*For the past couple of days..* Yuuki thought to herself, discreetly eyeing her dorm mates who silently ate beside her at the table, *Everyone has been acting really strange..* She sipped her coffee, *I think.. They are hiding something from me.. But what could it be?* She now got up, excusing herself from the table where she then made her way up the stairs to get ready for school.
"Azusa.." Kaen commented as soon as Yuuki was out of earshot.
"You don't have to say it." She answered, "It's already been done."
He now turned his attention to Romio, "Romio..?"
The young man gave a dramatic nudge of his glasses, pushing them up over his eyes, "The proper preparations will be made. Consider it done."
"Miku..?" Kaen questioned one final time.
"It's all done~.." The four of them now smiled, their grins seeming like that of a villainous nature, bringing about the start of a new day that seemed to pass by quickly as Yuuki constantly found herself lost in thoughts concerning her dorm mates. She sat quietly in home room, looking out the window, occasionally glancing to Kaen's empty seat.
"Hirasawa-san?" The girl with black hair and purple eyes approached. "Oh, Akagi-san." Yuuki said with a smile, "How are you?"
Akagi took a vacant seat beside her, "I'm doing fine. Is everything alright? You seem worried about something."
Yuuki now shook off her thoughts concerning her dorm, giving a nervous smile as she tried to change the subject. "It's probably nothing.. I'm sorry we haven't had much of a chance to hang out. I've been so busy since I came."
"It's no problem at all," Akagi replied with an understanding smile, "It must be tough being the new girl. I'm sure you have a lot of people who are trying to get to know you."
Yuuki smiled warmly, giving a nod, "Mhm, something like that." Yuuki now began to rummage through her bag as she and Akagi continued talking. "Oh no.." Yuuki commented, her rummaging becoming more frantic.
"Something wrong?" Akagi questioned curiously.
Yuuki sighed, "I think I may have forgotten my math homework. I don't even have time to go back and grab it either.."
"Ah," Akagi giggled, "hold on one sec." She then trotted over to her desk, pulling out two sheets of paper as she then brought them over to Yuuki.
"Here you go, I'll let you copy mine." She said with a smile.
"I-Is that really okay?" Yuuki questioned worriedly. "I don't want to inconvenience you."
Akagi reassured her, swiping her hands left and right, "Don't worry about it, we're friends aren't we? Just be sure to bail me out when I forget, okay?"
Yuuki lost herself is Akagi's playful expression, giving a smile of her own in return, "Of course." With that, she happily jotted down the answers onto the blank sheet Akagi had given her, chatting happily with her until the sound of the morning bell broke their cheerful banter.
"Aw," Akagi complained, "Just as we were starting to really have fun too.." Suddenly, Akagi's expression lit up with excitement, "Hey, Hirasawa-san. What do you think about having a sleepover at my dorm later this weekend?"
Yuuki too held a smile of excitement, "I would love too. Is it really alright though? I would hate to bother your dorm mates."
"It'll be alright." She reassured Yuuki, "They've been wanting to meet you too so it works out perfectly." More and more people including Kaen began to pour into the classroom as Yuuki finished copying, causing Akagi to render her seat to its original owner as she looked back to Yuuki with a smile, her homework in hand.
"Right then," Akagi said excitedly, "this weekend okay? Don't forget."
Yuuki nodded happily, "Okay."
With this, the class period began and with it came the various lectures and subjects from the teachers. The day seemed to drone on and on until eventually the final bell sounded. Yuuki sat quietly in her seat towards the end of class, packing her notebooks and writing supplies as thoughts brisked by in her mind.
"Hirasawa-san…" Kaen said, breaking her from her trance.
"Y-Yes..?" She replied anxiously.
He got up from his seat, slinging his bag over his shoulder, "Before you go home, we need to talk.. Meet me behind the gym building."
Yuuki anxiously thought to herself for a moment, a small blush covering her face. "But I have clean up duty.."
"That's fine.." He replied, narrowing his eyes as if implying something serious was afoot. "Just meet me before you leave, I'll wait."
"O..kay.." She spoke nervously, allowing Kaen to leave the room as Yuuki nervously fidgeted with her hands. After a moment of confusion and anxiety, Yuuki steeled herself, completing her afternoon clean up tasks as the sun began to dip and the sky shifted to that of an orange coloration. She nervously made her way behind the gym building, looking to Kaen who silently leaned on a tree as it's green leaves slowly fell to the ground. The air had shifted, causing Yuuki to nervously face Kaen with a gulp as she nervously clutched her hands behind her back. She now leaned against the gym wall, looking down so as to avoid his gaze.
"Hirasawa-san.." He started.
"Y-Yes?!" She anxiously squeaked.
He now began to make his way over. "You know why I called you here, don't you?"
A light blush now crossed Yuuki's cheeks, clutching her hands even tighter together as she shook her head, "I.. I don't know.."
He now lightly pinned her against the wall, his right arm extended to the right side of her head as his right palm connected to the wall she was leaning against. He leaned in closer, closing in towards her face to meet her gaze, "Come on, don't make me spell it out for you.."
"K-K-K-K-Kaen?!" Yuuki questioned frantically, her entire face now covered in red embarrassment. "W-W-What are you s-saying?!"
"For the longest time.." He replied, "I've always.."
*He's so close..!*
"W-Wait please!" she said, frantically waving her hands out of embarrassment.
"I've always.." Yuuki now closed her eyes, facing the ground as she lightly shook with anxiety and uncertainty. "wanted to walk home together with you." he finished.
Yuuki's eyes now jolted open, "E-Eh? Walking home.. together..?"
He nodded, leaning back as he looked to her curiously, "What did you think I was going for?"
His question caused Yuuki to face the ground once more, hiding her embarrassed blush as her face was that of a light pink. She eventually was able to swallow her unease of the situation, breathing a sigh of relief as a nervous smile crossed her face.
"S-Sure, let's walk home together."
With that, the two quietly made their way down the cobblestone strip as the sun began to set.
"Kaen..?" Yuuki questioned curiously, causing him to turn to her.
"Hm? What's up?" He replied.
She now averted her gaze to the ground, "Is everything at the dorm alright?"
"Eh?" he questioned. "Why wouldn't it be?"
Hearing his words caused Yuuki to give a nervous laugh, "Maybe I just imagined it, but for the past few days.. You all have been really quiet so I thought maybe something was wrong.."
"O-Oh, that?" He replied with a nervous smile, scratching his right cheek with his index finger. "We may have taken things a little too seriously.."
Yuuki looked to him curiously, her eyes longing for an answer. "Hm? What do you mean?"
Fortunately, the two had now arrived at the front door of the dorm, causing Kaen to smile as he gripped the brass door knob, "See for yourself."
The door came open and inside laid the dark living room of Shining Star Dormitory, still and quiet. They walked in, shutting the door behind them.
"Eh?" Yuuki questioned, "Have the others not come home yet?"
"Three, two, one!" Kaen announced, flipping the light switch as Azusa and the other jumped out from behind the couch.
"Welcome home!" They all chanted cheerfully, looking to the now startled Yuuki who began to take in the scenery around her. The dining room was decorated with a variety of hand crafted designs with handmade streamers lining the walls and a large white banner that read 'Welcome to Shining Star Dormitory Yuuki!'. A gasp of surprise escaped Yuuki's lips, looking to her friends and back to the lit up room.
"W-What's all this?" She questioned bashfully with traces of excitement in her voice.
Azusa smiled, "Sorry it took us so long to put together. We never had the chance to properly welcome you before."
"I-I don't know what to say.." Yuuki replied, returning her smile with one of her own.
Romio smiled, "You could always start with something like, 'I'm back'". He joked.
Yuuki gave a nod, her smile bright with joy, "I'm home."
Miku now grabbed her by the hands, pulling her excitedly over to the table. "What do you think, Yuuki-chan?" She questioned happily, referring to all the decorations and the layout of various foods steaming with flavor across the table.
Yuuki's smile was unfading, "I love it all. I can't express how happy this makes me..!"
Miku giggled in response, "Everyone in the dorm put something into tonight. I made most of the colorful decorations. Romi-kun did the cooking and Azu-chan and Ka-chan made this banner. It's our way of welcoming you to our family." She hugged Yuuki, squeezing her tightly with happiness. "We're so happy to have you!" Yuuki too embraced Miku, hugging her tightly as her eyes teared up and her body began to slightly shake. Azusa, Kaen and Romio looked on, noticing Yuuki's reaction.
"Looks like you were right." Romio commented quietly, turning his attention to Kaen who stood with a smile with his hands resting in his pockets.
"Hm?" He questioned in response. "What do you mean?"
"Your hunch about Yuuki's burden. She seems to have been dealing with a lot. I didn't expect her to start crying."
Azusa smiled, "Thanks for letting us know Kaen. We'll help Hirasawa-san as best as we can as well."
Kaen smiled warmly, looking to Yuuki who continued to stay glued to Miku's shoulder as she tried to fight back tears. "This won't fully take the burden from her shoulders, but at least she knows that she isn't alone. No one should have to shoulder something all by themselves… It's just too much no matter how strong you are."
"Kaen.." Azusa spoke softly, understanding the meaning in his words. A moment passed before a smile grew on her face, "You know, you never change."
"Hm?" he questioned curiously.
Azusa now thought back to a past instance when she and Kaen were children. Azusa recalled walking through a school hall as people talked about her, constantly spreading rumors as her bandage patched face looked to the ground in shame. She looked further back, coming to a time when her past self was seen crying, resting against the concrete school wall. She sat there sniffling, her face tucked safely between her knees.
"His eyes are scary!" a boy's voice yelled fearfully.
"He's a monster!" Another concurred.
Azusa looked over to see the end result of a small scuffle, laying her eyes on a small boy with roughened up dark brown hair and deep green eyes. The two boys from before who yelled in fear were laying on the ground with small scrapes on their arms.
"Who're you callin' a monster?" the brown haired boy replied, wiping his nose with narrowed eyes. The boys from before now ran off, leaving Kaen all alone as Azusa watched curiously from out of eyesight. Kaen bent down pawing at the dirt so as to let out his remaining anger.
"Stupid jerks!" He yelled angrily, "I'm not a monster! I'm not scary! I'm fine the way I am!" Some time passed as his childish tantrum continued on.
"Are you honestly gonna throw a tantrum all day?" Azusa questioned, approaching the small boy with her arms crossed and an annoyed expression.
"S-Shut up flatty!" He replied angrily, tossing a small clump of dirt at her.
"F-Flatty?! Why you!" She now put him in a headlock, choking him out. "Take it back or I'm gonna kick your butt for real!"
"T-Try it!" He replied defiantly. The two fought back and forth in a seemingly endless scuffle, resulting in a mutual defeat where they laid side by side covered in scrapes and dirt.
"Hey you.." Azusa said, attempting to catch her breath after calming down, "What's your name?"
"Kaen.." He replied attempting to catch his own breath as his attention turned to the sky, "What about you?"
She too looked up, gazing at the blue void above them, "Azusa.."
A great deal of time passed from that point on as the two began to hang around each other more and more. Azusa spent yet another time outside, sniffling and secretly crying where no one could see her.
"Hey, Azusa!" Kaen said, excitedly running up, "I was looking for you, where have you be-?" He now saw her, hastily wiping her eyes as she tried to dry her tears.
"Y-You're.. Crying.. Why?" He questioned.
"I-It's nothing.." She said, "I'm sorry… I just.." she continued to cry despite her efforts to hide such actions. Kaen looked to her scrapes and bandaged parts of her arms and face, understanding her feelings. He now walked over to her, bending down on the ground to meet her where he hugged her, "It's okay Azusa. You don't need to cry."
Her eyes widened with shock as a small gasp escaped her lips.
"It's okay." He said, patting her head. The two sat there as Azusa continued to cry in Kaen's arms.
*You were probably thinking the same thing that day.. I'm sure of it.*
"Azusa?" Kaen questioned, breaking her from her reminiscing thoughts. She now smiled, holding her hands behind her back, "It's nothing."
"Everyone." She announced, making her way over to the couch where her bag sat. She began to rummage around, pulling out the same camera from before as she turned to face Romio, Yuuki and the other two. "Everybody line up, let's get a picture to commemorate the welcoming of our newest dorm member."
With these words, Kaen and Romio now joined the three girls in front of them, finding their place behind them in line. Azusa then put the camera on a free place at the table, starting its countdown and returning to her place. Romio and Kaen being the tallest stood behind the three girls while the order from left to right went as Yuuki, Kaen, Azusa, Romio, and then Miku. They all stood there, noticing that the click was a little late. Everyone stood upright, their backs straight with smiles on their face.
Yuuki, noticing this behavior smiled nervously, "We're a bit stiff don't you think?"
Azusa now returned her gesture, "You said it.."
With this, Azusa suddenly wrapped one arm around Yuuki while the other wrapped around Miku, gently pulling them close. "Alright!" She called excitedly. "Let's loosen up a bit then."
Yuuki's hand rested on her arm with a playful smile in her expression. Miku on the other hand continued to face the camera, giving a beaming smile as well as a peace sign with her extended left hand. Romio now did the same as Azusa, playfully wrapping his arm around Kaen as he and Kaen smiled happily towards the awaiting camera. Just as they had finalized their positions, the camera clicked and with it, Azusa broke from her position to excitedly inspect the result.
"Mhm," She said with a nod and a warm smile, "This one is good to stay."
After inspecting the picture, the group sat down at the table, digging into the awaiting food whose steam had slightly cooled. They happily ate, chatting idly at the table with smiles and laughter in their faces. After eating, Azusa stood up from the table with a proud smile, making her way to the kitchen where she shortly arrived back with a white frosted cake in hand, it's candles burning brightly as it's ripe strawberries surrounding the top.
"A cake?" Yuuki questioned with excitement.
Azusa nodded, "We all took part in this. Kaen decided the type of cake, Romio baked and Miku and I frosted it and decorated. What do you think?"
"It looks so delicious. Thank you all so much."
"What's your wish?" Miku questioned happily.
"My.. Wish?" Yuuki replied curiously.
Romio smiled, "In a case where there are candles like this, you're supposed to make a wish are you not? Can you think of anything you might want to wish up?"
A moment of silence passed as Yuuki looked to the cake and then to her friends around her. She then took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "I wish.. To spend many days like this with you all, laughing, smiling and making fun memories." Everyone around the table stared at her, housing light traces of shock in their expressions as she lowered her head to blow out the candles. Yet another moment of silence passed as she slowly opened her eyes.
"W-What is it..?" She questioned timidly, "You all are looking at me kind of weird.."
"Oh uh.." Romio said, rubbing the back of his head, "I guess we just didn't expect that to be your wish."
Yuuki now looked all around the table, giving a small yet warm smile as her hands laid in her lap. "You know.. When I first arrived, I was terrified to meet you all. I was so scared that I wouldn't fit in." She now gave a small hysteric giggle, "Really, I could hardly gain the courage to knock on the front door.. I've only been here for a few weeks and yet, I've got to know you all so much. I'm thankful to have gotten placed in this dorm, It's so much fun here!"
"The fun is only beginning!" Romio chanted, jumping from his chair where he threw his fist into the air victoriously as he propped one foot on his now vacant seat. "Miku, do you have it?!"
"Aye sir!" She replied excitedly, pulling out a hefty small box like machine from below the table.
"It is time" Romio continued to announce triumphantly, "for the most noblest of Shining Star Dormitory traditions. Karaoke night! Prepare yourselves!"
"K-Karaoke?" Yuuki questioned nervously.
"Mhm." Azusa replied happily, "We used to have nights where we would sing but we haven't done it in a while. Give us one second, we'll go ahead and set it up." Romio and Azusa now walked over as Miku carried the small box over their way. Yuuki watched them set it up with smiles on their faces.
"You alright?" Kaen questioned, causing a small yelp to escape Yuuki's mouth as she abruptly turned to meet his gaze.
"K-Kaen.." she sighed, "You scared me.."
"O-Oh," he replied with a nervous smile, "Sorry about that." He now noticed that her gaze shifted once more to the small karaoke machine as Azusa and the others cheerfully set it up to the living room's tv.
"Are you.. Nervous?" he questioned curiously.
She gave a nod, "What if I don't live up to their expectations..?"
"Expectations?" Kaen questioned, "Just be yourself and sing the way you want. That's all we can expect."
"E-Eh?" Yuuki questioned, with surprise masking her tone as her eyes slightly widened. "Be.. myself?"
"Mhm" He said with a grin, "This is a celebration for your arrival at the dorm. Let's just have fun with it."
His words caused a small gasp to escape her lips.
"Ka-chan! Yuuki-chan!" Miku called excitedly, waving to them despite the short distance between them. "We have it set up."
"Alright." Kaen called back with a smile, offering his hand out to Yuuki. "You think you'll be alright?" Yuuki hesitantly nodded, outstretching her hand towards Kaen's only to stop halfway through. He now met her half way, lightly taking her hand in his own where he led her over to the couch. Yuuki followed behind, a slight blush on her cheeks as she looked to Kaen admirably. They then reached the couch as Azusa connected the mic, handing it to Yuuki as it's long cord snaked around the floor.
"You're up first Hirasawa-san." Azusa said with a smile. "As the new member, it's all you right now."
"R-Right.." She now stood from the couch, clutching the mic in hand timidly to her chest. She gave one final glance back towards Kaen who smiled supportively. The sweet melody of a piano now filled the room as Yuuki began to softly yet nervously sing.
"A-Ah the moon reflects the same old light. Burning brightly in the night.. And though you are so far away, I want to see it with you~." She continued as the piano melody now switched to a tone of pop, her eyes closed anxiously as she clutched the mic tightly.
The song continued as Yuuki's voice lightly shook while Azusa and the others stared curiously. Eventually, it came to an end, causing Yuuki to take one final breath of relief as the clapping of hands crossed her ears. She turned around with surprise in her expression. Everyone continued clapping with warm smiles.
"Good job Yuuki-chan." Miku said cheerfully, you're really shy but you have a nice voice."
Azusa nodded with a confident smile, "Right then," She stood up. "Come on Miku, we're doing a duet, we can't lose to Hirasawa-san either!"
"Aye captain!" She replied excitedly. They connected yet another mic, jokingly standing back to back in a dramatic pose as their melody began to play. The group looked to them with laughter as they playfully sang their hearts out. Eventually, their song came to an end, followed with cheerful claps from their friends'.
"Kaen," Romio stood from his seat, grabbing the two mics from the table in the middle and offering one out to Kaen. "Let's do a duet too."
"Ehhh?" He questioned. "Don't want it. You know I'm not that good at karaoke.
"You say that now but.." Romio now bent down to the machine's level, searching through the list and tapping a selection. A pop beat now began to play as Romio quickly got in position towards the front.
"Here's your mic, Kaen." Romio offered the microphone once more.
"Me too..?" Kaen questioned, his voice portraying that of hopelessness. He got up, quickly making his way to Romio at the front of the room where he grabbed the microphone, "Alright! Let's do this!"
Azusa disappointingly stared at their display, "Are they legally allowed to do this?"
Miku smiled, "You guys seem to be having fun."
Kaen now took a stance with the microphone held closely with his right hand as he held his left hand open with a hunched back. "A fairytale whispers in a fake world."
Romio stood directly up, both hands clenching the mic as he faced the ceiling, "Hiding in the complete darkness." He continued.
They now turned, facing forward toward their friends, "I reach for the forbidden fruit in my last days." Kaen sang
"Now I know the meaning of the song about hope." Romio continued.
Romio and Kaen began to snap to the beat as Kaen sang, "A broken gear will never stop again."
Azusa sat their, her expression that of a deadpan look where no humor resided, "Oi.. Really?" She questioned, pondering their actions as if internally gauging their stupidity. The song continued on until finally, the melody faded, leaving Kaen and Romio sitting on the floor back to back as they looked towards their friends.
"That was amazing!" Miku exclaimed happily, clapping as Yuuki did and giggling in the process.
"And completely unethical.." Azusa added, soon breaking into an aggravated expression, "Don't just make a Grand Bl** reference like that!"
"Just be happy we didn't take our shirts off this time." Kaen replied, unbeknownst to the problem Azusa was yelling at them for.
"Right then," Romio continued, bending down to the machine and searching through the list, "How about we do the Lucky **** opening next?"
Azusa now snapped toward Romio, "Even if you bleep it out, people clearly know what you're talking about!" As the joking ceased, a good deal of time had passed, allowing Romio to stand to his feet with a smile, "You ladies continue with the karaoke, I think I'm going to clean up the table." He now looked to the brown haired young man who sat on the couch, "Kaen, mind giving me a hand?"
"O-Oh, sure." He now got up, following Romio into the kitchen as Yuuki got up from her seat as well. "I can help too..-" In an instant, Azusa quickly wrapped her arms around Yuuki, "Not so fast Hirasawa-san." She replied with a giggle and a beaming smile. "We have a duet to sing."
"B-But the dishes-" Yuuki nervously replied.
Azusa smiled playfully, "They'll be fine in there. Miku and I are going to break you out of your shy shell." She now began to drag her back to the couch, "Come on, don't be shy~."
"Eh?" Yuuki managed to anxiously question in response. "A duet." Azusa said excitedly, "That's what we're starting with."
"A-A-Akamine-san!.." Yuuki exclaimed, wanting to escape from embarrassment. Azusa now pulled her in, giving her a mic as Kaen and Romio started to gather the dishes from the table and bring them to the kitchen sink. Some time passed as Romio washed the dishes while Kaen dried them.
"Kaen," Romio spoke, "Thank you for letting us know about Yuuki. Had you not said anything, I honestly don't think we would have noticed."
"There's no reason to thank me.." Kaen replied with a nervous smile, "I found out by pure chance in all honesty. She hides it so well, it's hard to believe she has something wrong at all. I just hope she doesn't try and take things on by herself. I want her to know we're here for her no matter what."
Romio smiled, "You really do care for her, don't you?"
His question prompted a small blush to cross Kaen's face along with a nervous smile as he briefly rubbed the back of his head.
"I can't say I've fallen for her or anything like that. It's just.. There's always two sides to every person, you know.. All throughout my time of knowing Hirukitan, I never would have thought a girl like Yuuki would be her other half. They're two completely different people after all. And then, as I spent more time with her.. I came to the realization that in reality, Hirukitan is actually Yuuki's other half. Those two instances probably sound similar but the order they're put in makes a big difference... I guess.. To put things in simpler terms.. I want to get to know Yuuki and help her when I can.
Romio's eyes widened for a moment, perplexed by Kaen's deep thoughts on the matter before giving a nod, followed by a warm smile as his eyes peacefully laid on Kaen. "Caring for someone doesn't always relate to romance you know." He replied, handing Kaen a plate, "It can be as simple as wanting to see that person happy or something extreme as wanting to protect them. I care for everyone in this dorm, including Yuuki. Spending time with you all has given me so many wonderful memories and getting to know you all for the people you are is one of the greatest honors I've had. I would like to get to know Yuuki more as well, so let's continue working hard for her as her friends."
A brief moment then passed before Romio gave a small chuckle, "That's just my thoughts on the matter however. What do you think?"
Kaen now gave a chuckle of his own, followed by a warm smile as he lost himself in thought. "Yeah, that sounds great." Eventually, they finished up washing the dishes, gathering once more in the living room where they gave their good nights as the night began to feel tiresome.
"Um.. Everyone..?" Yuuki questioned, just as Azusa and Romio began to make their way up the stairs. "From now on.. I didn't really get a chance to say it before but.. I would be really happy if you all called me Yuuki from now on."
"Your first name?" Azusa questioned. "Is that really alright?"
"Yuuki nodded, housing a warm smile on her face as she gently held her hands behind her back. "We're like a family now so…"
Azusa giggled, "Then Yuuki-Chan it is." Her words caused Yuuki to form a cheerful expression, averting her eyes with a slight blush in her cheeks as she lost herself in joyful thought. Azusa then wished her good night, continuing up the stairs.
"Good night Yuuki-chan~." Miku sang tiredly, giving one last accepted hug before she slouched up the stairs.
Romio smiled, "Good night, Yuuki."
"Good night." She replied to the two of them, allowing them to walk up the stairs as they tiredly made their way to bed.
Kaen now gave a yawn, turning to walk up the stairs. "Guess I should head to bed myself." He then started to walk, only to be stopped by a light tug at the bottom right of his shirt.
"Hm?" He questioned, attempting to turn until a small force fell upon his back. Yuuki's arms wrapped around the lower part of his chest as her head rested on his back. Kaen's eyes widened.
"Y-Yuuki?" He questioned, his heart skipping a beat at the atmosphere shifted to that of an ambiguous nature.
"Please don't take this the wrong way.." she replied, smiling warmly as she closed her eyes, "I'm just so happy that I don't know how else to show it.. Thank you Kaen…"
"W-What are you talking about..?" He questioned, rubbing the back of his head as a small blush fell upon his cheeks. "I didn't really do anything.."
She shook her head, "That's not true.. You're the one who came up with the idea right? It only makes sense after what happened at the mall."
"So you knew then?" He said with a sigh, "So much for my 'cool but silent' ending, huh?"
She giggled, "Did you honestly think I wouldn't notice?" They stood there silently for a brief moment before Yuuki's arms began to unravel from his torso. She now made her way to the start of the stairs, turning to meet Kaen's gaze once more with a beaming smile. "Thanks again Kaen, good night."
"Y-Yeah.." he replied, almost as if in a trance. The patter of her feet against the stairs now crossed his ears until eventually, they ceased and her door came to a close. Kaen stood there for a moment, the blush on his face refusing to fade as he thought about Yuuki's smiling expression.
"Hirukitan.. Hugged me.. She..-" a small stream of blood spurted from his nose, causing him to black out as the next morning rolled around. Azusa yawned tiredly, making her way down the stairs as the bottom of her foot met the top of Kaen's head.
"Eh?" She questioned, turning her attention to her sleeping friend and quickly removing her foot with surprise. She looked to him with pure confusion in her face, observing his awkward sleeping position as Romio and Miku made their way down.
Miku now made her way down, marveling at Kaen's posture. "Oh," She said with a bit of surprise in her voice, "Ka-chan slept out of his room."
Romio eventually joined the two, "Hm? Kaen?" he questioned. Azusa looked to him curiously, "What's his deal?"
Yet another door opened, and down came Yuuki, causing her to join her friends as she curiously questioned Kaens sleep on the floor. "Is he alright?" She asked.
Azusa rubbed the back of her head, looking to Kaen's dopey expression with confusion. "He looks just fine to me.."
He began to sleepily chuckle, "Hirukitan, heh heh heh.."
Yuuki's face now became a bright red as she attempted to wake him. Azusa's expression now shifted to that of deadpan disappointment as Romio and Miku smiled nervously.
"J-J-Just what are you dreaming about?!" Yuuki yelled with embarrassment, attempting to shake him from his dream. "Wake up already!" Yuuki continued to shake him, her expression flustered and red until eventually, he opened his eyes, starting off a new day with the residents of the Shining Star dormitory.