Perhaps it wasn't the news that had bothered me so much as the delivery.

He had said it— Takahiro had said it— with such a broad, oblivious smile.

I love him so much.

But even though I want to be happy for him, I want to appreciate that he has found his own happiness without me, I can't help but weep bitterly at how cruel fate is to me.

Or perhaps it is all really Takahiro's fault for failing to notice my obvious affections, but I can never bring myself to blame him for anything. He is my closest friend, my love, and my agony.

Oh God, it hurts. It hurts so badly. I want to strangle that girl for taking him from me, but that would hurt Takahiro.

I can't do that.

So I will suffer silently.

It's snowing outside— how fitting. I decide to take a walk in the park, and hopefully the cold will numb my emotions. There probably won't be anyone out because of the weather.

All for the better. I value solitude.

I quickly leave my apartment, making my way to the park. It's cold, but not cold enough. My limbs are warm from moving rapidly and I've forgotten my scarf, but I don't care. Physical pain is so inconsequential compared to the depths of what I am experiencing now.

I am sitting by my favorite tree in the park, and suddenly I think this might have been a bad idea. This tree is my favorite because I'd first climbed it with Takahiro, after we'd gone on a picnic together. It was the first outing where it had just been the two of us.

I feel my heart shatter all over again as I recall those happy but torturous memories.

"Sir? Are you alright?"

I am startled out of my bittersweet reminiscing by a soft voice. I hadn't noticed anyone else was here, but I am quick to mask any expression on my face behind a veil of indifference. "I'm fine," I say, turning to meet whoever has intruded on my thoughts.

He's short. That's the first thing I notice. Then I see his timid stature and his brilliant, green eyes that contrast brightly against the dull, gray snowfall. He looks slightly concerned as he asks, "Are you sure?"

I give him a bored look. "Why wouldn't I be?" Go away.

"Because you're crying." Am I? I still can't tell, probably because the cold has long since numbed my face. Go away and stop bothering me.

"Oh," I say. "It's probably because I yawned."

"You look sad." Leave. Go and leave me to drown in my misery, I plead silently. My pleas go unanswered as the boy with the chestnut hair takes off his gloves and reaches forward to wipe the frozen tracks my tears have left on my face. His hands are warm as he trails them over my face. "Did you leave in a hurry?" he asks, and I'm glad he has at least changed the subject.

"Huh?"

"You don't have gloves or a scarf. You'll freeze to death," he chides.

"I won't be here long," I mutter.

He doesn't answer, only takes my hands in his. "Your hands are so cold," he says, placing his gloves in my hands. "Wear these."

"You don't need them?"

He takes his scarf from around his neck and draws it around mine. It's a green that almost matches his eyes, but they have a much richer color than any manufactured article could claim. "I think you need it more."

I frown. "What would you know?"

"Hmm?"

"You're just a kid."

"Just because I'm a kid doesn't mean I can't try to help," he says.

"Leave me alone," I reply. As an afterthought I add, "Please."

To my relief he bows away respectfully in acquiescence. "You can keep those." I watch his back receding into the cold wind that slowly obscures his figure.

But watching the boy walk away is like watching him walk away. It suddenly looks too familiar, too much like Takahiro's form, and unwillingly his name spills from my lips. It's too late though; he's gone, his image fully concealed by the drifting snow.

This feels too much like a funeral. I am mourning the loss of a part of me, and the hope that he could always return my feelings. Was I too passive? Had I ever really had a chance?

At some point I must've wandered home and fallen asleep, because I wake up the next morning, bleary-eyed. My nose is met with an unfamiliar scent. It smells almost like him… almost, but not quite. There's something distinctly different about it, something sweet. I open my eyes and I'm alone in my apartment again; somehow I'd managed to make it back from the park before the blizzard became really unbearable. The smell… it's coming from the wooly softness wrapped around my neck, like a warm embrace. Where did this come from?

It takes me a moment to remember. My brain is fuzzy, slow, as if it doesn't want to comprehend reality. It makes sense, of course. That strange kid, huh.

I promise myself I'm not going to think of Takahiro anymore. I'm going to continue with my life, and… and… do something.

I pull out my laptop to write, but I'm utterly uninspired. What to write about… heartbreak? I immediately shut it and bury my head in my hands. Busy yourself. Go outside and do something. There's a blizzard… maybe I'll just go to the library. But I know that Takahiro is staying nearby with his fiance, and I don't want to run into either of them. I'll go travel somewhere, then. I don't know where I'm going yet, but I head to the train station. I need to do… something. Anything.

At the station, I realize I have no clue what I'm doing. How do commoners use this every day? As I stand in front of the machine, a familiar voice reaches my ears.

"Excuse me sir…" I turn to see green eyes widen. "Ah, it's you."

"You're the one from the park."

"Yeah," he says with a slight smile. "You remembered? Anyway, would you like some help?" I nod, because it's clear I'm not getting anywhere. He shows me how to purchase a ticket. "U-um, where are you going?"

"I don't know," I say truthfully. He frowns a little, a small crease in his forehead forming.

"What are you doing here if you don't know where you're going?"

"I don't know." His expression turns thoughtful, then a little sympathetic, as if he's realized something. Does he know how easily I can tell what he's thinking? His emotions are printed all over his face.

"I-if you want to, you can come with me."

I stare at him. "You don't know me. I could be someone bad."

He smiles but it looks a little pained. I wonder why? "You don't seem dangerous to me, sir."

What do I have to lose? I can't possibly lose anything more. "Then I'll join you. Where are we going?"

"Osaka!" He's excitable, in an anxious way. His smile looks too forced.

"Alright."

The trains aren't too crowded right now, so we take a seat. This is the first time I've been on public transportation. The boy beside me chatters excitedly, as if he's trying to cheer me up. My lips curve up slightly, partially to appease him. But I do feel slightly better.

"This is really your first time?" the brunette asks.

"Yeah."

"Must be rich…" he mutters to himself and I suppress a sour chuckle. Yes yes, I'm rich… but I can't get what I truly want.

"Are… you alright?"

"Fine."

"Are you sure? Your face looks—"

"I'm fine." He gets the tone in my voice and looks at me doubtfully.

"If you say so." He's silent for a while and I feel bad about shooting him down so quickly when he's only trying to help.

"What's your name?" I ask, trying to restart the conversation, but at the same time I'm a little confused at my own actions. Why do I care?

He looks a little relieved and I can feel the tension dissipate a little. "Misaki Takahashi."

"Akihiko Usami." He extends a hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Usami-san."

"Likewise, Takahashi-kun."

He seems a little nervous as we chatter idly, but he slowly warms up to me, and somehow that makes me a bit happier.

I must have fallen asleep again. Damn, I've been tired lately… The boy pats me on the shoulder.

"Um, excuse me, Usami-san. This is our stop."

"Thanks." We exit the station together and stand in the streets, watching the people flow around us.

"What are you going to do now?" he asks.

"I don't know."

Misaki rolls his eyes and crosses his arms, his rich brown hair fluttering in the breeze. "Jeez, what are you even doing?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

He looks at me and pouts... cutely. "No. Anyway, if you really don't have anything to do, just accompany me."

I look at him in surprise. "Don't you have plans?"

"I just need to get some shopping done, but I can do that later. Don't worry." Could it be... he's trying to help me, distract me… He looks around at the different shops. "So, is there anything you want to do?"

I look at him with a raised eyebrow as he realizes the inevitable answer to that question. He's pouting again… I laugh, and my voice sounds weird to me. When is the last time I laughed?

"T-then, are you hungry?"

I shrug. "I could go for some food."

He grins and his energy is back. "Let's eat at a family restaurant! This one is my favorite." Grabbing my hand, he leads me through unfamiliar streets. I'm a little stymied by the gesture but I don't want him to let go, so I follow him.

The family restaurant is warm and cozy, and the food is quite good. I watch Misaki curiously as he gobbles up his food. He seems so happy and bright, and I can feel his infectious attitude getting to me as he tells me stories of his brother and his childhood. The meal is satisfying and we exchange bowls in the middle, so we can try each other's dishes. As the waiter comes with the bill, I reach for my wallet, and he tries to stop me.

"No, it's okay. I'll pay, since I dragged you out here."

I put a hand over his. "It's fine. I wanted to come, and it's my first time at this kind of place… I have experienced a lot of new things today, thanks to you." I smile at him and notice his cheeks pinking as he glances down at the contact. He has so many expressions, I could watch him forever.

"I-if you insist." He looks away as if trying to hide his blush. It slowly fades from his face.

"What now?" I ask him.

We end up spending the rest of the day touring Osaka and going to the market, before we return home on the train. As we are about to part, I feel strangely melancholy. But it's not because of Takahiro; no, this time my slight sadness is because I've just realized that I don't want Misaki to go. Not yet.

"Thanks for coming with me today. Maybe we'll run into each other again sometime." There's a small smile on his face, and I can't help but hope I'm the one that put it there.

"Wait," I say, grabbing his hand.

"Huh?" His cheeks color lightly as he looks down at our intertwined hands.

"I just wanted to say… thank you."

"I'm glad," he replies softly, the flush staying on his face.

"What?"

"I'm glad. You look happier now."

"Come with me," I urge. "I'm just going to my apartment."

He looks at me hesitantly. "I… don't really know you…"

I snort. "We've just spent a whole day together. You know me plenty. Besides, I don't seem dangerous to you, do I?" I teased. It's too easy to make him blush.

"But…"

I remember something to use as an excuse. "And I have something I want to return to you anyway."

"Oh, that? I told you it's fine. You can keep it."

"Just come. It would make me happy." At this he looks more convinced, so I pull him along and he follows willingly.

I hail a taxi and he follows me into my apartment.

"This… is where you live?" he says in awe as he steps in. "It's so spacious…"

"Yeah, I own the whole floor. Here, I'll make you coffee."

"No, I'll do it! I'm the one barging in anyway."

"You're always welcome here," I say, but I let him prepare the coffee.

"T-thanks." As he searches for the coffee in my cupboard I take a seat on the couch. "Usami-san, is it okay for me to ask…"

"Go ahead."

"I was wondering why you looked so sad earlier, when I first ran into you. And… you don't have to tell me, but… it helps to talk about it sometimes."

I run my fingers through my hair. "Someone I've been in love with for a long time… has been taken away from me," I say vaguely.

"Oh… how long?"

"It's been ten years," I mutter. This topic...

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault." I'm regretting answering his question, but thankfully he realizes this and doesn't want to pry any further. I'm grateful that he's so sensitive to my feelings. He can read me so easily, unlike a certain someone...

To break the silence, I ask, "So, what were you shopping for anyway?"

He seizes on the new topic eagerly. "Oh, my brother just announced that he's getting married. I had to get some ingredients from a specific market in Osaka. I want to prepare him and his fiance a surprise dinner tomorrow."

I freeze. "Your brother is getting married?"

"Yeah. I'm super happy for him," Misaki says with a broad smile on his face as he pours the coffee into cups. "They look really good together, and they've been dating for a while. My brother has always wanted to start a family, and it'll be good for him, since our parents are gone…" he trails off.

At that last part, I'm almost sure of it. I gulp and ask the question on my mind hesitantly. "Are you... Takahiro's brother, by any chance?"

He looks up in surprise. "Yeah, do you know him?"

When I hear the confirmation, I expect to feel some pang of pain, but all I feel is mild surprise. "Yes."

"How do you know my brother?"

"Childhood friends." I decide I should probably leave it at that, but he steps up to me, leaving the coffee on the counter.

"Usami-san," he pulls at my sleeve. "What else?"

"Hm?"

"There's something else you're not telling me, isn't there?"

"What do you mean?"

"I can see it on your face. You look troubled…"

I can't hide it from him. "I don't know if I should say it…" I reply unsurely. I'll scare him away.

"I can handle it," Misaki insists, as if he's read my mind. "I won't tell anyone either, so won't you trust me?"

I sigh. Where do I start?

He blinks up at me indecisively, as if he can't decide whether to say something or not. Then he nervously runs a hand through his hair. "Um, Usami-san, is there any chance that you are… perhaps, in l-love with my brother?"

I look at him with wide eyes. How did he know? Did Takahiro notice and tell him? How could he have figured it out?!

There are tears in his eyes and he quickly turns away. Worried, I momentarily forget about my own predicament and put a hand on his shoulder. "Misaki, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"I'm not," he says with a muffled voice as he covers his face with a sleeve. "I… should have realized sooner…"

"What?" I pull his arm away from his face and notice the wetness on his cheeks. "Misaki, you are crying. Tell me what's wrong."

He sobs a little. "Shut up! It's your fault." What? "I've never been so mad at my brother. I knew he could be dense, but not this dense. After all this time, after ten years... he still hasn't realized." And now he's tugging at my sleeve again like a little child. "Usami-san, I'm so sorry… I can't stop…"

My eyes soften and I reach up to cup his face, leaning in with a gentle kiss on his forehead. Then I pull back and his tear-streaked face is confused. Misaki, I'm sorry for making you cry. Again, I kiss him, but this time on the lips. His lips are dry from the cold but warm and soft, and they taste strongly of that sweet scent he bears.

As I step away, he is frozen in place, a soft blush covering his face. He gazes up at me with glistening eyes. Chuckling, I wipe the wetness off with my thumbs and smile. "Hm… you've stopped." Then I hug him, feeling him fit snugly into my arms. "I never did answer your question. The truth is, I was in love with him for a long time. I was devastated when he announced he was getting married, and you found me in that state. But I'm over it now."

"Don't lie, Usami-san," he says.

"I'm not."

"It's okay. You don't have to pretend to be so stoic. I know it's impossible to get over someone you've loved for so long that easily."

Once again, he's seen through me. "With a little help, I can," I reply, ruffling his chocolate locks. "Maybe not completely, but eventually I can forget the pain and move on." I stare at his face, his eyes, his body, memorizing him. "So… stay with me," I add in a whisper.

His shimmering, emerald eyes slowly drift back up to mine. "Okay," he whispers back.