Chapter one. A little counting and a declaration of love

The piece of paper was already on his desk when Anpan-kun, or Kazumi Hideki, who was usually called by his first name to make fun of him more, walked into the classroom. His name, which could also be read as 'handsome,' was so out of harmony with his relatively complete appearance that it was a rather sophisticated mockery. The mere presence of the leaf was not unusual. Perhaps the lack of crumpled papers in his shoe locker or a clean desk was unusual. However, perhaps it all accounted for today being the first day of classes after summer break. The last six months before high school graduation had begun their report, and Anpan-kun was still counting the days. High school may be better.

Locked up tight

A bird in a cage

When will you fly out

Before dawn?

The crane slipped.

The turtle fell

Look around; we are starting over.

"Strange counting," thought Anpan-kun, "and who gave it to me? It was beautifully written, and the letters were clear and even. And the meaning is peculiar; if the turtle and the crane are symbols of longevity, then this is a hint, on the contrary, of transience and a new beginning".

Then, Anpan-kun flipped the piece of paper over. "After the seventh lesson, please come to the roof," it said there.

Though considering the note was to me, and no one had unfolded it or read it aloud, it's just another taunt. Either getting beaten up on the roof or called to confess again and immediately laughed at. Or wait immediately...

Anpan-kun figured the chances of getting out if he didn't show up. It didn't look good. Even if he left today... They'd tell his parents if he tried to run off to class early. And then he'd have to listen to the lectures and reproaches again. It's better to show up. Yes, it would be painful and humiliating, but he hoped it would be over quickly. He felt a sucking sensation in his stomach and almost threw up. You can't! No way! It would be worse than usual. If he threw up, he could forget about a quiet life for the rest of the year. And he wanted to make it to the end of the year...

***

The lessons dragged on like gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe: nasty, unpleasant, long, tedious, and never-ending. The rare exception was the classical literature lesson taught by Waisfoxen-sensei. The lesson was enjoyable, as always, but some of the classical poems reminded him of his morning poem and made him even more bored. Anpan-kun was even ready to get beaten up to get this nasty wait over.

His legs wouldn't move; they seemed to weigh a ton each, but he slumped his shoulders and shrank back a little, going to the roof.

With a little force, he threw the door aside. Anpan-kun made his way to the roof.

The sun was still high and brightly illuminated the area. The slightly faded tiles of some of the structures near the school, the gray slabs of the school roof covering, and the gray dust in the corners. He walked forward and approached the fence. Should he jump off, and that would be it? Would it be over?!

The scornful glances of his classmates, the judgmental glances of his parents, the indifferent looks of passers-by. The fence is high and complex, but if you climb that outhouse first...

The door to the roof creaked open, and Anpan-kun froze. The footsteps were solitary, but instead...heavy or something... So if someone came to mock him, they came alone.

I didn't want to look back. It was scary and disgusting.

- Kazumi-san," a quiet voice called out from behind him. He looked back and flinched.

And his eyes practically went black.

Since junior high school, he had forbidden himself to look in the direction of the opposite sex, well, his own as well. Considering how fat he'd gotten before the last semester of junior high, it was clear that not just friendship, not even a little normal socializing with people of either sex, was out of the question, even if there was no bullying. However, he had initiated his fullness. His mother's frustrated look and the poorly concealed disgust in his father's gaze only added to the negativity. The only thing that saved him from sinking entirely into the abyss of despair was his little sister. For her, he remained a "big brother," someone you can rely on, talk about everything, and ask for advice. Big and reliable. And even his excessive weight and darker disposition did not affect her attitude.

The girl who called out to him was a bit like his sister and something like one of the latest, rather popular Kikari Boshi idols. And she was pretty tall, albeit shorter than him; after all, he grew more than just in waist height. She was also someone he liked. And the fact that she had come here was a blow below the belt. He didn't think much of people as it was, but why her?! Why, of all the girls in his class, why her?! She's going to confess now; what's he going to do? Because even if it's fake...

His thoughts are interrupted by a girl's quiet voice:

- I like you Kazumi-san. Let's go out. - She tried to keep a smile on her face, but through that smile, she looked like she was about to cry.

And Anpan-kun, even though he was 99 percent sure that the confession was fake, still couldn't say no.

For those who sent Keko here, the strategy for future bullying was a win-win: if Anpan-kun agrees, she'll have to be the nasty fat guy's girlfriend for a while (how long, by the way?); if she refuses, she won't have to, but what kind of food for future bullying that even the nasty fat guy refused her.

- I agree, Ame-san, let's go out. Please take care of me.

- Take care of me, Kazumi-san.

They returned to class together. She didn't know how Ame made it to the end of class. But good, at least tomorrow is the weekend, and...

"So, what's the next step for those together? - Anpan-kun thought for a second, "Right! Walking home... Going to and from school together. I wonder if Keko-chan went alone... I'll have to ask."

"Beep," Ame's cell phone beeped on accepting the message.

Keko froze. How embarrassing and embarrassing to do this. She looked at Anpan-kun. He didn't evoke any particularly negative feelings from her or any particularly positive ones. A guy like a guy - pretty quiet, a little better than average in school. He is slightly below average in sports, but that's not surprising given his fullness.

Anyway, Anpan-kun took the initiative and offered to walk her home. She nodded; it was to her advantage. That she would be seen walking with Anpan-kun, well, that would happen anyway, and a day sooner, a day later, was immaterial. This way, she could ask for the phone.

They walked out of the school together, not so much side by side; the distance between them was noticeable, but still, any outsider could see that they were walking together.

They walked silently, a little embarrassed and annoyed, not knowing how to break it. Keka tensely pondered how to discreetly and unobtrusively get Anpan-kun's phone number. And Kazumi? Kazumi was also tensely pondering. As it seemed to him, the silence was becoming increasingly tense, and he didn't like it, and it didn't seem right.

"Kami-Sama, there must be something to talk about, right?"

His entire experience with the girls at the end of junior high school could hardly be considered remotely representative, but he had the other. What were they talking about then? About cartoons, no, that wouldn't do. Of course, he couldn't escape from reality without close friends, but he wasn't into anime. He read anime and watched some anime on his favorite subject but without fanaticism.

"Wait, what does this have to do with my hobbies? I have to find out about things she's interested in."

- Ame-san," he finally said, "What do you do outside school?

Ame blushed in response to such an innocent question, but she answered very quietly:

- I'm sorry, Anpan-kun, but I'm not ready to talk about it yet... - and then it came to her that she addressed Kazuma incorrectly...

She stopped and began to bow:

- I'm sorry, Kazumi-san, I just...

Anpan-kun didn't know how to react to that, so he just tried to calm her down:

- Don't worry so much, Ame-san. And you can call me that too. I don't take offense.

"At least I'm not offended by it; it sounds adorable in her voice."

- Then..." She hesitated momentarily but said, "Call me Keko, Anpan-kun.

- K-ke-k-ko-san," Anpan-kun said with a little stutter.

- It's okay without the suffix, but it's easier for you, Anpan-kun.

- Keko-san," he paused, his words clear, but the only reason for that was that he'd said the phrase ten times to himself, "Tomorrow's the weekend, and if we're going out," he paused, watching the girl's reaction. She didn't react negatively, so he continued, "The Tonas need to exchange phone numbers.

The wary expression on her face was replaced by a smile, a two-thirds fake smile, but a smile nonetheless:

- I don't mind. - Keko hesitated momentarily and finally managed to speak," Let's exchange Lain then, Anpan-kun.

They stopped at the window of some small gym. Anpan-kun smiled crookedly: he had once gone to a similar place with his father. It had been third-grade junior high school; he had looked handsome and athletic then, and his father had looked at him with pride instead of his usual tinge of contempt. Anpan-kun's phone was rather large and in a shockproof case; Keko's mobile had a drawn but recognizable chibi image of the idol Kiraru.

Anpan-kun thought for a moment. He didn't have much hope that his relationship with Ame-san would be long and happy. But... Unless the goal was to leave happy memories and memories that were enjoyable. Of course, it's not beautiful; he'll take advantage of the girl's disposition created by the coercion. But maybe he should tell the truth.

- Ame-san, I'd like to go on a date with you," the girl's face didn't show the "grief of the world" he'd feared, nor was there much enthusiasm, but he didn't expect any.

Keko lowered her eyes. If they were dating, it was okay. Even if it is... And quietly replied:

- I don't mind, Anpan-kun.

- But," Anpan-kun couldn't look at Keko either, so he was looking at the toes of his school shoes, "I don't have anything to go in, so I was wondering if you wouldn't mind if I went to my school uniform.

Ame was a little surprised and couldn't resist asking:

- How come, Anpan-kun? - She bit her tongue as it was a very improper question.

The man shrugged his shoulders with feigned indifference.

- It's straightforward, Ame-san. I have a school uniform, a sports uniform, and a winter jacket. And basically, I don't need anything else....

- But do parents... - Keko saw the pained expression on his face and decided not to develop the topic, - Sorry, Anpan-kun, - she bowed, - Of course, I don't mind. But...

She thought for a second:

- Say, Anpan-kun, and I'm sorry if I'm impolite," She hesitated for a moment but continued, "Would you like, maybe as a first, you know, training," she felt her ears burning. Still, she continued and managed to finish, even if she was a little confused and continued a little quieter, "date, to go pick out some clothes for you?

Anpan-kun seemed to be waiting for just that:

- Thanks for the offer, Ame-san; I hope you will be comfortable in this situation. In any case, I'm glad. - And Anpan-kun smiled—a very kind and joyful smile.

Keko felt herself smiling. And she was... glad?

Did she like the smile on fat Anpan-kun's face? Is she interested in going with him tomorrow and looking for clothes that would look good on him? Speaking of which, where to go?

She thought for a second. Naturally, the Blue Forest was a large and new shopping center with tons of youth clothing stores. She didn't like the idea: for one thing, there was a high chance of meeting her classmates there, and she still wanted to delay the moment when gossiping about her dating (how awful!) Anpan-kun would be the most popular topic of conversation. Let them walk together; they have already given the ground for conversation. Even though the gossip would probably start at the beginning of the week, she wanted to delay that moment a little longer. And secondly, it seemed to her that most of the clothes on sale there wouldn't fit Anpan-kun very well.

The second option was the old shopping center near the Red Hills. There were a lot of stores there that sold a slightly different style of clothing. And she thought that style should suit Anpan-kun better.

She found Anpan-kun looking at her, waiting for a continuation, an answer, or a reaction. I glanced around nervously, especially toward the gym window, but calmly waited and remained silent.

- I'm sorry, Anpan-kun, I was thinking about where to meet tomorrow. We should meet at the Red Hill subway station, at the north exit.

Anpan-kun thought things were going a little too smoothly, and maybe Ame-san couldn't refuse for some reason. But immediately, he shrugged it off; his job was to create exciting memories, and even a 'sort of not a date' and a shopping trip was good enough. I just wanted to let you know that clarifying was only necessary.

- I agree, Ame-san. What time do you think we should meet, and where exactly? - He decided to ask.

- Nine... I can't make it, so let's meet at ten, Anpan-kun. Where... I think we should meet near the east exit.

After such a long pause, they finally reached the subway. It turned out that they arrived at the subway significantly later than those who were coming from school, not lingering in the clubs. And earlier than those who were in the clubs. But rush hour was closer, and the cars were quite full. They both had to get to the same stop and go to a corner that was deserted at first, but the carriage was filling up more and more, and Anpan-kun, who was trying to cover Keko with his body, was pressed against her harder and harder. Having made an involuntary kabedon, placing his hands over Keko's shoulders, protecting her body from the others, and almost pressing her against the wagon wall himself, Anapan-kun strained his arms to hold back the crowd's pressure. In addition to wanting to protect Keko, he had another significant reason not to press himself against her. Her proximity affected him the way the proximity of a beautiful girl could affect a boy in puberty - he got a hard-on. He held on as best he could, but at the next turn of the subway, he still couldn't hold on, and for ten long moments, he was pressed against the girl. Even though she was standing a little sideways to him and he was pressed against her thigh, she couldn't help but feel it. From her rounded eyes, she realized those weren't house keys.

Anpan-kun's mouth was as dry as the deserts south of Manjuria, and to utter a word was an incredible feat; not saying a word was even more shameful. He wanted to die, to fall through the floor, to pass out, but that was too cowardly. And yet, he still managed to squeeze it out:

- I'm sorry, Ame-san.

Keko herself was afraid to bring it up. What she felt was embarrassing to the point of horror, frightening, and surprisingly flattering.

- It's all right, An-pan-kun," she managed to say, "I realize you didn't mean it.

That was the end, despite a few more repetitions due to the train maneuvers making them redder and redder.

***

The train became less crowded as they got closer to the neighborhood where they both lived. Anpan-kun stopped thinking about the embarrassment and decided to ignore everything that had happened and even recovered a little of his spent nerves. He stood a little away from Keko but not too far away that they were clearly together. Finally, they left the subway, and Keko stopped not far from the entrance.

- Ame-san," the boy started hesitantly, not knowing what to say.

- Anpan-san," Keko interrupted him firmly, "I don't think you should walk me home. First of all, I don't live very far from the station. Secondly, it's still relatively light. And lastly, I want to make this easy for you. And thank you for protecting me from the crowds. I usually go early and expect something else.

What Anpan-kun least expected was gratitude...

"Okay, not to think," he stopped himself. - Nothing happened..."

- I'm glad I was able to protect you, Ame-san. - he said out loud. - Well, I'll see you tomorrow, and have a good evening.

- Good evening to you, too, Anpan-kun.