[WELL, that's a story to be asked about another day. Ai furrows her brow in confusion for a second when he mentions Otome, but decides to ask him about it later if they still have time. She clears her throat and pulls back a little so that they're looking at each other.]

Well, at first, I didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted from someone that I was going to like. Maybe I had some notions, but a lot of it was just fantasy in the end.

[Like for instance, the idea of being completely swept away on her feet or a storm of passionate emotions would hit her out of nowhere when she saw, "the one." It didn't happen that way though.]

You were first and foremost a friend. And then you became a friend I wanted to have fun with and then a boy who I could endure anything with. We had fun and we struggled together.

[Ai Thao takes his hand in both of hers, bringing it to her face so she can lean her cheek into his palm affectionately.]

And you didn't coddle or spoil me. You were just yourself and I was just myself. But we were growing next to each other and that feeling of liking you just came along with that.