Mr. Shiroi, after eating the chocolate that Norio had offered him, he decided to continue his work. He didn't know exactly how much time had passed as he recalled that first encounter with the Choco Balls, whenever he traveled back in time in his thoughts he used to lose himself in them for a long time, so Shiroi hoped this was not the case. The first customers had begun to arrive despite the fact that the cleanup and preparations had not yet been completed. Norio was taking longer than usual to change his outfit and Mr. Shiroi was overwhelmed with the large number of clients that had arrived and the details that still needed to be resolved.

- DO NOT TOUCH ME!! - A scream was heard very loudly followed by a great roar from the break room.

- Norio? Takato? - Mr. Shiroi asked immediately while serving a long line of clients - What was that? Are you OK?

The sound was loud enough for all customers to hear it. The door opens and Takato comes out wearing his school uniform and a book in his hands.

- Takato! - Shiroi says when he sees him go out the door - What happened? Are you okay? Is Norio okay?

- M_Mr. Shiroi I ... - Takato says terrified. Then without warning, he runs at full speed out of the store.

- TAKATO WAIT!! - Shout Mr. Shiroi waiting for the boy to stop.

Takato comes out of the store completely, while Mr. Shiroi and all the customers were silent. Shiroi looks at the slightly open door of the break room worried about little Norio.

- I'm sorry about this - Mr. Shiroi says to his clients - But I'm afraid I will have to be absent for a moment.

Shiroi then leaves her post at the cash register and walks through the door to the break room. Inside, little Norio was crouched, with his back to the door while he collected the chocolates that were scattered all over the place.

- Oh no - Norio says, picking up the sweets one by one - The Chocolates rolled everywhere. It's a shame.

Finally when he finishes collecting all the chocolates and placing them back inside the small box, he stands up and holds one of these in front of him.

- I wonder - Norio said - Would eating this be a good idea? I don't want to discard it.

- Norio - Shiroi finally says.

- Huh? Mister Shiroi? - Norio turns around and looks at Mr. Shiroi standing at the door.

- Are you ok? - Shiroi asks.

- Yes. I'm fine - Norio says while looking sadly at his chocolate.

- Are you sure? - Shiroi was worried - What happened?

- I just ... - Norio says, trying to smile - I think ... I made Takato angry. It was totally my fault.

- My little Norio - Shiroi sighs - Don't you trust me anymore?

- Of course! Mister Shiroi. I trust you more than anyone else.

Norio was silent, until he couldn't take it anymore. His tears began to flow and his crying was unstoppable.

- WAAAAAAA - Norio wept inconsolably - MR. SHIROI SORRY. I… I INTERRUPTED TAKATO WHILE HE STUDIED. AND THAT'S WHY… THAT'S WHY HE… HE WAS VERY ANGRY WITH ME. WAAAAAA. I ONLY WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE WITH HIM. TAKATO HATES ME MORE THAN BEFORE!

Norio kept crying in front of Mr. Shiroi as he wiped away his tears and rubbed his blushing cheeks. Shiroi showed a worried face, and at some point, seeing Norio like that in front of him, he could visualize an image of the past. It was the first time he had seen little Norio, a boy of no more than 4 years, crying heartbroken much like he was now.

- It's okay - Shiroi says placing his hands on Norio's arms - Don't worry anymore. You haven't done anything wrong so don't cry.

- But ... Takato - Norio insisted, while still crying.

- Don't worry - Shiroi says while looking askance towards the door of the rest room - Takato is not angry with you and he doesn't hate you. I can assure you.

- You think that? - Norio calms down a bit and looks at Shiroi directly.

- I don't think so, I'm totally sure of that - Shiroi smiles sweetly at him as he wipes away Norio's tears - Oh, look how your  face is, swollen and reddened. Go to the bathroom to wash with cold water and put on your uniform.

Norio nods and goes to the left of the room, where the door to the bathroom is located. Shiroi's expression changes when Norio enters through that door. He approaches the center table and takes a bag that was there, then decides to leave the room. When he comes out, he extends his right arm to the side, showing the bag he was holding.

- You came back for this right? - Shiroi says looking to his right.

- Mr. Shiroi - Says Takato, who had remained hidden to the right of the door - I ... I'm so sorry. I didn't want to hurt him like that ... but ... I ... That was not my intention.

- I know - Shiroi replies smiling sweetly at him- But ... Don't you think you're saying it to the wrong person?

Takato takes the bag that he had forgotten from Shiroi's hands and keeps his book inside, then remains silent. Shiroi sighs, and crosses his hands as he leans against the wall next to Takato.

- Hey Takato ... I know you have known Norio for a very short time - Shiroi says trying to clarify things - And I know how difficult it is for you to be around unknown people, especially someone as cheerful and enthusiastic as he is. But Norio is not a person you should be afraid of. He is a brilliant boy, a genius, a prodigy and all that sort of thing. At just 14 years old, he is about to start college. Amazing, correct? And his main domain is mathematics.

- So ... - Says Takato - Is that why he...?

- Norio probably realized that you were here, skipping your classes to study mathematics because you would have a difficult exam soon, so he just wanted to be of use to you, because he really likes you.

Takato does not respond, but drops his gaze and shows his sorry face. Inside the break room, Shiroi heard the bathroom door open. Norio had already finished washing his face and would probably change his clothes. Shiroi closes the door and walks alongside Takato to the exit of the store.

- Life has forced both of you to grow rapidly - Shiroi continues - But, no matter how much you think that you have matured and grown, you are still little children. Norio is still a little boy scared because he will soon start college. He is a scared little boy, because he thinks he has been doing bad things that make his new co-worker angry and thinks he is completely hated. So ... Be sure to apologize to him appropriately.

- Yes, Mr. Shiroi - Takato answers - Immediately I do.

- Oh no - Shiroi stops him - Now is not a good time, you must go to school or you will be late for that important exam.

- Yes - Says Takato and leaves.

Norio was still changing his clothes and Takato was already going to school. Customers were gone, and the store was quiet and uncluttered. Shiroi sighs, thinking how difficult it is to deal with teens and walks to the main counter where the cash register is located. Above that counter was a framed photo difficult to ignore if you pass by. Shiroi looks at the photo and holds it with his right hand.

- My little boy - Shiroi says admiring that photo with sweetness - Will you also go through these stages and become rebellious?

Shiroi stared at the photo, holding it with his right hand and stroking it with his left hand.

- Hehe. I think it's too early to think about that - Shiroi says bringing the photo to his lips until he gets to kiss - Right Rem?