・・・ i ・・・
The next day, he woke up to the sound of his phone ringing an unfamiliar tune.
With heaving breaths, he tried to calm himself first as he sat up on his bed.
His fingers were trembling.
There was a sharp pain in his head.
A moment later, he frowned.
He was certain he had turned off the morning alarm on his phone.
It was winter break, after all.
He stared at the clock on the desk.
9:36 a.m.
Then, reached out and picked up his phone.
It was not an alarm.
Instead, someone was calling him.
He stared at the caller id.
[ Leon The Lion ]
He blinked.
There was only one person he knew who would make that ridiculous-sounding title.
・・・ ii ・・・
His finger hovered for a moment over the answer button.
The phone continued to vibrate and ring in his hand.
His hearing seemed to have grown faint.
"... Don't answer him."
He lowered his head and breathed out.
Reluctantly, he pressed the green circle and brought his phone to his ear.
The screen felt cool.
"... Hello...?" he asked uncertainly.
"Ah——Good morning, sunshine!" Leo cried out in a happy tone from the other side. "Are you awake or are you half-awake?"
Ao blinked.
He rubbed his eyes.
"... What do you want?"
"It's too early to be salty, Ao," he chided jokingly. "What are you saying? Of course, I called to check up on my childhood friend! It's a beautiful day, the sun is out, and Christmas is only two nights away. Which brings me to the main reason why I called you in the first place..."
He trailed off for dramatic effect.
When he said his next words,
Ao could easily imagine him with a wide grin.
"Hey, would you like to go to the mall later to buy some food and decorations?"
・・・ iii ・・・
Ao didn't reply.
When the silence seemed too long,
Leo decided to speak from the other side.
"Ah... are you still there?"
Ao blinked and stared at the clock.
9:39 a.m.
He breathed in quietly. "... What for?"
"Well, because Rie and I decided we're going to celebrate Christmas Eve at your place."
Ao frowned slightly, feeling the world tilt.
"I'm not celebrating," he said coldly.
He could hear the uncertainty in Leo's voice.
"Come on. I don't have anyone to spend it with, and Rie said that her parents are away on work. Besides... it's not like you have anything else to do... right?"
Ao didn't speak.
"... Please?" Leo pleaded softly.
He flinched.
Of course not.
Again, he stared at the ceiling.
He imagined thousands of droplets of rain falling from above, drenching him.
He closed his eyes.
Ao could hear the reluctance in his own tone.
"... Do what you want."
・・・ iv ・・・
When Leo finally hung up, his mind spun.
He lay on the bed and stared at the sky beyond the window.
Leo was right. It was a beautiful day.
In that moment, he suddenly recalled the dream he had the night before.
The one with himself and the rain.
When he closed his eyes,
he could still see the castle crumbling.
Again and again and again and again.
"It was all useless."
He sighed.
He looked at the clock again.
9:53 a.m.
Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock.