Jihai didn't notice he had stopped hearing the screams coming from his mother around him or feeling the touch Mr. Sakai gave him on the shoulder to guide him out of the room, his skin reacting to the change of temperature in the environment.
He felt numb, his heart too cold to allow any incoming emotions he should have felt. He felt nothing, observing the world like a stranger who had no ties with it.
Hisako whose face rarely portrayed any emotions looked at the boy who was walking on the cold tiles without any shoes with pity in her eyes. Ryōsei had been in the room since the confession and his eyes were a bit teary, making him like the victim instead.
Suddenly, he stopped but did not turn to face them. His lonely back stood straight along with his ruffled black hair that swayed with the cold night breeze as he said. "I am leaving. Don't follow me."