❦❦❦
ALTHOUGH they had been out and about since early morning and should be physically exhausted by now, Oriana didn’t feel the least bit fatigued.
“Vincent, this way.”
The two climbed a long set of stairs before arriving at an observation deck. Since the sun was setting in the distance, the place was bustling with couples. Seeing how close the other men and women stood together, Oriana’s thoughts went back to a little bit ago when she and Vincent had been pressed close. Her cheeks heated up.
“We should be able to see the Academy pretty well from here.” She pointed in the direction of the campus. It was surrounded by so many trees that it was impossible to see what was happening there, but one could at least see how vast the school grounds were.
“You’re right… You can see the Dragon Tree well from here too.”
“Huh? Uh, yeah. I guess so.” Oriana turned her gaze to the forest further in, beyond the Academy, and she nodded. The Dragon Tree was so enormous that you could see it from just about anywhere. It was several times the height of any normal tree.
Vincent gazed solemnly at it, as if deep in concentration. Ah, this is the same face he makes when he’s doing his experiments. Which meant he was probably lost in thought about something.
So as not to disturb him, Oriana leaned over the railing and pretended to watch the scenery instead. She stayed like that for a while, and the sweat she’d worked up climbing the stairs was soon replaced by a chill as the cool evening air caressed her skin. She shivered, which finally caught Vincent’s attention.
“Apologies. My mind was wandering.”
“Yup, I know,” she said with a nod.
Vincent slowly smiled. “You must be cold. Let’s go back down and find you a shawl to wear.”
“No need. All that’s left now is to go back home, anyway.” Oriana pulled away from the railing and they started toward the stairs.
Vincent cast one last glance back, glimpsing the school grounds, illuminated by the dimming evening sunlight. “Indeed… We should be getting back.” He almost sounded sad about it.
But that’s probably just wishful thinking on my part, isn’t it?
✦ ✦ ✦
❦❦❦
“THAT was fun.”
Coming down the last few stairs, it felt like they’d just wrapped up a grand adventure. The two lined up together and started down the main road toward the Academy.
“I’ll never forget today, not even if I die,” Oriana said. She realized how exaggerated that was only after the words left her mouth. People didn’t normally act that emotional over going out shopping with a friend.
Worried he might suspect something, Oriana sneaked a glance at Vincent, only to find him gazing sadly back at her. Her feet froze. The pain written on his face was so severe, as if he’d just had his heart gouged out. Seeing him like that, she couldn’t help but call his name.
“Vincent?”
His whole body tensed. “Liar,” he blurted out.
“Huh?” Oriana scrunched her face in confusion.
Vincent forced a smile. “It’s nothing. My apologies… Let’s be on our way.”
It certainly didn’t seem like nothing. Worried, she hurried back to his side and peered into his face. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all. I’m sorry. It’s my problem. Please forget I said anything. We’re friends, so you can do that for me, can’t you?”
“I-I can, yeah.” Oriana fisted her hands, wanting to meet his expectations.
Vincent smiled. It was faint, but at least it seemed more genuine than the one he’d given her a second ago. “Hey, Oriana, today’s about to end.”
“Uh? I guess so, yeah.”
Given the time, it was still a bit early to say that, but at the very least, their date would be over once they got back to the Academy.
“How was it? Speaking casually to me.”
“Much to my surprise, it wasn’t entirely disagreeable.”
“Why would you go back to that stiff, formal way of speaking now, of all times?” Vincent broke out into a chuckle, even though he tried to suppress it.
Seeing the mirth on his face surprised her so much that she hopped in front of him, blocking his path.
“What is it?”
“J-Just now…you laughed.”
I’ve never heard him laugh like that before.
Sure, Vincent would smile at her and chuckle now and then, but this was different; she was pretty sure this was the first time she had ever stood by him as an equal and heard him laugh from the heart.
“How rude. I laugh plenty,” Vincent said sulkily. He was probably embarrassed she was pointing it out and trying to deflect. At some point during their relationship, she’d even become able to pick up on the little things like that.
“Wait. One more time. Laugh for me one more time.”
“What are you going on about…”
“Come on, please? Please, Vincent?” Her persistent begging finally paid off when, resigned, he let out a dry chuckle. But no, it wasn’t right. This wasn’t what she wanted.
“What kind of laugh am I supposed to give you?”
“No, that’s not what I mean…” Even Oriana was struggling to put it into words, but she wanted desperately to make him laugh the way he had a moment ago. She grabbed a lock of her hair and pulled it across her upper lip. “See? A mustache.”
Vincent stared at her, dumbfounded. It had been the best gag she could come up with, but now she was starting to feel embarrassed for having done it. She dropped the mustache act quickly.
“Pfft…” A quiet, husky peal of laughter leaked out of his lips. “Bwahaha! You shouldn’t do something like that in the first place if you’re going to feel so embarrassed by it.”
He laughed again!
The laughter was so genuine his shoulders even vibrated. Oriana’s whole face lit up as she watched him. Amazing. Seeing someone who normally never laughs start snickering like this is just…incredible.
“So cute,” she breathed out.
“What?” Vincent stared down at her coldly. The air around them turned subzero in an instant. It was so intimidating… Oriana was sure not even the rats on the street, sneaking bites of cheese from shopfronts, found themselves on the receiving end of a glare this powerful.
“It’s late. We should get back before they close the school gate.”
Thus, the curtains closed on the cheap admission Vincent Smile Festival, courtesy of Oriana’s gaffe. It had been all too short.