Ao walked Rei home. They didn't say a word and just keep walking in silence. Ao's a quiet type and Rei didn't know what to talk about since she didn't know him well enough and he has that hard to approach aura. Rei tried to find any topic that popped out on her mind but they reached her home before she could muster up her courage to speak.
"Is this your house?"
Rei was startled because Ao suddenly stopped and talked to her
"Yes..thank you for walked me home" Rei bowed. Rei walked towards the door, when she was about to touch the door knob Ao called out to her
"Miura"
Rei turned and looked at Ao ,"yes?"
Suddenly Ao threw a small stuffed animal to her. Rei was surprised to have something thrown at her suddenly. She almost tripped but luckily she didn't fall and the stuffed animal was safe in her arms. Rei looked at the stuffed animal, it's the stuffed animal she wanted in a crane game. Rei raised her head and looked at Ao.
"It's for you. "Ao turned away and continued his unfinished sentence ,"I happened to get it when I gave it a try."
Rei's eyes were wide open but then she smiled shyly. She then held the doll and made it kissed Ao on the cheek as she thanked him with a wide smile,"Thank you"
"You're welcome" somehow, Ao's tone sounded a bit weird. Rei noticed his face was slightly red and started to worry ,"K-Kazemi, do you have a fever? Your face is red"
"it's just the sunlight, I'm fine."
Rei's impression on Ao had changed. Rumors said that he was a loner and would not associate himself with people other than his brother and Subaru and he saw people who tried to get close to him as turmoil but it didn't seem so to Rei. infact, he treated her well. Rei thought that he might just be as awkward as she was.
"Thank you, I really had fun today." Rei said gratefully.
"if you really have fun then show it on your face more next time. Get inside now. it's late"
Ao said as he gestured his hand to shoo Rei then turned back to the way they walked through.
"Ao, aren't you going to the convenient store? it's in the opposite way." Rei said as she pointed to the opposite direction of where Ao was going to go.
"I was going to grab some
"Yeah.." Rei just gave a short reply. She looked so down all of the sudden. The smile on her face just now had faded away. Her face looked so grim. Ao just stared at her without asking anything.
"Miura, are you free on the 25th ?"
Ao sudden question made Rei came back to her senses
"Yes, I'm. I always stay at home" Rei replied while looking down
"Good. On 25th I'll pick you up at your house at 10 o'clock. We will celebrate Christmas with Sora and Subaru"
Rei raised her head and looked at Ao in the eyes "I can join??"
Ao sighed " if you were not allowed to, what did I invite you for?"
Rei eyes were glittering. Just by seeing Rei's reaction Ao already knew what her answer is.
"It's getting late, I need to go now." Ao walked away but he walked to the opposite direction of the mini market.
"Kazemi-kun, aren't you going to mini market?" Rei asked him and tilted her head.
"It's getting late plus Sora will be worried if I took too long, he is a worrywart". Ao turned his head as he replied
Rei nodded and giggle by imagining how Sora reaction will be. Another question popped out of Rei's mind, "umm.. Kazemi-kun..how do you know that I want this stuffed animal?"
Ao stared at Rei for a second, turned his back to Rei and started to walk few steps away and whispered, "I just know"