As always, Riu arrived at the place earlier than the appointed time. He came carrying a paint canister for today’s art meeting, but thinking it probably wouldn’t mean much, Riu didn’t pack tools inside it. It was literally an empty canister.
Once again today, the sight of the three who always come together came into view. Even then, Riu, who had been languidly looking at Matthew, the one who first caught his eye, let his gaze drop to his toes.
“Good morning!”
Today, Rene, unusually full of excitement, greeted him brightly. Riu also smiled at Rene and offered a greeting.
“Come this way, there’s more shade here.”
With those words, Matthew lightly wrapped an arm around Riu’s shoulder. At the same time, at the scent of Matthew that wafted in, Riu unwittingly rolled his lips in and bit them.
“Thanks for thinking of me, but I’m fine.”
Riu subtly slipped away from Matthew’s hand on his shoulder, putting some distance between them. Not seeing Matthew’s face harden for a moment, Riu went over and stood next to Albert.
“Albert, good morning.”
“…Yeah, good morning.”
Somehow Albert’s reply sounded a bit grudging, and he looked a little uncomfortable. But Riu moved his steps without giving so much as a glance toward Matthew. Since Riu always walked as if leading the way, today as well he walked as though guiding the route.
He heard Rene’s voice behind his back, but he walked faster so as not to pay attention. But the tone, raised from all the excitement, came through clearly even across the widened distance. As Riu, feeling uncomfortable for no good reason, gripped the paint canister strap tight, Albert had come up before he knew it and quietly asked,
“Riu, are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“Your expression looks really bad.”
“Ah…”
With a foolish sound, Riu pressed his lips together. Apparently, his face had stiffened before he knew it. Riu hurriedly made a fake smile and smiled at Albert. Wearing a forced smile as if to say he was fine, he spoke in a bright tone.
“It must just be my mood.”
“Sure, I’ll call it your mood.”
“…”
“By the way, you know about later, right?”
At Albert’s glance, Riu nodded. Riu had already calculated in advance where to slip out and how to get away. Riu likewise gave Albert a look telling him to do well and smiled.
“You do well too.”
“Do what well?”
With the question that suddenly cut in, Matthew’s hand grabbed Riu’s face and turned his head.
Riu stopped walking for a moment, and Matthew’s face came into his view. At Matthew’s sudden action, Riu widened his eyes as if flustered.
“For some reason I don’t like your behavior today. Do you think it’s just my mood?”
It was a voice so small that no one else could hear. He was whispering as usual, but somehow there was a lot of edge to it. Because of Matthew’s ominous air, Riu tactfully lowered his hand and said,
“Ah, something was on me here? Thanks.”
“What?”
“You’re really kind, aren’t you?”
It was so awkward as to be unnatural. At the storybook-reading sort of tone, Matthew’s eyebrows twitched.
But Riu patted Matthew lightly on the back and gave an awkward laugh. It was Riu’s own bit of acting to make it look as little strange as possible to Rene and Albert.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’ll let it go for now.”
“…”
“Only, I hope that’s just my needless worry.”
Matthew smiled sweetly, the corners of his eyes curving softly. Unlike that, his pupils were saturated with a terrifying heaviness. In that moment, Riu felt goosebumps prickle up his spine.
“Let’s go.”
Matthew seized Riu’s wrist. Contrary to his gentle voice, a rough force was applied to the wrist he held. Because Matthew gripped him so he couldn’t shake free, Riu followed behind him in silence, but Rene still weighed on his mind.
Riu looked back as if gauging the situation. At Rene’s face, which was rigid to anyone’s eyes, Riu felt for a moment like a hiccup would pop out.
“I’m saying this just in case.”
At Matthew’s voice, Riu turned his gaze forward again. Today, Matthew’s back looked frightening, like an enraged bull.
“If you’re plotting something unnecessary, you’d better not.”
“What do you mean by that.”
“I’m just warning you. Don’t.”
Without showing his face to the end, Matthew walked on, looking only ahead. He wanted to ask why, but no chance came. As he simply walked in silence following behind Matthew, Rene came up beside him.
“Let’s go together, Riu.”
Wearing a fresh-feeling smile, Rene took his other hand. He even interlaced their fingers, which he normally didn’t do, and was wearing a lovely smile.
“Riu, since when did you get that close with Matthew?”
With a bright face without a single shadow, Rene asked. It was probably a question without any special intent, but the words sounded uncomfortable. One hand with Rene, the other with Matthew. Looking at both hands that had been caught, Riu let out a long sigh.
Forgetting that he hadn’t answered Rene’s question, Riu stopped walking.
At the same time, the gazes of the two who had stopped also turned to Riu.
“I like walking alone. If you’re going to hold hands, it might be better if you two hold each other….”
“Yeah? Then Matthew, want to hold hands with me? I like holding hands with people.”
As if he’d been waiting for it, Rene chimed in, but Matthew still stared at Riu. He stared so doggedly that, although Riu felt the gaze, he didn’t give him a glance. He merely let go of the hand that had been holding him and roughly wiped his collar as if it felt unpleasant.
“Rene Baldwin.”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t you think you sometimes go too far?”
“W-what?”
Rene’s face flushed red with embarrassment. But Matthew paid it no mind. Perhaps his pride had been cracked, for the smile had already vanished from Rene’s face.
Albert came up beside Rene, who was biting his lip as if suppressing his anger. Riu, noticing that the mood was strange, also approached Rene’s side, but his eyes had cooled and sunk.
Albert cast Riu a look and shook his head. It meant to stay out of it for a moment. Feeling awkward for no reason, Riu rubbed his eyes as though tired.
This wasn’t the kind of atmosphere he wanted.
Looking troubled, Riu furrowed his brow and looked at Matthew. The very one who had set things off looked like he had no thoughts. As Riu tugged and bit his lips in difficulty, Matthew went over toward Rene.
“If you don’t want attention on you here, get going.”
“Attention?”
“Haven’t you thought that you’re the one muddying the mood right now?”
At Matthew’s words, which hit the mark, Rene’s face froze. Even after thinking and thinking again, as if it were absurd, Rene only parted his lips and then clicked his tongue. With a dispirited sound, Rene tugged on Albert’s arm.
“Who’s muddying the mood now? I’m totally in a good mood, you know?”
“Yeah? Then that’s a relief. I’m really in a good mood right now too, so let’s both keep it that way.”
Matthew smiled sweetly with an affected grin and took the lead. Looking at Matthew’s back like that, Rene’s face was colored with incredulity. But soon he began walking after Matthew as if unwilling to lose.
“It looks like it’ll be tough for the two of them, anyway, huh?”
At Albert’s words, Riu nodded. At Matthew’s completely unexpected reaction, Albert knit his brow.
“Rene’s good enough, but it seems Matthew’s standards are high.”
“…Yeah.”
“Riu, how did you get close to him? It might be good to use that method to help Rene. What do you think?”
“You know, Albert. Honestly, I don’t want to go that far to help.”
At Riu’s firm statement of intent, Albert offered an apology. Riu just smiled and gave a small nod.
As soon as they reached their destination, Rene took a seat first. Albert also went and sat by Rene, setting down the paint canister. But Riu stood there awkwardly, just clutching the strap of the canister he had slung.
Standing there wondering what to do, Riu decided to speak honestly.
“Um, I think I need to go home for a bit.”
“Why?”
At the voice coming right behind him, Riu started in surprise and hunched his shoulders. At the same time, when a stone caught his foot and he lost his balance, Matthew wrapped his arm around Riu’s waist. Thankfully, the mishap of falling was avoided, but Matthew’s hand still didn’t let go.
“Thanks…”
Along with his thanks, Riu gently lowered Matthew’s arm. Matthew’s hand, which went down without strength, brushed past his thigh.
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