Eiji woke up with the alarm of his cell phone. He sat down slowly and turned off. It was 5 a.m. He looked throughout the windows and the skies were dark and the clouds heavy. He took a deep breath before leaving his bed.

Two months had passed terribly slowly since his fight with Shuichirou. It was September already and the leaves started to change colors.

Kikumaru was outside of his building already. He turned on some music on his playlist and put the headphones on. His doctor had recommended he would make some physical activity to help with the anxiety, so he started to run early in the mornings, before going to college. His medication was also changed and he was feeling much better. Eiji stretched his arms and legs for a while in a small square in front of his building before starting to run down the street.

Running helped him clear his mind from the turbulence of the last couple of months. He would concentrate on his breathing, his steps and the landscape around. Eiji liked to see the sun coming up and illuminate everything around. But, on that morning, the sun was shy and it was already 7 a.m when he stopped under a tree, feeling the small raindrops touching his hair.

When he returned home, Mika was already in the kitchen still on her pajamas and with a sleepy expression.

"Good morning, Eiji-san." She showed him a small smile.

"Good morning!" he said, after removing his headphones and his running sneakers.

"Is it cold outside?"

"Not much, it just started to drizzle."

"Want a cup of tea?"

"Sure, thanks!" he sat down while she poured him the dark liquid.

"I'm making breakfast today, what do you think about some croissants? I prepared the dough when you were working last night."

"It sounds great!" he said, before taking a sip of the tea.

"You know, Eiji-san…" she hesitated a little on the subject. "What do you think about inviting Oishi-san to our festival next week? He could try a lot of the new food you learned, so…"

"I don't want it." His smile died completely and he lowered his face.

Eiji had told her what happened, about the confession and their fight when she returned from Kyoto since she noticed he was extremely sad. She had conforted him while he cried frustrated and heartbroken tears but he refused to talk about it since then.

"Eiji-san, don't you think it's time for you two to make up? He texts me every week wanting to know about you. He's really worried. Why don't you…"

"He doubted my feelings." the dark blue eyes were pained. "I told you what he said."

"Did you ever think about Oishi-san?" her voice was calm. "You told me the person he was in a relationship with cheated on him and there you come, pouring all those feelings on him as well. It's a lot to process. He also has the right of being cautious and not wanting a new relationship right away."

"But!"

"You're hurting him, Eiji-kun. As far as I know, Oishi-san did nothing but being extremely kind towards you, even now he worries. He doesn't deserve such a treatment."

Eiji lowered his head. He missed Oishi terribly. It was like there was a deep void on his heart.

"I miss him." He said, quietly and sadly.

"I know you do." She said, kindly, smiling at him. "So go talk to him. Invite him to the festival; I'm sure he's going to love trying your food again and spend some time with you."

#############

Oishi looked throughout the windows of his room. A soft rain was falling. He had just finishing taking a shower. It was Saturday night. After finishing his volunteer shift, he returned home, did some house chore and cooked dinner to himself. He was already on his pajamas. Coming close, he looked at the rainy landscape, the green eyes worried.

"It's been like this for a couple of days now. The thunders and lighting are probably going to happen with more frequency soon."

He looked at the rain drops falling down the glass and he thought about Eiji. Even texting Mika frequently to check on him, he wished he was able to talk to him properly and directly. The sight of the dark blue eyes filled with tears and anger towards him always made Shuichirou's heart tight. He wished he was able to apologize properly for hurting his feelings and explain things better, but Eiji continued to ignore him and he felt horrible for that distance between them again.

Oishi was about to eat the food he had prepared when the doorbell rang. He was surprised for a moment, since he was not expecting anyone.

"Yes?" he said, gently, after opening the door and the green eyes were wide in surprised. "Eiji… Eiji-kun!"

"I'm.. I'm sorry for coming unannounced on your free day." He said, averting his eyes. There was slight blush on his face. "My cell phone died and I couldn't send you a message."

Shuichirou noticed he was with the headphones on his neck and wearing a water proof sweater with a hood.

"Don't worry about it! Please, come in, I…" he was about to invite him to have dinner together.

"I can't. I'm on my way to Sakurai." his voice and expression was serious. It was so strange to see that kind of expression, Oishi thought, before Kikumaru took a small envelope from his pocket. "I just came to give you this."

"What is it?" he said, after picking up the object and looking at it.

"Three invitations for our fall festival at college. It's going to happen next Saturday for the whole day. There will be a lot of warm, rich meals for this season. I thought you, Harada-san and Takumi-san would like to go."

"Really?!" he smiled happily and Eiji blushed even more. Why was he so adorable?! "I would love to go! They would definitely like it as well! Thank you so much!"

"It was Mika-san's idea." He finally looked directly at him, even though he was shy. "But… I… I really wanted you guys to go."

"Eiji-kun…"

"I'm sorry I yelled at you." He was sincere. "I had no right. I'm really sorry."

"You don't have to apologize, Eiji-kun, I…"

"I would like to talk to you after the festival ends. A proper conversation. Please."

"Sure, I'd like that." Oishi smiled gently. "I also can't wait to taste your food. I really miss it. I miss you too."

"I need to go now." He lowered his face, feeling his heart throb with his words and smile. "I'll see you there. Good night."

"Good night, Eiji-kun." Shuichirou said, before he walked away in hurried steps.