“So that blond lady is your aunt?” Though the woman was Tsukiko’s neighbor for a long time, they never really talked. But there were a couple times where the neighbor truly helped when Tsukiko felt awful. The only thing she really knew was that the neighbor was a doctor, or at least she seemed like one, given almost every time Tsukiko saw her she wore one of those white doctors’ smocks.

“Yes. She shared the apartment with a few colleagues from college, but recently one got engaged and the other received a job offer and moved out.” They felt a cold breeze and Taiyou-kun rubbed his hands together to warm up. Out of impulse, she grabbed his hand. He looked at her surprised, and then looked forward, not pulling it back. She could swear he squeezed hers a little, and she smiled. “So my aunt invited us to live with her,” he added.

“Hum.” So the rumors were fake after all. Ever since she was a victim herself in elementary school, she hated and never listened to them, especially one as nasty as the one circling amongst the residents with too much free time on their hands. “Do you wanna hang around at my place until your mom or aunt gets back?” They were back to the playground across the street from their building. She invited him because she knew it wasn’t the best place to wait. But there was something else. “We can watch TV or play games. I don’t want to brag, but I’m awesome, so I doubt you’ll have any chance,” she showed a smug.

He looked at her with the blank expression, but then his eyes shone a bit and he nodded his head a few times. Is he excited? Tsukiko’s smirk turned into a genuine smile, and she couldn’t make it go away. “Then let’s go!” she said, and led him by the hand.

When they got in the elevator, Tsukiko was already deciding what game they should play, already clutching the apartment’s keys on her hand. They talked, but when they reached their floor, and the doors opened, the boy stopped talking. There was a woman standing before Taiyou-kun’ apartment.

“Son,” she said walking toward them. She was a little out of air, her cheeks red. “Sorry I’m late. Work took longer than I thought,” the woman turned to Tsukiko and smiled. “You’re our neighbor, right? I’m Fuyuzora Shigure,” she bowed just like Taiyou-kun did earlier, “it’s nice to meet you,” her eyes saw their hands still together. “Thank you for keeping my son company.”

“Ah, it was my pleasure.” Tsukiko let go of Taiyou-kun and bowed too. “And he’s such a good kid it was he who kept me company,” she said patting him on the head with a laugh.

Taiyou-kun walked to his mother’s side, turned and bowed at her once more. “Thank you.” Again there was a hint of smile in his lips, but while he seemed happy, Tsukiko’s smile only grew thinner with each second.

She watched mother and son walking to their apartment, talking. Tsukiko sighed and dragged her feet, dropping her shoulders. Taiyou-kun looked at her for a second, said something to his mom and then the woman looked back too. “If you’d like, how about eating dessert with us?” she said raising the white box with a sweets store’ logo she had on her hands. “It’s my way of thanking you for treating to Taiyou dinner.”

Tsukiko beamed with a huge smile. “Yes!” and raced to join them.