Chapter Text
On such a beautiful day, he would have never thought that one could cry so much. But with this fragility which characterized their meeting, it was obvious it was bound to happen.
Maybe she shouldn't have come here today.
After all, going to the university askedof her more will than before the incident she had on the tram.
In fact, up until today, she had managed to avoid taking it at all. It was the benefit of having a friend who could drive, named Aiko.
But today, Aiko wasn't available to help Ayane out. And logically, she would have to ride the tramway. Unless she wished to become broke by taking a taxi.
In addition to going to the university, she worked part-time too... but most of her money came from her family, which stayed in the countryside. This part-time job, it was mostly a way for her to feel less guilty regarding the money she costed them, for her studies, which she still wasn't even sure of the utility.
Yes... just thinking about it, Ayane thought that her life was a hell of a mess.
And today, despite the fact she was near the station, she didn't go any further.
She simply wasn't going to go today.
...but she was unable to backtrack.
She didn't know where to go at such an hour of the day. It was rather early.
She thought back about the Matsuno's home but the idea went away by itself.
It wasn't a working day either.
So what were the options left for her?
...maybe just staying on this bench and waiting for the time to pass was enough.
It was a radiant day. And she took refuge in the scenery to forget how heavy her heart was.
Her mind wandered back to the Matsuno, but especially to one in particular... in her phone, she had his little brother's number as well as their residence's.
Ayane doubted that she would bother him if she called. The problem, was rather her own reaction if she did.
She felt too vulnerable and regretted to not have stayed at home.
But in this kind of situation, his voice seemed to soothe her... so perhaps it wasn' a problem to call him?
Technically, the safe distance between them will still be there.
...
...
The phone started to ring by itself as if to push her to do what she was hesitant to.
Of course, it was Todomatsu who was calling her, since Osomatsu didn't even have a cell phone.
Well if it was him using said phone at least .
- « Ayane-san, are you coming over today ? »
No, it was definitely Todomatsu.
- « I'm not coming... why ?
- Oh... haha, no reason~ just to be ready if that was the case ! »
The distinct sound of an alarm could be heard ringing through the phone.
...what was that? There was a fire at home?
- « Are... are you okay?
- Haha, yes don't worry about it! Well, I'm going to hang up ! »
He did exactly that, leaving Ayane alone with the tone.
It was obvious that he was hiding something from her and that they aren't as okay as he claimed.
Not knowing what to do any more, she stood up then: having a walk could maybe clear her head, but at this time of the day with those workers and students out there, she didn't have the chance to.
Everyone was going to work or study... and her?
She didn't know what she was doing anymore.
On the pavement, soon, she drowned in the crowd. A sea full of suits and ties. It was the world of adults, a world full of black and gray.
She felt like she belonged to this mass. That she had to take upon herself, to go back to the university, and to go study... to study what again ? Did it matter ? As long as she succeeded in what she did...
Her vision began to blur, and her thoughts engulfed her, she could hardly hear her own will begging for it to stop.
She heard her name being called from far away, but drawing near.
And suddenly, bright red appeared to her.
A hand which seemed to always be there to save her, snapped her out of her torpor.
She was called again.
Tears were about to come out. There wasn't any reason to hide her face.
She really didn't understand anything anymore.
Just that as long as she held his hand, it seemed that the mass didn't matter anymore. Her thoughts cleared. And her tears flowed.
And him, he didn't let go of her hand, didn't look away from her either.
Osomatsu.
And while smiling, he suggested to her :
- « What do you think about a date today ? »
Even if he had said it that way, he knew it was nothing like a date actually.
Chance had brought them together again when he was running away from home after setting it on fire (it's a long story) and he had thought that a maid cafe was the perfect way to recover from his emotions, the money obviously wasn't his either.
And while he was trying to make his way through this crowd full of workers, he had recognized her silhouette : Ayane.
If he was able to differentiate his brothers so perfectly, there was no reason for him to have trouble with anyone else.
And once he found her, he didn't know what to do. All he knew was that sweets, usually tended to cheer people up, especially with ice cream.
So he had ordered a parfait for them and hoped that this gesture wouldn't be too much for her.
From this perspective, it looked like they were on a date indeed.
Osomatsu, embarrassed, began apologizing :
- « Sorry, maybe you didn't want ice cream... or to eat anything really, but I thought that-
- No, it's fine. Thank you for your attention. »
Ayane wasn't looking at him in the eyes but it seemed that she was smiling :
- « It seems like you always come to save me. How do you do that ?
- As luck would have it, I guess ? », he said, his words followed by a light chuckle.
This enchanting little laugh lifted her spirits even more than he could imagine. For this reason, she smiled tenderly at him, before saying :
- « Yes, it seemed very lucky. »
He paused at the sight of her soft smile.
Her smile... if he could make her smile like that, then he was ready to give her all the ice creams she wished.
Seeing her happy made him happy.
But he didn't want to limit this day to some laughs to take her mind off things. Despite their proximity, he still didn't understand her.
- « Hey ,Ayane-chan... »
He said that without realizing it : they already carefreely called Totoko with this suffix, and then came Kinko. Calling her like that would have eventually happened anyway.
And strangely enough, she received this rather well given that beside a brief surprised look she didn't say anything about it :
- « Ayane-chan, you know, I realize that I don't really know anything about you even if you visit us almost every day. »
Which was weird since she visited them pretty often ? But she never talked about herself, and she hadn't had the opportunity to ask him about anything yet.
Hoping that it wasn't a problem yet.
Ayane asked, her head tilted to the side :
- « Should I do the same for you by inviting you home ?
- Ye... No. Don't change the subject ! That's not what I'm trying to tell you ! »
She remained silent, but continued to listen to him :
- « What I mean is that, before today... there was this time in the rain and since that day I have thought about what you said. »
Really ?
She thought or maybe rather hoped that he had forgotten about that. Her twisted reasoning shouldn't make a lot of sense to most people, if not to her friends
- « Say, about today, what happened ? »
...She'd like to avoid talking about it.
But after seeing her like that... she couldn't just brush him off
- « I didn't want to go to the university... but I forced myself to go until I reached the tram station. Then I couldn't go any further. And then, you found me. »
There, in a few simple words...
It was enough for Osomatsu to understand the situation.
He felt like he finally had some clarification about what Ayane was going through.
He asked her then :
- « Why did you force yourself to go ?
- I'm used to it.
- To force yourself ? »
She simply nodded her head, and started to eat the frozen dessert, distancing herself with those words which shaped her life.
Osomatsu watched her without saying anything. Clearly, this has taken away his desire to eat.
- « And do you know why you do that ? »
She stopped as she was going to take another bite and put her spoon into the glass container.
- « What else can I do then ? »
This question... she knew the answer to it.
But she didn't know what else she was supposed to do.
- « Something you like, for example ? »
...
- « I don't know, huh, it's just that... to me, if I had to work or study, 'should be something that encourages me to do it... are you doing something you like right now ? »
...
She could only admit it.
- « No. »
A tear ran down her cheek.
- « I don't enjoy what I'm doing. »
Osomatsu looked at her, troubled. He was tempted to hand her a hankerchief.
But with what she had said earlier, he felt inclined to do something else.
He took her hand in his again and asked her :
- « Say, does it really reassure you when I do that ? »
She nodded while smiling at him, as tears poured in.
To be honest, right now, he wanted to hug her. He'd sent the table flying to do it.
On the other side, Ayane dried her tears with her other free hand with a hankerchief, sniffling.
And he tighten his grip harder than he intended to.
- « Thank you for the parfait, Osomatsu-kun.
- It's nothing. », he replied, « Where are you going now ? »
- « I don't really now... I've got nowhere to go. »
. ..
- « Ayane-chan... what about spending the rest of the day together ? »
She looked at him in surprise :
- « Since you have nothing to do... And I've got nothing to do... we should just find something to do together ? »