Once inside his apartment he threw his coat on the coat hanger and went into the kitchen where he unloaded the junk food. He put the water boiler on and went to drop of his bag by the table in the living room. His apartment was small but it was comfortable and had all he needed. The interior was typical Japanese with touches of western style here and there. The one paying for his stay here was his mother who had married into a wealthy family. Kazuo was not accepted by this family however so his mother placed him here. His past had been troublesome and it had affected his personality greatly. He went back into the kitchen and poured the hot water in his cup noodles. He sat back down in the living room slurping on his noodles whilst reading a magazine. As he was reading he couldn’t help but to think of what had happened on his way home. What was it she wanted to ask him? Was she really crying? Kazuo snapped back again telling himself not to care. Suddenly he heard his phone ringing from somewhere in the apartment.

*- Oh, that’s right, I forgot it in the coat pocket. * Kazuo went to get the phone. He found the pocket and pulled out the phone.

“- Hello, this is Kazuo. “

“- Good evening, this is Kayano from your class, I discovered this number in the class logarithm. “

*- Huh? So polite… Maybe it’s because she’s talking over phone. *

“- Alright, is there anything you want to ask? “ Kazuo was mildly surprised.

“- Yes, indeed, I witnessed you prior dashing from Haruka. Did she mention anything about her seemingly desperate state? “ Kazuo suddenly became a little worried.

“- Oh, I don’t think so, I only saw her briefly before I took off... I’m sorry, I didn’t want to deal with her. “

“- I see-. “

“- Wait, has something happened? “

“- I am not certain, I am however thankful that you express worry, Please call me again if you learn something, good night. “ The call ended. Kazuo felt a bit confused as he stood there, in the hallway.

*- I wonder what’s even going on with that girl, so troublesome, even making her friend worry.* Kazuo thought about it for a moment before he put his phone in his pocket and turned towards the living room. However, before he reached the living room he heard a loud crash from outside the apartment.

*- What the hell is happening now. * Kazuo went to the door and opened. He looked outside down the stairs and saw someone lying with one of his blankets over them.

*- What the actual hell… * Kazuo looked disturbed. He took careful steps out of his apartment and looked down at the fallen person. He noticed they weren’t moving.

*- Jesus Christ... * He sighed and went down the stairs. Upon coming closer he noticed light- brown hair peaking out from under the blanket.

*- NO, this is not happening. * Kazuo grabbed the blanket and pulled it away. What he had just revealed for himself was nothing short of shocking. He could feel drips of sweat running down his shocked and worried face.

*- I can’t fucking deal with this. * Kazuo thought nervously as he stood there in front of a knocked out Haruka with his blanket in hand.

*- Should I call her friend? *

*- No no no, I gotta make sure she’s alright at least. * Kazuo looks strained as he throws the blanket over his shoulder and proceeds to carry Haruka up the stairs. He nudges the door open with his foot and angles his upper body in order to get her legs in first without bumping her head in the door frame. He carries her over to the living room, puts her down on the floor whilst sliding a pillow under her head.

*- Christ… I’m being very thoughtful now, aren't I? * Kazuo strokes his face whilst overviewing the situation.

*- Holy hell… what has just happened? Mabuchi is gonna be over me to no end when this comes out... * Kazuo walks to close the door. He comes back from the hallway and stops in the kitchen where he switches on the water boiler again.

*- I only have cheap tea. Guess it’ll do… * The water boiler flicks and Kazuo finishes up the tea. He brings the cup over to the living room table. He sits down by the table on the opposite side of the unconscious Haruka and slurps on the remaining noodles that had started to go cold. He imagined the scene from an outside perspective and realized how absolutely bizarre it was. He sat there with his cold noodles opposite a fellow high school student who happens to be unconscious and a female. He had barely met her and they were pretty much complete strangers but somehow she had ended up knocked out in his apartment at five o’clock in the afternoon.

*- How'd she even end up like that...? * Kazuo is holding his palm to his forehead whilst resting his elbow on the table.

*- Right, should probably call her friend now… * He glances towards Haruka. The cup of tea he made is just sitting there. Kazuo reaches for his phone. Suddenly Haruka makes a noise as Kazuo was about to call.

“- Hnng, w-what happened? Huh!? Where am I!? “ Haruka sits up in a haste. Kazuo suddenly doesn’t know what to do and is just looking at her whilst feeling minor panic. Haruka checks around her and notices Kazuo.

“- Umm, hi…? “ Kazuo pulls of an awkward smile. Harukas seems very surprised but also looks a bit worried.

“- H-how…? Why am I here…? I was just outs-... oh, right... “ Haruka looks down. Kazuo still don't know what to do with a more and more strained face.

*- Please don’t start yelling. Please don’t start yelling. Please don’t start yelling. Please don’t start yelling. *

“- Ehehe, I was just about to call your friend… “ Kazuo takes another shot at a normal smile.

“- WHAT! NO, DON’T DO THAT! “ Haruka is suddenly standing.

*- God why must I go through this... * Kazuo is gripping his phone as he can feel the irritation building up.

“- What’s up with calling your friend? She’s worried you know… “ Kazuo shows an annoyed smile. Her very aura and tone made him want to tear his skin off.

“- N-NO! You can’t… “ Haruka's face suddenly turned sad and she started to get flustered. Kazuo looked at her as she got even more flustered.

*- Oh, right, she was crying before wasn’t she. * Kazuo suddenly felt a bit of calm as he realized what Haruka might be going through. Kazuo put down the phone on the table

“- Alright, I won't call anyone if you explain why you ended up knocked out outside my apartment with my bed sheet over you. “ Kazuo laid back whilst he gave her a look that told her he was listening. Haruka nodded slightly as she sat back down again.

“- Okay, I guess that's only fair. “ She looked a little flustered still but Kazuo could tell there was something serious going on.

“- Well, it started with me not getting along with parents… I guess. “ It was clear she didn’t wanna talk about it but Kazuo decided to push on as a form of revenge.

“- How’d that make you end up here though? “ Kazuo used a tone you would find on people with real bad attitude.

“- Hey! Let me finish... idiot... “ Kazuo smirked as she pouted with a flustered face.

“- Umm, so, it got kinda worse and I decided to run away and then I realized I had no money or clothes but I really didn’t wanna return. “ Haruka looked down as she expected more ridicule.

“- Wow, you’re bad at running away. “ Kazuo suddenly sounded more not- annoying. Haruka looked up being a bit surprised.

“- Go on then. “

“- Yes, yes, don’t stress me. “ Haruka tried to put on a straight face.

“- So, because I had no money or somewhere to stay I was about to give up and go home. However, then I saw you exiting the store. “

“- Ah, and you thought you could just scoot up to me and ask for food and living, acting all alone and sad? “ Kazuo smirked again.

“- Hey! I was actually alone and sad! “ And Haruka was pouting again.

“- What’s up with this friend of yours then, Kayano?

“- Well, her parents kinda hates mine so they’ll probably use this as leverage for legal action or something. I think Kayano agrees with them as well. “ Haruka looked down, again.

“- I really like Kayano and her family but I still don’t hate my own parents so I don’t want them to know about me running away. “

“- Yeah, Kayano did look like she was your big sister. “

“- Anyways, quite the situation you’re in. what'd you do after I ran from you? “

“- Oh! I was coming to that- Why’d you run away you idiot! “ Haruka switched to aggressive mode.

“- Umm, dunno if you remember our first encounter but it made you seem very violent, loud, aggressive, angry, crazy and possibly diagnosed with ADHD. “

“- Now you’re just being mean! Why are you teasing me in the first place!? “ Harukas eyes were intense.

*- Because you’re the most annoying being in this galaxy… * Kazuo hid his frustration with a questionable smile.

“- Sorry-. “ His tone was laced with irritation.

“- Anyways, I think I’ve figured out what happened next actually. I ran away and you managed to follow me and then you hesitated to knock on the door. Then you managed to fall down the stairs and maybe you ripped one of my sheets down with you, correct? “ Kazuo could tell just by looking at Haruka that his speculation was accurate and he felt a bit proud.

“- U-um, yeah. “ Haruka nodded.

“- So, you’ve got nowhere to go without money or clothes… “ Kazuo implied that he knew what she was thinking but she seemed oblivious.

“- Umm, I-I was coming to this-... “ Haruka looked hesitant.

“- Ugh, it’s fine, you don’t have to ask. There is a spare futon behind that sliding door. “ Kazuo rose and brought the empty noodle cup to the kitchen. Haruka was surprised about his friendliness and watched Kazuo in the kitchen. She noticed the cup noodle.

“- Should you really just be eating that? Where are your parents? “ Haruka wondered. Kazuo froze.

“- Does it look I have room for parents here? “ Kazuo’s voice was filled with anger.

“- What do you mean? You have no parents?. “ Haruka looked unfazed not knowing how thin the ice she was treading on was. Kazuo was just silent as he stood in the kitchen strained with anger.

“- Hello-? “

“- I'm letting you stay here, so- MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS! “ Kazuo stormed out of the kitchen.

“- I'm going to fucking sleep! “ He opened the door to his room and slammed it shut. Haruka looked offended having been shouted at. It was like the water she fell into after the thin ice broke just evaporated around her and she was completely dry.

“- Hey! What the hell was that! I told you all my stuff! I want food as well! “ Haruka was reacting completely in the opposite way of what you would expect.

“- Why did you go mental so suddenly!? I'm taking food myself now by the way. “ Haruka went towards the kitchen while Kazuo stayed shut-in in his dark room.

“- Hey, Kazuo, why do you only have cup noodles? The kitchen is all dirty as well… “ Haruka rustled around in kitchen still completely unfazed as if Kazuo was a child in a rage. Kazuo was sitting in his room with his back against the door just trying to calm himself down. He could hear Haruka in the kitchen and realized how pathetic her reaction made him look.

“- Urgh! How can you eat this?! It’s disgusting… “ Haruka threw the noodles in the trash.

“- Will you come out of your room soon? It's only like six o’clock, you can’t have been serious about going to sleep. “ Haruka knocked on his door. Kazuo felt anger towards how she made him look like an immature child but realized there was nothing he could do. He opened the door slowly.

“- What do you want? “ Kazuo looked gloomy.

“- Well, you said I could stay here so I’d like to talk about some things. “

“- Fine. “ And so they went back to the living room table.