The night air was soft, carrying the scent of wet pavement and distant blossoms.
Neither of us said much at first.
There wasn't a need to.
It seemed like our "silence" spoke more than a thousand words.
We just walked side by side, our steps echoing faintly under the faint silver of the streetlights.
Evangeline hummed a small tune as we walked, swaying slightly to her own rhythm.
Every now and then, she threw a teasing glance at me, the corner of her lips curving into that familiar mischievous smile.
"Your face was so red back there," she said lightly.
I sighed. "You're never going to quit your teasing, are you?"
"Hm~ maybe not," she answered, tilting her head with that innocent smugness that somehow made everything she said sound endearing. "You're cute when you're embarassed." She added.
I chuckled under my breath.
Her laughter blended with the soft sound of our steps, and , once again , the silence between us felt peaceful..
Not heavy, not empty.
Everything seemed perfect.
A stranger could easily think that we were a couple.
When the sidewalk narrowed, she moved closer.
And instead of taking my hand, she gently slipped her arm around mine, not in a romantic way, but with quiet grace, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Her warmth against my sleeve felt oddly comforting.
"Is this okay?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," I said, trying not to sound too awkward. "It's… nice."
She smiled at that, a little satisfied sparkle lighting her eyes.
We kept walking like that for nearly twenty minutes, through quiet streets and the faint glow of neon signs fading in the distance.
The town became more quieter as we kept walking.
Everything was so peaceful.
I wasn't even thinking about Ema and what happened at the restaurant.
Evangeline talked about various topics, like her home.
She said that life in France is way more chaotic than here.
Moreover, she came all the way to Japan because she had always loved our culture and our places, that's why she studied hard to be the greatest student of her old school, enough to have a recommendation to study overseas.
"So... you came here because you loved Japan, right?" I asked, to be sure.
Evangeline nodded her head, with a soft smile.
"Yeah... but that's not the only reason~" she said, with a teasing voice.
"Then? What is the other reason?" I asked, curious.
"Thaaaat's a secret!" She replied.
I sighed.
"Okay... are you gonna tell me this secret one day?" I asked, while walking.
"Of course. But you have to wait... a few months, maybe." She replied.
I sighed.
"Tch! Okay, you can keep your secrets to yourself...!" I said, jokingly.
Evangeline laughed warmly.
The sweet sound of her laughter was so adorable, I must admit.
Finally, after walking for some other time, Evangeline stopped walking in front of a tall, elegant building: The Celestine Grand Hotel.
Its facade shimmered under the night sky, marble and glass reflecting the stars above.
Everyone in the city knew the name since it was the kind of place reserved for ambassadors, artists, and the very wealthy.
I blinked, taken aback.
"Ah yeah... this place... for the richest people of this town... why did you stop? Are you curious about this Hotel? I asked.
"Well, I'm living here, actually." She said, like it was the most normal and innocent thing of this world.
My eyes widened.
"You live... here…?" I asked, shocked.
Evangeline nodded, brushing a strand of blue hair behind her ear.
"My father owns one of the upper floors. It's… complicated."
She didn't elaborate, and I didn't ask.
Somehow, I felt it wasn't the time.
She let go of my arm and turned to face me, her smile gentle but tinged with something deeper, something I couldn't quite name.
"Thank you for walking me home, Fumi," she said softly.
Before I could reply, I noticed it.
There was a faint shimmer running down her cheek, catching the light for just an instant before vanishing.
A tear.
She hadn't realized it.
I saw it… but said nothing.
Instead, I smiled faintly. "You don't have to thank me."
She shook her head, taking a small step forward.
Then, without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around me.
It wasn't sudden or shy... it was warm, heartfelt, like a melody finally finding its harmony.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Truly."
I hesitated for a moment, then returned the embrace, holding her just as tightly.
"...No," I said softly, near her ear."I'm the one who should thank you, for making me smile again after what happened with Ema."
She froze for half a second, then smiled against my shoulder.
When she pulled away, her eyes shimmered in the soft glow of the hotel lights... tender, bright, alive.
"See you tomorrow… Little Panda." She said, with a big smile on her face.
I blinked, caught off guard. "W–Wait, what? Where did that come from?"
She giggled, hiding her mouth behind her hand.
"From the deepest part of my heart! Starting today, you're Little Panda!"
"Wha— hey, come on…" I laughed, scratching the back of my neck, unable to stop smiling.
She waved cheerfully before stepping through the golden doors of the hotel lobby.
I stood there for a few seconds, watching her disappear behind the glass.
Then I turned around, hands in my pockets, and began the walk home.
For the first time in what felt like forever…I was smiling.
And somewhere deep inside, a faint, unfamiliar warmth began to bloom —soft and quiet, but real.