After karaoke, Kurumi and Kunihara insisted that I spend the night at their house so I don't wake up along on Christmas. So here I am, in a white wool sweater drinking peppermint hot chocolate next to Kusuo on his bed. It was around 7 at night, but the sky was still lit by the setting sun, casting beautiful rays of purple, pink and orange. Although it was Christmas Eve, it was a still warm outside, which slowly melted the thick layers of snow.

I took one last sip of my hot chocolate before setting it down on the nightstand. Kusuo finished his as well, and we both sighed with content.

"Well, what would you like to do now?" I asked and laid back on his bed and rested my arms behind my head.

"I have something in mind. Put on your coat and boots." Kusuo said and stood up from the bed and grabbed a spare blanket. I nodded, and put my parka on and zipped my boots up. Kusuo wrapped his scarf around his neck and opened his bedroom door for me.

"I'm taking Y/n out." Kusuo called out as we walked down the stairs.

"On a date? About time." Kunihara called out from the kitchen, causing Kusuo an I to blush a bit.

"Whatever..." Kusuo grumbled and opened the front door for me.

'So he didn't deny it...' I thought and walked out the door. Kusuo closed the door behind him and walked in front of me. I followed him, and even though it had been a while, I knew exactly where we were headed.

He walked down a path of trees that were bare of their leaves and snow dressed their branches instead. The snow crunched beneath our feet as we followed the familiar pathway. I smiled as I looked at the trees, remembering every single one and its intriguing details. The sound of a babbling brook was at my right as we followed the trees. Soon enough, the large oak tree came into sight that rested in front of the brook.

As we made it underneath the tree, Kusuo used his pyrokinesis to melt the snow that was under the tree and warm up the area. He set down the blanket be brough and laid it down on the grass neatly and sat down. I walked over and sat down next to him and watched the water flow smoothly in front of us.

I then began to think of the last time we were here as children. I held his hand as I guided him here. I made him a coffee jelly and played with his hair as he laid on my lap. I looked over at Kusuo again and smiled.

"Come sit in front of me."

Kusuo looked at me with a confused look, but did it anyway. After he was seated in front of me with his back facing me, I scooted back a bit then gently grabbed his shoulders and pulled his torso down and laid his head on my thighs.

Kusuo's eyes widened and red dusted his cheeks as he looked up at me. I looked down at him and smiled sweetly.

Kusuo POV

I looked up at Y/n with shock. I didn't expect her to be so bold. Her fingertips grazed my cheeks and I let out a sigh and closed my eyes. Her fingertips drifted from my cheeks to my hair and she ran her fingers through my hair. I could feel my heart beat steady as my body relaxed underneath her touch.

"Hey, Kusuo..."

I opened my eyes and looked up at Y/n.

"Remember that song I would hum when we were little? While I was in America, I made up lyrics for it. I'd like to sing it to you, if that would be alright." Y/n said with a nervous smile on her face.

"Only if you don't half-ass it like you did at karaoke." Y/n laughed at my comment.

"Of course I won't. Close your eyes."
I then closed my eyes, an Y/n began to sing.

"~If it all were but another dream, how happy I would be

But I still see, nearly nightly, only you consuming my dreams

When I leave behind something of mine, I stop to go and find

Brushing dust from memories of you and I, put on rewind

Learning happiness is easy spent, but cannot be returned

You had taught me what I now see, as I look back and learn

With a hidden past too dark to cast away all on my own

And without you, maybe that too, would have never turned to hope

All the hurt and the pain I found

Sinking into me, deeply now

Found that nothing could hurt me more

Than what I feel now

Even all the heartache, all that crying

Even all the hurting, like Im dying

I remember every second with you, and I loved it, everything

Even now remaining is that bitter

Scent of lemon, that'll never leave

Waiting out the rain, I can't go home until its clears away

Like a single half of fruit, split into pieces where they lay

Even now, youre still inside, you are my light that never fades~"

I didn't even feel the tears stream down my face as she sang the song. Flashbacks and emotions overwhelmed me of while she was away. I only now realized that I wasn't the only one suffering from our separation.

"I know it was nothing special, but I hope it as alri-"

I quickly propped myself up and spun around and hugged Y/n tightly. I heard her gasp slightly from the sudden action, but she then wrapped her arms around me.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you... But I'm here now. The song is perfect. Thank you, Y/n." I tried to hid the fact I was crying by burying my face into Y/n neck and held her closer. I felt her body shake against mine as her head rested gently on my shoulder.

"I-It was... So lonely... I... Even tried to go see mom."

Hearing those words broke my heart, knowing what she was referencing. I pulled her closer to me and held her tightly. I couldn't imaging how horrible she must have felt.

She was in a horrible car accident that took her mothers life.

She had to move to another state to be supported by her grandparents.

She had to work extra hard to earn money for her father and her.

And then... She lost her dad...

She never showed her negative emotions when we were younger. I remember asking her about it, and she told me she had to be strong for her family. But now that her family is gone... She must not feel the burden anymore. Years worth of trauma and emotions were now flooding to the surface.

"It's okay to hurt."

With those simple words, Y/n broke down completely. I could feel her tears soaking through my shirt as her hands gripped onto my shirt tightly. She didn't hold back as her cries echoed through the evening air and her body trembled. I held her firmly yet gently and let her take her time.

'I promise, Y/n. The next time I see you cry, they will be tears of joy.'