* * *

Lavi looked at Akkad, who was lying on the couch reading a book with an apathetic look on his face. Apparently, before she’d gotten her memory back, she’d spent her time reading books and playing with dolls.

She’d vowed to do everything she could when Akkad was around, but nothing had changed. What else was there to do but hold hands and run around the yard? The problem was, running around wasn’t fun.

“Ugh…”

Boring, boring, boring!

“Laviette?”

Akkad looked at Lavi as if to ask what was wrong.

“I’m bored.”

Akkad tilted his head, then held out the book he was reading, “Do you want to read this?”

Lavi looked at the book labeled Military Studies and scowled. Why was he already reading something like that? “Do you find it interesting?”

“Eh? I was just told to read it.”

“Who told you? Your dad?

“Yeah.”

Lavi nodded curtly and rolled over on the couch. Lavi, who had rolled over to where Akkad was, lay down on Akkad’s leg. Then she reached up and played with Akkad’s hair, wondering what to do.

What should they do to play?

The corners of her mouth twitched upward at the feel of his hair twirled around her fingers.

Akkad was groaning, unable to read because Lavi was laying on his leg.

“I can’t play with dolls. ….. doll play. Play dolls….” Lavi suddenly smirked. “Akkad. I have something I want to do. Will you do it with me?” 

“…Okay.”

Lavi scrambled to her feet and held out her hand to Akkad. He took it. Rolling his eyes, Akkad took Lavi’s hand without removing his glove. Lavi figured he wasn’t struggling yet, so she’d give him a pass, and tugged on his hand. Humming a tune, Lavi smiled sketchily as she led Akkad to her dressing room.

“Laviette. Are we going to the yard?” Akkad asked in an innocent voice, as if they were there to change clothes.

Lavi’s eyes sparkled as she looked at her colorful dresses. Then her eyes fell on the most splendid dress hanging in the back. Without hesitation, Lavi picked up the blue dress.

“Akkad.”

“Huh?”

“How about this?”

Her arms trembled as she picked up the bejeweled dress. Lavi gritted her teeth and held the dress in front of Akkad.

“It sparkles. It’s pretty.”

“It’ll sparkle even more when you wear it.” 

Hu-hu-hu

Akkad was stunned when he realized what Lavi’s mischievous smile meant.

“I’m the one wearing this?”

“Uh-huh.”

“That’s what girls wear.” 

Lavi laughed affectionately and patted Akkad’s head. “We’re the only ones here anyway, so why not? It’ll be very pretty.” 

Was it really necessary to play with dolls? There was a doll right next to her. Lavi opened a dresser drawer and picked up a light blue ribbon. Akkad rolled his eyes and squirmed violently.

“Laviette, you can wear it.” 

Lavi frowned and shook her head. “Akkad. I really want to wear it, but I’ve never been able to because it’s so heavy, so can’t you wear it and show me what it’s like?”

“…It’s really heavy?

“Yeah. If I put it on, I’ll collapse from muscle pain.” 

It was an exaggeration, but not by much, she admitted in her thoughts. There must be a reason why the maids wouldn’t put it on her after ordering it. She could probably walk for less than half an hour in that heavy dress. The thought made her want to put it on, even if it made her sick.

“Still…those aren’t men’s clothes…”

“It doesn’t matter what you look like in front of me, and I’m the only one who will see.” 

This was fine for friends.

“…Really?” He asked, confirmed that she really wasn’t going to show him to the maids or any of the other hired help.

Lavi smiled fondly and stroked Akkad’s hair. “Of course, I promise.”  But how did she tie this on? “Akkad, go change and come back.”

Lavi turned around and sat on the chair in front of the dressing table. What did the maids do when they tied a ribbon in her hair? Usually she wore her hair in a braid with a ribbon, but didn’t Akkad have short hair? She looked up from examining the ribbon and caught sight of Akkad’s reflection in the vanity mirror.

Akkad’s eyes were fluttering wildly. He must have thought she was spying on him changing in the mirror. She wondered why he was so embarrassed since they had been bathing together until last year.

“I didn’t see.”

Lavi pushed herself up and walked toward Akkad, then stopped.

‘What, why are you so pretty?’

She’d heard this dress was custom-made for her appearance. She hadn’t tried it on, but she had the feeling it looked better on Akkad than it would on her.

With a small sigh carrying a strange sense of defeat, Lavi brought the ribbon to Akkad’s hair. She quickly tied the ribbon into a pretty bow in Akkad’s hair.

“…Ah.”

Akkad looked at Lavi with an anxious expression.

Lavi mumbled to herself. Oh, I could just eat him up.

“…huh?”

Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, as if they were about to fall. Lavi had to bite her lip. The ribbon tied atop his head sparkled, announcing its presence.

So much fun. So exhilarating.

As Lavi looked at Akkad and pursed her lips, Allen entered the dressing room with a clicking sound.

“Miss?”

No matter how many times he knocked, there was no answer, so he just walked in, and was bewildered by the situation unfolding in front of him.

Lavi was biting her lip with her cheekbones twitching and Akkad, wearing a blue dress, was on the verge of bursting into tears. Most impressive of all, the ribbon tied from under his chin to the top of his head, was shining as if announcing its presence, like the wrapping on a gift box.

Sunken silver-gray eyes turned to Allen.

“Hngh……sob…….”

Akkad finally burst into tears, and Allen was taken aback. Lavi trembled with the effort to stifle her laughter and soothe him, but the sobs only grew louder.

Lavi had to spend a long time trying to comfort Akkad, who would sob at the sight of Allen. If it had been one of the maids, she was sure the corners of their mouth would have twitched like hers, but Allen simply closed the door and left.

“Isn’t it okay that it was Allen?” Seeing that he was about to cry again, Lavi quickly grabbed Akkad’s cheeks. “Stop crying.”

“I won’t wear it anymore.”

“…Okay.” Lavi bit her lip in disappointment, reluctantly turning her head away, and had to struggle not to laugh. Akkad was crying so hard that he didn’t seem to realize the ribbon was still tied around his face. “Akkad, stop crying and let’s go.”

“Hic. Where?”

“To the backyard for a snack.”

Lavi, who promised they would eat what he liked, tempted Akkad while describing sweet snacks.  When Akkad nodded, still looking like he’d been crying, Lavi held out her hand. When Akkad backed away, Lavi raised an eyebrow.

“You don’t want to hold hands with me?”

“Huh? It’s not…”

Akkad blinked, then flailed.

Hu hu, it’s easier if you don’t hate it.

“Then hold on, okay? Lavi held out her hand again. Akkad hesitantly took it. “From now on, whenever you go anywhere with me, let’s hold hands, okay?”

“…okay.”

“Of course, you have to take off your gloves too, okay?”

Lavi smirked, releasing her grip and tugging at the knuckles of his gloves. She slipped the slick gloves into Akkad’s pants pocket and took his hand again. Akkad glanced at his pants pocket as if he was still worried about taking off his gloves, but Lavi didn’t care and tugged his hand.

“Laviette.”

“Huh?”

Akkad’s hand fidgeted in her grasp as he hesitantly followed her.

“…Never mind. ” 

“Akkad. You have to do it properly.” Lavi said, gesturing to the hand she was holding tightly. “You might miss it if you hold it like this.”

She added, and Akkad, looked at their tightly entwined hands, and nodded.

“…Mmm.”

It was only after she took a few more steps that she felt that he was holding her with strength.

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