Mei stiffly shook her head, her eyes already red. "No."
Why was he asking if he already knew…
Otis said, "I can explain."
Mei gave a small "mm." "Then explain."
Otis thought for a moment, then said, "That day… I was making a handmade knitted toy for you. I wanted to surprise you."
Mei only felt sadder. She looked down at the ground. "Then… where is the fluffy yarn?"
Otis said, "It got ruined…"
Mei felt a sting in her nose. "Then… that day… why didn't you come?"
Otis didn't know how to explain everything clearly. The girl standing in front of him had once told him she'd been tormented by rumors before. If he told her that the same kind of rumors had come for her again… If he said it, would that still count as protecting her? He slowly spoke, his throat dry. "Something suddenly came up…"
Mei felt the strength drain from her body. A sudden urge to run surged in her chest. She looked down. It hurt, it hurt so much…
Otis stepped forward, wanting to hug her, but Mei stepped away.
