She sighed for the tenth time. Not that he kept count, but it worried him. 

"Eri, are you okay?" he asked her. She turned to look at him, smiled, and nodded. 

"I'm fine," she stated, but he knew she was lying. 

"Do you want to have cake?" he suggested. He could see her lit up for a bit before just nodding. 

They went down the road to her favorite bakery. 

"Look Eri, they're having an "All-You-Can-Eat" Today." Alata pointed. 

Eri looked up and eye-widened. A smile formed on her face for the first time, "Let's go then!" she chirped. 

Alata secretly observed her and smiled to himself. At least her mood is lifted up a bit now. I wondered what happened though...

Alata walked in and saw Eri already started grabbing two trays. He sweatdropped. 

"E--Er---Eri, isn't that too much?" he asked. 

She smiled sheepishly before just settling down at a table. He just sat down across from her. 

"Here, have some!" she told him. 

"Are you sure?" He asked, smirking. 

She squinted at him, "Yes.! Now if you keep talking, I'll take it all back." she stated. 

He chuckled at her words and just began to dig in. 

"This is so good!" she stated, after finishing up the last piece. 

"I still can't believe, you finished all of it," Alata stated. 

"Yah! What do you mean?" She grumbled. 

"I'm just teasing," he told her. 

"Hmmph.." she pouted and stepped out. 

"Yah! Wait a minute," Alata complained, realizing he had to pay for everything like he promised. He quickly paid and catch up to Eri, who was looking at the tulip. 

"You're so mean...you could have at least paid half." Alata sighed. 

"Well...you invited me out, so shouldn't pay all of it?" she nonchalantly replied, crouching down and touching the tulip. 

Alata smiled at the scene in front of him and secretly snapped a picture, but Eri caught on. 

"Yah, what are you doing? Delete it!" she said, dashing towards him. 

"Only if you can get it!" he teased back, extending his hand out, knowing that she won't be able to jump up to grab it. 

After a few jumps, Eri just gave. Of course, she could cheat and transform just to grab it but she wasn't in that mood. 

Seeing that she stopped trying and crouched back down to the tulip, Alata started to feel worried again. 

He then crouched down next to her. 

"Ne...Eri.." he said in a calm voice. 

"Hmmm?" she asked. 

"You know you can always tell me anything right? I'll be here when you're ready." Alata assured her. 

Eri couldn't help but blush at the words. So he knew. 

She nodded, not saying anything. 

They stay like that for a while, just observing the tulips before Alata stood up and suggested that they should head back. Eri nodded. 

As they arrived home, before Alata entered the door, Eri grabbed his hood. 

"Eri?" Alata asked. 

"Arigato." was all she told him before heading in first. 

"You better be there then." she tilted her head back and send him a smile before heading in. 

He smiled, relieved to know that he was able to lift up Eri's mood despite not knowing what was causing it. 

Til' next time, 

Adieu~~~