"You really managed to control it!" I exclaimed as I studied Aries' profile.
His ears and tail were gone. All that was visible was a handsome man in his mid-twenties.
"How did you do it? Did you hold it in or something?" I asked as I made a full circle around him.
"Can you make them pop out again?"
"Eh? I don't know... Let me try..." Aries said as he puffed his cheeks out.
"Hmm...? Oh! It worked! Your tail is out!" I grinned as I inspected his tail.
"Ah! The ears are out too! It seems you have mastered your control on them. Then... can you do the opposite?" I asked as I scribbled excitedly into my notepad.
"... I can try?"
Aries did the opposite of what he did earlier and sucked in a mouthful of air. He also squeezed his eyes shut, making a funny expression.
Just as he was about to turn blue I stopped him. "That's enough. Why did you suck your breath in? I thought you were going to hide the ears and tail."
"That's what I was doing?" Aries panted as he leaned back in the chair and glanced at me.
"Hmmm... maybe the way to change back still hasn't improved but he can now summon them at will..."
"Maybe you should take a break..." Aries said as he held my hand in his warm ones.
"I'm perfectly rested." I replied, trying to shake off his hand to continue writing but he didn't budge.
"I don't believe you. I saw you. You were at your desk again all night." Aries said with a frown.
How did he know? I checked to see if he was sleeping!
"I just... wanted to gather some materials..." I stammered as Aries studied my reaction.
"Well... why can't you do it during the day then?" Aries asked as he folded his arms.
"B-because..."
"Because?"
"Mornings are spent with you."
"What-?!" Aries exclaimed as he nearly fell of the chair.
"Are you okay?!" I hurriedly caught his hands, dropping my pen and notepad, to keep him from falling backwards as I noticed his face beginning to turn red.
"I'm fine. Thank you... However... If undermining your rest to squeeze in time to spend with me in the morning... I think you shouldn't even bother."
"Huh? What are you saying?"
"For me... I will be by your side always. You need only focus on what you want. I will be there for you in your times of trouble or if you simply want a friend to talk to."
"But... You weren't by my side!"
"..."
"You were off the radar for an entire month. I had to assume you were dead... AGAIN! Don't say something you don't mean!" I yelled as I rushed back to my room and slammed the door behind me.
***
I tossed myself into the comfort of my bed, rolling around as I debated mentally, trying to sort out my thoughts. I wasn't particularly upset, but, I did feel hurt that he could say what he did and disappear without any contact for a month. He had never done it before. And being his only friend I...
Ahhh! I just wanted to spend some time with him today! I hadn't seen him for a month! I was too excited that I couldn't sleep! Writing at my desk was just for my diary and had nothing to do with work!
Why doesn't he get that?!
I ruffled my hair before stretching my limbs on the bed in frustration, lying in the comfort of the cool sheets. I had so many ideas planned out for when he came back...
If we are fighting already then those plans would be wasted! Ugh!
I sat up and glanced at the door, hugging a pillow to my chest as I thought about what Aries was doing outside.
"Well... It can't be only one person making peace." I sighed to myself as I placed the pillow down and headed for the door.
***
"Aries?" I asked, peeking out of the bedroom as I swept the room.
Huh? He's not here?
"A-Aries?" I called out again, as the unsettling feeling welled up in my chest.
"You called?" Aries asked as he entered through the front door, carrying a few bags of groceries.
"Y-you went out?" I stammered as I tried to collect myself.
"Yeah. There was practically nothing in your fridge and pantry. I bought enough to last for a month or so." Aries said as he placed the groceries on the kitchen island and headed to shut the front door.
"... A month...?"
"Hmm? That's what I said." Aries smiled warmly as he patted my head.
"Are you... going away for another month?" I asked as I saw Aries' eyes widened.
"Huh? Going away? ... ... Oh! No. No! I mean, it's such a pain climbing up and down this hill. So, I just bought enough for a month so that we don't need to rush to the shop every week or so." Aries replied with a frantic expression as he tried to explain himself.
I laughed as I watched Aries fumble on his words. It didn't feel like a long time since we last stood here and laughed together. Why is that I wonder?
"I get it. You don't need to explain yourself further. Let's put them away together." I smiled as I patted his shoulder and took a peek at the groceries.
"If you can't reach the place to put the items just leave them on the counter. I'll put them away."
"Yes, yes. I wonder whose fault it was that I couldn't reach the cabinets in the first place." I rolled my eyes as I heard Aries chuckle.
"Well, Sol. You got what you wanted."
"Huh?"
"We're spending time together now aren't we?" Aries beamed at me as he took the can from my hand and placed it in the cabinet way above me.
Huh. That was... surprisingly easy. Finding an excuse to hang out with him that is.
"Oh. Aries." I suddenly recalled as I held his arm.
"What is it?"
"About earlier... I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking properly. Maybe it was as you said. I was sleep deprived and irritable."
"I would accept your apology gratefully." Aries said as I broke into a smile but found myself almost instantaneously frowning after hearing the continuation of his sentence.
"If you had actually taken a nap." Aries said as he patted my head warmly. However, there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"I.... I'll sleep. After this. You can uh... watch me!"
"... W-watch you sleep? Why would I do that?" Aries replied a little flustered and red in the cheeks.
"Because you wanted to see for yourself that I would keep to that promise. So... be my guest." I smiled and turned to keep the items in the bag away.
"But wouldn't that feel too weird for you?" Aries asked. It almost felt like he was hell bent on not doing it even though he had been so concerned about it.
"It's fine. I'm used to it."
"Used to it? Who watched you sleep before?"
"Eh? Uh... ... Someone." I replied as I thought that it wasn't the right moment to bring Little Aries into the picture.
"That doesn't answer my question!" Aries frowned as he folded his arms.
"Oh, stop dwelling on it for too long. They did that until I fell asleep. We grew close in the time you were gone." I said as I thought about Little Aries laying by my side and making sure I try to sleep.
Thinking about that one time when Little Aries pounced on me and wouldn't let me get up until I took a nap at least, I chuckled to myself. There was also the time he would purposely interrupt my work and force his way onto my lap. That was adorable... but he was heavy.
"When I... wasn't around?" Aries mumbled to himself before going silent.
"Yes, well. Can we get to it?" I asked as I gestured the last paper bag with the few handful of bottled goods and cans.
"Okay." Aries replied although his mind seemed to be elsewhere.