“Since we’re at it, want to go to Hodega Restaurant today?”
“Today?”
“On a day like this, it’s better to be with someone than alone.”
Hodega Restaurant was a trendy bar with the younger crowd these days. He’d never been himself, but they said it was flashy enough to be a feast for the eyes. He hadn’t wanted to drink since that time… but for some reason Riu didn’t want to turn down Albert’s suggestion.
Just as he said, on a day like this it was better to be with others than by himself.
“I’m in. I’ll pick up the tab, though.”
“In return for earlier?”
“Yeah.”
At Riu’s answer, an “Ooh~” slipped from Albert’s lips. As if genuinely pleased, he slung an arm over Riu’s shoulder and lifted his brows.
“Now it finally feels like we’re real friends.”
With a roguish grin, Albert looked up at the sky. As Riu’s gaze rose with his, Albert smiled faintly and said,
“But hey, did you know?”
“…Know what?”
“When your chest feels tight or you’re irritated, if you look up at the sky like this, that surge eases a lot.”
At his words, Riu stared up at the sky. Whether it was in his head or really true, his uneasy heart did feel lighter.
“That’s… amazing.”
It was the rainy season, so the weather was humid, but the wash of blues around them made him feel cooled. Then Matthew’s afterimage rose up, and Riu slowly closed his eyes and opened them again.
A person who resembled summer to a fault… Remembering how Matthew had just seen him and pretended not to, Riu drew in a deep breath and let it out.
“So you still feel stifled?”
How long had he been watching? Startled in an instant, Riu squared his shoulders.
Seeing how even small movements spooked him, Albert hurriedly put both hands up and smiled an I-mean-no-harm smile.
“Sorry, that’s not what I was trying to do.”
“No need to apologize. I’m the one who took a peek on my own.”
At the word “peek,” Riu’s face flushed scarlet. He could picture how pathetic he must have looked, digging into the ground with Matthew on his mind. But contrary to what Riu imagined, Albert curled his lips up and said,
“You know… I never noticed because you were always with Rene, but…you’re pretty handsome.”
At “handsome,” Riu’s face reddened all over again. He’d occasionally been called delicate or pretty, but it was the first time anyone had called him handsome.
Is this how it feels to have a true friend? Riu felt his heart tickle.
“Th-thanks. You’re handsome too.”
Blushing, Riu dropped his gaze to his toes. Watching him roll his eyes like he didn’t know what to do even after saying it, Albert rubbed his lips with the back of his hand.
“Let’s head in. Class will start soon.”
No sooner had he said it than he turned away, his ear tips tinged red. Not noticing, Riu looked at Albert’s back once and quietly quickened his pace to follow.
The bar street encircling the lake glittered with lights. From the trees planted at regular intervals came a cool rustling sound, and many chairs were lined up all around.
“There are so many people…”
At Riu’s murmured aside, Albert gave a slight smile. As if he found it cute, he glanced at Riu and then led the way to the table he’d reserved.
“You’ll have beer, right?”
“Yeah.”
“How about a dark beer? This place is famous for its dark beer.”
“Anything’s fine.”
At Riu’s reply, Albert quickly called a server and ordered beers and snacks. When the beer bottles arrived with some light bites, Riu’s eyes went round.
“Surprised? This place is famous for its small bottles. That’s their thing.”
“I see…”
Fascinated, Riu pursed his lips and picked up the bottle in front of him. Maybe because it was small, it fit nicely in his hand. Clutching it once, Riu looked around.
Pals flushed red with drink, and groups just getting started. The bar street by the lake was packed with people. In the noisy, chaotic space, Albert held out his bottle and called to Riu.
“Wanna clink?”
Seeing Albert tilt his bottle and wait, Riu knocked his without hesitation. He took a cool swig like he’d been thirsty and set the bottle down quietly.
“How is it? Good, right?”
“Yeah. It’s my first time with dark beer, but it’s nice.”
He’d thought a dark beer might be bitter, but the flavor was smoother and sweeter than expected, and Riu sipped at it.
“Really your first time? A bar street like this, too?”
“Yeah.”
At his answer, Albert’s long-lidded eyes went wide. He stared at Riu, eyes round as if he’d forgotten to blink. Then, seeming to understand, he gave him a pitying look and spoke.
“Rene doesn’t like places like this, either.”
“…”
“Must’ve felt a bit awkward to come alone.”
It was simply that he didn’t much like alcohol, so he hadn’t sought places like this out. Somehow, though, he’d ended up provoking Albert’s sympathy. Riu felt he should at least say something, but Albert spoke first.
“Now that you know, let’s come here often together.”
“Thanks, Albert. But I’m not really that into drinking…”
Above all, whenever he thought of that night he’d messed up, he didn’t want to drink again. Whatever he thought about, memories of Matthew kept sticking, and Riu raised his bottle and drained his beer.
“Easy. Drink too fast and you’ll wreck your stomach.”
Seeing Riu empty a bottle without even a snack, Albert offered him a french fry. Riu took it and quietly chewed it down.
“You eat well.”
Propping his face on one arm, Albert’s long eyes curved smoothly. He hadn’t really looked closely before, but Albert’s face leaned more to the cute side.
Unlike Matthew, his features were small and close-set; above his light brown irises, he had prominent double lids. Most of all, Albert’s green hair called spring’s blue-green to mind. Riu silently popped another fry into his mouth.
“How much can you usually drink?”
“I’m not sure, but I think about two bottles of beer.”
“Yeah? Then want to test what your limit is today?”
“No, I’m good.”
At Albert’s excited suggestion, Riu answered dryly. Apparently not expecting to be cut off so cleanly, Albert’s face drooped.
“When we’re a bit closer then…”
“So we’re not close now?”
Maybe because of the alcohol, the honest thought slipped out. Flustered, Riu hurried to cover his mouth, but Albert only pulled a long, easy smile.
“I like that you’re honest.”
“H-huh?”
“Keep being this honest from now on.”
At Albert’s heartfelt words, Riu quickly averted his eyes.
Since ending up in this body, he’d never spoken honestly with anyone, and even before that, he’d never really opened up and had a heart-to-heart. At the time he’d been seventeen, in the throes of adolescence, and he’d had to endure a lonely school life for the simple reason that people found him gloomy.
For someone like him, Rene had been his first friend and someone special. So all he’d done was hover at his side, trying not to upset him. Albert kept pushing him out of that “just a friend” frame.
Was it really okay for him to be like this? Was it okay to be this honest? Looking at Albert, who made him think about so many things, Riu bit down on his lip.
“What are you thinking about so hard?”
“Nothing… The beer’s just really good.”
At Riu’s out-of-the-blue reply, Albert burst out laughing. And in the glances that shifted their way, someone approached Albert.
“Albert?”
At the familiar voice, Riu turned toward the sound. He was one of the group that usually hovered around Rene and looked down on Riu. Dark chestnut hair and blue eyes—Sehironz Vero, the youngest of Count Vero’s house.
Of all places to run into each other, it had to be here. Sehironz’s face twisted as if he’d seen something dirty when he spotted Riu.
“What the… Isn’t that Riu Carter?”
“You come to places like this, too?”
At Sehironz’s words, Haromtz beside him chimed in as if on cue. Under their sneering stares, Riu hurriedly turned his head away.
“Sehironz. Knock it off and go have your drink.”
“That’s a cold way to talk. Weren’t we pretty good friends, in our way?”
“Cut the crap and beat it.”
At Albert’s words, edged with menace, Riu lifted the head he’d ducked. Albert was the one who’d always treated him kindly with a slightly dopey expression, the innocent-looking man who seemed not to know a single curse word.
At the unfamiliar sight, Riu’s eyes flew wide.
“Albert, did you just swear at me?”
“I warned you.”
Flushed with humiliation at Albert’s words, Sehironz’s face went red. But Albert didn’t care; his gaze flashed like a drawn blade.
From his expression alone that was cold enough to make your knees go weak, Sehironz’s face turned pale.
“…Albert.”
Worried it might turn into a big fight, Riu called his name. In that instant, as if he’d been waiting for it, Sehironz strode over to Riu and clamped a hand on his shoulder.
“You pauper.”
Needing someone to take it out on, Sehironz picked a fight with Riu. At the grip so strong it stung, Riu tried to shake him off when someone caught Sehironz’s hand and flicked it lightly away.
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