But her chest didn't buy it. A stubborn knot sat there, tight and prickly, like a splinter she couldn't dig out. She pictured Ane's bounce, Haari's sheepish laugh—fair trade, huh?—and her stomach twisted. "Ugh, stop it," she hissed, rubbing her temples. "He climbed a balcony for me, not her. That's different. Right?"
Her eyes flicked across the room. Haari was at his desk now, shuffling papers, oblivious. She watched him for a beat—his messy hair, the way he scrunched his nose at a typo—then looked away fast, cheeks warming. "He's just kind," she told herself, firm. "That's all. Doesn't mean anything."
The knot didn't budge. She sighed again, heavier, and picked up her pen, scribbling nonsense on a Post-it. Normal. Fine. Whatever. But the unease clung, a quiet hum beneath her logic, and she couldn't quite shake the feeling that "normal" didn't feel normal at all.
Break time hit, and Haari stretched in his chair, arms cracking as he rolled his shoulders. "Ugh, I'm beat," he mumbled, slumping back. "I should rest until break time is over." He shoved his stuff aside and shuffled off toward the restroom, phone dangling in his hand.
Ashi approached his desk, a lunchbox—tiffin-style, wrapped in a checkered cloth—swinging in her grip. She frowned at the empty chair. "Huh, where'd Kichiro-san go?" Her eyes scanned the room—cubicles, coffee station, no Haari.
She wandered, peeking around corners, until she spotted him slipping out of the restroom, rubbing his hands on his pants. "There you are," she called, jogging over, a mix of worry and relief flickering across her face.
Haari blinked, startled. "Nicawa-san? What's up?"
"I've been looking for you everywhere," Ashi said, stopping a few feet away, slightly out of breath. "Where have you been?"
He tilted his head, puzzled, then glanced at his phone. "What's the deal?Aren't you going to eat your lunch? The break time will be over soon."
Ashi rolled her eyes, exhaling as though scolding him silently. "I would if I didn't spend so much time looking for you," she said, holding out a lunch box wrapped neatly in a checkered cloth. "Here, take this."
Haari stared at the box, his brows knitting in confusion. "What's this?"
"I brought you a lunch box," Ashi said with a warm but firm tone. "Make sure you eat it."
His eyes widened slightly. "Lunch? But why? I didn't ask for this."
"You said you always eat outside, right? That's not good for your health," Ashi explained, crossing her arms like a teacher lecturing a student.
"Well, yeah, but still…" Haari trailed off, unsure of how to respond. His gaze flicked between the lunch box and Ashi's determined face.
"I enjoy cooking. It's one of my hobbies," she said with a shrug. "Making one extra lunch box is no trouble at all. And besides…" She softened her tone and smiled. "Didn't you say we're friends? Friends look out for each other."
Haari hesitated for a moment, his fingers grazing the edge of the lunch box. "Okay, but—"
"Oh, and make sure to return the lunch box once you're done," Ashi interrupted with a playful grin before turning on her heel to leave.
Haari watched her retreating figure, the neatly wrapped lunch box still in his hands. His lips curved into a faint smile. "She's really something else," he murmured, shaking his head.
Haari flopped onto his bed, the springs creaking under him. He leaned forward, elbows digging into his knees, fingers picking at a frayed thread on his shirt.
"I wonder if Nicawa-san will like that," he muttered, voice barely cutting through the buzz. "I thought a lot before doing that. I hope she doesn't think I'm some kind of weirdo." He tugged the thread harder, wincing as it snapped.
He let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his tousled hair. The silence in the room only amplified his swirling thoughts. What if she found the gesture strange? What if it made things awkward between us?
Haari shake his head, Why in the hell am I thinking over it that much she made a lunch for and in return I just put some desert in it, it's not weird right.
He shook his head, trying to dispel the doubts creeping into his mind. Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "What's done is done. Nothing's going to change now. All I can do is hope for the best."
For a moment, the room was still, save for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Haari straightened his back, forcing a small smile onto his face. "Yeah, it's fine. Nicawa-san isn't the type to overthink things like I do or she does actually I don't know. Haari screamed in his head. She'll appreciate it… right?"
Meanwhile, Ashi stepped out of her shower, steam curling around her. A towel turbaned her damp hair, her cheeks rosy from the heat. The kettle whistled faintly as she padded into her kitchen, barefoot, humming off-key. She spotted the lunchbox on the counter and grinned.
"Let's get this washed and ready for tomorrow," she said to herself, picking it up. But as she held it, her brow furrowed. "Huh? It feels heavier. Did Kichiro-san not eat his lunch?"
She peeled back the checkered cloth, popped the lid—and froze. Nestled inside was a little tub of ice cream, its bright label winking up at her. "Eh? Ice cream?" she breathed, a surprised laugh bubbling out. Her cheeks tinged pink as it hit her. "Kichiro-san… you snuck this in?"
She plucked it out, still chuckling, and stashed it in her freezer. "Thanks, Kichiro-san," she whispered, a warm glow spreading through her chest, soft and steady.
As she began preparing dinner, she couldn't help but smile to herself. "Grandma, you always told me that small gestures make friendships stronger… I guess you were right."
Ashi slouched in her chair, thumb swiping lazily through her phone. The office buzz faded as an ad popped up—a bookfair, bold letters and stacked novels flashing across the screen. Her eyes lit up, a grin tugging free. "A bookfair?, I love to go their." she murmured, tapping the screen to save it.
Across the room, Rafta ambled over to Haari's desk, voice cutting through the hum. "Hey, Haari—did you see my phone somewhere?"
Ashi's head lifted, catching them mid-chat—Haari shrugging. Her mind ticked. Invite Kichiro-san? She pictured it—browsing stacks, coffee after—but faltered. Does he even like books? He's chill, not… bookfair-y. She chewed her lip, doubt creeping in.
Later, on the rooftop. Haari and Ashi sat on the bench, boxes open—his half-eaten, hers picked at. His phone buzzed like a hive, pings stacking up nonstop. He groaned, snagging it from his pocket. "Seriously?"
Ashi arched a brow, chopsticks paused mid-twirl. "What's up?"
" It's Rafta again," Haari said, a grin tugging loose as he scrolled.
"Densi-san?" Ashi leaned in, curious. "What's he sending?"
"Nothing he just keep sending me tons of dumb memes," Haari said, tilting the screen, some guy tripping into a pool. "
" Memes?"
" Yeah, everytime I pick my phone the notification bar is full of Rafta sending mems, he share over a fifty memes everyday."
Ashi blinked. "That's… a lot."
"Yeah," he snorted, swiping through. "I don't mind watching 'em—some are gold. But then he sends these ancient ones I've seen a million times. Drives me nuts."
"Why not tell him to cut it out?" she asked, popping a bite of rice.
Haari laughed, short and dry. "Pointless. He'd just shrug and send more. Guy's a meme machine—won't stop. But…" He grinned wider, sheepish. "It's kinda fun, y'know?"
Ashi tilted her head, puzzled. "Fun? How?"
"Uh…" He scratched his jaw, stalling. "Hard to explain—like, it's him, y'know? Annoying but… him. Anyway—" He waved it off. "What about you? Do you got a friend spamming you with random crap?"
Ashi froze, chopsticks hovering. Her mind blanked—doesn't know how to respond that question because she doesn't have any friend like that.
She opened her mouth, then—ding—her eyes sparked. "Yeah," she said, fishing out her phone. "Check this—my friend sent it yesterday." She flipped it to him, an ad glowing: Bookfair This Weekend!
Haari leaned in, squinting. "Bookfair, huh?"
"Yeah, Kichiro-san," she said, voice lifting. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, shoot," he said, spoon halfway to his mouth.
" Do you read books?" She kept it light, but her pulse ticked up, fingers brushing the phone edge.
He paused, spoon dangling. "Books? Uh, yeah, I guess. Not a huge reader, but I dig a good story—sci-fi, mysteries, that kinda thing. Why?"
Her grin peeked out, small but bright. Just wondering. This fair's soon—thought it might be fun. If we visit it together"
Haari blinked, then scratched his neck, thinking. "Never done one, but… yeah, sounds chill. I'm free, so I'm in—beats rotting at home."
Her shoulders loosened, a laugh slipping free. " Great then let's go together."
"Deal," he said, grinning back, easy and warm, popping the spoon in his mouth.
The day of the book fair was perfect—bright sunshine bathed the bustling streets, and the air was filled with the vibrant hum of excited chatter.
Rows of colorful stalls lined the open plaza, showcasing books of every genre imaginable. From vintage hardcovers to glossy new releases, the fair was a paradise for book lovers. Nearby, the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the subtle sweetness of baked goods from food vendors.
Haari stood at the entrance, glancing at his phone as he adjusted himself. His eyes scanned the lively scene before him, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. "It's already time," he muttered to himself, fidgeting slightly. "Did I come too early?"
Just then, a familiar voice called out behind him. "Kichiro-san!"
Haari turned, and his face lit up as he saw Ashi walking toward him. Dressed casually in a simple white blouse and a flowing skirt, she looked effortlessly elegant.
"Nicawa-san," Haari greeted her with a smile.
Ashi, slightly out of breath. "Did I make you wait?"
"Not at all. I just arrived," Haari assured her.
"Good," Ashi said with a bright smile. "Then let's go."
As they began walking through the fair, Haari couldn't help but glance at her. "Wow, Nicawa-san, you look great!" he said before he could stop himself.
Ashi paused, startled, before a light blush crept onto her cheeks. "Thanks. I'm glad you think so," she replied, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
The two wandered through the lively stalls, their conversations flowing naturally as they browsed the books. Haari's gaze shifted between the vibrant displays of novels and Ashi, who seemed completely immersed in the energy of the fair.
"This place is incredible," Haari said, breaking the silence. "I can't believe this is my first time at a book fair."
"Really?" Ashi asked, glancing at him in surprise.
"Yeah, I never thought to come to one before," Haari admitted with a sheepish laugh. " Because I don't read much of books, If I do I like to read alone at home or in a quiet café sometime. I guess I never imagined they'd have entire fairs dedicated to them."
Ashi smiled warmly. "It's funny you say that. I've been coming to book fairs like this for years, but this is my first time coming with someone else."
"Seriously?" Haari asked, tilting his head.
"Yes," Ashi said with a soft chuckle. "Usually, I just come alone. It's peaceful, and I like taking my time exploring every stall. But this… this is different." She paused for a moment, her gaze drifting toward the crowd. "It's nice having someone to talk to while doing something I love."
"Well, I'm glad I could change things up for you," Haari said with a small grin.
As they continued walking, Ashi commented on their surroundings. "The crowd is much denser than I expected today. It's almost like a festival."
"True," Haari said, looking around at the sea of people. "I guess I was expecting something quieter, but the energy here is kind of nice. It feels like everyone's united by their love of books."
Ashi nodded, her eyes lighting up. "Exactly! It's one of the reasons I keep coming back. There's something special about being surrounded by so many people who share the same passion."
"By the way," Haari asked, glancing at her, "you said you usually come alone, but do you ever feel… I don't know, like overwhelmed by all of this?"