The little Blue-haired angel who would kindly share half a meat bun with you didn't appear, but the blue otter who would eat all your meat buns did!
"Hey! What's with that look? How rude! Are you that displeased to see me?!"
Yanami cried out in dissatisfaction. The girl leaned closer to Kiyono, one hand on her hip, glaring at him fiercely. Honestly, she looked like a small-time delinquent; she really shouldn't do that in front of others.
"I'm just realizing the cruel disparity of reality."
Kiyono stepped back, pouting.
"You're still not satisfied seeing a beautiful girl like me? Just how high are your standards…?" Yanami said with a look that suggested he was an inexperienced boy.
"Um…"
At that moment, the staff member, with a strange expression, interrupted them. "I'm sorry, we only have five meat buns left in the store right now…"
"Then I'll take four!" Yanami quickly went into food-guarding mode, even "considerately" leaving one for him.
Kiyono… Kiyono was already used to it, his face indifferent. Anyway, there were other things to eat.
"Ah, but please save the buns for us. I'll buy some other things, and we'll check out all at once."
After saying that, Yanami poked Kiyono, which left him speechless. Why are you dragging me along when you're shopping?! I only wanted to buy some meat buns!
But now that the meat buns were taken, he had no choice but to buy something else.
Kiyono helplessly followed behind the girl.
For Yanami, the current shopping and selection process was clearly second only to eating. Her eyes sparkled as she stuffed all the snacks she wanted into the shopping basket—this was also one of the reasons she worked so hard.
Kiyono initially felt fine, but the more he looked, the more speechless he became. How much do you plan to eat? The basket is almost full!
Finally, when the shopping basket was almost overflowing, he couldn't hold back anymore. He put the topmost snack back in its original place, then went to the vegetable section and put a large cabbage and some green vegetables on top for her, earnestly advising:
"Eat more vegetables to improve your diet, Miss Yanami."
"Who said I don't eat them! I maintain a normal intake of vegetables, and I even lose weight!" Yanami stared at the cabbage in the basket, then reached out and patted it, as if she were patting someone.
"You still have time to exercise?"
Kiyono glanced at her, speaking strangely. As a student, Yanami's daily schedule was clear: school during the day, then work after school in the evening. She simply didn't have the time to lose weight!
"You really don't understand, Kiyono-kun. Working hard every day also counts as losing weight!" Yanami proudly lifted her head.
…He couldn't refute that point. With her daily workload, it really could have an exercise effect.
Seeing Kiyono's frustrated expression, Yanami became even happier.
The girl hummed anime songs as she browsed the shelves, no longer buying, but merely observing and analyzing with interest for future consideration. She seemed to have taken his advice. As she browsed, she didn't know why, but her attention suddenly shifted entirely to Kiyono, and her heart stirred quietly.
How strange… why am I so happy right now? I was supposed to be looking forward to going to the supermarket with Hakamada Sosuke…
Her heart rippled like a lake stirred by the wind.
But this faint emotion was quickly replaced by a new discovery. Yanami glanced at Kiyono's almost empty shopping basket, her expression somewhat startled. You're only buying this much?
Not only that, in her quiet observation, Kiyono took a bottle of quick energy drink and chocolate from the shelf, and even hesitated and struggled for seven or eight seconds—the price was really expensive! He didn't have much money left; most of it was spent on food and lodging. But this stuff could serve as a meal when writing late at night, so he might as well buy some.
Seeing this scene, Yanami frowned slightly, as if she understood something.
For the rest of the time, the girl was unusually quiet, which made Kiyono a little strange. He mused that Yanami was a girl, after all, her mood changing in an instant—huh? Why did I use "after all"?
The two walked out of the convenience store.
In the end, Yanami still ate four meat buns by herself.
Something's not right.
Something's very not right.
In the staff lounge, Kiyono sat in front of the computer, idly tapping the keyboard, occasionally glancing at a certain spot in front of him. However, the text on the screen was deleted and revised, but never increased. Clearly, he wasn't in the zone right now.
And the reason he wasn't in the zone was…
"Why isn't Yanami eating snacks in front of me anymore?!"
Kiyono was a bit frantic, not just because of Yanami, but also because of his own weakness in not being used to the girl.
Although he had initially disliked Yanami constantly eating snacks, over these past days, he had grown accustomed to the sound of the girl munching on snacks as background noise. Now, without the familiar rhythm, an inexplicable anxiety welled up in his heart, like someone used to coffee for alertness suddenly unable to drink coffee, completely unable to concentrate.
"I've been ruined by a loser!"
Kiyono glumly closed the document.
So, why?
Why did Yanami deliberately avoid him?
They hadn't had any conflicts recently. Could it be that she suddenly realized the appropriate distance between a man and a woman? But this kind of thing couldn't be called intimacy at all…
After much thought, he couldn't find a reason.
So, he decided to proactively ask Yanami for clarification.
Rather than agonizing here, it was better to directly solve the problem.
He felt that they were already friends… or should be. He would certainly be happy to maintain distance, but at least she should say something. Unprovoked estrangement would make them both uncomfortable, and they might not even be able to be ordinary friends in the future.
Thinking of this, Kiyono's mind cleared considerably. He stood up, opened the door, and prepared to look for Yanami.
However, as soon as he reached the corridor, he heard a strange sound.
Crunch, crunch.
Crunch, crunch.
It was like… like…
Someone was secretly eating snacks.
Kiyono raised an eyebrow, followed the sound, and then found the girl at the end of the corridor, vigorously eating a bag of potato chips. After hearing footsteps, Yanami looked up in surprise, her mouth still greasy, and her cheeks puffed out.
Kiyono's eye twitched, and he said directly, "Miss Yanami, isn't it tiring to eat standing up? Why are you hiding here to sneak a snack?"
"Be-because…" The Blue-haired girl still had food in her mouth and mumbled a few words. Before she could speak clearly, she choked. She rolled her eyes, laboriously swallowed the potato chips, and then carefully glanced at him, her smile a little less bright.
She hesitated for a moment, then bravely spoke.
"Because you're reluctant to eat snacks… I was afraid that if I ate them in front of you every day, you'd overthink it and feel pressured."
Yanami also thought it was better to speak her mind. However, she changed a word—replacing "pressure" with "inferiority complex." This was something she had thought about deeply for a long time, and she had made a major decision under her covers to do—after all, it wasn't easy for her not to eat openly, but for Kiyono's sake, she decided to make a sacrifice.
As her words fell, Yanami stared intently at Kiyono, her hands unconsciously clenching, afraid that he might feel embarrassed and affect their relationship. Of course, she didn't think Kiyono was such a sensitive person, but teenage boys are more concerned about these things, so you never know.
It was just this small matter!
Kiyono was dumbfounded. He thought it was something serious. Although he currently didn't have the luxury to freely eat snacks—which was true—it wouldn't make him feel pressured or inferior. With his golden finger, his Galaxy Battleship would soon be assembled. Inferiority complex, my ass! This was truly overthinking…
However… the girl's thoughts were quite delicate.
He hadn't expected Yanami to notice this. It must have been from their last trip to the convenience store. And she even made such a thoughtful gesture. This buddy is a keeper!
Kiyono looked at Yanami, a smile playing on his lips. "Rather than saying I'm reluctant to eat them, it's more like you spend too much on snacks! Most people wouldn't buy them like that!"
He paused, then continued, "Don't overthink it. I really don't care about these things. Being a bit poor now doesn't mean I'll always be poor. Maybe soon I'll be able to treat you to snacks, so you should eat however you want, Miss Otter."
His voice was gentle, his eyes bright and clear, naturally giving one a refreshing feeling. His eyebrows were also slightly raised, adding three points of determination and confidence to his whole demeanor, making him seem completely sincere.
Yanami breathed a sigh of relief, and her delicate, pretty face also wore its usual smile—sure enough, I didn't misjudge him!—it was just a little embarrassing to be looked at so directly. She couldn't help but avert her gaze, then felt somewhat puzzled, looking at him once, twice, three times.
"What are you looking at? Hurry up and go back."
Kiyono rolled his eyes and turned to leave.
And only after confirming that he had his back to her did the girl break into a charming smile, her steps light as she followed behind him.
"Mm!"
That day, Yanami started eating snacks in front of him again.
...
Yanami was watching Kiyono.
Although the girl appeared to be concentrating on eating snacks, her gaze had quietly fallen upon the boy in the corner…
He faced his laptop with a serious expression—sometimes frowning deeply, sometimes smiling, sometimes closing his eyes in thought, sometimes beaming with excitement. Occasionally, he would interlace his fingers under his chin, revealing a mysterious smile, much like a gloomy villain secretly plotting something… In this state, she would believe it if someone said Kiyono had eaten mushrooms!
For some reason, looking at Kiyono, who was a bit manic, Yanami felt a little worried.
It is said that most young people in their twenties without a job imagine themselves to be writers… Kiyono is only in his teens and has already developed this symptom; she couldn't help but worry.
When Kiyono fails later, she'll comfort him properly. And in her free time, she'll read light novels. If he's really serious, she has experience as a reader and can offer some advice!
Yanami thought to herself, while Kiyono apparently didn't know that in the girl's eyes, he had already become a mentally unstable person. He was pondering the issues of the first volume of his novel—after five or six revisions and rewrites, he had finally completed… half of the first volume. It would still be some time before he could officially submit it for publication.
However, in his spare time, he posted his current manuscript on a free web novel platform, mainly to get reader feedback. Different countries would develop distinct literary trends, and his understanding of the Japanese industry was still too limited. He had only read some popular light novels in the past, and although he had been catching up on books every day recently, it was still far from enough.
"I can only prepare for a long-term battle."
Kiyono typed the last word and let out a soft sigh.
At that moment, the two in the lounge heard a knock-knock at the door—ever since that incident last time, other female employees would knock beforehand to avoid disturbing the young man's pleasure.
"Come in!" Yanami called out.
The door was pulled open a crack, and a female senior said with a smile, "Anna, your classmate is here to see you."
It was a quiet, idle time, and no one would mind if they chatted with friends in the store.
"Oh, it must be Lemon-chan! Let's go!" Yanami's eyes lit up, and she stood, then dragged Kiyono out with her—Why are you dragging me?! And your hands are greasy and dirty from eating snacks—don't rub them on me!
Kiyono didn't know how to complain anymore, and Yanami was surprisingly strong; he couldn't break free the whole way!
"Good afternoon, Yanami, Kiyono!"
By the window, a refreshingly dressed athletic girl waved at them from afar, instantly radiating a summer sun-like warmth. In fact, compared to Yanami, Yakishio Lemon was the truly popular beautiful girl among most people.
To be able to greet him so naturally after only meeting twice—as expected of an athlete…
Kiyono smiled and replied.
And Yanami was even more exaggerated, giving Lemon a big hug. What is this, are you two comrades who haven't seen each other in ten years?
He muttered to himself.
The two beautiful girls sat intimately together. Kiyono silently stood by—offering warm water when they were thirsty, handing over the menu when they wanted to order, preparing tissues when they ate. His movements were natural and unobtrusive, and silent, a textbook example of a caretaker.
Only after the girls finished eating did they belatedly realize everything. They exchanged glances, then their two little heads huddled together.
"So thoughtful!" Lemon whispered in a voice he couldn't hear.
"So thoughtful!" Yanami echoed.
"He's a really good person!" Lemon exclaimed again.
"He's a really good person!" Yanami continued to echo.
Kiyono looked at the two of them in bewilderment. What are they whispering about…? Their occasional glances were also strangely unsettling.
The two beautiful girls giggled, keeping their little secret. Kiyono had nothing to do at the moment, so he simply sat in a nearby seat, spacing out and resting while listening to them talk.
However, to his surprise, he had expected these two "loser ladies" to extensively discuss childhood sweethearts and relationships when they got together, but they only casually complained a bit. Most of the time, they talked about topics ordinary girls liked: shopping, food, taking photos, makeup…
Teenage romance wasn't the entirety of their lives, he suddenly felt.
Kiyono turned his head and glanced at Yanami. The warm afternoon sun of spring silently poured over her. At this moment, the label of "two-dimensional loser female lead" he had put on the girl seemed to be slowly fading. She gradually gained a touch of earthly life, becoming a real person existing in this world.
"…"
"Kiyono, Kiyono!"
Yakishio Lemon's voice interrupted Kiyono's reverie.
"What is it?" Kiyono stood up. Lemon was beckoning him over.
"This is for you two!"