Episode4

The next morning—

Sora left the mansion without eating breakfast.

Again.

No one stopped him.

No one asked if he had eaten.

No one cared.

Which was fine.

He didn't care either.

Or at least—

That's what he told himself.

---

The car dropped him off at school.

As usual.

Students immediately turned their heads.

Girls whispered.

Some boys greeted him.

Others simply watched.

Sora ignored all of them.

---

His hands were buried inside his pockets as he walked through the campus.

The morning air was cool.

The sun was bright.

The atmosphere was peaceful.

Yet somehow—

He felt irritated.

---

Maybe it was because he barely slept.

Maybe it was because of the argument last night.

Or maybe—

He was just hungry.

---

Not that he would admit it.

---

The first two classes passed slowly.

Painfully slowly.

---

Sora rested his chin on his palm while staring out the window.

The teacher's voice became background noise.

Words entered one ear and left through the other.

---

Boring.

Everything was boring.

---

Then—

A strange sound interrupted his thoughts.

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Grrrr...

---

Sora froze.

---

His stomach growled.

---

The girl sitting nearby almost turned toward him.

Sora immediately sat up.

His expression remained calm.

Unbothered.

As if nothing had happened.

---

Inside—

He was annoyed.

---

Great.

Now even his stomach was embarrassing him.

---

The bell finally rang.

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Lunch break.

---

Students immediately flooded out of their classrooms.

The hallways filled with chatter and laughter.

---

Sora left his classroom.

His original plan was simple.

Buy a drink.

Skip lunch.

Go back to class.

---

But then—

A smell reached him.

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Fresh bread.

Warm soup.

Something fried.

---

His steps slowed.

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The cafeteria.

---

Sora stared at the entrance for a few seconds.

---

His stomach growled again.

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"...Seriously?"

---

With a sigh, he changed direction.

---

The cafeteria was crowded.

Students lined up near the counter while others searched for empty seats.

The room buzzed with conversation.

---

The moment Sora entered—

Several heads turned.

---

Whispers followed.

---

"Sora Kanzaki."

"He's here."

"He's so handsome."

"Do you think he'll sit here?"

---

Sora ignored them all.

---

He walked toward the counter.

---

The owner noticed him immediately.

---

"Good morning, young man."

---

The middle-aged woman smiled warmly.

The cafeteria owner always greeted everyone the same way.

No matter who they were.

---

Sora gave a small nod.

---

"Morning."

---

Then he looked toward the register.

And froze.

---

Standing behind the counter—

Holding a notepad—

Was Haru Minamoto.

---

The same Haru from yesterday.

---

The timid boy looked completely different without his school uniform jacket.

He wore a simple apron.

His sleeves were rolled up.

His glasses sat neatly on his nose.

---

For a second—

Neither of them spoke.

---

Then Haru looked up.

---

And immediately went pale.

---

His entire body stiffened.

---

"..."

---

"..."

---

The silence stretched awkwardly.

---

Haru lowered his head so fast it looked painful.

---

"G-Good morning, sir."

---

His voice shook.

---

"S-sir, what would you like to order?"

---

The notepad trembled slightly in his hands.

---

Sora noticed.

---

Every movement.

Every hesitation.

Every nervous breath.

---

It was ridiculous.

---

Why was this boy acting as if Sora was about to kill him?

---

Sora studied him carefully.

---

Haru wasn't even looking him in the eyes.

---

His gaze remained fixed somewhere near Sora's shoulder.

---

As if direct eye contact was forbidden.

---

Or terrifying.

---

"Look at me when you're taking orders."

---

The words left Sora before he could stop them.

---

Haru visibly flinched.

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"S-Sorry."

---

Slowly—

Very slowly—

Haru raised his head.

---

Their eyes met.

---

Only for a second.

---

Then Haru immediately looked away again.

---

Sora sighed.

---

Unbelievable.

---

"What do you have?"

---

Haru quickly started listing menu items.

His voice remained quiet.

Careful.

---

Like he was afraid saying the wrong thing would cause trouble.

---

Sora ordered the first thing that sounded edible.

---

Haru hurriedly wrote it down.

---

His handwriting was surprisingly neat.

---

Interesting.

---

Not that it mattered.

---

"Anything else?"

Haru asked softly.

---

"No."

---

"O-Okay."

---

Haru practically rushed toward the kitchen.

---

As if escaping.

---

Sora watched him leave.

---

Then rolled his eyes.

---

The cafeteria owner suddenly laughed.

---

"That boy is terrified of you."

---

Sora glanced at her.

---

"Is he always like that?"

---

The woman sighed.

---

"Unfortunately."

---

Her gaze moved toward Haru.

---

A look of concern appeared on her face.

---

"He's a very fragile child."

---

Sora remained silent.

---

The owner continued.

---

"He gets scared easily."

---

"Hm."

---

"He apologizes even when he hasn't done anything wrong."

---

That sounded familiar.

---

Yesterday.

---

Haru apologized before anyone even accused him.

---

The memory resurfaced briefly.

---

The owner smiled sadly.

---

"He's had a difficult life."

---

Sora looked away.

---

Not interested.

---

Or at least—

He pretended not to be.

---

"He never had anyone to support him."

---

Something about those words caught his attention.

---

"He lost his parents when he was very young."

---

Sora's fingers froze.

---

The owner didn't notice.

---

"Poor child grew up in orphanages."

---

Silence.

---

"He works part-time after school."

---

Sora's eyes shifted toward the kitchen.

---

Toward Haru.

---

The boy was carrying trays despite looking exhausted.

---

"He studies hard."

---

Another tray.

---

Another customer.

---

Another apology.

---

"He never complains."

---

The owner smiled weakly.

---

"But honestly..."

---

Her voice softened.

---

"I think he's lonely."

---

Something twisted inside Sora's chest.

---

A strange feeling.

---

Uncomfortable.

---

Unwanted.

---

For one brief second—

He saw himself.

---

Not the current version.

---

The younger version.

---

The lonely child sitting on the floor with his mother's photograph.

---

The boy nobody understood.

---

The boy nobody chose.

---

The similarity appeared so suddenly that Sora almost frowned.

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No.

---

They weren't the same.

---

They couldn't be.

---

Yet—

---

The thought lingered.

---

Longer than it should have.

---

A tray appeared in front of him.

---

Sora looked up.

---

Haru stood there.

---

Still avoiding eye contact.

---

Still nervous.

---

Still shaking slightly.

---

"Y-Your food."

---

He carefully placed the plate on the table.

---

"Enjoy your meal."

---

Then—

Without waiting for a response—

He practically ran away.

---

Straight toward another customer.

---

Sora stared after him.

---

The owner laughed again.

---

"See?"

---

Sora watched Haru nearly trip over his own feet while rushing to take another order.

---

Then he sighed.

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"This boy..."

---

His gaze followed Haru's retreating figure.

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"...will never change."

---

Yet for some reason—

As Sora picked up his fork—

His eyes continued searching for Haru among the crowd.

---

And he didn't understand why.

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