HEJZJKSD I hope you dont mind me rambling-

They first met back when theyre like 16 years old, when young Espoir went on a business exchange trip with his family then he met Ayato - who has just lost his mother, when we was strolling through Chinju forest! It took Ayato a while to open up and interact with another stranger but they eventually became closer and closer after two months!! Espoir has to return to fontaine eventually because his trip ended but they still keep in touch by sending letters to each other, even during the Sakoku Decree they still managed to send letters. It took them like 8 years to actually confess their love to each other