The trio entered the nearest grocery shop they could find and Emma made a beeline to the aisle with all kinds of chocolate, both known and unknown to her. Her eyes were glistening, her face was shining and... she was drooling a little. Norman and Ray followed her and stood by her side. But instead of looking at the chocolate, they looked at Emma. She soon noticed that they were too silent and turned her attention to them. The chocolate can wait a bit, she thought.

"What is it? Is there something on my face?" She asked.

Ray nodded silently and tapped his chin right under his lips.

Norman smiled and immediately pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, handing it to the girl while fighting the urge to clean her up himself. Emma's cheeks turned a light shade of red and she took the handkerchief, thanking the boy as she did so. She hurried to wipe her chin and tried to return the boy's belonging but he refused politely.

"Don't worry, you can keep it."

Emma responded with a quiet 'mmhm' and just stood there, gazing at Norman.

And the moment would have been perfect if it wasn't for Ray who cleared his throat.

"Can we just take some chocolate and go back to school? Please. I can't handle you flirting in a public place." As he said that he looked at Norman disapprovingly.

"W-wha-?! I didn't-!" Poor Norman found himself stuttering after the embarassing statement that his friend made. He knew Ray was always straightforward but not that straightforward!

Thankfully Emma just laughed it off.

"I think we can go now." As she said that she took a few chocolates, then headed to the cashier.

Ray took a chocolate for himself and started walking after the girl, but Norman stopped him by grabbing his shoulder.

"Ray!" He half-shouted, half-whispered. When said boy turned around to look at him, he continued. "What was that? Why did you have to embarass me like that? More importantly, in front of her!"

"Why?" The dark-haired boy repeated quietly. "Because you have to tell her one way or another. How many years has it been already? Five? You know you can't hold those feelings inside you anymore. We both know it." He watched Norman's expressions change as he spoke. At the beginning he was embarrassed, then he looked like he was angry and sad at the same time. But at the end the white-haired boy responded with a kind smile which promised nothing but trouble for Ray.

"Same goes to you." Norman finally said and gave Ray's shoulder a warning squeeze before he turned to walk out of the store.

Ray muttered an 'ouch' and approached Emma who was waiting for them next to the cash register, holding a bag filled with her chocolates. She looked at Norman, then brought her attention back to Ray. She suddenly looked too serious. She definetely noticed the tension between her friends while they talked. The girl was determined to talk to them about that later. Or at least to one of them if she didn't have enough luck.

When she thought a bit more she decided. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to talk to them separately. Actually, the idea was brilliant and she praised herself.

Soon Emma and Ray joined Norman who waited outside. His lips turned to form his usual sweet smile.

"I saw a little park nearby. Do you want to go check it out?"

Ray felt that the question was, of course, directed towards Emma.

'So Norman chose to ignore me then. Quite rude of him but I can't say I didn't expect such a reaction.'

The redhead agreed but then looked at the other boy.

"You'll come too, right, Ray?"

To Ray, it sounded like she was pleading him to come along. But maybe he was wrong. There is always that possibility. After all, he can't be right about anything. At the other hand, he felt Norman's intense gaze on him.

"I..." He trailed. It felt like he was being torn apart between the two of them. Even if it was such a stupid dilemma, for Ray it was hard to make a choice. His first option was to let them have some alone time and make Norman happy even if Emma would be sad afterwards(though he didn't think she would be sad with Norman around), and the second option was to go with them like Emma wants, and get on Norman's bad side. "I have to go. I don't feel very well." With that said he turned around, heading back to the school, walking as fast as he could so he wouldn't let Emma even start to question him and his intentions.

Norman and Emma watched him go. The girl was confused but more than that she felt hurt for some reason. Her friend had turned her down many times throughout the years they've known each other but now... She found the sudden coldness in his tone very strange. She looked down at her feet, starting to ask herself where she had gone wrong. Maybe she said something that triggered him? Or maybe she did something she shouldn't have done? For a moment she even considered the possibility of him catching a cold even though he had never fallen ill. That was more likely to happen to Norman whose immune system wasn't so strong.

And speaking of Norman...

He was now in front of her, looking at her with a worried expression, hands on her shoulders.

"Emma? Are you okay?" He asked, interrupting the girl's train of thoughts.

She nodded and regained her smile.

"Yes! I'm perfectly fine!"

The boy let out a soft sigh before ruffling her hair.

"Ray will be okay." He said as if reading her thoughts. "Don't worry about him. When we go back to school, he's going to be his usual self again."

Emma didn't answer to that.

"So where's that park you mentioned?" She chirped instead.

"I'll show you." Norman answered and started walking with Emma next to him. He was glad that she was smiling again. He was also glad that Ray didn't come with them, but he still felt like he was betraying him.

'I'm sorry, Ray. And thank you. I hope I won't miss the chance you're giving me.'