Qingxiao stood where he was, motionless for a long time. The wild joy he had forcibly suppressed earlier surged and burst free the moment he was alone, impossible to hide any longer.
His previously tired body now felt far too alert, without the slightest trace of sleepiness.
He lay back down on the bed, switched off the light, and closed his eyes, but the scenes from that evening kept replaying in his mind:
Her embarrassed, stubborn expression, her profile as she ate quietly, the gentle way she had played along despite seeing through his little scheme, and that softly spoken, "Sure, I'm free."
They were going shopping tomorrow.
He was going shopping alone with Shoko.
The thought circled endlessly in his heart. The more he thought about it, the more nervous he became, and the more he looked forward to it.
Qingxiao began turning the details over and over in his mind: the sky would look just right tomorrow evening, and the lights would be soft. What should he wear? Should he look up some little shops suited to a leisurely stroll beforehand? Should he bring a light jacket since the evening breeze would be chilly? Would there be awkward silences? Could he make sure she enjoyed herself?
All those little worries and hopes tangled together, filling his mind and leaving him utterly unable to sleep. Qingxiao, who kept regular hours and normally fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, suffered an unprecedented bout of insomnia that night.
Meanwhile, Shoko returned to her own dorm room and shut the door, leaving only the quiet sound of falling snow inside.
She leaned against the door and took a long while to settle herself. Her heartbeat, which had only just calmed earlier, was still pounding, refusing to return to