50

Before he could finish, Ane tipped her glass back and downed the entire drink in one breath.

"WOOOOO! IT BURNS! MY TONGUE! MY SOUL! EVERYTHING!" Ane banged the table as her face turned red.

Haari facepalmed. "Yane-san… I literally just told you…"

As expected, a few drinks later, Ane was completely out of it. She slumped against the table, mumbling something incoherent.

"Yane-san? Are you still there?" Haari waved his hand in front of her face. No response. He sighed heavily. "Looks like she passed out… Now what?"

Shaking his head, he lifted her onto his back and booked a taxi. The driver gave him a knowing look but said nothing as they made their way to her home.

In front of Ane's house, Haari pressed the doorbell. After a few moments, the door opened, revealing a middle-aged woman who looked at them with surprise.

"Huh? What happened to her?" the woman asked, concern evident in her voice.

"She's fine," Haari reassured her. "She just had a little too much to drink."

"Drink?" The woman's eyes widened.

Haari quickly realized that Ane might get into serious trouble if her aunt found out she willingly drank so much. Thinking fast, he forced a sheepish laugh. "She didn't drink on her own."

The woman frowned. "Huh?"

"We had a small company celebration," Haari lied smoothly. "She said she wouldn't drink, but some coworkers pressured her into it. She had no choice."

The woman sighed, shaking her head. "I see… I'll have to talk to her about this."

Haari carefully lowered Ane from his back as the woman took her inside.

"Thank you for bringing her home safely," the woman said, offering a warm smile.

"It's nothing. I just wanted to make sure she got home safely," Haari replied.

"You're very kind, young man. Come inside—I'll make you something to eat."

Haari shook his head politely. "No thanks, it's getting late. I should head back."

"Wait, what's your name?" the woman asked.

"I'm Haari. Haari Kichiro."

The woman nodded. "Thank you for taking care of Ane, Haari."

"No problem," Haari said with a small smile. "Alright, I should get going."

As he walked away, he let out a deep sigh. Man, what a hassle.

Next morning, Ane leaned against Haari's desk, her expression a mix of gratitude and mischief.

"Kichiro-senpai," she began, her voice light but sincere, "thank you so much for last night. You really saved my life yesterday. If it wasn't for that made-up story of yours, I'd be in big trouble."

Haari looked up from his computer, raising an eyebrow. "So, why did you drink in the first place if you're not allowed?"

Ane pouted, crossing her arms. "Come on, I'm all grown up now. How long am I supposed to live by my family's rules? I want to enjoy my life too, you know."

Haari sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Well, fine. But be careful next time. Drinking isn't something to take lightly."

Ane grinned, leaning closer. "Why do I need to be careful when you're around? You always have my back."

Haari shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I won't always be there to save you, Ane. You need to take responsibility for yourself."

Ane rolled her eyes but nodded. "Okay, okay. I'll keep that in mind bro."

" Bro ?" Haari.

" Yeah bro you are just like my big brother, so I can call bro right " Ane.

" Whatever.".plp

" Thanks big bro." With a playful wave, she headed back to her desk, leaving Haari to his work.

The day passed uneventfully, the office slowly emptying as employees left early to avoid the impending rain. By late afternoon, only a few stragglers remained, including Haari and Ashi.

Ane poked her head into Haari's cubicle, her bag slung over her shoulder. "Bro, aren't you heading home?"

Haari glanced at the stack of papers on his desk. "Yeah, I'll leave after I finish this. You heading out?"

Ane nodded. "The weather's not great today. It's about to rain. You should go home soon too, I don't wanna my big bro to catch cold."

"I will," Haari assured her, though his eyes were already back on his work.

"Alright, I'm off. Don't stay too late bro!" Ane called as she walked away, her footsteps echoing in the nearly empty office.

At her desk, Ashi was completely absorbed in her work, her fingers flying across the keyboard. The steady hum of the office surrounded her, but a set of approaching footsteps made her look up. Riku stood there, leaning against her desk with his usual easygoing smile.

"Nicawa-san," he said smoothly, "you should head home soon. Looks like it's about to rain."

Ashi glanced at the window. The sky had turned a deep shade of gray, heavy clouds rolling in. "Yeah, I will. Just need a moment to finish this up."

Riku gave a small nod. "Don't take too long. You don't want to get caught in the downpour."

After completing her work, Ashi finally packed her things and stepped outside. But just as she took a few steps away from the building, a single raindrop landed on her shoulder.

Then, in the blink of an eye—a heavy downpour.

"Seriously?" Ashi muttered, pulling her bag closer as she hurried under a small roadside shed for cover. She sighed, watching the rain come down in sheets, drenching the empty streets.

Just then, a sleek black car pulled up beside her, the engine purring softly. The passenger-side window rolled down, revealing Riku. He leaned slightly towards her, his voice cutting through the sound of the rain.

"Nicawa-san, get in."

Ashi hesitated for a second before nodding and slipping into the car. The warmth inside was a welcome contrast to the cold rain outside.

"Thanks," she sighed, brushing some droplets from her sleeves. "That rain came out of nowhere."

Riku reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, passing it to her. "Here. It's not much, but it's all I have right now."

Ashi blinked, surprised by the small gesture. She took it with both hands. "Thank you very much."

"You don't have to thank me every time, you know," Riku said, his tone teasing but sincere.

"Huh?" Ashi looked up at him.

Riku smirked slightly as he focused on the road. "You're like a friend to me, and there's no need for 'thank you' or 'sorry' between friends, right?"

Ashi's eyes widened a little. She wasn't expecting that.

Seeing her expression, Riku glanced at her again. "What? Did I say something weird?"

Ashi quickly snapped out of her thoughts. "No, no, it's nothing," she said, a small smile forming on her lips.

"Good," Riku chuckled. "Now, let's get you home before you catch a cold."

"Yeah, thanks," Ashi said, relaxing into the seat.

Riku glanced at her with a grin. "Nicawaaa-saaaan, didn't I just say no 'thank you' or 'sorry' between friends?"

Ashi blinked, then let out a small laugh. "Oh… right. Sorry— I mean, wait—"

There was a moment of silence.

And then, both of them burst into laughter.

Shaking his head, Riku started the car, the sound of rain fading into the background as they drove off.

As the car moved through the rainy streets, Ashi felt a strange dampness on her side. At first, she thought it was just the rainwater that had soaked into her clothes earlier, but when she shifted slightly, she felt something sticky against her skin.

She frowned and looked down, only to realize the culprit—her pen had leaked. The ink had bled through her bag and onto her light-colored dress, staining the fabric near her waist.

Ashi's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no…" she muttered under her breath, trying to wipe at it, but the ink had already set in.

Riku noticed her struggling and glanced at her briefly. "What's wrong Nicawa-san?"

Ashi let out an awkward laugh. "Um… my pen… it leaked. And now my dress is ruined."

Ashi hesitated before speaking. "…I need to use the restroom."

Riku blinked, then nodded. "Got it. Let's find a place."

He slowed the car, scanning the dimly lit streets. After a few minutes, his eyes landed on a small, cozy café with warm lights glowing from within. A "24/7 OPEN" sign flickered near the entrance. He pulled up near the entrance and put the car in park.

"This place should have a restroom," he said. "Wait here—I'll check."

Before Ashi could respond, Riku was already stepping out. She watched as he jogged inside, shaking the raindrops from his sleeves.

A minute later, he returned, leaning down to her window. "They have one. Let's go."

Ashi quickly got out of the car and hurried inside. The café had a comforting atmosphere, the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. She followed the small signs leading to the restroom while Riku took a seat near the counter.

A few minutes later, Ashi stepped out of the restroom, drying her hands with a tissue. She spotted Riku waiting near the entrance, casually scrolling through his phone.

"Thanks for waiting," she said as she approached him. "Let's go."

Riku slipped his phone back into his pocket but didn't move. Instead, he gestured toward the counter.

"While we're here… how about a drink?"

"Huh?" Ashi blinked, caught off guard.

Riku shrugged with a relaxed smile. "Yeah. The rain's still heavy, and we're already inside. Might as well enjoy a little break."

Ashi glanced at the window. The rain was still coming down hard, the sound of it drumming against the glass. She pursed her lips, thinking.

"…I guess that makes sense," she mumbled.

Riku smirked. "Great. My treat."

"Wait—" Ashi started to protest, but Riku was already walking toward a table, motioning for her to follow.

The soft hum of the café surrounded them, blending with the gentle patter of rain against the window. The warm glow of the hanging lights reflected in their drinks, casting a golden hue over the wooden table. Ashi twirled her straw absentmindedly, watching the ice clink against the glass.

Riku leaned back in his seat, one hand resting on the edge of his cup as he took a slow sip of his drink. A small smirk tugged at his lips.

"You know, Nicawa-san," he mused, his voice carrying a calm, almost nostalgic tone, "I've never met anyone like you before."

Ashi blinked, caught off guard by the sudden comment. She looked up, her eyes meeting his. "Oh? What do you mean?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Riku's smirk softened into something more sincere. His amber eyes reflected the light as he gazed at her. "The way you work, the way you carry yourself… you're always so focused, so dedicated." He exhaled lightly, shaking his head. "It's rare to see someone like you."

Ashi shifted slightly in her seat, her fingers tightening around her glass. Compliments weren't something she was used to, and something about the way Riku spoke made her feel exposed.

"I… I'm just doing my job," she muttered, looking down at the condensation forming on her glass. "It's nothing special."

Riku chuckled, setting his drink down. "You're too modest. You're not just good at your job—you're kind, thoughtful, and…" He paused for a fraction of a second before continuing, his voice dropping slightly. "…beautiful."

Ashi's breath hitched. Her fingers twitched slightly, but she quickly masked her reaction by tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Then, Riku leaned back in his chair and stretched a little, breaking the tension with an easy-going smile.

"Today is a special day for me," he said.

Ashi glanced at him, grateful for the shift in conversation. "Oh? And why is that?"

Riku's gaze remained on his drink as he swirled it gently. Then, he looked up at her and grinned.

"Because today, I made my first friend."

Ashi blinked, her lips parting slightly in surprise. "Your… first?"