It's only been a few weeks, and I'm already exhausted...

As Riu carefully sifted through the array of fruit snacks on the store shelves, a weary sigh escaped her lips. For the entirety of the spring break, her parents had meticulously scheduled her activities, extra classes, and various duties, leaving her with barely any time to rest. Her father detested the idea of her sitting idly in her room, insisting that even a moment of leisure was a waste of time. Even while he was busy with work, some of the staff working at the house would keep tabs on her, and report back to her father, leaving Riu with no room to breathe.

Feeling suffocated at home, she had concocted an excuse to escape, claiming she needed to study at the library.

And here she was, covertly buying some treats to enjoy while reading a new novel later, knowing full well that if her parents discovered this stash of sugary delights, she'd be in for a lecture. To avoid detection, Riu had even ventured all the way to the school area, since it was the furthest place from her house she was familiar with.

Hmm... Should I buy the cherry flavoured ones? But the cola gummies look delicious too...

As she pondered about this, some boisterous voices suddenly yelled out from nearby, breaking her train of thoughts.

"OUCH! Why are ya slapping me?!"

"Who in tarnation is gonna need this much stuff?! I know you're excited, but stop puttin' things in the basket we can't afford!"

"Haaah?! I'm the one paying for all this, y'know? I can buy whatever the hell I want!"

"We came here for eggs and milk! Now you're trying to take home the whole store!"

Nearby, an elderly couple was arguing as if there were no tomorrow. Riu glanced over and saw the woman tugging the man's ear with a fierce scowl, while he glared back at her like an angry hound. The scene was almost comedic. Both were dressed in traditional Japanese chef uniforms, sporting a logo she couldn't quite make out from this distance.

Everyone else in the shop glanced at them too, but quickly resumed their activities as if this were a common occurrence. Riu sighed softly, hoping the couple wouldn't stress each other into an early grave. Just as she was about to turn away, a familiar figure emerged from behind the shelves, interposing himself between them with a chuckle.

"Now now, Gramps! You're supposed to treat your girlfriend with kindness! Isn't that what you always tell me?"

Riu nearly dropped the packet of sweets in her hands at the sight of him. Kiyome Kazue was here for some reason, his familiar radiant smile and sharp tufts of red hair filling her vision. She stood there, staring in bewilderment.

"Tell him, Kazu! Your grandpa is so mean to me!" The elderly woman suddenly clung to Kazue's arm, her wrinkled face scrunching up in a petulant harrumph. But this only seemed to infuriate the old man even more.

"The heck?! Get off my grandson, dangit!" 

"Oi, Gramps! No being mean!"

"Shut up, brat! Why are you letting my woman cling to you like that, you damn womaniser?!"

It was, to say the least, an unusual scene. Watching this bizarre feud unfold, Riu felt a twinge of secondhand embarrassment. If this was what Kazue's family life was like, it was no wonder he was such an eccentric.

The elderly sure were lively these days.

Just then, Kazue's large eyes flicked up and locked onto Riu. She flinched, her heart pounding with surprise as he suddenly made eye contact. His face lit up like a thousand suns, and a sense of dread washed over her as he moved away from his elderly companions and headed straight for her.

Before she could process it, Kazue was standing less than a metre away.

"Furuse!! I didn't expect to run into you here! It's good to see you!"

Somehow, she felt like she unintentionally walked into a natural disaster. Or rather, she was about to get sucked right into one.

"Hm? What's up, Kazu? Is that a friend of yours?" The elderly man called out, and Kazue turned back to face them. He flashed a bright and happy grin as if he found some shiny treasure.

"Yeah! This is Furuse, someone from school. We became friends a few days ago!"

At least he's remembering my name for now...

In that moment, as Riu made eye contact with the elderly couple, her lips pressed into a tight line of anxiety, and one thought dominated her mind.

Crap... I'm going to get pulled into their comedy show!

Before Riu could process anything, the elderly couple stepped forward, their previous animosity vanishing. Their faces transformed into broad smiles, their eyes twinkling with warmth. The old woman suddenly clasped Riu's hand, gazing at her with awe.

"My goodness! I can't believe Kazu is friends with such a beauty! You're simply adorable!"

"U-Uhm..."

"Isn't she?" Kazue lifted his head with pride. "She's the prettiest and smartest girl at school, you know? And she's my friend!"

Why does he look so proud? We don't even know each other that well!

"Hmmm..." The old man seemed to be contemplating something deeply for a moment, his expression turning somewhat serious. And then, all of a sudden, he was in a polite bowing position. "Please take care of my Kazue. I know he's a fool, but with a woman like you by his side, walking through the rollercoaster of life, I'm sure he will become a fine man. He's already so dependable, and though he may be an idiot, marrying you will certainly give him the push to improve himself. I hope I'll see my great-grand children before I die—"

BONK!

"YOUCH!"

"That's enough outta you. Can't you see you're scarin' the poor girl?" The old woman heaved a sigh after delivering a solid bonk to the man's head.

Riu just stood there, speechless and frozen in place. All of this was too much. What was she supposed to say or do at times like these? Kazue called her a friend, so it would be rude for her to not greet them or introduce herself, right?

Now wasn't the time to be socially inept. Riu sucked in a deep breath, mustering every little bit of courage she possibly could, before bowing as politely as possible. Her silky strands of black hair fell forward, and her eyes squinted shut.

"M-My name is Furuse Riu. I'm... a friend of Kiyome's. It's a pleasure to meet you."

I said it!

"Riu, that's an adorable name!"

"Please marry my grandso-"

"SHUSH! Stop that or you'll ruin his chances!"

...Really?

Riu stole a quick glance at Kazue, who smiled at the elderly couple with an almost clueless expression. Luckily, he seemed to be rather slow on the uptake.

"Oh, I have a great idea!" The old woman beamed, clasping her hands together with a pleasant smile adorning her features. "If you're free right now, how about you join us? Today is Kazue's birthday! We were going to make some birthday ramen and cake to celebrate!"

Riu's eyes widened in surprise. Today was his birthday? So he was born in March. Even though he was just a few months younger than her, it didn't seem unexpected. Kazue being one of the youngest in her grade somehow felt right.

Wait— that's not the issue right now!

Riu fumbled for words, unsure of how to turn them down. But before she could say anything, Kazue's hand suddenly grasped hers.

"Wha-?!"

"Yes, you should totally come! It would be great to share a meal together. I'd love to talk with you more, too!"

Kazue's eyes blazed like twin suns, their intensity almost blinding. Riu flinched, momentarily speechless in the face of his excited expression. She couldn't comprehend why it was so hard to deny him when he showed this puppy-like enthusiasm. From the moment she met him, it felt like he had swept her along at a dizzying pace, leaving no space for objection. But every time she was around him, her chest filled with a warmth she never quite understood.

It was strange. But when he showed her how excited he was to see her, Riu couldn't say no.

Is this what people feel when their pets want snacks? I think I'm starting to understand...

"U-Um... If you're okay with me intruding... then I'd be happy to join."

Kazue's grin broadened as he draped an arm around her shoulders in a friendly manner. "Let's go! I'll show you all my cool stuff! Oh, and we can play video games too!"

Riu's face turned a bright shade of red, and she stiffened in surprise. "H-Hwaa?!"

"Hey now, Kazu-chan! You can't be so rough with a girl like that!" The elderly woman chided, gently pulling a shocked Riu away from Kazue. She offered Riu a warm and affectionate smile. "By the way, my name is Sena Hibari. And that man over there is Kazu's grandfather and my partner, Kiyome Takeru. It's a pleasure to meet you, Riu-chan!"

She blinked, somewhat confused. "L-Likewise..."

Sena Hibari... She has a different family name from Kiyome? Does that mean she's not his grandmother?

The thought caught her attention, but Riu had no time to dwell on it. In one smooth motion, Kazue took her hand and pointed toward the shelves. "Let's buy some more ingredients! We should do a hot pot while we're at it!"

"Yes, we should! Tonight's gonna be a feast!" Kiyome Takeru chimed in, turning to the elderly woman with a broad grin. "Hibari, let's get some beer too!"

"Are you a fool? This isn't an occasion for drinking!" Hibari scolded, though her eyes twinkled with amusement.

Before she knew it, Riu was whisked along on a shopping trip with the Kiyome family, heading back to their home just a few minutes away from the store. Kazue appeared overjoyed, like an eager puppy with perked-up ears and a wagging tail. His eyes sparkled with infectious cheerfulness.

"This birthday is gonna be so much fun! Hey Furuno, what kinda cake do you like most?"

Aaand he's back to the wrong names...

She resisted the urge to sigh, pondering about her answer for a moment as they walked side by side behind his grandparents.

"Hmm... Sachertorte, probably."

Kazue blinked, puzzled. "Sacher... Eh? That sounds expensive! The only cakes I know are chocolate or vanilla..."

I'm not surprised...

"We're here! Welcome to the Kiyome residence!"

Standing outside a shabby two-story apartment building, Takeru beamed with pride. Riu gazed up at the complex, noting the faded, peeling paint and the rusted iron stairs on the side that looked like they would groan in protest with each step. She swallowed, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

I've never been inside a place like this before... I can't help but wonder what it's like. Do people really live in these conditions?

With her lips pressed into a thin line, she followed the cheerful family up the creaking stairs to the second floor. They stopped in front of a weathered door, and Riu felt a flutter of nervousness.

"Sorry if it's a little untidy. We left in a hurry and weren't expecting company!" Hibari apologized as Takeru inserted the key and unlocked the door.

"We're home!" he called out warmly.

Riu hesitated at the threshold before stepping inside, taking off her shoes with a slight bow. "S-Sorry for intruding..." she murmured, as Kazue entered the house behind her.

As Riu stepped further into the front corridor, her eyes widened slightly in surprise. Contrary to her initial expectations, the apartment was much more inviting than she had imagined. Though smaller than her own home, the living room was perfectly cozy and well-arranged. The oak floors gleamed with cleanliness, and the furnishings combined simplicity with vibrant touches. 

A kotatsu stood a few meters from the television, adorned with a small jar of white and blue flowers that added a splash of color. The walls were decorated with an array of framed photographs, ornaments, and string lights that created a warm, welcoming atmosphere. To her left, a dining table comfortably seated six. The scent of tatami subtly lingered in the air, contributing to the overall sense of comfort and homeliness.

"Make yourself at home! Would you like anything to drink?"

Takeru offered, to which Riu awkwardly shook her head. "Um, n-no thank you—"

"Oh, you guys are back?"

Just then, someone emerged from an open doorway that presumably led to the other rooms of the apartment. As Riu and the newcomer locked eyes, both froze momentarily.

The boy, who seemed to be about her age or younger, had soft brown hair that fell to his shoulders and teal eyes that immediately grew wary, much like a cat's. He was dressed in an oversized black hoodie and gray pajama pants, and he held a Mintendo Switch in his hands.

"Ah, Izuru! You're finally awake, you sleepyhead!" Kazue beamed, approaching him.

The boy didn't shift his gaze from Riu. Unlike the usual looks of admiration she was accustomed to, his eyes were filled with alarm. Despite his expressionless face, his stare seemed to penetrate her very core. For a moment, he ignored Kazue, before finally speaking up again.

"...Who is that?"