Uotani Arisa had shown up randomly, as per usual, baring two large foam cups of ice cream.

"You can't spend Friday nights alone," she had insisted, handing Kureno a cup when he had opened the front door. "Everyone will think you're a loser."

So they sat on his small coach (Uo leaning with her back on one arm and Kureno patiently trying to ignore the heart palpitations caused by their proximity), and now, forty-five minutes later, were scraping at the dregs of their now melted ice cream and mocking of whatever dime-a-dozen reality show they were watching.

"I can't believe people really watch this," Arisa laughed, spooning the last of her ice cream into her mouth. She kicked her legs off of his lap and padded into the kitchen to dispose of the foam cup, leaving an apparent and disheartening coldness that pressed against Kureno's chest where Uo's knees had just been resting.

With a small sigh, Kureno stared into the melting mess in his cup and placed it neatly on the coffee table. The kitchen light flicked off and Uo re-entered the room, a small smile playing across her face.

"What are you smiling about," he said playfully as Uo took a sat next to him. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around his torso and nestled her head into the crook of his neck, letting her legs curl up beside her. She let out a contented sigh and Kureno could feel her chest rise and fall against him as he placed an arm around her shoulders.

"You."