"The cultural festival starts today!" Ayano ran into the room where her adopted siblings gathered, grinning excitedly. Shintarou walked in behind her, scrolling down something on his phone. He stopped abruptly and slipped the device into the pocket of his red and white jacket. "Dad said we could all go!" Ayano continued, looking from SHintarou to Kido and Kano.

Tsubomi ducked her head and disappeared. Going to any place with a large amount of people made her nervous. Shuuya reached out and gently put his hand on her shoulder, seeing her even though she was invisible to the rest.

"Sounds like fun." Shuuya said, appearing to smile. To everyone else, he seemed to be grinning and sitting still with his hands in his lap, however he was actually frowning worriedly and trying to comfort Tsubomi. He could feel her shaking beneath his hand.

Ayano looked around, unable to see Tsubomi but knowing she was there. There was one other person who was missing... "Where's Kousuke?" she asked, squatting to look under the table to her right. Kousuke always hid there when he was upset, but not today. Today he wasn't even in the room.

"He-ah-went out a few hours ago." Kano said, glancing at Kido. She was staring at the ground.

"Out where?" Ayano asked, disappointment clear in her voice. She looked around the room again.

"Shopping." Kano said. He knew Kousuke Seto had gone to some sort of forest (he had never been very specific about the exact location). Kano had no idea what he did there nor why he went, but he knew he had to keep Kousuke's secret from Ayano and Tsubomi. Seto had trusted Shuuya to never tell anyone, especially not Ayano. Knowing Seto was alone and out of town would only worry her.

Ayano frowned, disappointed that Seto would not be joining them at the cultural festival. She shook her head, forcing the thoughts out of her mind. "Dad said he's been teaching two students he wants us to meet. He's been up late at night creating a shooting game or something for their part in the cultural festival. Won't that be fun?" When she spoke, Ayano looked from Shuuya to Shintarou, eagerly grinning at them.

"Hm." Shintarou grunted, not looking at anyone. He had pulled out his iPod and was putting in his earbuds, ready to drown the world out with music.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Shuuya responded, appearing to be excitedly fidgeting. In reality, the deceiver was just as worried as Kido. In fact, he was worried for her. He had never been to a cultural festival, but he knew one thing at least one class did every year. Knowing Ayano, she would drag all four of them to the one place Tsubomi should never go.

"Come on, we should get going before the train leaves! Get ready and meet me out front!" Ayano left the room, Shintarou following closely behind her, still not looking up.

Kido reappeared behind Kano. "Shuuya..." she said, brushing his hand off her shoulder.

There were a lot of things he could say to her, a lot of things he could use to try and comfort her, but none of the words left his mouth.

Instead, he said something so stupid Tsubomi punched him. Punching was more or less her way of expressing amusement, annoyance, and love for Shuuya Kano. It was the way she communicated with him, almost like a secret language only the two of them shared.

She left the room, leaving Shuuya alone. He smiled and stood, exiting the room a moment later to return to his own and change. Ayano was waiting and there was no way he could back out. Tsubbomi would need him, but he didn't tell her that. He couldn't tell her Ayano would drag them into a haunted house. He wouldn't be able to reassure her, to tell her he'd be there for her, no matter what. He wanted to let her know, to tell her all those things, but he couldn't. After all, he was the deceiver. He was meant to deceive; and deceive he did.

His eyes shown red as he walked out the front door towards Ayano, Shintarou, and Tsubomi Kido.