The sun hung high in the sky, casting soft ripples of light across the surface of the small pond near Eustass's house. The pond, one of many scattered around the estate, was peaceful. Fish occasionally broke the surface, their sleek forms darting beneath the water lilies, but otherwise, it was quiet.
Eustass and Josei sat on the edge of the pond, a simple lunch spread out between them. The traditional bento boxes were neatly packed, but there was a tension in the air that made even the serene setting feel a little off. Eustass had been zoning out, absently picking at his food while watching the fish, his thoughts drifting.
Josei broke the silence first, chewing on her rice ball as she frowned. "You know, everything around here kinda blows."
Eustass blinked, glancing at her. "Huh?"
"I mean, your cousins are annoying as hell, your aunt keeps making things awkward by talking like we're... you know," Josei trailed off, waving her hand dismissively, her face scrunching up in annoyance. "And all this traditional crap, it's just... ugh. It's like the whole atmosphere here is crushing me."
Eustass looked down at his food, his appetite fading. He knew she wasn't wrong. His cousins were obnoxious, his aunt kept pushing the idea that he and Josei were hooking up, and the constant pressure of living in a traditional family like his was suffocating. But he'd grown used to it. To him, it was just another day.
Josei, however, had a different perspective. She wasn't part of this world, and it weighed on her more than he realized.
"You wanna go to McDonald's or something?" she asked suddenly, her eyes lighting up as if the idea itself was a breath of fresh air.
Eustass shrugged, indifferent. "Sure."
A little while later, they sat inside the McDonald's, the fluorescent lights bright above them, the sounds of sizzling fries and chattering customers filling the air. Josei was happily munching on a burger, her cheeks puffed out as she grinned, enjoying every bite.
"This is so much better," she said between mouthfuls. "Way better than that boring lunch by the pond."
Eustass glanced at his tray, staring at his burger—complete with pickles, which he hated. Before he could say anything, Josei, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, leaned over the counter and told the cashier, "Hey, he asked for no pickles."
The cashier blinked, confused, and glanced at Eustass, who hadn't said a word.
Josei grinned wider. "Yeah, he really doesn't like pickles. You guys gotta remake it."
Eustass sighed, shaking his head slightly as the cashier took the burger back, clearly annoyed.
When the new burger arrived, pickle-free this time, Josei chuckled and took another bite of her own food. "See? You gotta speak up if you don't like something."
Eustass took a bite of his newly remade burger, not particularly bothered either way. He wasn't as passionate about these things as she was, but he appreciated the effort.
As they made their way back home, the sky beginning to dim with the setting sun, Josei clung to Eustass's arm. She leaned her head against his shoulder, her pigtails swaying with each step. The streets were quieter now, and the cool evening air made the walk more pleasant.
"Thanks," she said softly, her voice carrying a rare sincerity. "I really needed that. It's like I can finally breathe."
Eustass glanced down at her, puzzled. "Breathe?"
"Yeah," she said, closing her eyes for a moment. "Being around you, it's like I don't have to deal with all that... nonsense. The family stuff. The traditions. It's suffocating. But here, just hanging out and grabbing a burger... it's normal. I needed that."
He nodded slowly, not sure how to respond. He wasn't great with words, and it was hard for him to really understand what she meant. He'd lived in that stifling environment for so long that it had become normal to him.
Still, he appreciated that she felt comfortable enough to say it. It wasn't often Josei opened up like this.
As they continued walking, Eustass noticed Josei still clinging to his arm. He frowned slightly, glancing at her. "Why are you hugging my arm again?"
Josei let out an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes dramatically. "It's just something girls do after a guy takes them out for a treat. Duh."
Eustass raised an eyebrow. "That's kinda dumb."
Without missing a beat, Josei's hand flew up, smacking the back of his head with a loud thwap.
"Ow!" he winced, rubbing the back of his head as they walked.
Josei didn't say anything, but there was a satisfied smile on her face as she leaned her head back against his shoulder, clinging to him just a little tighter.
