my father, and he''s the only one who talks like this.
Mmmm.........special treatment.......that would be good, wouldn''t it?
You really are an a**h*le....
Christo let out a sigh as if he had given up and the argument was over.
Well, that was a bit too strong for His Majesty.....the degree of stupidity.
''''It''s been a long time, Christopher-sama.
Oh, Yelle. Long time no see. And I''m Christo.
No, your name is Christopher. If you have convinced His Majesty, I will call you that.
We''ll see when that happens, but...
I''ll never admit it!
Shut up.
Probably the only person in this country who could treat His Majesty Leo so extraordinarily well is his son, Christo.
''And you?''
Christo looks at me and asks me a question.
''Well...''
I was a little confused and at a loss for words because I wasn''t expecting to see Christo here.
''This is Eric Aulin. He joined the Order the day before yesterday and is the one who will be escorting the Prince today.
Yelle-san saw me and said instead.
I need to calm down a bit........ I was startled by the suddenness of the situation.
''''Ha, nice to meet you, Christo........... I''m Eric Aulin. It''s nice to meet you today.
I almost called him out like I did in my previous life.
Ah.........or should I really say Christopher?
I''m still confused, after all, so I made a mistake.
''''Mmm........It''s Eric, this guy''s name is--''''
His Majesty Leo tried to speak, looking unhappy, but
''No, yes! I''m Christo! You''re a good guy!
Christo interrupted him loudly and put his arm around my shoulder.
I was surprised when he smiled a very nice, happy smile and suddenly squared his shoulders with me.
''I''ve only ever had your mother call me Christo. From now on, when you call me, just call me Christo, okay?
Yeah, yeah I understand.
After pulling away, Christo continued his story again.
''I mean, aren''t you pretty young? How old are you?
I''m 16 years old.
Wow, you''re my age. Hmm? Aren''t Knights of the Order only allowed to join from eighteen?
''Eric, you were recommended by me. He''s very strong.
Mr. Yelle explained it very succinctly.
I''m embarrassed to say I was recommended by myself.
''Heh, you''re strong. How strong?''
''''Well it''s enough to beat Liberto''s ''Drunken Sword''.
''Huh! For the Liberto thing! Last time I was beaten up....
Liberto''s water rights...? Is that it? The one that fought the deputy commander?
But that was a no-brainer because he threw up on the way there.
"You''re that strong for someone my age? That''s amazing.
''Oh, thank you...''
It''s something I was a little itchy about, because I didn''t get many normal compliments from my best friend Christo.
''I mean, just talk to me. You don''t look like you''re used to it.
Oh, no, I mean...
It''s not that I''m not used to being respectful but I can''t tell you that I''m just not used to using respectful language to you.
''And we''re the same age, aren''t we? I don''t care about royalty and all that - let''s be friends, Eric.
-Oh!
When I heard those words, I felt a passionate feeling in my heart.
When I saw Christo earlier, I had a little hope that I would be able to see him.
I wondered if he remembered me.
No way I''d remember, reason cried out to me. That''s normal.
I don''t know how I could have any memories of my previous life, but I somehow understood that this was just me.
But my mind didn''t want to admit it, even when reason screamed that.
I was hoping that maybe Christo would remember the days he spent with me.
But - that faint hope was shattered at every turn.
I could see it in Christo''s eyes. He doesn''t know me.
That''s normal, because it''s the first time I''m meeting you today.
But still, I tried not to get caught, but I was a little... well, quite heartbroken.
With Tina, we were mostly babies, so we got along pretty quickly after that, and it didn''t particularly hurt my heart to think that Tina didn''t have any memories of me.
But Christo was the same age as me, and he was sixteen, so I wondered if he remembered me in some way.
But after all, Christo didn''t remember me.
You can''t blame him, I thought, but I was still hurt because I expected it.
But ... well ... you''re right.
You were that kind of guy.
What Christo just said to me he said it to me in a previous life.
We met in the favela, and I was in the depths of despair when I met you.
The village had been destroyed, everyone in the village, my father, my mother, and Tina, and I had lost everything in that moment.
I was about to starve to death, but I was okay with that.
Now I wouldn''t have to suffer anymore. I thought I could go to Tina and the others.
But then Christo showed up and saved me.
Then you were always tangling with me, even though I thought you were going to die.
At first I thought it was depressing. But I also thought it was fun to talk to people for the first time in a long time.
That''s when you said to me.
''Let''s be friends, Eric.''
Those words - you know how much they saved me.
Christo, you were in despair then, too. You told me that the kingdom of Begonia was destroyed and you lost your family.
And you shared what little food you had with the children of the favelas and me.
You were the first person to tell me that I was going to be your friend.
I''ll never forget what you said to me.
''--Hey, what''s the matter with you?
What...?
I huffed when Christo, who was suddenly in front of me, shook my shoulder.
Apparently, he was blown away by the reminder of his previous life.
''You, why are you crying?''
-Oh!
I noticed after being told, but there were tears running down my cheeks.
I hurriedly wiped the tears away.
''''I, no, it''s nothing........''''
Really? So what do you think? Will you be my friend?
I almost start to cry again at those words, but I manage to stop myself.
Even in a past life ... even in this life. You''re still you, Christo.
My answer is already decided.
Just like in the previous life - I''ll start with this response.
"''Are you sure you want to...? By me.
''Of course it''s good. I want to be your friend.''
Christo said it the same way he said it that day, even though he shouldn''t remember it.
That made me very happy and I couldn''t help but smile.
''''Christo I want to be friends with you too. I look forward to working with you in the future.''
''Yeah, nice to meet you, Eric!
We shake hands tightly.
It''s a different place and time than it was that day.
I''m sure you sounded lighter than you did then.
But - I think we can still be ''best friends'' with you, Christo.