“Wow, how’d you manage to carry in a full grand piano in this puny apartment?” Jack asked.

“Lifted it,” Simon said. Not really an answer. 

Jack approached said piano curiously. He sat down on the stool in front of it, straightening up his posture and making many grand gesticulations, wearing a mocking seriousness on his face. 

“I shall play... Chopin’s Waltz Nocturne number 17 in E minor...” he announced. With one careful hand, he stumbled out the beginning notes of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” 

Simon covered his mouth, giving a stifled laugh. Jack grinned back goofily. 

“Haha, yeahhh, I don’t know anything about piano really...” He trailed off as Simon had sat next to him, flipping back his coat and raising his hands with poise. He played a steady, soft melody on the piano. Jack didn’t know its name, but it was rather beautiful; it made him think of delicate things like flower petals floating in rain puddles. Simon stopped playing after a few moments, leaving the melody unresolved. It disappointed Jack a little.

“That was... so cool! You’re very good at playing!” Jack said cheerfully, quickly wiping his face of reverie. 

Simon quietly smiled back. “Thanks.” 

Yet again, a door knock sounded out. Simon stood up showing no signs of emotion, opening the door without fear. Yet again, it was June with Ciel behind her. 

“Hey, you and Ciel should talk.”

“Hiiiii,” Ciel said quietly. 

Simon looked from June to Ciel, then back again. “Okay. Help yourself.” He let June in to hang out with Jack, as he stepped out with Ciel. Simon leaned against the closed door with his arms crossed, and Ciel shrunk even more under his gaze.

“...Hiiiii.”

“You said that already.” 

“...” Ciel hesitated. “So look, I guess I’m like... sorry... or something.”

Simon raised an eyebrow.

“I said it! Ok!? I... ugh, ok,” Ciel took a second to recompose himself. “Okay... I’m sorry I didn’t break up with you in person. I was... embarrassed,” he said through gritted teeth. “I really felt... inadequate... and every second of the day, it felt like you were constantly holding it over my head how much better you were. You always bang around on that piano every day, and whenever your mom visited, she always doted on you while mine yelled. It just got to me I guess. Sorry.” 

Simon’s gaze softened, and he relaxed his arms. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”

“Yeah, well. It’s just how it is...” 

“Thank you.”

“What?” 

“Thank you. Thank you for apologizing to me.” 

“Oh... yeah... no welco- no big- no problem,” Ciel finished messily. 

Simon nodded before turning back to his apartment. At that moment, another bead on his necklace began to glow and rise towards the heavens; in a burst of light, the abyssal bead became one of gold. Etched on the surface was the symbol of a small daisy; the symbol of humility. 

He looked up to notice June had left Simon’s apartment, and she too was staring at the bead. She lifted her eyes to meet Ciel’s and smiled. “Hey, looks like you can learn something, huh?” 

“Yeah...” Ciel smiled.