Kousei Arima and Kaori Miyazono were completely baffled by those words.
Before they could even figure out what he meant by "do it together"—
Creak—
The rooftop's iron door, which had only just closed, swung open again.
This time, Hotaru Takekawa stepped out, her eyes swollen from crying. Beside her was Gin, wearing a white fox mask and looking as though the next breeze might scatter him to the wind.
Gin had only wanted to find a deserted spot up high where he could say one last goodbye to the girl he was destined never to hold.
Instead, the moment they opened the door, they came face-to-face with Lin Xiao, Kousei, and Kaori, all staring at one another on the rooftop.
"..."
Gin looked at the strangers he had never met.
His already translucent hand froze in midair. Hotaru's tears stalled in her eyes.
The heartbreakingly beautiful farewell they had been building toward shattered on the spot.
"Ah... Sorry."
Gin gave an awkward, rueful laugh behind his mask and tugged Hotaru back toward the door. "Looks like we came at a bad time. Sorry to interrupt. We'll find somewhere else..."
"No, your timing is perfect."
Lin Xiao strode over, grabbed Gin by the arm, and dragged him over beside Kousei and Kaori despite his stunned expression.
"Come on, come on. Stand together. Form a line."
Like an elementary school teacher arranging a choir, Lin Xiao pointed at the four bewildered young people in front of him.
"I've been standing out here in the wind waiting for you two."
"?????"
For a moment, all four stood in a row, staring blankly at the relaxed black-haired young man before them. Their minds had completely shut down.
What on earth was he trying to do?
Seeing the four of them looking as lost