・・・ xiii ・・・
"This book... so you really still have it."
Leo slowly reached out and brushed the cover that lay on top of the table.
They were both at Ao's apartment.
A few minutes ago, he was surprised when Leo had gotten off the taxi and followed him inside.
At the moment, Leo was sitting on the couch.
The paper bags that contained the decorations were at his feet.
Ao wanted to ask why he had decided to stay.
But he didn't know how to ask the right words.
He was afraid of what he might say to him.
Afraid of the words that might accidentally leave his tongue.
In the end, he chose to stay quiet instead.
"... Pathetic."
・・・ xiv ・・・
"I remember this story well. It was about the shepherd boy and the raven..."
Leo muttered almost as if to himself.
A thin silence blanketed them.
Then a moment later, he suddenly turned to look up at Ao standing by the doorway.
—An expression filled with pain.
Ao slightly flinched.
The look on Leo's face made him unconsciously turn away.
For some reason, his hands began to shake.
His heartbeat echoed in his ear.
A sickening feeling rose in his gut.
Then, Leo whispered his next words.
His tone was quiet.
So quiet.
"I remember. This... was her favorite story, wasn't it?"
・・・ xv ・・・
Ao didn't answer.
Stop.
Stop.
Stop.
Don't talk about this.
Don't talk about her.
Leo looked away, picking up the book and cradling it in his hands.
"In the end, the little boy had chosen death..." he whispered and trailed off.
He opened the first page and sighed quietly.
"... What an ironic story, don't you think?"
There was a crack in his tone.
Ao pretended not to notice this.
・・・ xvi ・・・
"Ao... I—"
Leo stopped himself, hesitating.
"I—" He tried again, his voice turning hoarse.
Despite how much he wanted not to,
slowly, Ao turned to him.
Leo had his head down, however. He refused to look at him in the eye.
Ao felt an uncomfortable pang somewhere in his chest.
Ah... This is not the Leo that I know.
The Leo that he knew was always smiling.
Bright.
Happy.
Again, Leo tried for the third time.
"I... I—"
Ao could hear the pain in his voice.
Leo finally looked at him.
No.
Please, don't make that kind of expression.
Please, don't show me that kind of face.
Leo shook his head.
He opened his mouth.
"No... nevermind."
YOU ARE READING
re:Happiness | Cell Phone Novel
General Fiction「 Can you teach me how to be happy? 」 Fujiwara Ao has been living the past nineteen years of his life in ease. Born with the ideal background and blessed with enough talent, that's what most of the people presume. In their eyes, he was sim...
