“It’s going to be getting cold, so I thought you could use a pair.” Masachika smiled sheepishly. Alisa’s eyes lingered on the delicate, embroidered blue snowflake on the gloves, and her gaze then drifted to the red tassel with its white pom-pom attached to the wrist.
Yeah, she definitely noticed.
He knew what she wanted to say, but there was nothing he could do about it. When he saw those gloves at the store, he just had to buy them. As for why he didn’t give them to her earlier in front of everyone…well, the gift seemed too try-hard—too romantic—and that embarrassed him. Honestly, he was still pretty embarrassed right now as well, but…
Why isn’t she saying anything?! Masachika wondered.
Masachika felt a mix of impatience and anxiety as Alisa seemed to take forever to react, but she was busy fighting her own battle, trying to suppress the fluttering in her chest.
Why…? Why would he do something like this for me? Alisa asked, confused.
His words, coupled with the gift he had prepared just for her, stirred up the long-buried feelings she had for him.
Why…? He likes Yuki. She’s more important than anyone else in the world to him…so why is he leading me on like this?! she lamented.
A mix of joy and resentment warred within her. She couldn’t believe he could be so cruel. These thoughts raced through her mind as she glared up at him. But the moment their eyes met, something inside her came crumbling down.
Oh, no… I can’t… I’m going to…
The fleeting sense of crisis was quickly drowned by a surge of emotion so strong it left her breathless, and before she could think, she took a step forward—
“Yo, Alisaaa!”
The soft creak of the door opening tickled Alisa’s ears, followed by a familiar voice calling her name. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. Pivoting toward the noise, she caught sight of Nonoa’s face peeking out from behind the door while gesturing Alisa to come over with a playful wave.
“You should, like, probably get back in here?”
“…? Why…?”
“‘Why?’ Uh…” Nonoa grunted, glancing back inside before facing Alisa once more.
“Yeah, it’s already too late.”
“What’s too late?”
“Well, uh…”
Nonoa ducked back inside without giving a clear answer, leaving Alisa tilting her head in confusion. Her body moved a step forward on its own before she caught herself and quickly took a step back.
Th-that was a close one… That was really close…
Taking a deep breath, Alisa steadied herself, regaining her composure. She then quietly glanced up at Masachika, who was scanning the area where Nonoa had just been with a puzzled look. A wave of discomfort stirred in her chest once more, but she kept it hidden, warmly smiling in its place.
“Thank you for the gloves. I love them.”
“O-oh, I’m glad.”
“Anyway, shall we head back inside?”
Avoiding Masachika’s gaze, Alisa stuffed the gloves into the bag and quickly turned to head back inside. She was afraid that if she stayed any longer alone with him, she might say or do something she’d regret.
My heart… It hurts so much…
Clasping Masachika’s gift against her chest, Alisa pressed her lips into a thin line as her heart overflowed with a tangle of emotions. She was happy, yet in pain.
Ugh! What is wrong with him?!
And so, like a child having a fit, she stomped back inside—
“And this is a picture of Alya when she was four years old!”
““She’s so cute!””
“Whoa, she had blonde hair?”
“She looks like an angel…”
“H-hey?! Where did you get that album?!”
It was only then that Masachika fully understood Nonoa’s warning and that they couldn’t leave Alisa’s mother alone with her friends.