Chapter Text
The bell rang at Kikyo Academy, marking the end of classes for today. The afternoon sun had shone its heated rays through the school exterior, beating down on students and teachers alike. The spring term had begun for the second-year students, promising a year of important preparation for their prospects in higher education. The teachers had made sure to drive this in, placing even more expectations upon the bright girls of the institution.
Three girls speak after classes end, already exhausted from a long day of studies.
"Now that classes are over, do you all have plans today? I would love some coffee right now."
"It's not very common for you to ask us out, Subaru," groaned the girl in glasses. "Aren't you tired enough? I'm seriously considering going back just so I could sleep."
"Isn't that... the point of coffee...?"
"..."
"Indulge me for once, will you? I always go with your plans.”
"Fine, I concede. Let's go get some caffeine in our system. Are you coming, Kaoruko?"
Waguri Kaoruko was, by all means, an outstanding student. High grades, well-kempt appearances, and a heart of pure gold. She would have loved to join her good friends today, to embrace her youth and have fun. However, the universe had other plans for her. As it happened, her mother was in the hospital at the time. Her heart condition had always been less than stellar, but, as it often does, it flared up. During times like this, Kaoruko would have to spend her time visiting and caring for her sick mother in the hospital, instead of living a high school life with lots of friends.
There was also the fact that Kaoruko was rather cold. Her cute face and beautiful hair betrayed her frigid scowl and sharp glare, giving many people a whiplash that made them stay at a metaphorical arm's length away from her after the first interaction. It did not help that she had been depriving herself of sleep lately, forming dark bags under her eyes. She had tried her best to get over her natural frigidity, but it was difficult changing such a fundamental part of herself, even despite it being a part she despised. This unfortunate fact is the very reason she had only managed to make 2 real friends since her first year in Kikyo: Hoshina Subaru and Yuzuhara Madoka.
Kaoruko closed her phone, eyes flitting to her friends. "I'm sorry. Something came up. I can't go with you two today. Please, have fun without me."
"All good. Please don't overwork yourself, Kaoruko." The silver-haired lady gave her a reassuring look.
"We'll just have to take you some other time!"
At least, that's what had happened earlier today.
By the miracle that is modern medicine, Mrs. Waguri has never been at any real risk of death despite her weak heart. Even still, it's important that Kaoruko spends as much time as she can with her mother, tending to her needs while her father worked long hours to put food on the table, especially when the flare-ups had begun to happen more often. When her mother was sick, Kaoruko would have to cover half her responsibilities, placing yet another load on her already loaded schedule. It was only recently that her little brother learned to cook, but before that, she would usually have to rush home to whip up a simple meal for sustenance's sake.
The fact of the matter is that Kaoruko, unlike the other students at Kikyo, was a scholarship student. This meant that she would have to keep her grades up, lest her family fail to afford her tuition and she had to switch schools. Her grades were certainly worth noting; she always managed to score the top 2 spot in her year. She also works hard to keep a part-time job for spending money. She had worked exceptionally hard to get to this point, and that hard work showed no signs of stopping, even in the midst of her mother's hospital visit. That very hard work is the backbone of all she has built, and faltering risks her losing it all.
Which is why, at 07:02 P.M., Kaoruko found herself at the library.
She had always liked the atmosphere of the library as a study spot. It was clean, and it had this comforting, productive air to it that always put her right in the mood to open up a physics workbook and slam out an exercise. The library was sparse today, on account of it being a Tuesday as well as there being no large exams coming up. She had placed her bag next to her, intent on getting as far as she can on her syllabus for Japanese Literature within the hour. Pen clicking against her thumb, she had begun to write.
Trying to focus, she channelled her mind through her pen. After briefing up on theory, the practice questions were the best way Kaoruko had to test her knowledge. She likely could be finding more efficient ways to study, but that would be Subaru's domain, not hers. She was exhausted, though, hindering her progress. Today had been a long day, from boring classes to a hospital visit to now even more studying. This had become somewhat of a routine for her this week, and it had begun to take a toll.
Her mind was about to wander into a dangerously drowsy territory when a loud thud from next to her shook her mind back into the world. Peering at the source of the noise, she noticed a tall man on his knees, struggling to pick up scattered books. He had grabbed the last one, a library book, and pushed it into its spot right next to Kaoruko's table. From this view, she could see that he had ear piercings. Not what she would expect out of a person at a library at this specific time.
The man turned to face Kaoruko, now confused. His face turned a bright red, perhaps out of embarrassment, as he quickly tried to stash his own books and notebooks into his bag. Kaoruko caught a glance of a name sticker on one of the notebooks: Tsumugi Rintaro.
"I-I have to go. Good night!"
Just who was that man? Was he a college student? He certainly looked like one to her, but the outfit looked suspiciously similar to the Chidori Public High School uniform. Kaoruko had gotten somewhat curious. The sort of man who would be in a library on a weekday evening, with piercings adorning his ears, was certainly a character worth her memory.
She imagined she wouldn't need to fuss over the details of the awkward appearance of the man right now. Her focus once again turned to the literature questions, pen clicking furiously as she struggled to find the right prose.
Outside the library, a tall, dark-haired high schooler was calming his nerves and caressing the new bruise on his forehead. His beaming smile he's had on his face since walking out the doors of the library quickly transformed into a look of doubt and worry as he recalled the outfit she had just been wearing.
Oh no, she's a student at Kikyo? What’s Saku going to think?
"Oh, him? He's a regular visitor," the librarian mindlessly remarked as she reviewed overdue returns, ready to clock out. "Why are you asking? Did he do something to you?"
"No, it's nothing of that sort. I was just worried because he darted out the moment he saw me. Do I look weird, or something?"
The librarian chuckled. "You said he dropped his books, right? Maybe he was just trying to escape the embarrassment."
Yeah, that had to be it.
The next day, Kaoruko's mother was discharged from the hospital. Her heart had stabilized once more, and the doctor was pleased with how quickly her heart went back to normal this time. More importantly for Kaoruko, it meant she could spend her time studying in full. She hadn't been able to get a full day of straight crunching done this week, and that was what she was hoping she could do today. After all, she was almost finished reviewing her syllabus for Japanese Literature. One more large crunch, and she would only need to lightly review her notes for the rest of the second year.
And so, Kaoruko found herself in the library once more. Huffing the faint smell of a coffee-scented air purifier and old books, she splayed her workbooks and notebooks onto the table. She was all but prepared to pick up right where she left off, pen in hand to jot down notes in her notebook. The library was packed at this hour, a stark contrast from the evening hours yesterday, as students from school and university alike find books to indulge their study in. There must have been an important exam coming up in another school, she thought.
Still in her uniform, sitting alone in her two-person library desk made her feel quite lonely. She was used to studying alone, but the library's crowd seemed vibrant today. She had wondered if she should have invited her friends to study.
And that's when the tall, dark-haired man from yesterday appeared and approached the seat opposite hers. His outfit looked different today, he was no longer sporting the Chidori uniform. In its stead was an outfit painted white from top to bottom, from the t-shirt to the trousers to the cardigan to even the new bandage he had on his forehead. He was holding a book, presumably from the library, and it seemed like he wanted a seat, too.
Kaoruko got up from her seat, already preparing to pack her things back into her bag.
"M-miss, are you offering me your seat?"
"It's okay. I'll just study at home."
"I'm here alone. Please don't feel the need to do such a thing. W-we can share the seat."
The man wordlessly pulled a seat, now his, and took out a thick binder and pencil case.
"Just like this. Busy day, huh?"
Kaoruko studied the man, a look of intrigue radiating from her eyes. Why did he seem so eager today when he bolted out of the library at just her sight the previous day? Was he here to apologize for the scene yesterday?
The man broke the silence, his eyes focusing on nothing in particular, glancing nervously everywhere except in her general direction.
"Sorry for running out of the library when I saw you yesterday. I don't really know what the best way to apologize is. I got you a cake. I hope it will suffice."
The man materializes a box from inside his bag. He placed it carefully between his and Kaoruko's books, gesturing at her to open it. It was a slice of black forest cake---simple, by his standards, but never a bad choice.
Kaoruko's face lit up, and her mouth began watering. For a moment, it was like her drowsiness and demeanor had taken a backseat as her primal, cake-loving instincts took over. That is, until she closes the box and carefully tucks it into her own bag.
"Thank you so much. I happen to love cake. You really didn't have to apologize for anything, though."
"Ah, it's nothing! My family owns a cake shop in Benigaoka, so I brought this out for you." The man had hoped she would accept the apology, but Kaoruko seemed very excited about the ordeal.
"We can't eat in the library, though. I'll try it when I take a break. I promise."
"That's music to my ears. I hope you enjoy it."
Why was this man trying to talk to her? Did he really find her interesting?
Most people who show interest in Kaoruko make it immediately clear that their interest is superficial in nature. They would immediately steer clear from her once she shot them a glance, closer to a glare, and spoke to them in her usual cold tone. It helped to not distract her from her busy schedule, but she would be lying if she said she didn't feel incredibly lonely.
"By the way, what's your name? I'm Waguri Kaoruko."
"Ah, so that's what it is. My name is Tsumugi Rintaro.
"What exactly do you mean by 'so that's what it is?'"
"W-wait! Please don't misunderstand! I was just- was just thinking that I've seen you here so often, so it's nice to know your name! That's all!"
"So then why did you run away from me, then? I know I can look creepy when I look in someone's eyes, so I thought that was why you..."
"Huh? Creepy? I would never have guessed. That's never really crossed my mind."
Kaoruko felt terribly confused. The fact that she had always had a glare has caused her many issues in her life. To see someone so casually brush it off, not even considering it a possibility in the first place, made her even more curious about just what was going on inside this Tsumugi-kun's head.
"Oh, and to answer your first question," Tsumugi-kun continued, covering his face with his left hand, trying to hide his reddening blush. "I guess I just felt my heart start fluttering. It makes sense, right? I had just embarrassed myself in front of you, and then you looked at me like that..."
Kaoruko's cheeks began to heat up as her mind settled on the meaning of those words. Before she knew it, her eyes and mouth were wide open.
Heart... start... fluttering? Is he a masochist or something? Most normal people would be apprehensive at best. That's what I've come to expect, at least, so why is he so different?
I don't understand this guy at all!
"Well, I'll get to reading. You should too, Kaoruko-san."
"Oh. Of course. Sorry."
The crowd of the library was predictably quiet, the loudest sounds being the frenzied turning of pages and scribbling of pens on paper. Kaoruko had now come to a full flow state with her study, adeptly absorbing theory while furiously jotting down what she understood onto the notebook. Once she was done with her first pass, her plan was to take a break, lightly snacking on the remains of her intentionally overpacked lunch.
She had just wrapped up her first pass of the material, excusing herself from her seat at the library table to enjoy a break. Today, her lunch included one too many rice balls, which she had been strongly looking forward to eating. She also had the apology gift from Tsumugi-kun, a welcome and delicious addition, even if a bit sudden.
As she bit into the cake, her heart swelled, and her body felt a warmness that spread to even the tips of her fingers. It was a subtle cake, one that gracelessly skated atop your taste buds, teasing you to take just another bite. Its spongy and decadent texture tied the experience together, giving the cake a mouthfeel that felt... comfortable.
She looked at the box: Patisserie Plain. She would have to visit this place on her own, one day. The black forest to her was a test to see the overall quality of a patisserie, using metrics like commitment to mouthfeel, ingredient quality, storage conditions, and aesthetic beauty. In these aspects, the slice Tsumugi-kun gave her must have been amongst the higher echelons of black forest cakes she's tried. She was dying to try their other cakes.
She quietly walked back into the library, preparing for her second pass of the material. As she sat back down in front of Tsumugi-kun, she let out a low whisper. "The cake was amazing. Thank you, Tsumugi-kun."
Tsumugi Rintaro smiled slightly, not looking up from his book. His cheeks flushed, he moved on to scribbling notes onto a loose leaf page.
"I'm glad," he breathed. "You should come to our shop some time. Our other cakes are way better."
The rapid productive fluttering of pages wasn't quite silent, but it was a symbol of peace for Kaoruko. One that allowed her to focus on her material, informing her that others were here to do the very same thing she was doing. Hours later, as the afternoon sun shone its warm rays directly through the glass walls of the library, she had finally completed her syllabus material. Staring at the fruits of her labor, she wanted to congratulate herself by getting a sweet treat. Perhaps Patisserie Plain would be a good place to stop off. Usually she passes through Benigaoka on her way home from the hospital, so it was a somewhat familiar place to her.
Alas, it was already quite late, and a detour to Benigaoka wasn’t on the table.
"Tsumugi-kun."
He looks up from his book. "Yeah, what's up?"
"I'm heading back now. Thank you for the cake."
"You should stop by sometime! I promise we won't disappoint."
"You're too kind. I'll consider it."
Walking home that day, Kaoruko had attempted to take stock of what just happened between her and Tsumugi-kun. Why wasn't he wearing his uniform? Did Chidori not have classes today? Did he really not think of her as scary? Was there a world where they could become friends? She didn't want to think about it, it felt selfish to hope that a guy as warm as him would be willing to give her his friendship. And yet, she'd be lying if she said it didn't hurt to distance herself from him.
"Kaoruko-san! I'm sorry, I forgot to ask!"
Kaoruko turned, eyeing Tsumugi-kun. He seemed out of breath. "I forgot to ask, do you want to trade contacts?"
She wasn't sure if his redness was from his physical exertion or something else entirely. "Sure, why not?"
The days passed ever forward, culminating in the first mid-term exams of the second year. There was a lot at stake for a scholarship student like Kaoruko, and her friends understood that. She had been spending every minute of her free time either studying at the public library or within Kikyo's own library, so today her demeanor caught her friends off guard.
"I caught wind of this cake shop, recently. Would you two like to go?"
Subaru stared down at her short friend. "Right before exams? That's unusual for you."
"I need a break." The short young woman collapses on her desk with a loud groan.
"I say we should go. Kaoruko never invites us out. Who knows? Maybe the cake there is good."
The silver-haired girl contemplated. "You're right. Thanks for inviting us, Kaoruko. Let's get going."
Kaoruko looked up at her two friends as she got up from her desk. Her frigid glare was, for a moment, less harsh than it usually is, and her lips settled into a soft smile.
"Thank you. You won't regret it."
The group found themselves in Benigaoka, on their way to the address from the box Kaoruko marked onto her map app. It was a warm spring afternoon, the kind that made you really appreciate air conditioning and cold drinks.
"The cake shop is just up ahead," Kaoruko reassured.
"I'm sorry, Kaoruko, but is it okay if I grab some drinks? I saw a vending machine a while back and it's a lot hotter than I thought it'd be," pleaded Subaru.
"That's okay. As I said, the cake shop is just up ahead. I'll meet you there, Hoshina-san."
"In that case," Madoka chimed in, "I'll tag along with Subaru. I'll get you a drink, too, Kaoruko! See ya there!"
"Alright then. I'll be waiting. Thank you."
The noise of a busy street couldn't drown out Kaoruko's small steps, each one lonelier than the last. She scanned the area in front of her, finding a store with a bright blue rain canopy, adorned with the words "Patisserie Plain".
Peeking directly into the window of the shop, she saw two young men sitting on a table, along with a standing man in a uniform with piercings in his ears. Tsumugi-kun seemed friendly with the sitting guests, and Kaoruko concluded that they must have been friends. It didn't take long for him to realize someone was looking from the outside in, and as he turned to lock eyes with Kaoruko, his face brightened. With a grin plastered on his face, he muttered something to his friends, and opened the door.
"Kaoruko-san! I'm so glad you could make it!"
Kaoruko turned to the man with a neutral expression. "I'm waiting on my friends right now, but I want to enter the shop later."
"You invited friends over? Thank you so much!"
"It's nothing, really. Are they your friends, too?"
"They are. We're doing a studying crunch for our midterms, since sports day is coming up, and we can't participate if we fail. The guy with the red hair---his name is Shohei---he is absolutely dedicated to passing this time."
"It's so honorable that you chose to help them study for a cause. I hope you guys can do it."
"We will. With the help of Saku, I think it might even be light work."
"Saku? Is that the boy with the bowl cut?"
"No, that's Ayato. Saku's out to get drinks right now. He's really smart, and always agrees to help teach us."
"He seems like a nice person."
Tsumugi-kun smiled. "Yeah, he really is."
An awkward silence came down upon them.
"I'm sorry for not visiting sooner," Kaoruko spoke.
"Ah, no, don't worry! It's completely fine! I know Kikyo Academy expects a lot out of their students."
"You knew I went to Kikyo?"
"It's a very recognizable uniform," he noted. "If anything, I'm surprised you came today. I know you guys have midterm exams coming up too."
"We all just... needed a break. That's all."
Tsumugi-kun smiled. "I'm hopeful that we at Patisserie Plain can help with that."
"Do you help out around the shop, Tsumugi-kun?"
"Yeah, sometimes. Today, though, I guess I'm more of a mascot. It's fulfilling work. I like it."
His pride shone through in his expression, etching itself directly into Kaoruko's memory. The way he smiled, his own eyes settled on the busy street in front of them, they all combined to create a face that gave her a feeling of hope.
A tall (though not quite as tall as Tsumugi-kun) man approached the two, with drinks piled high in his arms. His messy bangs covered his handsome features as he inched closer to Tsumugi-kun. He was sporting the usual Chidori uniform, adding on a cardigan that made Kaoruko question if he felt too warm.
"Hey, Rintaro, who's this? What are you doing with someone from Kikyo?"
"Hey, Saku! We were just talking about you! This is Kaoruko-san. She's waiting for her friends to get drinks."
Saku had a worried look on his face. He had very recently brushed past 2 girls in a Kikyo uniform while getting drinks from a vending machine. He was wondering how on earth someone was allowed to dye their hair a bright silver while still being in Kikyo, but chose to ignore it for the time being. What's concerning was they may be the friends mentioned, and they may run into each other again.
"Rintaro, you don't want to hurt someone from Kikyo, do you?"
"N-no, that's not it at all! We're just friends."
Saku furrowed his brow. "The relationship between Kikyo and Chidori is bad enough as-is. We need to respect their autonomy."
He fixed his gaze onto Kaoruko. "It might be best if you didn't involve yourself with the likes of us."
Kaoruko felt overwhelmed. Saku seemed gentle, but extremely hesitant. Was the fact that she's from Kikyo really such a big deal? Why was he trying to get her away from Tsumugi-kun?
A shout from the distance was heard. "Kaoruko!"
"We got the drinks, and this one is for you."
Madoka reached out to hand Kaoruko a cold Pocari Sweat, noticing the two tall boys she was talking to. One of the boys even had a Chidori uniform, setting off alarm bells in her head.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing to Kaoruko?! Wait, aren't you the guy from the vending machine?"
Saku sighed, recognizing the glasses-wearing girl. "I knew this would happen. You guys should leave this place. Nothing good ever comes from Kikyo and Chidori trying to mix. And don’t bother, Rintaro. They're rich enough to ruin your life in a snap."
Hearing this, Madoka got defensive. "So what? Are you just gonna do whatever you want with Kaoruko just because you assume she's rich?"
"I wasn't going to do anything to her."
"That's not the point!"
Subaru listened intently to the conversation between the flared-up Madoka and the messy-haired boy. She had come to her own conclusion on this matter.
"Why do you care so much, anyway? Do you think you're so much of an idiot that you'll rub off on Kaoruko?"
"Shut it, hair dye."
"I guess the rumors about Chidori were true, after all. What a lame insult."
Kaoruko immediately perked up.
"That's enough, Hoshina-san. You're never this provocative."
All eyes were on Kaoruko, now.
"I met Tsumugi-kun at the library one day. He brought some testers from his family's shop and let me try one, and it was delicious. That's why we're here. I started this."
Rintaro took the opportunity to bow in apology. "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, too. I caused an unnecessary scene. Would cake help? I’ll throw in an apology."
Saku scoffed. "Always trying to rope in new customers, are you? You shouldn't have been in this to begin with."
"You apologize too, Saku."
Saku turned away from Tsumugi-kun's gaze. He looked harshly at Kaoruko, before facing back at the door.
"I'm going to go back to studying. You give them the cake they probably came here for."
"Hey, wait here!" Tsumugi-kun reached out at Saku, and then turned his attention to the three girls outside. "I'm sorry for the commotion. Come inside, I'll make sure you get what you want."
The girls had settled into a seat far away from the seat the boys were taking up, savoring the flavor of the cakes they had gotten. They got three slices: lemon meringue, black forest, and cheesecake, along with a complementary chocolate rose as a formal apology from Tsumugi-kun. The cakes were just as wonderful and elegant as Kaoruko remembered, and Subaru and Madoka seemed to agree. Despite the commotion, this place was definitely worth a revisit some time. Subaru even considered getting a few extra slices for her family at home.
The studying boys, on the other hand, had some difficulty. No one could focus with Saku's negative mood bringing them down.
Tsumugi-kun rested his hand on Saku's shoulder.
“We need to talk. Sorry, Shohei, Ayato.”
“It's alright, we’ll try a few more questions ourselves.” Shohei nodded at Ayato's words.
“Thanks, guys. As for you,” Tsumugi-kun looked into Saku's eyes, “let's go.”
He dragged Saku through the store, into the stairs leading to his home. He took a seat by the steps, Saku following suit.
“Saku, you really didn't have to do that. You went way too far. I know you have a history with someone from Kikyo, but-”
“They all take pleasure in completely ruining your life. There's no nuance to it. at all. Why would you apologize to those vultures? I can't stand people flaunting their power and status like it's nothing, and Kikyo is full of those moles.”
Saku bit his lip, trying to prevent himself from getting frustrated. The things Kaoruko said kept replaying in his mind. Could he really trust her to be telling the truth? What if it was all another elaborate plot? His expression painted a solemn picture, one full of hesitation and distrust.
“Rintaro, you were talking with that black haired girl. What sort of person… is she like?”
Tsumugi-kun smiled softly. “A kind and caring person, that's all.”
Saku clenched his hands to his pants as Tsumugi-kun continued..
“And I’m sure that her friends are equally as wonderful.”
He turned to face Tsumugi-kun, eyes almost watering.
“By the way, Saku, thanks for the drinks. I was really in the mood for milk tea.”
“At least I did one thing right today.”
Tsumugi-kun could only smile in response.
In the midst of a busy exam season, Kaoruko was grateful that she had finished reviewing most of the material for her year by now. It meant she had time for other exploits, such as sightseeing or working at her part-time job. However, there was one thing coming up that she had zero clue how to approach. In only 2 short days, it would be her little brother's birthday.
When it comes to giving gifts, Kaoruko was unsure of her capabilities. She may have been able to get away with buying a new hat for Madoka or Subaru, but when it came to gifts for an adolescent boy, her mind was drawing blanks. Worse still, she didn't have any male friends to ask.
Well, she had one, but she didn't know if they were close enough for her to ask for help in that way.
Almost as if on cue, he texted her.
Rintaro: Sorry if this message reaches you at a bad time. May we call?
What on earth is he doing, asking me? I mean, I guess it's okay? No one’s ever asked before…
Kaoruko: I’m free.
Her phone immediately started ringing, and she almost dropped it from the surprise
“H-hello? Kaoruko-san? I’m sorry for calling you so out of the blue like this.”
“Hi, yes, this is Kaoruko. Did you need anything?
“I just… wanted to call to say sorry about what happened today. I’m sorry about my friend. I swear he's not a bad person or anything. He's just… too careful around Kikyo.”
He left a certain impression on Kaoruko. From what she had gathered, it was usually a Kikyo student who scoffed disdainfully at relations between the two schools. He was an exception, even among people from Chidori.
“Ah, don't worry about him! I believe you. He seemed like a discerning person. If anything, I should apologize for what my friends said.”
“It must have looked like Saku was picking on you, or something. I don't blame them for doing what they did. Also…”
“I just wanted to say you didn't have to apologize in the moment. I really respect it, though. You were really cool.”
Kaoruko teared up. Tsumugi-kun had just called her cool. Her mind was swarming with the face of this random boy she met at the library. What was happening to her?
“-nk that's all? Oh, right! What did you think of the cake? Hello? Kaoruko-san?”
Kaoruko snapped out of it, remembering that she had someone on the other end of the line. “I’m here! I’m here! Sorry! It was good! The cake was good!”
“That's a relief to hear.”
Kaoruko gulped nervously. “Actually, there's one more thing I’d like to ask of you, if that's okay. Are you free tomorrow?”
“Yes, I am. Why do you ask?”
“Well… my little brother Kosuke is having his birthday in 2 days, and I have no idea what to get him. I thought you'd have a better idea, being a boy and all…”
“Yeah, sure! You want me to go gift shopping with you, right?”
“Sorry if this is too presumptuous! I don't know if I should really ask y–wait, what?”.
“I said I’ll go, silly.”
“...Thank you. Thank you so much! I’ll see you tomorrow! We can get lunch!”
“Alright, I’ll see you then!”
Nervous on the train, Kaoruko tugged at the hem of her sundress. She hadn't really sorted out her clothes, so this was just what she had at the time. She hoped it would be fine. She was going to meet Tsumugi-kun at the next station, after all, to sort out a gift for her younger brother's birthday.
When she got off her train, she approached the entrance of the station to wait for him. She had gotten here relatively early herself, so she was wondering just how long it would be until they could begin to eat. Not that she was particularly hungry, she just had a specific restaurant in mind and happened to really like eating. She had hoped that she wouldn't have to wait too long for him.
At least, that's what she thought until she saw him waiting in front of the station.
Today, Tsumugi-kun was sporting a large sweatshirt over skinny jeans, obscuring his entire figure under the bagginess of the sweatshirt. His gaze was fixed towards the ground, until he spotted a movement from the corner of his eye. As he looked, a wide grin found its way on his face.
“Kaoruko-san! Welcome!”
“I’m so sorry. Did I make you wait long?”
“No, not at all! I just got here myself.”
Kaoruko calmed down, her expression growing softer. “Well, then, would you like to grab a bite?”
Several minutes later, the two, lunch wraps in hand, were browsing through the stores of a particularly busy street. They were trying their best to find something that a little boy like Kosuke would like.
“Honestly, running an errand with you like this… It's embarrassing to say, but it feels nice.”
Kaoruko looked at him, confused. “Huh? If it's embarrassing, then why did you say it?” And what did you mean by ‘it felt nice’? Alas, she couldn't bring herself to ask the latter.
Tsumugi-kun smiled, his cheeks slightly tinted with red. “I guess I just feel safer saying that sort of stuff around you.”
Kaoruko, however, completely exploded.
In fact, she didn't return to normal until they entered a bookstore.
“You know, I don't know if he'll be old enough to really get the story, but I think you could definitely buy a few volumes of Garbage Disposal. It's a really good shonen and I think it's very underrated.”
Kaoruko glanced at the volume 1 cover, and then at the blurb at the back. “Huh, yeah, he might like this. I’ll definitely consider it. Maybe I should just get him volume 1, though. If he's interested then I can take him to buy more.
“That's a great idea. I think he'll love it.”
The two of them walked out of the book store with a single manga volume for Kaoruko and a weekly magazine for Tsumugi-kun. They arrived back at the station for farewell.
“By the way, Kaoruko-san, I want to give you this.”
He pulled out two pieces of paper. One of them was the Patisserie Plain business card, and the other was a written note from him.
Rintaro's Cake Cheque! Call us with a location and we'll get Rintaro to send you a slice of cake of any flavor, free of charge! Requirements: 1. You must ask for Rintaro in the call. 2. You must be named Waguri Kaoruko.
“I thought that if you didn't have any birthday cake, I could help alleviate that issue a little. Will you accept this?”
Kaoruko carefully read the requirements, letting out a small chuckle. “You're incredible, Tsumugi-kun. How does your family stay in business, with you giving out so much cake?”
“It's nothing, really. Also, it is important you use the name Rintaro. Everyone in my family is a Tsumugi, so it would get really confusing.”
Kaoruko smiled. “Understood.”
Tsumugi-kun, no, Rintaro-kun walked a step into the station. “Well, I think my line is about to arrive. Good luck with your brother's birthday, Kaoruko-san!”
“Thank you so much, Rintaro-kun!”
She had taken the opportunity to stare closer at the Cake Cheque. It was a really silly idea, but she was really happy. Birthday celebrations were usually celebrated without a cake at the Waguri household, so this was bound to be a memorable birthday for Kosuke.
Right behind her, a tall man with messy black hair had called out to her.
“Your name is Waguri, right?”
Kaoruko recognized this person as the elusive Saku she had met at the cake shop the other day. She was willing to trust a friend of Rintaro's, though. It did take her by surprise to see him so suddenly, but he didn't provoke or touch her or anything.
“It is… why?”
“Could we have a conversation? It won't be long.”