There were cats all around her, but Rin barely paid any attention to them. Her focus was only on the photograph clutched in her hands. How many times had she looked at this photograph now, just staring intently at it until every single detail was burned into her mind? She just didn't know.

The five childhood friends depicted in the picture were happy and smiling. Her heart ached to think of those carefree and innocent days they had all spent together, just having fun. If only they could have those days back.

Riki. Masato. Kengo.

How much she missed them. The photo disappeared behind a blur of tears and her chest hitched. Her face grew hot and tears welled in her eyes. Rin sniffled, a tear breaking free and sliding down her cheek.

"Rin."

The sudden voice made her jump. Rin twisted around to see Kyousuke leaning on the back of the sofa, looking concerned. The pained look on her face sent a spike of pain through his own chest.

"I miss them," Rin gasped out. "I miss everyone. I want to see them all again. Why... why can't we all be happy together?" She started sniffling, further tears coursing down her cheeks.

A lump formed in Kyousuke's throat. He looked over her shoulder at the picture. Ever since that day the truth came out, words had barely been spoken between the siblings and the childhood friends. Rin had even dropped out of school instead of continuing through the third year, much to his dismay. He'd had to support her while working at the same time but in the end, it had worked out.

Rin should have been at school with everyone else right now, smiling, laughing and having fun together with their friends, but instead here she was, crying her eyes out on the sofa while surrounded by cats.

"Do you think things will ever go back to the way they were?" Rin looked at the picture again. Her voice was so soft, Kyousuke barely heard her.

"I don't know." Kyousuke put a hand on her head. "But I hope so, I really do." He looked doubtful. "Rin, do you regret it? Do you wish we had never started any of this?"

Rin drew in a long, shaky breath, then slowly exhaled. After a long while, she slowly shook her head from side to side. "I just want things to be the way they were again. I want us all to be together, and happy, and doing fun things like we used to. It's not fair. Why can't we be together?" Her shoulders shook and she dissolved into sobbing.

Kyousuke leaned in, wrapping his arms around Rin's trembling body, and held onto her while she cried.