The weeks pass by, and the Autumn Festival looms closer. Yuki and Koji talk together between classes, beginning to understand each other. Once they found out that they live in the same housing district, they started walking home together. The two chatted and laughed, with a quiet shadow following them unnoticed.
Yuki became aware of the fact that Jen was more distant and sullen. He rarely talked, and when he did, it was for a short time and ended as he left to be alone. The night before the festival, she decides to find out just what it is that was bothering him.
Jen doesn’t look as the ladder is leaned against the side of the house. He continues looking up at the stars, brooding. Yuki gets to the roof and looks at him lying down on the roof.
“You’ve been bad company lately, even worse than normal.”
She takes a seat next to him.
“What’s wrong?”
He remains silent, his expression still neutral.
Reaching over, she takes off his sunglasses, seeing his gaze turning to her.
“I’m awake, thank you.”
She pouts and sets the sunglasses down next to her blue skirt.
“Then what’s on your mind?”
He closes his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
She smiles slightly.
“Are you jealous of Koji?”
He glares at her.
“Oh yes, I’m so jealous of your Koji-kun, I could just keel over and die from it.”
His sarcasm ending, he returns back to looking at the stars. She lightly laughs.
“I don’t know why you don’t like him. He’s a nice guy.”
Jen shrugs, not caring about the conversation.
She folds one leg of the sunglasses in and pokes his nose with the unfolded leg. He doesn’t react, so she pokes him again. He reaches out with his left hand and grabs her wrist, firm but not too tight.
“Stop it.”
She lets go of the sunglasses, and smiles as they land halfway on his face, then slide off to the roof. He releases her wrist and picks up the sunglasses with his right hand. Setting them back over his eyes, he relaxes and stares at the stars again.
Yuki lies beside him and looks at them as well.
“What are you doing up here anyways?”
After a pause, he replies.
“I’m thinking.”
She smirks.
“Then why the pause? Are you sure that’s the reason you’re up here?”
He slowly gets up and looks at her, his face showing pain.
“No. I needed to be away from you for a while.”
She blinks and looks at him.
“What? Why did you have to be away from me?”
He looks back up at the stars and sighs.
“Your presence is hindering me. I keep sensing my star ball, and it’s throwing my concentration off.”
She strokes the star ball, which has become an unconscious action to her, a sign of insecurity.
“So I’m in your way?”
He turns and regards her.
“You are not, personally. It’s just that I have the feeling I’ll need the power held within the star ball, and being around it consumes my thoughts. I need to figure out a way to work it out without using my stored strength.”
She tilts her head to the side.
“Are you thinking something will happen at the Autumn Festival?”
He slowly nods.
“I’m unsure to what end going will reach, but I will go if you do. Don’t worry about canceling it, I’ll protect you if anything does happen.”
Yuki smiles.
“I know. Would Koji be in danger, though?”
Jen shakes his head.
“No, the only ones that would be in danger would be you and I.”
“Okay. Well, in that case, I’ve decided.”
He stares at her, waiting for her to finish.
“I’ll go.”
Solemnly, he nods his head.
“As you wish.”
