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It started to snow.
Suo watched the delicate white flakes falling on his palm.
Lili rubbed her hands and shifted back, gazing at the dark sky.
He absentmindedly touched his lips.
"I hope I won't worry you a lot anymore," she said as she watched him reach for his scarf.
"You better not." His voice was barely audible as he wrapped it around her.
It was the first snow of the year.
There were powders of snow on the mistletoe that hung above, and the delicious aroma of chocolates was rather tempting. Suo seemed to figure it out instantly and let out a chuckle.
"I want some chocolates," she mumbled, pointing at the chocolate store by them. Perhaps it was the cold that made her cheeks pink; he thought it resembled the rose he gave her.
"Hey?"
Suo gazed at Lili as she looked at him, his scarf neatly wrapped around her. She rose onto her tiptoes and playfully tapped his forehead.
"Got ya." She laughed softly, giving a quick wave as she departed, leaving the stunned Suo behind.
.ᐟ
Lili grabbed the scarf and wrapped it around her face as she walked away from the narrow streets. The last thing she wanted was someone to see her like this.
She knew about impulse thoughts and their consequences but never expected this to occur.
Lili recalled what had happened earlier, and her cheeks were bright red.
"It is a tradition," she told herself. "Kissing under the mistletoe is a tradition," she repeated.
Lili had never seen Suo wear such an expression in all the years she had known him.
She never thought she'd see him like that. He was stunned with a dazed expression.
"It was my fault." She clenched her fist, trying to forget what she just did. "It wasn't an actual kiss," she reminded herself.
"Luckily, I got to flick his forehead." Lili looked proud of herself. The match was ongoing, and she had scored her first point.
Yes, the first point in all the years.
Lili froze and glanced back at the lively streets filled with bakeries. Suo wasn't nearby, and she suspected he was still there in the narrow street.
"Oh, Lily?"
Lili was startled when she realized someone was behind.
"Umemiya-san?" Her confusion was evident as she watched him tilt his head. He chuckled, extending his hand toward her face.
Lili's vision became more clear as he gently pulled down the woolen scarf from her face.
"Oh, that," she sighed. It is not surprising that she attracted many curious glances.
"How is your ankle, Lili?" He asked. It looked as if heading somewhere, and Lili recalled the fight in the backstreets.
"Umemiya-san, about earlier, I'm sorry."
"Leave it to your big brothers." He gave her a thumbs-up and beamed at her. "Is your ankle fine?"
"I'm fine. What are you doing here?"
"And I don't remember having a big brother," she mumbled inaudibly.
"I'm going to get Kotoha's special sandwiches." He tousled his white hair, concealing the tiny flakes of snow.
"Why are your ears red?" He leaned forward, his hands immediately falling on his chin as he inspected her.
The street had a cacophony of sounds, and the ones that she could hear clearly were Suo's loud heart thumping against his chest earlier.
"It's nothing." She covered her ears instinctively.
"I'll walk you home." He offered.
"I'll be fine." She smiled, waving him bye as she left. The members of Bofurin usually patrol till late at night, and Furin is safe when they are around.
"Umemiya-san eats sandwiches at night..." Kotoha wasn't wrong about his unusual eating habits.
"It's cold," she said, wrapping the knitted scarf tightly around her neck. She wasn't sure how she'd react if she ran into Suo right now.
Her number one option was to run away at the sight of an eye patch man. She could have chosen to hide, but his vision was remarkable, even with an eyepatch covering one eye.
"But then..." She looked at the dark sky.
"How long will I run away?"
She sat on a bench next to a busy flower shop.
The snowflakes clung to the scarf, and Lili tried to brush them off.
"Insects don't do too well when it's cold." She looked at the green one perched on the bush next to her. The dots connected, and she identified what it was.
"Is that an—"
"Ensifera?"
She stood still on the snowy night, feeling the chill. A voice, sweet like a melody, whispered beside her, almost brushing against her cheek.
Lili recalled plan number one, but her legs gave away.
"Got ya."
Suo's soft voice rang in her ears as she felt his cold fingertip touch her forehead.
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