“Lucky to have each other”

Lily strolled through the aisles of the manga store. Her fingers trailed lightly over the spines of the colorful volumes as she wandered aimlessly, letting the cozy atmosphere settle over her. The faint hum of a heater, the quiet shuffle of footsteps, and the occasional muffled conversation filled the air. It was a strange kind of peace, one she hadn't felt in days.

She turned a corner, her eyes scanning the rows for anything else that might catch her interest. And that's when she saw him.

A familiar figure stood a few feet away, hunched slightly as he flipped through the pages of a manga volume. His dark hair fell into his face, but there was no mistaking him—Koji Nakamura.

Her lips parted slightly in surprise, her heart skipping a beat. She blinked, half-wondering if she was imagining things. What were the chances? Of all the places in Seon, and of all the manga stores, she'd run into him here?

For a moment, she just stood there, watching him. He looked so focused, his usual goofy grin replaced by a quiet intensity as he studied the pages in his hands. It was… kind of endearing, actually. But then she remembered everything—the awkward silence between them at school, the way he'd walked away from her, and how much she'd missed him despite all of it.

A small, mischievous smile tugged at her lips. This was her chance.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward and cleared her throat.

"Hmm" she said, loud enough for him to hear, though she kept her tone light and playful. "I wonder if there's anyone here who can help me figure out what to read. I mean, I'm totally lost. I wouldn't know where to start."

Koji froze mid-page. Slowly, he looked up, his wide eyes locking onto hers. For a split second, he looked like a deer caught in headlights. Then, recognition dawned, and his face turned a bright shade of red.

"L-Lily?" he stammered, the manga slipping slightly in his hands. He straightened up so quickly that he nearly knocked over the display next to him. "W-What are you doing here?"

Lily crossed her arms, tilting her head as she fought back a grin. "What does it look like? I'm exploring a world I know absolutely nothing about." She gestured to the rows of books around them. "I thought maybe a certain seat buddy of mine could offer some guidance. Unless, of course, he's too busy?"

Koji's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. He glanced down at the manga in his hands, then back at her. "I—I'm not busy," he said quickly, his words tumbling over each other. "I mean, yeah, I can help! If you want."

"I do!"Lily replied, her smile softening. "But only if you're sure."

He nodded so vigorously that she thought his head might fall off. "Of course! Absolutely! Let's find you something awesome."

Lily's chest tightened slightly as she watched him fumble to put the manga back on the shelf, his usual clumsy enthusiasm shining through. This was the Koji she knew. The Koji she'd missed.

He led her down one of the aisles, his hands gesturing animatedly as he rattled off titles and genres. "Okay, so if you're into action, you have to check out this one—oh, wait, maybe you'd like romance? Or comedy? Or… maybe slice of life? There's this really great series about a girl who—wait, no, too dramatic. Uh—"

"Koji" Lily interrupted gently, placing a hand on his arm to stop his rambling. "I trust you. Pick whatever you think I'd like."

Koji blinked at her, his mouth half-open, before a shy smile spread across his face. "Okay," he said softly, his voice steadier now. "I've got just the thing."

He pulled a volume off the shelf, holding it out to her with both hands like it was some kind of sacred offering. "Here. This one's perfect for beginners. It's funny, but it also has a lot of heart. I think you'll like it."

Lily took the book, her fingers brushing against his for a brief moment. She glanced down at the cover, then back up at him. "Thank you!" she said sincerely.

Koji scratched the back of his neck, his cheeks still red. "It's nothing. I mean, you're welcome. I, uh…" He trailed off, his eyes darting to the floor. "I'm sorry, Lily."

Her smile faltered slightly. "For what?"

"For being… distant" he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I shouldn't have done that. You didn't do anything wrong, and I… I guess I was just feeling… I don't know. Stupid, probably."

Lily's heart ached at the vulnerability in his tone. She reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Koji, it's okay. I get it. But I missed you, you know?"

He looked up at her, his eyes wide and a little glassy. "I missed you too!" he said, his voice cracking slightly. "A lot."

For a moment, they just stood there, surrounded by shelves of colorful manga and the faint hum of conversation. And then, as if the weight of the world had been lifted, Koji grinned.

"So, uh… wanna grab some more books?" he asked, his tone lighter now. "I can introduce you to some classics. Oh! And we should get snacks after. It's like, a rule of manga reading."

Lily laughed, her earlier worries fading into the background. "Sounds like a plan, seat buddy."

Together, they wandered deeper into the store, their laughter mingling with the warmth of the space. For the first time in days, everything felt… right.

The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky as Lily and Koji strolled down the streets of Seon, their laughter still echoing faintly from the ramen shop they'd just left. Lily clutched a paper bag filled with the manga she'd chosen—half of which were Koji's enthusiastic recommendations, while the other half were wild guesses that she'd picked because the covers looked pretty.

Her cheeks were rosy from the crisp air, and her blonde hair bounced with each step. Koji walked beside her, his hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets, the faintest smile playing on his lips. Everything felt… normal. Like the cloud that had been hanging over them had finally lifted, at least a little.

They stopped in front of a small café where Kenjiro was visible through the window, seated at a table with another man. Lily glanced inside, her father gesturing animatedly as he spoke. Whatever work thing he was caught up in looked intense, but she wasn't worried. That was his element.

She turned back to Koji, who was leaning against the café's brick wall, his gaze fixed somewhere on the horizon. She set the bag of manga down beside her and joined him, crossing her arms. "Alright, spill" she said, breaking the quiet. "What's really going on, Koji? You've been acting weird."

Koji flinched slightly, caught off guard by her directness. "Weird? I—I don't know what you're talking about."

Lily arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms more firmly. "Ko-ko, come on. You ghosted me for days, and then you acted like I had the plague. I thought we were friends."

He winced at her words, his shoulders slumping. "We are friends. It's just… I didn't want you to—"

"To what?" Lily prompted, leaning closer. "Get hurt? Be sad? What, Koji?"

His gaze dropped to the pavement, his sneakers shuffling slightly. "I didn't want you to get dragged into… everything," he muttered. "You don't deserve it."

"Dragged into what? The bullies?" Lily asked, tilting her head. "Koji, you know I can handle them. I mean, I'm still figuring out how, but—"

"That's the point!" he interrupted, his voice rising slightly before he caught himself. He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "You shouldn't have to handle them. None of this would be happening to you if it weren't for me. They only target you because you're friends with me."

Lily's brow furrowed as she stared at him, her heart twisting at the guilt in his voice. "That's not true."

"It is" Koji insisted, finally looking up to meet her eyes. "They've been after me for years, Lily. And now you're part of their games because of me. I didn't want that for you. You're new here. You could've had a clean slate."

"A clean slate?" she echoed, her voice softening. "Koji, you're my clean slate. I didn't know anyone here. You were the first person who made me feel welcome. You're the reason this school doesn't completely suck."

His eyes widened slightly, and he blinked at her, clearly not expecting her words.

"So, no" she continued firmly. "I don't care if I'm a 'target.' If being your friend means dealing with a bunch of jerks, then so be it. You're worth it, Koji. At least, you are to me."

Koji stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like he was trying to find the right words. Finally, he managed to stammer, "Y-you mean that?"

"Obviously, and I remember telling you before ." Lily replied, rolling her eyes playfully. "That is, if you still want to be my friend."

He laughed softly, though it came out a little watery. "Of course I do. I mean, who else is gonna put up with me?"

She smiled at him, and it was one of those smiles—the kind that seemed to light up the world around her, chasing away every shadow. Koji felt his chest lighten, the weight he'd been carrying all week suddenly not as unbearable.

"Thanks, Lily" he said quietly. "And… I'm sorry. For everything."

"Apology accepted." she said, nudging him lightly with her elbow. "But don't you dare ghost me again, got it?"

He nodded, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Got it."

For a moment, they just stood there, the noise of the city buzzing faintly around them. Lily glanced down at her bag of manga, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "There's actually been… something weird going on with me lately" she said hesitantly, her voice dropping slightly.

Koji frowned, tilting his head. "Weird? Like what?"

"Well, there's this—"

Before she could finish, the café door swung open, and Kenjiro stepped out, his voice booming as he bid farewell to his business partner. "We'll finalize everything next week!" he called, waving a hand.

Lily straightened up instantly, spinning around to face her dad. "Hey, Dad!" she said quickly, grabbing the bag of manga. "All done?"

Kenjiro grinned at her, looking slightly frazzled but still in high spirits. "All done." he confirmed, then gave Koji a curious glance. "And you must be Koji."

Koji stiffened, bowing slightly. "Nakamura Koji, nice to meet you, sir."

Kenjiro chuckled, clapping him lightly on the shoulder. "No need to be so formal, kid. Anyone who's a friend of Lily's is a friend of mine."

Lily rolled her eyes, her cheeks turning pink. "Dad, stop embarrassing him."

"I'm not embarrassing him" Kenjiro said innocently, though his grin suggested otherwise. "Anyway, ready to head home? Unless, of course, your friend wants to stay a little longer"

"No, no! Thank you Mr. Aikawa! Maybe another time!"

"Are you sure, Koji?" Lily said, shooting him a small smile.

"Yes! Really, thanks for the invitation."

"Well, then.. I'll see you Monday?"

"Yeah" Koji said, nodding quickly. "Monday."

As she and Kenjiro walked away, Lily glanced back over her shoulder, waving at Koji. He waved back, his heart feeling just a little lighter.

ヽ( ⌒o⌒)人(⌒-⌒ )ﾉ

The car hummed softly as Kenjiro navigated through the streets of Seon, the glow of streetlights reflecting off the windshield. The warmth of the heater wrapped the car in a cozy cocoon, a stark contrast to the brisk chill outside. Lily leaned back in her seat, clutching the bag of manga in her lap, her blonde hair still slightly tousled from the evening breeze.

Kenjiro glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "So" he said, breaking the silence, "what's with all the books? I thought you weren't into manga."

Lily turned to him with a small smile, her cheeks tinged pink. "I wasn't. But Koji—he's kind of an expert, so I figured I'd give it a shot. He said it's… 'cultural homework.'"

Kenjiro let out a hearty laugh, his deep voice filling the car. "Cultural homework, huh? That's a good one. That Koji kid seems alright."

"He is" Lily said softly, fiddling with the corner of the bag. "He's just… going through some stuff. But I think he's getting better."

Kenjiro nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Good friends are hard to come by. You're lucky to have each other."

Before Lily could respond, the car's Bluetooth buzzed, interrupting the moment. Kenjiro frowned, pressing the button on the steering wheel to answer the call. "Kenjiro speaking" he said, his tone shifting to something more professional.

Lily listened quietly as the voice on the other end began speaking rapidly. She couldn't make out every word, but she caught enough to understand the gist. Something about an assistant for a project—someone wasn't answering their phone, deadlines were looming, and there was clearly a lot on the line.

Kenjiro's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he listened, his jaw clenching. "You've got to be kidding me" he muttered under his breath. "How can they drop the ball on this? We're on a tight schedule as it is."

The conversation continued, Kenjiro's voice growing more frustrated with each passing moment. Lily stayed silent, her gaze shifting between her father and the passing cityscape outside the window. She recognized that tone—it was his "work mode." She knew better than to interrupt.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kenjiro ended the call with a sharp sigh, running a hand through his dark hair. "Unbelievable" he muttered, shaking his head. "Some people just don't understand what 'commitment' means."

Lily tilted her head, her voice gentle. "Bad call?"

Kenjiro let out a humorless chuckle. "That's putting it mildly. My assistant's gone AWOL, and we've got a shoot scheduled for Monday morning. No assistant, no progress. It's a mess."

She hesitated for a moment, then offered tentatively, "What if I help? I mean, I could be your assistant, Dad. I'm organized, and I know how to handle a camera… sort of."

Kenjiro turned to her, his expression softening for a moment before he shook his head. "Lily, that's sweet of you, but absolutely not."

"Why not?" she pressed, sitting up straighter. "I'm serious! I've got the weekend to learn whatever you need me to, and—"

"It's not about whether you can do it" Kenjiro interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "It's about the fact that you have school. Your education comes first, and this gig? It's mornings, early mornings. I can't have you skipping class just to bail me out."

Lily frowned, her shoulders sagging. "But, Dad, I want to help. You're always working so hard, and—"

"I appreciate it, kiddo" he said, offering her a small smile. "Really, I do. But this isn't your problem to solve. I'll figure something out."

The car fell into silence for a moment, the tension hanging in the air like a thick fog. Kenjiro drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, his mind clearly racing with thoughts about the project. Lily could see it in his face—the frustration, the stress, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him.

"You're gonna burn out if you keep pushing yourself like this" she said quietly, her tone tinged with concern.

Kenjiro chuckled again, though this time it sounded more tired than amused. "That's what coffee's for."

"And beer, apparently"she teased lightly, trying to lift the mood. But even as she joked, she couldn't help but notice the faint scent of something else lingering in the car. Something sharp and smoky.

She didn't mention it.

Kenjiro shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You're way too nosy , you know that?"

"Well, someone's gotta keep you in line" she shot back with a grin.

They pulled into the driveway, the glow of the porch light illuminating the small house. Kenjiro turned off the engine and leaned back in his seat, exhaling slowly. For a moment, neither of them moved.

Lily reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "You're doing great, Dad. Really. You'll figure this out."

He glanced at her, his eyes softening as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Thanks, kiddo. I needed that."

Kenjiro drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, staring straight ahead as Lily opened the car door. The porch light illuminated her blonde hair, which glowed like a halo in the dim evening. She turned to him, holding the bag of manga close to her chest.

"Are you coming inside?" she asked, her tone soft but tinged with concern.

Kenjiro hesitated, then gave her a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Not yet. I've got a few more calls to make for this mess. Don't worry—I'll be home soon. Not too late, promise."

Lily's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but she nodded. "Okay. Just… be careful, alright? And don't let it stress you out too much. You've got this."

"Yeah" he murmured, watching as she hesitated on the doorstep. Her smile was warm, but he could see the sadness behind it. It hit him harder than he expected.

As she slipped inside and the door clicked shut, Kenjiro stayed in place, staring at the empty seat beside him. He sighed heavily, leaning back into the seat as the silence pressed down on him. His fingers moved instinctively to the glove compartment, pulling it open to reveal a crumpled pack of cigarettes.

"Just one" he muttered to himself as he plucked a cigarette from the pack and grabbed the lighter. The click of the flame breaking through the quiet was almost soothing. The first inhale hit his lungs, and he exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl toward the ceiling. It wasn't the healthiest habit, sure, but it wasn't the worst thing in the world, either.

At least, that's what he told himself.

Kenjiro waited until the glowing ember burned close to the filter before he crushed the cigarette in the car's ashtray. He sat there for another moment, staring at the steering wheel, before shaking his head and turning the key in the ignition. The engine purred to life, and he backed out of the driveway, heading toward the dimly lit streets of Seon.