・・・ xxii ・・・
The rest of the day passed in a quick blur.
With the help of Rie, their work went faster.
Ao almost couldn't recognize his own apartment anymore when they finally finished.
On the walls, streamers were hung in various colors of blue and red.
Around them, stuffed reindeers and festive toys were decorated around the furnitures.
The Christmas tree now had glittering ornaments and a bright star sitting at the top of its peak.
Everything looked so strange. Bright.
.... Unfamiliar.
"Wow. It's almost seems like a completely different place, right?" Leo asked humorously.
Beside him, Rie laughed.
Ao simply stood there.
As he stared at the unusual scene before him,
there was a strange heavy feeling weighting somewhere in his chest.
Without even noticing it,
he had made a small nod of agreement.
It does.
・・・ xxii ・・・
When the sky began to grow dark,
Rie told them that she needed to go.
"What about you, Leo?" she asked.
Leo rubbed the back of his head. He stared at the clock on the wall.
"Nah. I'm staying here longer... Should we see you out, Rie?"
Rie shook her head. "It's fine. I can manage."
"Ah... Alright then."
Again, Leo waved her goodbye.
Ao nodded politely.
When the door closed, a short silence ensued.
Leo suddenly spoke up.
"Actually, Ao..." His tone was quiet. For some reason, he wouldn't meet his eyes again.
"... I was wondering if I could stay over tonight."
Ao froze.
He blinked.
He wondered if he had heard him right.
When Leo turned to look at him, Ao flinched.
He couldn't bear to see that look on his face.
It was that same pleading, pained expression again.
He turned away,
staring at the obsolete wall.
"It is alright...?" Leo asked quietly. Very quietly.
No one spoke.
Seconds passed.
One.
Two.
Three.
Ao shook his head.
"Do what you want..." he whispered quietly.
・・・ xxii ・・・
Leo's expression brightened.
His tone sounded surprised.
"... Thanks, Ao."
He grinned awkwardly. "I'll be sleeping on the couch. Just don't mind me."
"... Alright."
Leo turned to walk back into the living room.
As he was about to take the first step, he paused.
"About this... thank you. I've been getting into trouble. Just... thanks for lending me a roof." He laughed weakly.
There was an edge to his voice.
Something was wrong.
A dozen questions surfaced in Ao's mind.
What are you talking about?
What have you been hiding?
How did you know where I was?
... Is everything alright?
He had so many he wanted to ask him.
Instead, all Ao could do was nod once.
Leo smiled again.
"Sorry for causing you trouble."
・・・ xxii ・・・
Ao stared at his ceiling.
What am I doing?
What am I doing?
What am I doing?
What am I doing?
What am I doing?
Why is this happening to me?
Why is it that everything seems so unfair?
He turned to look at the door.
Leo was in the living room right now.
He wondered what he was doing. What he was thinking.
Ao gripped his blankets.
Why... did you come back?
Why are you doing this?
Why after all this time?
He closed his eyes.
It didn't matter how many questions he asked.
No one ever answered him.
"No one ever does."
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...
