Mitsuru had requested your help in talking to Makoto, mentioning that he appeared to be upset lately. You couldn't help but wonder why she chose you for this task, but Mitsuru simply stated that it was obvious - the two of you were siblings. However, the truth was that Makoto wasn't just upset recently; he was always in a state of distress. In fact, it wasn't accurate to say that he was upset at all. Makoto seemed to have lost the ability to feel anything after the passing of your parents.

Makoto was unsure of what it was. He found pleasure in specific activities, but only to a certain extent. Spending time with you was something he cherished. However, his way of spending time with you involved sitting quietly in a room together. Despite this, he still shared your taste in food - he wouldn't hesitate to sneak a bite of your Takoyaki.

Makoto sat in his room, buried in his textbooks, preparing for the looming exams. As you entered, he glanced up, removing one earbud. No words were exchanged between the two of you. Silence lingered in the air, a common occurrence with Makoto. Speaking was not something he did often. Instead, he communicated through nods and gestures, avoiding conversation whenever possible. It was a habit he couldn't seem to break.