"All these years and this place still hasn't changed." Gouenji's voice echoed in the empty locker room of Raimon Junior High.

"So this is where the magic happens, huh?" Kira commented in a bored voice. She was tired from following Gouenji around the school campus from place to place all day. This was their last stop and the sun had begun descending as well.

"I have been away for so long. Endou and Kidou get to be here all the time but I not so much." He commented paying no heed to Kira's tone.

"Take your time then, I guess. " Kira answered with a tired sigh as she settled on the bench cross-legged and cross-armed.

Gouenji looked around with an obvious delight going from corner to corner and looking at everything with excitement. After he had taken a good look and reminisced to his heart's content he settled on the same bench beside Kira.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He softly asked when he saw Kira's pale and wilted face.

"It's nothing." Kira replied evasively, not wanting to bring his enthusiasm down.

"Come on, you can tell me." Gouenji pulled her by her waist, making her slide close to him and spoke in an almost whisper, next to her ear.

"It's just... I'm exhausted. We went to a lot of places today and it's really hard for me to keep up with you. Do you know how fast you walk?" She spoke slowly and quietly to keep her voice from echoing as she played with the lapel of his coat, "And now my feet hurt." She concluded in a tired voice.

Gouenji pulled her even closer so that there was not an inch of distance between them. He then pulled up her legs to rest on his own as he rested his head on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry I made you walk so much. " He said, closing his eyes.

"It's okay I'm not complaining. " Kira smiled as she carefully pushed his hair back from his face, "I wouldn't have said anything if you hadn't asked. "

"Let's just rest here for a while before we leave." Gouenji got his head back up again.

His eyes then glanced at Kira's combat-boot styled shoes, "These heavy shoes certainly didn't help." He commented. The next moment he had tugged on to the laces and pulled them out of Kira's feet and dropped them on the floor with a noise.

"Better?" He asked once he had taken them off of both her feet.

"Yes, much better." Kira took a sigh of satisfaction. She then dropped her head on Gouenji's shoulder and closed her eyes. Gouenji continued to hold her making sure she was comfortably resting. The warm retreating rays of the setting sun combined with the tranquil solitude enwrapped them both like a secure blanket.