Chapter 2: The Unplanned Team

Another morning arrived at Futaba Kindergarten.

Kazama Toru walked into the classroom with confidence.

Yesterday had been unusual.

But today?

Today would be different.

No distractions.

No chaos.

No unexpected problems.

"I will have a peaceful day," Kazama said.

A familiar voice immediately answered.

"Wow, Kazama. You say that every day."

Kazama froze.

Slowly, he turned around.

"Shinchan..."

Shinchan smiled.

"Good morning!"

Kazama sighed.

"Why do you always appear exactly when I want peace?"

"Because we have a special connection."

"We do not."

"You knew it was me without looking."

"Because only you can interrupt silence like that."

"See? You understand me."

"That is not a good thing."

During class, Miss Yoshinaga entered with a smile.

"Everyone, today you will work together for a small activity."

The whole class became excited.

"You will build a small model using the materials provided."

Kazama immediately raised his hand.

"Can we choose our own partners?"

"I'm afraid not," the teacher replied.

"The partners will be decided randomly."

Kazama suddenly felt nervous.

Please don't be...

Please don't be...

"Shinnosuke and Kazama."

Silence.

Everyone turned toward them.

Kazama slowly looked at Shinchan.

"No."

Shinchan smiled.

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"This is not a debate."

"It is now."

Kazama held his forehead.

"Of all people..."

At the activity table, the two began working.

"We need a proper plan," Kazama said.

"I have a plan."

Kazama looked suspicious.

"What is it?"

"First, we build it."

"..."

"Then we finish it."

"..."

"Then we celebrate."

Kazama stared.

"That is not a plan."

"It has three steps."

"It is three obvious statements."

"Exactly. Very organized."

Kazama wanted to argue.

But he couldn't deny one thing.

Shinchan was actually helping.

Not in the way Kazama expected...

But he was trying.

Meanwhile, Nene, Masao, and Bo-chan watched them.

"They look like they're fighting," Masao said.

"They always look like they're fighting," Nene replied.

Bo-chan calmly added:

"But they are working together."

Everyone looked.

It was true.

Kazama was carefully arranging the pieces.

Shinchan was bringing materials.

Whenever Kazama asked for something, Shinchan somehow already had it.

"Here."

Kazama blinked.

"How did you know I needed that?"

"I guessed."

"You guessed correctly?"

"Yep."

Kazama paused.

"...Lucky."

Shinchan smiled.

"You're welcome."

After a while, their model was complete.

The teacher looked impressed.

"Very good work!"

Kazama smiled proudly.

Then he looked at Shinchan.

"Not bad."

Shinchan gasped dramatically.

"Kazama praised me!"

"I did not praise you."

"You did."

"I simply stated a fact."

"That was praise."

"It wasn't."

"It was."

Kazama sighed.

But this time...

He was smiling.

On the way home, on the bus.

Nene looked at them.

"You two are weird."

"How?" Kazama asked.

"You say you don't like each other, but you always end up together."

Kazama immediately replied:

"Because he follows me."

Shinchan raised his hand.

"Because Kazama secretly likes me."

"I do not!"

"You didn't deny that you follow me."

"Because I don't!"

Everyone laughed.

Kazama crossed his arms.

This boy was impossible.

Completely impossible.

And yet...

Tomorrow, he knew Shinchan would probably walk into the classroom again.

And somehow...

He wouldn't mind as much as he thought he would.

Thankyou so much guys!!!✨

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