So, the three of us started walking through the quiet nighttime streets of our little town.
That evening, the streets were rather tranquil, and a cool breeze was there to gently caress your face.
It was a pleasant but somehow "painful" feeling.
It's hard to explain.
As we walked, Evangeline and Suzuki carefully avoided bringing up the topic of Ema, while I did my best not to think about it, trying to convince myself that the scene in front of me was nothing but a bad dream.
We kept strolling for a while longer, stopping at various stalls and small shops along the way.
Suzuki kept glancing at rings, lingering on them dreamily before putting them back.
And it was during one of these moments that something amusing happened.
While we walked and chatted, we came across a jewelry stall selling all kinds of items.
Suzuki's eyes immediately landed on a silver ring shaped like a crown.
She truly had an expert eye.
"Excuse me, sir, may I take a closer look?" Suzuki asked politely.
The vendor nodded with a smile, replying, "Of course, young lady! Feel free!"
Suzuki turned the ring over in her hands repeatedly, as if to ensure it was real.
Then, she slipped it onto her finger—specifically, her ring finger.
Evangeline and I watched her, enjoying the moment.
You could see the happiness radiating from her as she admired the ring on her hand. Her eyes were full of what could only be described as "love."
"It's… beautiful," Suzuki murmured, her voice distant and dreamy.
Evangeline and I exchanged glances, chuckling quietly.
Suzuki noticed and blushed slightly, looking flustered.
"H-Hey… don't make fun of me," she said, quickly hiding her hand behind her back and removing the ring to place it back on the stand.
She didn't want to buy it for some reason, even though it seemed like the thing she wanted most in the world.
And yet, she was the daughter of a millionaire; she could easily afford it.
"Oh, don't worry. We're not making fun of you," Evangeline teased lightly. "Your happiness was infectious. You looked so adorable while you were daydreaming."
"S-Stop it!" Suzuki exclaimed, her cheeks glowing red with embarrassment.
I couldn't help but laugh.
These moments of distraction were just what I needed, even though I knew that as soon as I got home, I'd probably break down in one of my episodes.
The jeweler, who had been silently observing the scene, decided to make a small offer to Suzuki.
"Young lady, this ring is made of genuine silver. For you, I'll give it to you for a very low price, just because you seem so charming. Only 1,500 yen," the jeweler said, rubbing his hands together.
Suzuki was "surprised" by such a low price and glanced at me briefly before responding.
"Hmm… I'd love to buy it, but maybe it's better if I don't," she said, her voice tinged with sadness as she prepared to put the ring back.
That's when I stepped in.
On pure instinct, I sighed, smiled, and pulled out my wallet.
I still had some emergency money, so I took out a 5,000-yen note.
Without thinking twice, I stepped forward and spoke.
"Don't worry, this is my treat," I said, handing the bill to the jeweler.
Suzuki looked at me, stunned, her eyes welling up with tears.
She hadn't expected such a gesture from me.
To be honest, neither had I.
Evangeline watched the scene in silent surprise, without a hint of malice.
I'm not sure why I bought the ring for Suzuki at that moment.
Was it a way to help myself?
It just felt natural to give someone what they wanted… I can't explain it.
I didn't want to see anyone else sad.
"Oh! You're quite the gentleman! Haha! In this case, it's only 1,000 yen!" the jeweler said, taking the money from my hand.
Suzuki continued to look at me, a mix of perplexity and embarrassment on her face, as if searching for the right words.
Maybe I'd regret this gesture in the future… considering her feelings for me.
After a moment, the jeweler handed me the change, and Suzuki kept staring at me, her cheeks flushed.
I returned her gaze and, smiling, said, "Go ahead, put it back on."
Suzuki looked at me for a few more seconds before pouting slightly, an expression that was both adorable and puzzling.
Then, she slipped the ring back on her finger and thanked me, her eyes downcast.
Evangeline watched the scene with amusement.
She then approached us, leaning in to whisper in my ear, "I have so much to teach you…" Her tone was teasing, almost playful.
I flinched slightly, unsure of what she meant by that.
Then, Evangeline turned to Suzuki and gently took her hand.
"Oh là là! Cette bague est magnifique!" she said in French, her voice full of admiration as she admired Suzuki's ring.
I didn't understand what she said, but judging by her reaction, it was clearly something about the ring. And from her expression, it seemed she liked it.
Suzuki remained silent, a little embarrassed, but a radiant smile lit up her face.
"Perhaps someday, a handsome prince will put it on your finger! Oui, oui!" Evangeline added, throwing a sly glance in my direction.
I blushed slightly, I have to admit.
"H-Hey!" Suzuki exclaimed, her cheeks now a deep red, as she pulled her hand away from Evangeline's friendly grasp.
Despite the slightly awkward situation, the three of us burst into spontaneous laughter.
And so, the evening went on.
We kept walking and chatting until we finally reached Suzuki's house.
When we arrived at her gate, it was quite late—around midnight.
Suzuki thanked us for the wonderful evening, even hugging Evangeline.
"See you at school?" I asked.
Suzuki nodded. "Of course!"
She glanced at her ring one last time and thanked me again, her expression full of affection.
For a moment, I was captivated, I'll admit.
Scratching the back of my head, embarrassed by her beauty, I replied, "N-No problem. See you at school! Good night!"
Suzuki nodded and said goodbye before disappearing into her enormous villa.
Now, it was just Evangeline and me, standing in the dark of the night.
It was a slightly awkward situation.
"So, it's just the two of us now," Evangeline said, her tone mischievous as she took a step forward, stopping right in front of me.
Then, she held out her hand, smiling.
"What do you say? Will you walk me home, mon chéri?" she asked.
I had a strange feeling… as if Evangeline had been waiting for this moment for a long time.