・・・ xvii ・・・
It felt uncomfortable.
Sudden.
Abrupt.
A week ago, he never would have imagined that Leo would sleep at his apartment and even cook breakfast for him.
A week ago, he never would have imagined that everything that happened before would even happen at all.
A lingering silence came over the two of them as they sat at the table.
"You probably don't know this yet, but the snow disappeared last night," Leo stated as he bit into his bacon.
Unable to say anything, Ao blinked.
Leo shook his head.
"It's a shame... isn't it?"
・・・ xviii ・・・
He was right. The snow had arrived and disappeared early.
All that was left now was a chill in the air,
and a constant reminder that a new year was coming.
For Ao, however, it did not matter.
The three of them trudged through the melting snow, looking at the scenery.
Rie had arrived at his apartment half an hour ago.
When she did, Leo urged that they should go outside.
"The fresh air will help," he said to Ao. "And I only know how to cook breakfast. So we'll go to the cafe for lunch!"
The thin silence between them was only broken by Leo who spoke up to ask something and Rie who was the one who answered.
All the while, Ao trailed a few steps behind,
looking at them talk in loud, cheerful voices.
Hey, tell me.
I've always wanted to ask.
... Why are both of you doing this?
・・・ xix ・・・
A few minutes later, they arrived in front of the cafe.
The three of them settled on the same table as before.
They had also ordered for the same food.
Throughout the entire time, Leo and Rie were the ones who spoke a lot and laughed.
Ao only nodded and stayed quiet.
"—Ah. This New Years, I was wondering if you and Ao-kun were free," Rie abruptly spoke up, turning to them with a wide smile.
"My parents are still away, and I heard it's amazing to see the sunrise at the beach... would you two like to go with me?"
Once she said that, Leo slightly flinched.
Ao blinked, surprised.
For some reason, Leo's mood had suddenly shifted.
In a matter of seconds, his upbeat atmosphere had disappeared.
Rie hadn't noticed, however.
・・・ xx ・・・
Ao could understand.
Leo had always been good at hiding what he felt behind a happy face.
Even someone as perceptive as her wouldn't notice unless they knew him for a long, long time.
And Ao had.
Leo rubbed the back of his head.
He took a sip of his soda and glanced outside.
"Hm, that sound great... I'll see if I can," Leo said, forcing a smile.
There was a painful tone in his voice, Ao noticed.
The next day, the three of them went out to the cafe again.
And the next.
And the next.
And the next.