We have to think back
Aria goes straight to her home when three of them reach back at Japan as she feels really tired and the only thing in her mind is to take rest at home. Too many things happen in short moments that make her only want to rest on her beloved bed at the moment.
She remembers Ryouhei’s words when sending her home, “Even we already return back as childhood friend, I promise that I will protect you.”
She knows how easy everything could change even she prefer not. That somehow short thinking only leads her mind to mess and she quickly put aside. Mumble escape from her mouth, “I know this relationship only happen because I want to avoid mom choose my partner but I feel so empty right now? What I should feel right now?”
*************
“Why I have to be here? Don’t you promise me that last year’s project was the last time I will help you?” Aria sounds a bit annoys to ask that even she already sit on the chair to let the stylists do their jobs. It supposedly to be her day-off and she decide just to laze around her house but a phone call from her brother make her has to step out from the house.
Kai claps his hands in front of his face before pleads, “I know but I really, really need your help today. One of our models suddenly can’t come and I only remember you since you had done this before.”
“You have the perfect base for this project.” the makeup artist say that as her hands busy applying make-up on Aria’s face.
Kai happily says, “Of course because she is daughter of kimono house.”
Aria only pouts while people working on her since she known photos from that shoots will be used for their latest catalogue which mean no mistake can be make and not just anyone can do that. She’s wearing pastel-colored kimono with dark obi to bring out elegance of it. She carefully takes the steps to the set with her geta.
“Just relax and be natural while try to emphasize the kimono.” The cameraman gives order to her.
Aria take deep breath before put her full focus on her task and everyone amaze to see how her easily show the vibe that kimono has with simple her gestures. Even she get distract here and there, she manage to return back to that stance soon after that.
After few kimono changes, her shooting end and Kai says, “I know I make the correct decision. Everyone immerse with you.”
“Not me, but kimono that I’m wearing as I’m only doing my job. You already owe me one.” Aria says that as she glares to her brother. She has to carefully move away from the set to grab some drink since she still in a kimono that has few more layer than what she usually wear.
“You should become model with talent that you have. You know what you’re doing.” the director couldn’t stop praising her and ask if she want to want to continue her works in front of the camera.
Aria cover her mouth with the kimono sleeve as she giggles before says, “Thanks for the praise but I prefer to be behind the camera, where I can easily guide customers on which kimono suit them.”
**************
After the shooting, Aria decides to relax at one of café that Ryouhei had visit before. She like how the interior of the café remind her of the Showa era.
She even sends short email to Ryouhei to inform him that she’s at the café with a picture of her meal. Even both of them are no longer lover, which never stops their interaction as childhood friend.
Ryouhei give reply, ‘I’m surprise you’re not home on your off day.’
She has informed him before that day is her off-day and she quickly type, ‘Kai-nii made me to help with one of his job and I want to relax at somewhere. I remember this café and go to check there since it is nearby.’
They exchange mail on their days since they rarely meet these past few days as both of them already return to their busy lives. They only put the end when he needs to return to work. She finishes her portion and pay for it.
Then, she decide to check few clothes places to find what catch her eyes as she remember some of her clothes can’t be wear anymore. Ever since Rin move to Seoul, she hasn’t done any clothes shopping because they always go out together for that.
Aria manages to grab few pieces of clothing that she likes and even gets new pairs of shoes. She makes comment to herself when see the bags, “I should learn to control myself better…”
***************
Later that day, she goes to Ryouhei’s house after that guy suddenly wants to eat meal that she cooks. She asks, “What do you want me to cook for you?”
“I’m okay with anything.” Ryouhei say that as he checks the ingredient that she bring in earlier.
Aria pushes Ryouhei out from the kitchen while saying, “Just go play your online games while I’m cooking! You’re distracting me!”
Ryouhei only giggle as he knows that girl feel a bit bash because someone’s watching her cooking and just let her push him out from the kitchen. He manages to tell her that few of his friends will join him soon.
Aria quickly begin her cooking after she wear the apron and sometimes, she checks him to ensure that guy is not watching her. Things a bit awkward after what happen but none of them want to touch that topic.
She slowly put her full focus on the cooking that make her doesn’t realize another two people walk into the house. She only realizes it when she finishes it and says, “Wow, I didn’t notice them at all!”
“You too focus on it!” Ryouhei retort as he walks to the kitchen. He helps her to prepare drinks and serve to the table.
That action of them makes his friends comment, “Both of you look like newlywed.”
“Yeah, we won’t be surprise if both of you suddenly announce that you’re married!” another one join the conversation.
“We’re only childhood friends which mean we’re like a family.” Ryouhei tell his friends. Aria only smiles since she doesn’t want to comment on that or it could make things worse or awkward and she really wants to avoid that.
**************
Aria returns to her house after meal and begin stare to the ceiling. She thinks she already over on what happen but her mind doesn’t want her to think that. She mutters, “Does this the way it should be?”
Without she realize, she doze off on the couch and wake up when her phone ringing. She checks to see it is from Ryouhei who say his thanks that make her reply, ‘You just disturb my sleep, aho!’
Ryouhei just laugh it off when receive that mail because he totally forget that her must fall asleep since she only call him like that when she still half-awake. He put aside the phone before continue play games and hear one of his friends says, “I thought you’re going out with that girl.”
“We used to before decide that kind of relationship is not for us. She’s a bit dense when come to love matter that worry me sometimes. Who knows if any jerk will make her fall in love with him just to hurt her in the end?” Ryouhei gives that reply casually. His friends surprise to hear that as they never think that guy really thinks like that.
**************
Aria decides to stay inside the tub for a bit longer as her mind still in mess. She asks herself, “How I can be so normal in front of Ryo-chan? It is because we’re only friends from the beginning? Am I already become stupid? We should consider ourselves as ex right now, right? What I’m supposedly to do right now?”
She says, “I should go ask Rin-chan right after this….” She realize something, “…she’s not here.”
She’s too used to knock Rin’s door when she want to talk with her even already late but now, that house is empty because the owner is across the sea. There is way she can talk about that matter to her family members or they learn on what actually happen.
She stays at the living room since there is a TV show that she wants to watch and doesn’t want to miss that. The excitement to watch that make her can’t stay seat on the couch but that get cut when she receive short mail that make her almost fall from the couch. That mail is page of a magazine of the day where Aria, Ryouhei and Keitarou go out to airport and the title of the page, ‘Two FLY member on vacation with a girl. Did they realize that girl two-timing them?’
She couldn’t believe that even her face get blur on the face since she knows that pic get capture during they on the way to Seoul. Her mind only think to dash to Ryouhei’s house but a phone call cut her intention.
Her hands tremble a bit as she touches the screen to answer that and she hear short order from her mom, “Return to home right now!” There is no way she can say no to that order and says that she will get ready to return.