✄▐ (𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴)𝚂𝙸𝙲𝙺𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂.

     that leaves him speechless for a second or two. he almost asks her what she means by that, taken aback by such a sudden confession– but then he remembers that this is naoko, that they’ve been friends since they were kids, that they’re practically siblings in terms of supposed closeness. it’s more likely that she means it in a platonic way… right? 

     he can’t just say nothing. fun as it would be to say something cruel in response (just to see the tears run down those soft cheeks; to savor the thought of their bittersweet taste), he’s smarter than that. instead, ayato lets an easy smile wash over him, and turns towards her.

     a lie is better than nothing. if he lies to his parents about this same thing, why not her?

     oh. that was a problem, wasn’t it? not that senpai had to walk home-- after all, if he did, ayato could just follow along-- but the growling of taro’s stomach, a sign that maybe walking home (a couple of miles, as ayato knew the route well by now) wouldn’t be so convenient. given a moment for thought, the solution was simple; it was also a good excuse to get closer to him. just the kind of excuse ayato had been waiting for, in fact...

     ❝ heh! i guess that’s true. ❞

     ❝ it’s a nice thought, but i don’t think kizana-san would let me try that… i think she’d be scandalized at the thought of anyone else but herself taking the spotlight. ❞ 

     hanging out with naoko is as good a way to kill time as any. it’s been that way since they were kids. ayato lacks the ability to say he truly missed her– the only thing he felt at her absence was annoyance at having to find other means of entertainment– but if nothing else, her return is an interesting distraction. in a strange, roundabout sort of way, he both has and hasn’t grown past the boy who would chase her around or put bugs in her hair just to hear her squeal… when she looks at him with those warm eyes, he wonders what expression she would make if she found out the truth. do her squeals and shrieks still sound the same?

     come to think of it, finding that out would be interesting, too.