He tiptoed softly past the sleeping forms of his two friends. Hinata was fast asleep next to the bed. Hana's arm was hanging off while his was outstretched.

Did they fall asleep holding hands? How romantic…

Choosing his footsteps carefully, he made his way to the door, slightly ajar. He slipped through, brushing softly against the painted wood.

Hinata's house wasn't what one could call big, but it certainly was roomy. The stairs opened up on the right to a relatively spacious landing. A large window overlooking the backyard took up residence on the opposite wall, next to the bathroom. Hinata's and Oboro's rooms were on the left side, and another room, presumably his parents', was in the back.

Takumi shuffled across the carpeted floor towards the window. At only half-moon on a cloudless summer night, it still shone considerably bright. Luminescent enough to cast shadows on whatever stood in the light's way.

He peered down into the backyard. There was a lone figure sitting on the patio, facing the grassier area. Her back was to the house, but there was no mistaking it.

Takumi hopped down the stairs as fast as he dared, but with making as little noise as possible. There were no lights on, but Hinata's house had never made him afraid of the dark. There was something vaguely comforting, familiar about the place. Heavy Asian, zen vibe? Might've been.

He slipped of the hair tie always kept on his left wrist and hastily did it up. Not as neat as he would've liked, but it would have to do. Too late, he realized he wasn't wearing anything other than a t-shirt and light sweatpants. Then again, neither was she.

Connecting the house and the backyard was a sliding protected glass, then screen door. He unlocked it gently, slowly, as to avoid alarming the girl sitting in tranquility.

"Takumi."

There was no need to turn around, he noted. He slid both doors shut behind him.

"Hey."

"Can't sleep?"

Her tone wasn't accusing, but welcoming.

"Yeah," he admitted. "Do you mind if I sit next to you?"

"Go ahead."

"How about you? Can't sleep either?"

Their legs hung off the raised patio. He could touch the ground, but hers swung freely.

She let out a breath. "Don't worry about me. I can deal with it by now."

"Hm."

They sat in shared silence for a while. Takumi turned his gaze towards the night sky. It was a sight he had seen many times before, but never had he shared it with her. Lucky it was cloudless today, he thought. The sky was a black canvas littered with splattered paint, magnified by hundreds upon hundreds of swirling patterns. He instinctively started searching for the constellations he knew by heart - the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, Crux, Leo (if he could find it!) - he could point them out with both hands tied behind his back (with his chin, probably).

He owed it to Hinoka for wanting to know all of the stars' names, and having to go search them all up, and watching the sky every night to show them to her, but it wasn't an experience he regretted.

He wanted so much to share it with the girl sitting beside him - but he was afraid anything he could say would ruin the feeling between them. She was welcoming enough at first, but there was just something about her this time - new walls, defenses with iron reinforcements - but it felt as if he could tear them down with nothing but a soft voice.

"Do you ever have that feeling where you just can't let go of something, but you desperately need to?"

"...that's quite specific," he commented. "Is there anything on your mind?"

He glanced at her sideways, searching her eyes. He could already see them darkening, her thoughts clouding up with sorrow.

She heaved a heavy sigh and cast her gaze to the heavens. "It's always on nights like these where I can't help but think of them."

So she's going to spill after all.

"Your parents?"

"...yeah."

"Do you...uh, do you want to talk about it?"

She gave him a sideways glance. "Yes, Takumi, I would like to talk about it."

He met her surprising answer with silence.

"So are you going to ask me about it?"

He coughed in response. He thought she was going to...ah. "Could I?"

"Sure. Maybe we can get to know each other a bit better."

Her words were playful, but there was nothing lighthearted behind them.

Alright, then.

"How old were you when you lost them?" There was no way to soften the question.

"Young," was the straight-voiced answer.

No specification? He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Then...do you still remember them?"

From what he had previously observed, it was a sort of prickly topic for her. The question was a bit off the edge, but…

"With every detail..." she muttered. "I think about them every day. To honour their memory."

"Do you miss them?" he asked, thinking there was more to the story, then immediately cringed. Stupid question, of course she does!

"Stupid question...of course I do!" She shoved him gently with her shoulder and a small smile appeared on her face. "But then I remember that I have all of you guys right now."

Her eyes flickered up to meet his for a moment, and her smile grew a bit wider. She quickly broke the connection, but the smile wasn't gone.

Takumi blushed, honored at being a part of "you guys", but it was dark, with the only light emanating from the celestial objects above. He hoped it was hidden.

All of a sudden, he felt something cold caressing his cheek. He jolted backwards and gasped, eliciting a laugh from the girl. "It's just my hand, silly. You're really hot."

He blinked a few times, trying to process her words. It turned into an awkward silence for a few seconds, filled in by various cricket chirps, until she, too, realized her mistake.

"I meant temperature-wise! Temperature! Not - not anything else!" she quickly backtracked, panic evident in her voice.

Now it was his turn to laugh...and maybe get some revenge. He reached out, and, hoping what he saw was her, cupped her cheek in his curled palm.

"As expected...you're very hot too."

A line that took a year's worth of courage to say, but definitely worth it. They sat stock-still in complete mortification for another few seconds.

He snorted, breath catching at the back of his throat, but that was all it took for both of them to burst out laughing.

"Ah...I'm sorry…" he managed to choke out.

"No, it's okay...I started it…" Oboro reassured him.

"Ahh…"

They lapsed into silence yet again.

Takumi chose to speak up. "Are you still okay to talk about it? I mean…" He lets the sentence go unfinished, as he doesn't really have any qualms about it, just checking to make sure it's really okay with her.

"It really is funny, Takumi," she glanced at him, a sly smile on her lips. "You're easier to talk to about this than anyone else…"

"Or am I the only one you've talked to about it?" he deadpanned. It was the more likely scenario.

"Ah...now that I think 'bout it…" she put a finger to her chin in a childlike way, almost mocking him. "Wait…" She slowly relaxed out of the position. "You are the only person I've...um, opened up to."

So how does that make you feel? Her expression seemed to read. He swallowed out of nervousness, and asked, "why me? You've only known me for...two weeks, has it been?"

She shook her head, ponytail flailing about at the back. "I just said it. You're a good listener."

"All I did was ask you a few awkward questions and expect awkward answers!" he protested. Not that he didn't want Oboro to trust him, but he needed an answer to this question now.

She crossed her arms rather menacingly. "Look, I already did it. Are you gonna make me regret it?"

"No - no!" Ah, this is going all wrong. "Ah - sorry. I just - uh, it's because -"

"People don't really open to you that much?" The smirk was back, so now he knew he was being teased. "Yeah, I can see why."

"Hey!"

"You ask questions, but you ask too many questions!" she continued, the smirk growing wider. "Curiosity killed the cat, you know!"

"You've hurt my pride," he announced, continuing the charade.

"You had pride?"

"Oh my…" he put his head in his hands, secretly grinning. I set myself up for that, didn't I.

She laughed too. "C'mon, you walked into that one - no, you even waltzed into there. You know you can do better!"

"Yes, I can," he murmured. "I definitely will."

And it was at that moment that Oboro chose to fall sideways, leaning against Takumi.

"Ahh...talking with you has made me really sleepy…" She punctuated it with a yawn.

"Is - is it because I'm boring?" he joked, keeping his voice even so it diDn'T soUnD LIkE tHIs.

Does it not matter to her? She's the one leaning on me..

"No, of course not!" Her tone was genuine. "I enjoyed it very much!"

"Oh." That's one step closer to my goal! "Do you think we should go back inside, then?"

"Hmm…" Suddenly, Takumi had a vision of Oboro doing the thinking stance again while saying it. She did look good doing it...but then again, she would look good doing anything.

"I mean...it's a pretty good temperature out here...and...I don't mind falling asleep under the stars with you…"

So then what is that supposed to mean!? Does she like me as a friend, or what…!

He wasn't going to pass up this chance, though.

"Sure! If you want to, I'll stay here...with you."

"I'd like nothing more."

And that exchange! What is this!?

He felt that weight again on his shoulder, signifying that she was resting her head on it.

So...do I put my arm around her?

In a millisecond, he weighed the pros and cons of doing it. Pros - warm, feelings, goal achievement. Cons - sweaty palms, she might hate me, she might really hate me.

In the end, the war in his mind was decided, with for as the victor. So gently, discreetly, he snaked his arm around her and rested it on her...shoulder. Her shirt crinkled under his touch. He didn't feel close enough to place it elsewhere...yet.

She leaned in to his touch, nuzzling his shoulder.

So...now we just have to sleep like this.

Sleeping sitting up...wasn't too bad, he supposed. It could have gone worse, he supposed. If Hinata and Hana woke up before they did, they were screwed, he supposed.

Before long, Oboro had fallen asleep, chest rising and falling naturally. It didn't take long for Takumi to follow suit either, surrounded by the stars and sounds of the night.

I hope I don't snore was his last thought before slipping into the void.

All in all, it was a night of great accomplishment.

Woohoo guys finished my first exams and back from the ded :D

Have not updated in so long ;-;

Fortunately, it's slowly getting to where I want it to go. So, cheers!

Thank you all for your continued support. Leave a review if you want, don't leave one if you don't. Until next time!