"So the thing is, I work at PanPan Convenience Store, and they have a mascot called PanPan which is why I wear this costume. Livin' a double life as PanPan, ain't that cool?! All the kids love me, and people are always giving me free hugs! Being a real panda must be so nice, doncha' think?"

As Riu listened to Kazue ramble on their way to the station, every word that spilled out of his mouth reinforced something important.

This boy was an idiot. A refreshingly innocent and childish one, with the enthusiasm of a seven-year-old. She did realise it earlier, especially given the way his friends teased him for his poor exam scores, but had no idea it was to this extent. It didn't feel like she was conversing with someone her age at all.

Though admittedly, despite his apparent cluelessness, Kazue had an endearing quality that made it hard for her to dislike him.

She couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but perhaps it was his genuine honesty and the unfiltered way he spoke whatever was on his mind. Unlike most boys, he didn't leer at her or harbour any ulterior motives, which made his presence oddly comforting.

"Oh, the cup ramen they sell at PanPan is soooo good, by the way! One day, you should try it, Kurube! I'll snag a special discount for ya, too!"

...On top of that, he kept forgetting her name every few seconds. Was this normal? This was the first time she had ever encountered someone so unconcerned by her identity. It was, to say the least, an unusual experience. At some point she stopped bothering to correct him.

"...Why do you have a job when our school doesn't allow it?" she asked as a way to keep the conversation flowing, but her words came out more blunt than she intended. Riu bit her lip, instantly regretting her phrasing.

But Kazue's smile only softened, and her eyes widened slightly when she noticed a flicker of sorrow across his eyes.

"Well... I just want to make things easier for my Gramps," he replied with unexpected solemnity. 

Riu listened quietly, taken aback by the shift in his demeanour. Despite the sadness that seemed to cloud his expression, he continued to smile with a hint of determination in his eyes.

"Here's the thing," he began, his tone softer, "I'm not exactly a whiz at exams or studyin' or anything like that. But I'm good at hands-on, straightforward work. Gramps took me in two years ago. He was about to retire 'cause of his bad wrist but chose not to when I came to live with him. He's been working to support me and I'm grateful, but... I want him to spend his remaining days watchin' TV and enjoying elderly life without worryin' about money. That's why I've been secretly saving up—so he won't have to cover my expenses anymore."

So that's his reason...

It started to make sense now. Riu surmised that Kazue had probably lied to his friends about going on a date as a cover for his actual plans. Since Seiho's rules prohibited students from working during their studies, Kazue likely kept his job a secret—even from his friends, just to be safe.

A pang of guilt throbbed in her chest as she recognised how wrong her initial assumptions about him had been. Earlier, when Riu had seen him and his friends leaving school, she had thought he was just a playboy deadbeat who didn't care about his studies or his future. But she couldn't have been more mistaken.

Kiyome Kazue was working hard in his own way. He had a goal he was striving toward, and academics simply didn't align with that path. Though in the long run it wasn't going to benefit him very much, he probably was willing to make that sacrifice because he already knew his stupidity would prevent him from getting anywhere in his studies.

He was an idiot, but a self aware one. A caring one. A kind one.

Compared to him, I'm so...

For someone like Furuse Riu, whose world had always been small and insular, meeting someone leading a completely different life expanded her perspective somehow. Even now, she felt as though the little lens through which she saw the world, grew ever so slightly wider.

"Ah, please don't tell anyone about that, either..." Kazue requested, his tone earnest as he smiled somewhat bashfully. "Normally I'd keep quiet about this, but I owe ya an explanation since I'm askin' for such a big favour in keeping this secret. Plus, you gave me this bento!" He lifted the wrapped box with a chuckle.

Riu felt her words freeze in her throat. His laugh rang in her ears like the soft tinkle of a wind chime on a summer breeze. Her chest felt strangely warm, and his gaze made her somewhat flustered.

She quickly averted her gaze. 

"I-It's not a big deal or anything. It's none of my business. I don't like getting involved with other people's affairs, anyway."

Kazue laughed again, his cheerful demeanour returning. He gave Riu a friendly pat on the back with his large paw. "Hahaha, you're kind of like a tsundere, aren't ya?"

"W-What?! I'm not!"

"Tsundere Mikobe-san!"

"It's Furuse!! Fu-ru-se! How easily do you forget people's names?!"

"Oh crap— seriously?! I'm so sorry, I'm terrible at learning names!"

"Oh really? I hadn't noticed!"

"Ugh, this is why I got a two in Japanese..."

As they continued with this strange back and forth all the way to the station, for the first time, time seemed to fly right past. Normally journeys home felt long and tiring, but this time, Riu felt as if it went by too quickly.

"Well, this is where we part," Kazue beamed, his smile warm and boyishly cheeky. "Don't be a stranger, 'kay? Let's hang out sometime, you're real interesting! Thanks again, Furuse!"

He remembered it at last...

Riu couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. It had been so long since she smiled at someone like this.

Sheesh... I hope his stupidity doesn't start to rub off on me.

"...Bye."

Riu offered him an awkward wave before turning away and heading into the station. Kazue watched as she melded into the crowd, her silky black hair and elegant figure gradually vanishing from sight.

For a moment, he stared at the spot where she had stood, then glanced down at the wrapped bento box in his hand. A genuine, happy smile spread across his face.

"I'm so lucky!"

Frankly, Kazue knew little about Furuse Riu, other than her reputation for being stunningly gorgeous and the smartest girl in school. He'd heard she came from a wealthy, influential family. Most students kept their distance from her, as she seemed disinterested in socialising, often coming across as quiet and curt. So everyone simply admired her from afar.

But that kind of life sounded lonely to him. There was no way a person would enjoy being alone all the time without getting lonely, right? He knew if it was him, he probably wouldn't be able to last a day without talking to someone.

I heard she was cold, but she's really nice! I guess everyone must have misunderstood for some reason... Poor Futabe...

This was a lesson to him, to not listen to rumours. He definitely wanted to speak to her again and become better friends. Especially if she was often by herself.

Kazue soon found a spot to sit close by and began to dig in to the bento she had given him. In truth, he hadn't been buying any meals for lunch, not even with the pocket money his grandpa had been giving him. So this was his first meal all day.

It was difficult, quelling his hunger like this. But he knew he had to endure it if he wanted to make things easier for his only family. Kazue unfurled the lime-green and white chequered fabric of Riu's bento, and opened the wooden box. It was shaken up from all that running, but a healthy and scrumptious meal awaited him inside.

Wow, is this rich people food...? I bet these ingredients were worth a lot... Gotta pay her back somehow, although she said it was okay...

Kazue inhaled his food within seconds, finishing everything off without leaving a single grain of rice remaining. Rejuvenated and refreshed, he leaned back and sighed in satisfaction. The meal was delicious, and he felt motivated to continue working harder.

Just you wait, Gramps...

I won't put you through any more trouble!