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'Wow~! It's so pretty outside! Though a bit cold...'
'Ahaha! But no cold can stop the light of my glory!'
The spirited duo were heading to school, although their paths would split when Tsukasa and Emu would head to Kamikou and Miyajou respectively. Nevertheless, they would always walk together until they parted, though usually not without Emu's overprotective bodyguards. Even for the world future star, he had to admit that they were a little intimidating...alright, maybe very intimidating.
Today was one of the only days they were actually alone together, since Hinata, Emu's older sister, had managed to convince the guards that Tsukasa was capable of protecting Emu. Even as they walked now, he was thankful for this arrangement.
'Even so, Emu, are you sure you're alright?' he asked, concerned.
'It's still a little cold... I'll be fine though!'
Despite her reassurance, Tsukasa pulled his school blazer out from his bag, then wrapped it around her shoulders.
'At least wear that...okay?' he said, scratching his cheek awkwardly, a slight blush appearing on his cheek.
'Ehehe... Thank you, Tsukasa-kun!'
'It's nothing...'
As usual, Emu was oblivious to the fact that such an act would be seen as romantic. Even though they had been dating for a while, Tsukasa would still be the embarrassed one, as Emu had always randomly charged at him and hugged him with her usual excitement. He had mostly gotten used to it, though that still didn't prepare him for her other spontaneous shenanigans. That, plus the fact that she and Rui would come up with the most creative (and dangerous, Rui would add) show ideas.
But that was also the reason he fell in love with her.
'See you later, Tsukasa-kun!' Emu beamed, noticing that they were close to Miyajou already.
'Yeah! Take care of yourself, okay?' he yelled after her, hoping she heard.
With a sigh, he continued travelling to Kamikou, as always, slightly worried about Emu. She usually came back fine, but her carelessness and lack of impulse control concerned him.
Of course, it wasn't until today that something had happened to Emu.
--
'Hnngh...'
Emu moved her head slightly, still a little tired. Despite the fact that she remembered arriving at Miyajou, she couldn't remember anything that happened afterwards.
The room she was in felt too familiar, and the dark night sky outside was lit with stars reminiscent of a certain someone. She was sure that she was in her own house, but the reason was still unclear. Had it really been a dream? Did she really not go to school? And yet the conversation she had with Tsukasa felt too real, and she could almost feel his presence.
'Emu? You're awake?'
Almost? And yet here he was, his voice more vivid than ever. Well, even if this was a dream, it wasn't a bad one, to say the least.
'...I think so... Hey, when did you get here, Tsukasa-kun?'
'I guess you don't remember. You came down with a fever, and the nurse at Miyajou called your family to send someone to take care of you. Hinata sent me instead.'
Without another word of explanation, he rushed out of the room, apparently cooking something outside.
Even so, he's always so easy to see through, Emu thought.
Knowing him, he would always put on a confident expression, a smile sure to ease the hearts of the audience. Making such an amiable expression was a specialty of his. Even so, those close to him could always tell his genuine smiles from the ones filled with false bravado.
Saki had told her that back when she was in hospital for months, their parents had to focus their time and energy on her. She couldn't do anything at the time, and Tsukasa tried to be a good brother to her. Despite that, she knew that he felt a pain indescribable with words, a pain he kept to himself at all costs. It was a burden that he kept on his shoulders for years, and yet he still became such a selfless person.
Sometimes, Emu wondered to herself what that felt like, though she eventually came to realise that she didn't need to.
They were the same, after all.
The ones who would always put on a smile and hide their troubles, even if it broke them in the end.
'Ah, Emu, the soup's nearly ready, so-'
'Okay! Though you don't need to work yourself too hard, Tsukasa-kun!'
Even as she said this, she felt the words that she really wanted to express stuck in her throat.
'I'm sorry.'
The two looked up at each other, realising that they said it at the same time.
Suddenly, Emu smiled brightly, a smile that was so contagious that Tsukasa's expression now matched hers.
'I guess we were thinking of the same thing!' she laughed, her expression bright again.
Tsukasa looked at her with a mixture of exasperation and amusement, soon joining with his own chorus of laughter.
'Hey, Emu,' Tsukasa said suddenly, 'do you remember that time we went on the ferris wheel together?'
'Yup! In the end, I'm glad I asked you. It was much easier to express our feelings like that.'
'It's an important memory for me as well- Oh, your energy is recovering, so that's good...'
He placed a hand on her forehead, and noticed that it had cooled down. Emu's cheeks flushed slightly at his touch.
'Wait, are you okay? Emu!'
'It's fine...!'
The two of them averted eye-contact, despite the gesture seeming quite normal to most. Well, of course, they weren't exactly the standard of normal, either.
But perhaps that was what made them special. Even their worries would eventually be resolved, and one day, those burdens would not be completely their own.
Emu softly closed her eyes once more.
'Ah, right, you should get some rest.' Tsukasa added, pulling her blanket up. 'I'll see you tomorrow.'
As he was about to leave, her hand tugged on his sleeve, secretly wishing for him to stay with her. With a reassuring smile, he sat beside her, placing her hand in his own.
'Good night, Emu.'