After Nyx had done her turn and everyone had left, it was just the three of us once more, Eros, Nyx and I.
"Well, that went wonderfully indeed~! I shed a couple tears at the end of yours Deppy. Although, you hid another list from me?"
I nodded. "Sorry, but I hid two actually."
"Oh, naughty boy~! Well, you must have your reasons, so I won't push. Just make sure those lists get to the right people, alright?"
"Yeah, I will. But before that, I still have two more people left." I cleared my throat as I pulled out my piece of paper.
"Oh, can't say I was expecting this from you Deppy~! Can't get enough of me hmm?"
Nyx was less reluctant. "Ugh, more embarrassment. Fine, I'll deal with it just this once, alright?"
I nodded, preparing myself for my last two confessions of the day.
"I, I love you Eros, Nyx!"
Although Nyx's skin was as dark as the night, her face still went visibly red at my words. Same with Eros, although I think that was for a different reason.
"Mmm! Ah yes, I just love a good confession~!"
"Oh, it really doesn't get any easier, does it!?"
I chuckled at their reactions before continuing. "I love you Nyx, as one of my close friends. As a denizen of the night and fellow hater of nature, you are one of few who understands how I feel. I can joke with you without garnering worry from the others, and you do much the same. In a way, you're like my soul-friend."
Her face turned to normal at my words, and she gave me one of her rare smiles. "Ah, I feel exactly the way you do Depra. I love you for all these reasons and more, and I'm glad I have found a wonderful denizen of the night such as yourself." I smiled at her before continuing.
"As for you Eros, much the same as Necessitas, even though I haven't known you for long or talked to you very much, it feels as if I've known you a long time. Your quirky nature as a 'sexual deviant' is strange, but I'm glad for it, and the kindness you have shown me today." I bowed my head before continuing. "Thank you so much for helping me with the intricacies of love, Love Master Eros, and I hope you will continue to help me in the future. I love you Eros, as a near and dear friend of mine."
Silence, and I raised my head to look at Eros, whose face was even redder than before. It was hard to tell, but I'm pretty sure this one was from embarrassment.
"Ah, Deppy, I never in my wildest dreams would've imagined such an impassioned confession from you to me. I can't say I'm not embarrassed." He pushed his hair back, just barely composing himself before continuing.
"Well, I too, love you dear Deppy. You are a kind soul, and I wish nothing but the best from you. It's been truly an honor helping you, and I'll do it as many times as you need. I'm glad I have someone I can talk love about, and even help them further it, even if only a little."
And the three of us had a group hug, warmth flowing to all of us, warming me especially, my heart a tad warmer now.
We released, and Eros whipped out his phone. "Before I leave, your phone number so I can help my lost lamb in love~."
Nyx did the same. "Yep, we denizens of the night need to stick together after all."
I exchanged phone numbers with them, and as the two of them left, Eros gave me a bow, giving a grin on his aloof face.
"Farewell, and I hope to help you again!"
And for a brief moment, I saw a young boy with brown hair doing very much the same.
"For you King, anytime you need me, I'll help you to the best of my abilities." The boy looked up, a grin on his aloof face, caramel eyes gazing into my own.
"And that's a promise I intend to keep."
I blinked, and the two were gone, and I was all alone on the roof, the same feeling of warmth I once felt from Eros there once again, but disappeared as quickly as it came, leaving me with a slight headache.
I scratched my hair, frowning. "I really don't know what's up with that. It feels like…" I could feel something, but it was just out of reach, and then even that vanished.
"Whatever, let's go home already."
I made my way to the school gate, where I found Pandora waiting there for me as usual.
"You know, how is it you're always here before me?" I asked her, and she looked at me, a sly grin on her face.
"Oh, is that what you've assumed? Hmm, how cute."
Huh? "What, is that really not right?" I reached her, and we both started our walk back home.
"Not telling!" She said, winking at me as she held her hands behind her back, arching her chest forward as she looked at me.
"You're still a jokester all the way through," I said, a smile appearing on my face.
"Oh, did something good happen today?"
I laughed. "If you consider confessing something good, then yeah, I guess so."
"Oh, I see. Wait, what!?"
She stopped, her mouth agape as her eyes grew wide. "Oh, it wasn't romantic or anything. I had to tell a lot of people how I felt about them today, and I had to tell them what type of love I felt for them."
She sighed, holding her chest. "Jeez, don't scare me like that!" She gave me a punch on my arm. "Almost gave me a heart attack. Is that what you've been doing lately?"
I nodded. "Yep, these goofy friends of mine have been trying to help me on my quest for betterment."
"Oh, sounds neat! And, is it working so far?"
I frowned, putting my hand on my chin. "Well, as they say, I've gotten worse, but better I guess."
She nodded. "Yep, totally makes sense."
Eh? "How do understand that? It took me ages to figure that one out!"
She giggled. "Oh, it's just cause I know you so well."
"Whatever," I grumbled, and she giggled some more before there was comfortable silence.
"Hey," Pandora started, her hair a vibrant orange in the setting sun.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Was I on any list?"
I stopped, biting my lip. Pandora stopped too and turned to look at me. "Well, where was sweet ole me?"
"Well..." I started, trailing off as I started to get lost in my thoughts.
"What's up?"
"Well, it's not as if you couldn't go on any list, but it didn't feel right to put you on Familial, Friendly, or Pinkie love."
She scowled. "Pinkie love?"
"Both Familial and Friendly named after a wonderful girl, but that's besides the point. I had one more list, but only one person could go on that one. Yet, when I'm with you, I feel a similar warmth I feel with the others. I really couldn't understand, so I decided to leave it alone for now. I'm sorry."
Another sly grin appeared on her face as she quickly turned around, taking a couple of overexaggerated steps. "Oh, is that the case. Well, I guess I could let it slide for now." She stopped and stared up at the trees above.
"Hey, you like me, right?"
At this, I couldn't be embarrassed anymore, so I nonchalantly answered, not really understanding where she was going. "Yeah, I like you plenty."
She nodded to herself. "And I like you quite a bit myself." She stretched her arms up to the sky, keeping me waiting for what she was going to say next.
Then, quite suddenly, she twirled back around to me and walked the few steps it took to reach me, getting so close that there wasn't even an inch of space left between us.
"Then, do you wanna start dating?" Her regal purple eyes seemed to entrance me once more, but the question quickly took over whatever power her eyes seemed to have on me.
"Huh?"
She smiled. Damnit, she's so close, and why does she smell so nice too? No, stop it Depra, did she ask what I think she just asked?
"Well, when two people like each other a lot, they tend to go out with another, you know?"
I could feel myself getting mesmerized by her eyes again. "I-is that so? I really don't have much experience, except for a failure, but is that really right?"
"Well, I wouldn't mind if we did lovey-dovey stuff. Can you see us doing that?"
Pandora and I…? I suddenly imagined myself holding hands with as we walked and talked to one another on a possible date, and I could feel my face heat up.
"I-I guess I can."
Another smile. Damnit, why does she look so cute!?
"Then, lets do it! Wanna go on a date over the weekend?"
I was completely lost by this point, but I think I managed to nod, and she gave off the biggest grin I've seen her do.
"You mean it!? Great, I really wanna see that old couple again, so let's do that!"
I nodded, and she moved away, and I was finally able to put my mind to work. "Yeah, I need to tell them something important anyway. They're on my list you know."
She nodded. "Then it's a date!" She grabbed my hand and started to drag me along. "Come on, let's go home!"
I nodded, my emotions in complete disarray by her words. But, watching her drag me along, her hand in mine, I felt a warmth like no other, and it blossomed towards my frigid heart, warming it up a considerable amount.
I may not know what this feeling is, I thought as I was walking hand in hand with Pandora, but I think it'll be alright. That's what this feeling is telling me, that if it's with this girl, then I'll be fine. I let out my second genuine smile of the day, the most I've done in a long while.
And so, Love replaces Coldheartedness.