Things We Used To Share

On the Outside

Nothing could compare to the bustling sound of the small town.

And to be honest, he needed to stretch his feet.

It was the sound of life stirring around him , the sound of people talking about everyday life, laughing and smiling. It was the sound of children giggling and running past you, the sweet smell from a bakery or a restaurant.

Jewelry and clothes glimmered in the windows of stores, enticing anyone to stop and stare as the light caught their eyes.

Takuma placed a hand on his forehead as if he were looking out from a ship. He was smiling, jovial as always.

Hiro smiled at his usual antics, sitting on a bench with a ice cream cone. Rima sat beside him, sharing the same vanilla flavor.

Senri leaned on the armrest, holding a crepe as licking it with a blank face.

It'd been a while since they had been to town.

And getting Kaname's permission in itself was a tough task. Hiro sweatdropped at the thought, remembering the look his brother gave him after asking.

It was like the chapter from Beauty and the Beast, when Belle asked to leave the castle to save her father, and the Beast reluctantly let her go.

Hiro grimaced.

He definitely wasn't a princess.

But he understood why Kaname was so uncomfortable with him leaving school grounds-

He froze when he saw someone familiar.

She seemed to notice him too, and smiled widely.

It was the woman from the garden. He went to move, but she placed a finger on her lip and waved, quickly disappearing behind a building.

...he remembered she had wanted to be kept a secret.

But he never got a name.

He hoped to see her again, maybe learn more songs with her.

"Hiro~" Takuma played with his curls, a smile on his face. "Your hair has gotten so long."

Hiro blinked and looked to his friendZ "Someone thought I was a girl not too long ago." He said with a slight pout.

Takuma held back a snicker.

"Hey, your ice cream is melting, Rima." Senri told her, watching as she looked over to a small store.

"Hm?" She asked, before taking a small lick. She pointed to the store. "I think I want to go shopping."

Senri looked to the store, raising an eyebrow. "It looks kind of boring in there." Rima frowned at him, and he shrugged and sighed. "Fine. Let's go, then."

Rima finished her cone, turning to Takuma and Hiro. "We wanna check out that store. Coming?"

"Sure."

The four of them went inside, and Hiro was baffled at the prices for the clothing. His friends were completely nonchalant about it, calling them "cheap".

Hiro grimaced and slowly looking over to a small, neat table with a stack of blankets. He ran his hands over them with a smile.

They were so soft.

"Would you like one?"

Hiro looked to Takuma.

"Kaname asked me to cover your expenses, since you probably don't know how to." Takuma reassured him.