・・・ xiii ・・・
In the book that he was always reading,
one of the things that left a deep impression was the raven's answer to the shepherd boy's question.
He remembered the answer well.
Every word was etched into memory.
'Yes, I do fear death', the raven had said.
'But more than anything... More than that...
I feel more afraid of being alone.'
No matter how much he tried to deny it, the truth was written there on the crackling surface of the paper.
"In the end, we were the same as well."
・・・ xiv ・・・
When afternoon arrived, Rie told them she needed to go.
"Sorry. I still have something important to do," she said apologetically.
It was the same sequence.
Leo saw her off at the doorway. Ao trailed silently behind him.
Before she went, Hashimoto Rie smiled at them.
Then, suddenly, she turned to Ao.
He flinched.
There was an glassy look in her eyes.
Almost like...
Almost like...
"... Sadness."
Her tone was soft and quiet.
"Well.. see you tomorrow then, Ao-kun."
・・・ xv ・・・
"You should rest. You need it," Leo said.
"Don't burden yourself too much, Ao."
"... I know."
Leo made a small smile.
"I guess I'll be staying over for a few more nights just to make sure your fever doesn't come back again. Ah. You don't... mind, do you?"
A twinge of unease settled over him.
He shook his head slightly.
Leo's face softened. He looked relieved.
"I'm glad to hear that. Also... Rie and I were talking about going to the cafe tomorrow. If you're feeling well, that is. Is it... okay too?"
Ao blinked.
He studied Leo's face.
He remembered the pained expression he had shown him before.
The way his face had almost looked like he was about to cry.
Ao didn't want to see that again.
He made a small exhale.
"... Do what you want."
・・・ xvi ・・・
He did not remember when he had fallen asleep.
The next day, he woke up to someone knocking softly at his door.
Confusion gripped him as he sat up on the bed.
"Who could it be?"
Leo's head appeared from the crack.
When he saw Ao, his eyes shone brightly.
He grinned.
"Morning, Ao. Breakfast is ready," he said. "Come on."
Ao stared at him.
Then,
slowly,
reluctantly,
hesitantly,
he nodded his head once.
Just once.
Leo's grin widened. "That's great. I'll wait for you in the kitchen then."
He closed the door.
Ao stared at the place where Leo had been.
At the back of his mind,
he wondered when the last time was when someone had invited him for breakfast.
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...
