"Julian, what was that? Infront of your parents you seemed like a completely different person" Kaito was surprised even confused because Julian didn't even notice how much different he is in the presence of his parents.
"W-what do you mean, was I really that different?" Julian himself was also confused because he never noticed that the relationship with them was even in a worse state than he thought.
"You were phlegmatic, indifferent; do you also have problems with them, you where there for me when I needed someone, you can also talk with me if you want to!" Somehow the roles changed, Kaito was feeling a bit pity for Julian now.
"I don't know if I should tell you that but to hold it short this isn't my mother, my real mother died a few months ago and my dad married again in so short time, he even tell me that they have known each other for years because they were working together…" And suddenly, Julian was the one that was in a pensive, slightly depressed mode.
"O-oh I am sorry to hear that…" Kaito also didn't knew what he should do now because it's also a rare situation for him.
"Thanks, it's okay, the thing is that this is not the only thing that happened; but anyways, on the way home you wanted to tell me something about some anime you like, didn't you?" Everyone could easily spot that Julian just wanted to change the topic and so did Kaito also.
"Would you like to tell me what also happened else???" Kaito wasn't fully sure, needed Julian also to talk with or does he not want to talk about it?
"Sigh…okay, so before I came here I said to my father that I wanted to come with him at Japan because let's just say there happened something at school; he said he knew the principle of an elite school; like you can see there was still a place free because I had good grades and we had the connections there; so I was going out for a walk and when I came back my father was talking with the principal and my father gossiped a bit about me…"
…
I understand, I am sorry I was bringing this topic up…" Kaito had even more difficulties to know what he should say or do, he only knew he needs to be there for Julian.
"So do you want to tell me know about this anime you were talking about earlier?" Usually, Julian had mostly a subtle gentle and pleased expression, but know his had been turned away from Kaito, looking outside the window, any trace of gentleness or kindness vanished from his voice…
"FOOD IS READYY!!!" Julian's stepmother called them loudly.
"Should I go or is this weird now?" Kaito was not really sure if Julian wanted him to go or not; even though they both probably were closest friends to each other Julian was still very hard to read for Kaito.
"If you want to go you can surely stay but if you like, stay." Even though Kaito had sometimes problems reading Julian he knew in this case that Julian wanted him to stay.
"I stay; I know you don't want to force me, but I see that you definitely want me to stay, I stay." Kaito was thinking that Julian needs to live by that every day, that's probably why he stays at school or just stays in the schoolyard even after school is over. "Poor Julian." He thought.
"Let's go eat now, okay!?"
"Sure."
"Thanks mister and misses Mercer, the food was really good!"
"Father if you don't mind, Kaito and me would still like to go out?"
"Yeah sure, go if you want!"
"Hey Julian, what do you want to do now outside?" Kaito had understanding for Julian that he was again so different at the dining table, he was thinking how he would be when in this situation, maybe even similar???"
"I just wanted to go out, to the fresh air, if you want you can go home and go with you home, I am mean give you accompany on your way home, but we can also stay on this playground, it's really nice here in the evening or at night."
"Let's just stay."
And so, they were on the playground for another hour, not even talking much, just enjoying the company together in silence.
"Hey Julian, its already late, I need to go home now, my mother already wonders where I am so late."
"If you don't mind, I would come with you on your way." Julian said he was feeling better than before but still didn't want to go home.
"Sure."
Also, on Kaito´s way home they weren't talking much.
"I am almost there if you want you can go now."
"Do you mind if I come with you more, what if you need my help on your homework and I don't know where you live, he-he!" Julian said in a playful tone
"He-he your right."
Infront of Kaito´s house was not his father trying to convince to live with him but his brother.
"What do you want here; did father finally acknowledge that I am not going to live with him, so he decided to send you?"
"Wait this is my chance to observe nearer their ropes!"
"Why won´t you live with us? What did father to you, or is it me?" Said Kaito´s brother while slightly talking with a louder tone.
"Did you honestly forget what he did to our mother??? Or do I need to explain it to you again, you're the big brother you saw even more than me and you still are living with him?"
His brother lowered his head changing his expression from someone who wants to gently convince someone to a depressed bunny.
"Kaito are you okay?" Again, Julian wasn't sure what he should do.
"It's okay now, please go home, it was nice spending the day with you, see you tomorrow at school!" Julian was very confused; Kaito´s tone was happy and sad at the same time, but he saw a new color.