(Noiz sighs. There’s the sound of Aoba running in the background)

Aoba:

Ah, there he is!

Noiz:

Hm?

Aoba:

Noiz! (he runs up to him, panting) I finally found you. Noiz…I’m so glad…hah

Noiz:

I’m shocked. Are you an idiot? You didn’t have to run yourself out of breath like that. I was going to head back before too long.

Aoba:

Hah…even if you say that…of course I was worried about you! I can’t help it! But…you really were here. Heh. I’m glad I found you.

Noiz:

I really was? What’s that?

Aoba:

Heh. I heard it from your brother.

Noiz:

From Theo?

Aoba:

After you ran off I chased after but I lost sight of you. I had no idea where I was. While I was at a loss, I met your brother by chance. Then we talked for a little while.

Noiz:

About what?

Aoba:

About you. And things like how you talk to your little brother about me. Heh. Like that.

Noiz:

Tch. That guy…

Aoba:

And then, when I told him that I didn’t know where you were, he said that you’d be somewhere around here. He showed me the way to this zoo.

Noiz:

And Theo?

Aoba:

He said it’d probably be best if I went on my own and went home.

Noiz:

Hah…

Aoba:

You always stay outside here instead of going into the zoo, don’t you? From here you can see the breeding pen, huh.

Noiz:

I didn’t notice that. That guy…what did he tell you?

Aoba:

Huh? Heh. To take care of you.

Noiz:

Hah? What’s that… Did you tell Theo about us?

Aoba:

I didn’t. well, in the end I did, but he’d noticed it already.

Noiz:

Mmh…

Aoba:

When I asked if he thought our relationship was wrong, he said he didn’t feel that way about it.

Noiz:

Is that true?

Aoba:

You’re the one who would know best whether he’s the kind of guy to lie about that. You even said that if it was your little brother he’d understand.

Noiz:

Mmh.

Aoba:

Hey, today…you had a fight with your dad, right? I heard that today you weren’t called to the office but to your parent’s house instead. Your cheek…that happened then too, right?

Noiz:

(sighs)

Aoba:

If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to push yourself. Anyway, let’s go home…

Noiz:

I fought with my father.

Aoba:

And the reason?

Noiz:

Lately his criticism’s been strangely harsh. I thought it was odd… He even suddenly yelled at me and said my AllMate was childish so I shouldn’t bring it to work…

Aoba:

Ah…so that’s why you left your PseudoRabbits at home?

Noiz:

Yeah. I was called to their house this morning. I wondered what it was, but my old man kept on going off about useless things. I wasn’t getting married, I didn’t even spend time with women, living with a man was bad for appearances.

Aoba:

Mmh…ah…

Noiz:

If I, the oldest son, didn’t get married first, then Theo couldn’t get married either so I should do something about it. He said if I needed preparations for an arranged married he’d do it. I didn’t care about that, so I just ignored it. My old man suddenly starting going off, “Even if you’re not married, if you’re living with another man those kind of rumors will bring shame on our household. You’ll just cause trouble for Theo so move.” It seemed like he was ready to pay all of the moving fees.

Aoba:

Ah…

Noiz:

I got pissed like you’d expect. Even though Theo wasn’t there, for him to talk about about Theo’s feelings… So I got hit. However, I didn’t hit him.

Aoba:

Noiz…

Noiz:

I felt like hitting him back, but I held it back. If I returned it, it’d just make unnecessary problems. More than that, I thought I wouldn’t be able to stay with you.

Aoba:

Ah…

Noiz:

Then, when my father hit me, my mother came in so it ended there without us settling it. My father said that if I lost my temper I shouldn’t let anyone else see it so that they couldn’t talk about it.

Aoba:

So that…happened.

Noiz:

Don’t overthink it.

Aoba:

Eh?

Noiz:

About our relationship, my dad just said we’re living together so I’m telling you not to get any weird thoughts about it.

Aoba:

Mhm…

Noiz:

It’s something I’ve always said…I’ll say it as many times as I have to. I am who I am now because you’re here. If I don’t have you, there’s no point to it.

Aoba:

Ah–

Noiz:

If I got married to a woman, my parents would be the only ones who were happy about it. Not me. I…if I can’t be happy with you, I don’t plan to accept it at all. But…it’s not in place of anything else. I plan on doing my best at work. I can’t help it if they won’t give in. Aside from that, I’m making progress with my parents… If I was the same as before I met you, when my dad hit me I probably would’ve run off to hide again. That’s different now.

Aoba:

Noiz…

Noiz:

If I make progress, then maybe they might change at least one percent. If I think of it that way, there’s places where I can act. Anyway, it’s like you said before. This is a result of me trying out my own interpretation of “sympathy.”

Aoba:

Ah…I see. That’s right. Honestly, I thought that a little just now. About your parents. If it might be best for me to step aside.

Noiz:

Hah…

Aoba:

But, for me…I made up my mind and came this far. Even if they tell us to break up, if what I felt was something I could let go of that easily I wouldn’t have come here in the first place. Heh…for there to be a way for everyone to easily agree. I don’t think that exists. If we can, I’d like try to get your parents to understand us.

Noiz:

I’m doing my best for that as well. There’s no way for everyone to be 100% happy. But if there’s a way so that everyone’s not unhappy, we can work it out. Well…we might have to take the long way around to it. But, I think that’s fine. It’s just like you.

Aoba:

Heh. That’s true. I think, if your parents could understand us a little, it’d go well…

Noiz:

I don’t know about that yet. But for now, we’ve got no choice but to do it.

Aoba:

Yeah. (Noiz sighs) Hm? What is it?

Noiz:

About before…I’m sorry. At the house, I snapped at you.

Aoba:

Heh, it’s fine. I pushed you away too. I’m sorry. (he reaches for Noiz’s cheek) Does it still hurt where he hit you?

Noiz:

If I’m being honest, it does a little. I cut the inside of my mouth. But I’m really fine with the pain. If you’re touching it like this, it’s much better.

Aoba:

Hehe. But we should take a look at it later. If it’s bad then it’ll be a problem.

Noiz:

Mhm.

Aoba:

Hey…can I ask you something?

Noiz:

what?

Aoba:

In the past whenever something happened you’d come here, right? Why is that?

Noiz:

Ah…it’s nothing. There’s no reason.

Aoba:

Liar. If we’re talking about you it can’t be that.

Noiz:

Hah…really…there’s not a clear reason. Just…in a corner of the zoo like that where there’s no one around, the rabbits hop around.

Aoba:

The rabbits? In the breeding pen?

Noiz:

Yeah. I wonder how they’re feeling…so I just watch them.

Aoba:

Noiz…

Noiz:

What?

Aoba:

Nothing. All right, let’s hurry up and go home.

Noiz:

Yeah. Anyway, can I say something too?

Aoba:

Huh?

Noiz:

I’m a little annoyed with you.

Aoba:

Eh–why?

Noiz:

Ah…no. I guess it’s nothing.

Aoba:

Eh? What’s with that? You’re making me worried. Say it.

Noiz:

It’s nothing.

Aoba:

No way. You can’t say that and just say it’s nothing. Say it!

Noiz:

Hah…it seems like…you’re getting along really well with Theo.

Aoba:

Huh? With Theo?

Noiz:

Yeah…

Aoba:

Ah, that’s just…he said it’d be a good idea to wait a little before going to find you. And then…

Noiz:

Hm?

Aoba:

Huh? Noiz…?

Noiz:

Weren’t we headed home? Let’s hurry up and go.

Aoba:

Ah, mhm…ah…are you angry? Hey?

Noiz:

Not really. I’m not angry.

Aoba:

Huh? Ah–Noiz! Wait! You’re walking really fast!