---
Nao only truly realized it when they were sitting by the edge of the pool.
The small pool in the backyard—not wide, not anything special. The water was calm, reflecting the sky as it slowly shifted from orange to purple. The same place as before. The place where they used to sit together, legs dangling, sharing stories without any clear purpose.
Nao hugged her knees, staring at the surface of the water, slightly rippling from the evening breeze.
And that was when the feeling came.
Not the loud kind of happiness she felt when she was with her friends.
Not laughter or lively conversations.
But warmth.
A quiet warmth that stayed, that didn't leave even when they sat in silence for a long time.
"…It's weird," Nao murmured softly.
Ayano turned to her.
"Why?"
Nao smiled faintly, her eyes still on the pool.
"I laughed a lot today. But… it feels different from now."
Ayano didn't answer right away. He simply waited.
"When I'm with them, I'm happy," Nao continued honestly.
"But it's like… there's a part that isn't filled."
Her fingers slowly tightened.
"But now, just sitting like this… it feels full."
Those words made Ayano lower his gaze slightly. His chest felt tight—not painful, but like something pressing gently.
"…Sorry," he said quietly.
"If I ever made you feel that emptiness."
Nao quickly turned to him.
"That's not your fault."
She exhaled softly.
"Or… not just yours."
They fell silent again.
But the silence wasn't awkward. It felt familiar—like a thin blanket on a cold night.
Ayano broke it with a small smile.
"Do you remember when you fell into the pool?"
Nao immediately shot him a sharp look.
"Don't bring that up!"
Ayano chuckled softly.
"You slipped on your own."
"I was pushed!"
"No."
"You pushed me!"
Ayano shrugged.
"Proof?"
Nao huffed in annoyance, but the corners of her lips lifted.
"You've always been annoying."
Ayano smiled wider.
"You too. Don't forget when you hid my shoes."
"That was payback!"
The conversation flowed naturally.
Old memories that should've been forgotten came back to life—rainy days when they walked home soaked, homework they did while arguing, quiet nights when they just sat together listening to the sound of insects.
Nao laughed.
A light laugh. Unforced. Uncalculated.
And in the middle of it, she realized—
she wasn't keeping her distance.
She wasn't being careful.
She was just being herself.
"Ayano," she called suddenly.
"Hmm?"
"I don't want to lose this again."
Ayano looked at her, serious.
"Neither do I."
Nao lowered her gaze, her fingers brushing the surface of the water.
"If one day I get busy again… or have a lot of friends… don't leave, okay?"
Ayano was silent for a while.
Then he spoke in a low voice,
"I won't leave. But I also don't want to be the only place you stand on."
Nao nodded slowly.
"I know."
The night breeze began to blow. The air grew cooler. The garden lights turned on one by one.
They stayed there, sharing stories until the sky turned completely dark.
There was no grand confession.
No dramatic promise.
But something began to grow again—slowly, carefully, yet undeniably real.
That night, when Nao lay down on her bed, she wore a small smile. Her chest felt warm, her mind calm.
She finally understood.
Her friends gave her color.
Laughter.
A wide world.
But Ayano…
gave her a home.
And for the first time, Nao knew—
she didn't have to choose one over the other.
---
That morning felt different.
Sunlight streamed gently through the kitchen window, soft and not blinding.
Nao stood in front of the stove, wearing a simple apron, her hair loosely tied.
Ayano sat at the dining table, reading something on his phone, occasionally glancing at her.
Like usual.
And yet, for some reason, it felt warm.
"Ayano," Nao called while flipping the eggs.
"Stop playing with your phone. Breakfast is almost ready."
"Yeah, yeah," Ayano replied quickly, putting his phone down.
He smiled faintly, watching Nao move naturally in the kitchen—a sight that now felt… important.
They ate together, chatting lightly.
No distance.
No strange silence.
Everything flowed, just like before.
And just as Nao was clearing the plates—
"Nao," Ayano suddenly said.
"Hmm?"
"Do you want to go out with me today?"
Nao's movement stopped.
Go out?
She slowly turned.
"Go out… what do you mean?"
Ayano scratched his cheek, slightly nervous—something rare for him lately.
"Just… hang out. Nothing special. If you want."
Nao's face instantly flushed.
This… this sounded like—
a date?
Her heart started pounding. She looked down, trying to hide the redness on her cheeks.
"I-I… yeah… if you want…"
Ayano smiled.
"So you do."
Nao nodded quickly.
"I do."
And so the day began.
They took public transportation, standing side by side. Ayano talked to staff, bought tickets, asked for directions—small things he used to avoid.
Nao watched him quietly.
At school, Ayano was calm and reserved.
At home, he was gentle.
And today—he looked… mature.
But strangely, when Ayano turned and asked,
"Where do you want to go first?"
Nao reverted to her old self.
"Anywhere!" she answered quickly.
"You decide!"
Ayano chuckled.
"You haven't changed."
"Huh? I'm normal now," Nao protested, though her tone sounded unintentionally soft.
They spent time at Timezone.
Nao insisted on trying the claw machine, failing over and over, getting frustrated.
Ayano just stood beside her, holding back laughter.
"This machine is rigged," Nao grumbled.
Ayano stepped in—one try, and he won.
Nao stared at the plushie in his hand with wide eyes.
"Huh?!"
"Skill," Ayano said casually.
Nao huffed but took the plushie.
"Thanks…"
Her voice was small. Cute. Completely different from the cold Nao at school.
They had lunch together, shared food, laughed over small things.
After that, they went shopping—Nao went in and out of the fitting room multiple times, asking,
"How about this one?"
and Ayano answered honestly, without teasing too much.
As evening approached, they walked through a city park.
A gentle breeze, children running around, elderly couples sitting on benches.
Nao enjoyed everything.
Then, without any grand plan, they stopped in front of a simple building.
An orphanage.
Nao turned.
"We're… going here?"
Ayano nodded.
"I come here sometimes. Not often, but… I like the atmosphere."
They went inside.
And instantly, everything changed.
"Ayano big brother!!"
Several kids ran toward him.
Some hugged his legs,
some pulled his hands,
some shouted asking to be carried.
Nao froze.
Ayano—usually quiet—immediately crouched down, smiling warmly.
"Hey, slow down. Are you all doing well?"
"Yesss!"
He carried a small child, patted another's head, listened to their stories patiently.
Not rushed.
Not awkward.
Nao stood a little farther away, watching.
Her chest felt… warm.
Then it started pounding.
Ayano laughed.
Ayano smiled sincerely.
Ayano looked… like someone who would be a good father.
The thought came out of nowhere.
And Nao's face instantly turned red.
"W-what am I thinking…," she muttered, looking down, covering her cheeks.
She watched Ayano play with the children—running around, losing at card games, pretending to be upset when they cheated.
When Ayano turned and waved at her,
"Nao, come here too!"
Nao flinched.
"M-me?!"
Some kids immediately pulled her hands.
"Big sister! Come play!"
Nao smiled awkwardly… then slowly relaxed.
When they finally said goodbye, Nao glanced once more at Ayano bowing to the children.
Her chest felt full.
That night, as they returned home, their steps felt light.
Nao sat on the sofa, hugging the plushie she got earlier.
"…Today was fun," she said softly.
Ayano smiled.
"I'm glad you're happy."
Nao turned to him, her eyes shining.
"I'm happy."
And it wasn't a loud kind of happiness.
But a quiet one.
A relieving one.
Like returning to the right place.
That night, Nao fell asleep with a small smile—feeling whole, warm, and not alone.
The morning passed without anything special—or at least, that's what Nao thought.
After a simple breakfast, Ayano stood from his chair and began tidying the dishes into the sink. His movements were relaxed, as always.
Nao helped dry the plates, her hair loosely tied, her face still bare without makeup.
The atmosphere in the house felt calm—too calm.
"Nao," Ayano called suddenly.
"Hm?" Nao turned.
"Want to go to the city center?"
Nao blinked.
"The city center… now?"
"Yeah. I was thinking of buying something."
Nao hesitated for a moment. Usually, Ayano didn't invite her out without a clear reason. But his tone sounded light, unhurried.
"…Okay," she finally answered.
The train moved slowly, the sound of the rails blending with the chatter of other passengers.
Nao sat beside Ayano, holding her small bag with both hands. She glanced out the window, then lowered her gaze again.
"It's crowded," she said softly.
Ayano nodded.
"It's the weekend."
They got off at the central station.
The atmosphere changed instantly—busy, lively, full of color.
Shops lined the streets, billboards glowed, and people passed by with all kinds of expressions.
Nao looked a little awkward. She walked half a step behind Ayano, an old habit that hadn't completely faded.
But Ayano slowed his pace, matching her rhythm without saying a word.
Their first destination was a large game store on the second floor of an entertainment building.
As soon as the automatic doors opened, Nao's eyes lit up.
"Wow…"
"Looks like you're interested," Ayano said.
Nao approached the shelves with small but quick steps.
Her fingers brushed over the game cases, reading each title one by one.
Some she recognized, others were unfamiliar.
"This one looks fun…"
"That one's good too," Ayano added, pointing to another shelf.
Without realizing it, Nao started talking more.
She compared games, explained her reasons, even lightly argued with Ayano over her choices.
"Ayano, this one's multiplayer. We can play together."
"Are you sure you like this genre?"
"If it's with you… maybe."
The words slipped out naturally.
Nao froze immediately. Her face turned red.
Ayano also paused for a moment, then cleared his throat softly.
"Then… let's get it."
In the end, they bought several games—more than they had planned.
Nao hugged the shopping bag like it was a treasure.
After leaving the store, they had a simple lunch.
Nao looked satisfied, letting out a small laugh when Ayano told an embarrassing story about losing badly in a game before.
Time passed quickly.
As evening approached, Ayano suddenly stopped in front of another shop.
Nao turned.
"Why did you stop?"
It was a movie store.
"Just a second," Ayano said.
Nao didn't ask anything. She simply followed him inside.
Ayano picked a movie, then paid for it.
Nao glanced at the cover but couldn't see it clearly.
"…A movie?"
"Yeah."
"Hm." Nao just nodded, though she was curious.
They returned home in the late afternoon.
The house felt more alive than usual—maybe because laughter still lingered in the air.
They immediately tried the games.
Sitting on the living room floor, controllers passed between them, complaints and laughter mixing together.
"Hey, that's cheating!"
"You're just slow."
"Ayano!"
Time flew by.
Before they realized it, it was already three in the afternoon.
"Tired?" Ayano asked.
Nao nodded, still smiling.
"But happy."
They took a short break, had some snacks, then sat back down on the sofa.
"Let's watch the movie," Ayano said.
Nao nodded again, unsuspecting.
The lights were turned off.
The disc started playing.
And when the low, unsettling music began, Nao frowned slightly.
"Ayano…"
"Hm?"
"What kind of movie is this?"
Ayano looked at the screen.
"Horror."
Nao froze.
"…Huh?"
And from there, the night began to change—slowly, awkwardly, warmly—toward a moment when Nao, without realizing it, found a place where she always felt safe: by Ayano's side.
---
The movie continued.
The living room was completely dark now, only the glow of the screen reflecting on their faces.
At first, Nao tried to stay calm—sitting straight, hands on her lap, eyes on the screen even as her eyelids twitched occasionally.
The sound of slow footsteps from the movie made her tense.
"…Ayano," she called softly.
"Hm?"
"The music… it's weird."
Ayano glanced at her.
"Yeah. Usually when it's like this—"
JUMPSCARE.
A figure suddenly appeared on the screen, accompanied by a loud sound that shattered the silence.
"—AH!"
Nao instinctively shut her eyes and grabbed the nearest thing.
Her hand clutched Ayano's arm, and without realizing it, she hugged him tightly.
Her body trembled slightly, her forehead pressed against his shoulder.
"Ayano…!" her voice shook.
Ayano froze for a moment, stiff. His face grew warm.
"I-it's just a movie," he said softly, trying to sound calm.
Nao didn't respond.
Her grip only tightened.
"…I'm not even looking at the screen," she muttered.
"But the sound…"
Ayano took a small breath, then carefully raised his hand and gently patted her back.
"It's okay. If you want… just close your eyes."
Nao nodded slightly, still holding onto his arm.
For the rest of the movie, she mostly hid against his shoulder, only peeking occasionally with one eye.
When the movie ended and the screen went dark, Nao slowly let go.
"…Sorry," she said softly, her face red.
Ayano shook his head.
"It's okay."
---
The night continued with a simple dinner.
They sat across from each other at the table, the atmosphere calmer, warmer than usual.
There was no awkward tension—just a pleasant kind of exhaustion after a full day.
"Today… was fun," Nao said suddenly.
Ayano looked at her.
"Yeah."
"Not just today," Nao continued softly.
"Yesterday too."
She looked down, her fingers intertwined.
"I… was really happy."
Ayano didn't interrupt.
Nao took a breath, her voice softening.
"I kind of forgot. About… you."
The words came out with guilt.
"I was busy, happy, laughing… but there was an empty part. And I only realized it now."
Ayano smiled faintly.
"I'm not mad."
Nao looked up.
"That's a lie."
Ayano let out a small laugh.
"A little. But I'm happier seeing you smile again."
Nao fell silent, then smiled too.
---
That night, like their old habit, they sat by the edge of the pool.
The water reflected the garden lights, the cool night breeze brushing against their skin.
They sat side by side, legs dangling, shoulders almost touching.
"If we have time again," Ayano said, breaking the silence,
"let's play again."
Nao turned to him, her eyes shining.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I promise."
Nao nodded.
"I want to."
They smiled at the same time.
---
When it was time to sleep, Nao stood in front of her room… but didn't go in.
"Ayano," she called softly.
"Hm?"
Nao bit her lip.
"…I'm still scared."
Ayano paused.
"From the movie?"
Nao nodded slightly.
"…Can I… sleep with you?"
Silence.
Ayano's face turned red instantly.
"W-What?"
Nao quickly added,
"Just for tonight!"
Ayano exhaled, then nodded.
"Yeah… just for tonight."
---
That night, they shared one bed.
The lights were off, the blanket neatly pulled over them.
They lay there with a gap—
too close to feel calm,
too far to feel comfortable.
Nao faced away from Ayano.
Ayano stared at the ceiling.
Both of their faces were red.
"…Ayano," Nao whispered.
"Hm?"
"Thank you… for today."
Ayano smiled softly in the dark.
"You're welcome."
Nao slowly turned over, and without realizing it, the distance between them shrank.
They didn't touch,
but the warmth was real.
And that night passed
with the quiet but steady sound of their heartbeats,
marking something that was slowly growing—
without force, without grand promises—
just a sincere feeling.