A/N: Chapter 3 is up! PLZ ENJOY ;3

I hadn't said anything at all. Was that what it was like to him? The whole time we had talked, he had understood me so flawlessly, I never would've guessed that he was actually…

Even if he looked at my lips, he still just looked at me with eyes, the sparkles drawn out of them. You didn't want to hear that. I know. You didn't want to see those words being shaped out of my lips. He lowered his eyes, looking down at my feet. He was still smiling, but his eyes were filled with sadness and regret. He tried to speak. His lips were trembling as he breathed out: «You're still nice, Shinozaki… Even though you said it like that. How is that even possible…?»

Huh? What's he talking about? I gulped and sat down on my chair after putting the can of ice tea on the round table between us. However, he didn't do anything. He kept standing there with his gaze lowered to the ground. After a few seconds of silence, it seemed like he sensed that I was going to say something.

«Now that I've reckoned your condition, would you like to continue this conversation?» I asked calmly, not wanting to add gasoline to the already lit fire. Nothing. No motion and no voice. I sighed and said: «I know this must be difficult for you, but remember what I told you? I will never, ever take advantage of the trust you've given me. Also, no one's forcing you to say anything. If it pleases you, I'll let you go right now.»

Kishinuma-kun didn't answer me, but just sat down quietly with stiff movements. As if he was just a still frame moving. I grabbed my notebook and pen and wrote down notes.

«Based on how smoothly you can understand people and talk, it's hard to guess that you're deaf,» I started with, unconciously lowering my voice when I said the word «deaf». He shrugged his shoulders and said: «It's not like I openly say to people that I am.» «That makes sense…» I mumbled. At least he doesn't seem mad at me or anything.

«You've been like this for 8 years?» I asked. «I guess…» he muttered. What's that supposed to mean? Even in just a few hours, I know that he would've just said «yes» or something. But «I guess»?! Sigh… «And you can read lips?» I asked. He nodded and explained: «Even before, I always paid attention to peoples lips. The way they formed words, the way they expressed the way peope lived and thought… I could understand all of that by just looking at their lips.» «That's quite impressive,» I added with a smile. He reacted a little awkwardly to my statement but briefly returned the smile along with a slight shade of red on his cheeks.

«Was it caused by some kind of accident? Like a car accident that damaged the part of your brain that controls your hearing abilities?» I asked. He shook his head like a little kid and said: «No physical damage.» Yet, he wasn't born deaf? I see, this must be what Onizaki-san meant. «So… You're telling me that it's caused by a psychological issue?» I asked. While I asked that, he had opened the can and drunken a large sip. He roughly wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his grey button-up sweather and smacked his lips at me. This isn't going anywhere, is it? That's what I thought when he suddenly replied:

«My doctor never… thought of it as a psychological issue until he looked into my family background. For 8 years, he kept doing tests on me and trying out different tools to give me back my hearing. After a conversation with my parents and understanding the whole «illness», he thought that I needed to see a psychologist.»

«Your… "whole" illness?» I repeated. Kishinuma-kun prepared himself to leave as he said: «You'll eventually understand… I hope.» Oh come on, what's that supposed to mean?! And why are you leaving?! I got up and followed him to the door, stopping him for a minute.

«Earlier you said… I'm still nice,» I repeated from earlier. Can my lips really express that much? I had unconciously grabbed his sleeve. Still… I didn't let go of him. I couldn't. I felt completely trapped in his gaze. His words. His vibes. For a moment the icy depression in his eyes thawed and his pupils quivered.

«Compared to my doctor… you're just so nice. After he found out that I was deaf, his lips moved so strictly, as if someone ordered him to do so. As if it was forced. But you…» He tenderly narrowed his eyes at me and said: «Your lips still moved so softly and effortlessly… You can't be judgeful.»

My heart tried to pound itself out of my chest at his sugar-sweet words. I kinda felt like… a flower. A spring-time flower that suddenly bloomed just because of one young man. To think that these feelings would bloom again as an adult…

«Y'know…» He started talking again. «I thought I'd stop seeing you as that girl I met last night after this coversation.» I let out a laugh and said: «Is that so? Well, it's kinda weird to remember that so suddenly.» He laughed with me and nodded before saying: «I tried too… But I can't.» I cocked my head to the side and muttered: «So…?» I automatically let go of his sleeve when he put his hand on his hips and declared:

«I've decided to see you as a friend from now on.»

«Um… What?» was all I could say after God knows how long. Was that a confession or something? It sure sounded like it. «You heard me,» he said proudly. I raised an eyebrow and asked: «You know I'm your psychologist, right?» «You know we met yesterday, right?» he asked right back at me with a smug look. I sighed and mumbled: «What difference will it make anyways? You gonna make me wear a matching BFF necklaces?» He laughed whole-heartedly and said: «Worse. I want us to hang out in our free time.»

… That's a date, right? A date? Oh my…. A date! «Would that be… aproppriate?» I asked sarcastically. Kishinuma-kun simply laughed it off as the joke it was, so he didn't answer me. «So like… want my number?» I awkwardly asked. He smiled at me and said: «I gave you my contact information, so I've decided to challenge you.» Challenge me?! Oh… He wants me to call him first. No, wait… TEXT him first. «Um… Sure,» I mumbled and awkwardly scratched my head.

His gaze suddenly fell on my neck. Hm? Right, I was wearing the scarf I made myself. It was two meters long and peach-colored. It was a really cold morning after all. «That's a really pretty scarf,» he said. Surprised at his comment, I asked: «You think so?» «Mhm… Did you make it yourself?» he asked. «Yeah… I put my heart and soul into it,» I said and giggled. «How nice…» he said with a sigh. Just the way he was looking at it with that bittersweet look… There was something hidden behind that.

«I'll see you in a few days then,» he said and gave me a brief wave. Right, his next appointment is in a week. Should I call him…? «Mhm. Have a good day, Kishinuma-kun,» I said and warmly smiled at him. He squinted his eyes just before he closed the door and said in a low voice:

«You too, Shinozaki.»

Oh my god… How the hell does he do that?! How can he just make my heart race like that? He's not a model. He's not some actor or musical artist. He's not a hot athlete. He's just… Yoshiki Kishinuma.

…

«Shinozaki!» I heard Mochida-kun yell the moment I went out of my office. He was all dressed for the cold weather, so he was probably finished. «Hey! You going?» I asked. He nodded and added: «It started raining. You didn't bring an umbrella, did you?» Shit, Kishinuma-kun was right!

«Crap… No,» I said and sighed. He immediately smiled and said: «We can share mine! I was on my way to a coffee shop anyways. Want some? My treat!» Wow… Real sneaky of him. Oh well, he seems chatty enough today. «Yeah, thanks a lot,» I said, walking a bit closer to him. His eyes widened. «S-Sweet! Let's go!» he excitedly said, preparing his umbrella. I giggled and just went with it.

At least I was getting free coffee out of it.

A/N: Hmmmm…. Something's up with him, don't you think? Hope you enjoyed! UNTIL NEXT TIME ;3