The undecorated room was illuminated by the soft rays of the setting sun. It brought warmth to the enclosed room multiplying the emotions lingering within the space.
By the window sill covered from the curtains, their secret was protected as she faced the boy of a cracked facade. Despite the dangerous allure that is her affection, his mind strays toward the abandoning of his life of peace; an illusion he created.
Her amethyst eyes, which glistened despite the shadow that was cast, made the boy's vision blur everything else as it brought forth a star that seem to lock him in a trance.
This was a first for him.
The boy had never felt this burning sensation before. It was as if the void in his heart was suddenly being built by millions of workers at immense speed. Utilizing warm materials that ever so slightly, liven up the cold space that is his soul.
He did not know what it was called, what he was feeling upon seeing the figure before him. So captivating. Truly the star of the show that is his life. Everything before, whether joyful or depressing, were nothing but stepping stones for the climax.
So beautiful, like a Goddess.
—He was left to think.
But unlike the Goddesses, she was within arm's reach, so close he could stride forward, reach out, and bring close with a hand free of the chains of his past.
The sun's rays did nothing but highlight her ethereal beauty. Further boosting up its strength as it trapped all of the worries that exists within the very depths of his mind.
What he labels the feeling she evoked within him were affection.
Nothing more, nothing less.
That was what he was supposed to conclude. What his facade, clouded with the figures of his past, the theif of the treasure that is his emotions, the personality that prevents his emotions from becoming something more, wished to think.
But with the sudden gap in his heart being filled, for once, his rational being became irrational. For once, the shelter he crafted for the purpose of protecting himself from the cruel pain his world inflicts upon him was no longer necessary.
Within her gaze lie a house of warmth, patiently awaiting for an owner.
He never felt emotions before, rather, what he feels would be miniscule enough to easily hide.
"Kiyotaka, you're smiling..."
That is why he could only embrace the emotion that flooded his mind when she uttered words that he had previously thought was impossible.
What she stated was nothing short from the truth. It has been so long since he last smiled. The thought of smiling was something he thought he will never do ever again.
To think that something which is present in the daily lives of almost all individuals was a milestone for him.
Overflowed with several emotions at once, he didn't know what to do.
He never once laughed, he didn't even know how to. But even so, he laughed.
He laughed away his overflowing emotions.
The girl, confused with his behavior pouted at his actions before she was infected with his contagious laughter.
Together they laughed.
As the laughter inevitably died down. The boy looked at the girl with an expression filled of warmth.
With squinted eyes, his gaze locked with her amethyst irises.
With a second, despite the boy's expression, the girl grew nervous.
A moment later, the boy wore a more serious look.
The girl was patiently waiting for the moment, what she was most anticipating.
She did not want to rely on an uncertainty.
He could only accept and refuse.
Although he has been acting as if he will accept, he hasn't made a decision yet.
Loving someone can mean several ways, after all. He may say to her that he loves her over and over again, yet her heart still wouldn't be happy.
She wanted to have a romantic relationship with him. A relationship that could potentially offer an experience she wasn't able to have, and she's certain he was the same.
With her question, she wishes to find out.
What happens after, she hasn't thought of yet. She hasn't considered as she wanted to face the future as it is.
"...Like I said, Kiyotaka, I love you!"
With the sun's shadow failing to cover her expression, she strode nearer until their faces were inches away.
A confident grin surfaced into her face, covering her bashful expression. Though it was wiped after the following moment.
"So...would ya mind us becoming couples?"
She fidgeted with her two index fingers and said her words with haste. The confident smile sinked into the bottomless sea replaced by a nervous grin as she repeatedly glance at the brown-haired boy. He could tell how much she was cringing from her own words.
She has said it two times now. Both of those times weren't a lie, she can tell. But dismissing the relief it brought, she ultimately failed to think of words less cringe to her standards.
The cause of not thinking ahead.
But as she noticed the chuckle the boy had, she remembered a more important topic.
Her face expressed the feeling of anticipation as she steeled herself for either the pain or the relief that would wash over her in the following moments.
The boy's amber eyes shone like gold. His dead, empty eyes from before would now be forgotten as what it replaced was the eyes that now has a newly-found purpose.
He hasn't disclosed what it was, he hasn't even known of it.
It just suddenly surfaced, is all.
But one thing he knows, however, was that it has something to do with the person before him. Hoshino Ai.
After a second which felt like a minute, he said a response,
"Gladly."
His response was enough, he thought. But to her, it was perfect. It effortly wiped the cringy words she said a while ago from her memories.
That marks the end of their artificially built selves.
End.
