Yu pushed open the stairwell door, humming softly, his school bag swinging at his side. The joy from earlier still bubbled in his chest—until he turned the corner.
There they were.
Taichi, Yamato, and Souma, camped right in front of his unit.
Yu froze, nearly dropping his bag. His throat went dry, his heart tripping over itself.
Yamato was the first to notice him. His eyes lit up.
"Oh ho… well, who's this cutie? Don't tell me—you're a new neighbor?"
Souma's grin spread wide.
"Guess luck's finally on our side, huh? Hey, miss transfer, you live here? Want some company? We were just about to head in for a drink."
Yu blinked at them, startled.
"…Eh?"
Inside his head, DK01 snorted.
[Oh, this is rich. They don't even recognize you. I could die from secondhand embarrassment.]
Yu clutched his shopping bag to his chest, heat rising in his cheeks. His tongue tripped over itself—should he correct them? Should he say something?
But before he could answer, Yamato leaned closer with a greasy smile.
"What's in the bag, princess? Shopping spree? You should let me carry that for you."
Souma chuckled low, trying to sound suave.
"Yeah, we'll treat you better than the losers around here. How about dinner sometime? I know a great—"
BANG!
The slam of Taichi's palm against the wall cut him off.
Both Yamato and Souma jumped, startled. Taichi's eyes, sharp and unreadable, burned holes into them.
"Get lost."
"Wha—Taichi, c'mon, we're just talking—"
"Out."
The word cracked like a whip.
For a second, the two hesitated, but one look at Taichi's face made them reconsider. Muttering half-hearted excuses, they slunk off down the hall, their footsteps echoing away.
Yu remained frozen, his knuckles white around the school bag.
Only when it was just the two of them did Taichi finally move, stepping back from the wall. His gaze lingered on Yu for a fraction too long—at the twin tails sliding loose, at the soft flush on his cheeks—before he muttered something under his breath and turned away, retreating into his own apartment next door.
The hallway fell silent again.
Yu, blinking, whispered to himself:
"…D-Did… he just save me?"
[Hah. Your knight in shining armor upgraded.]
DK01 quipped smugly.
[Guess Prince Charming's got more bark than his mutts.]
Yu pressed the school bag closer to his chest, his heart hammering wildly.
For a moment, Yu just stood there, outside in the hallway before going to his apartment door.
The door clicked shut behind him, muffling the outside world. Yu let out a shaky breath and slumped against the doorframe, sliding his school bag down onto the floor.
He crouched down and carefully began unpacking: the lip tint Sakura insisted he try, the hair clips Fumiko swore was "so him," and a beginner makeup kit that the two had all but forced into his bag.
Each item he placed on the small table, arranging them almost reverently. His pale fingers lingered on the shiny packaging.
"…It feels like treasure."
He murmured.
[Treasure, huh? That's one way to describe overpriced powder and fabric.]
DK01's dry voice echoed in his mind.
[You've got makeup, clothes, and enough gloss to shine a whole parade float. What you don't have is actual food in the fridge, or finished homework, or even basic human cooking skills.]
Yu puffed his cheeks, muttering,
"I–I tried cooking yesterday…"
[Tried, yes. Ate? No.]
He winced.
"…Shut up."
DK01 pressed on mercilessly.
[You can't keep living off apples and cafeteria food. Humans run on calories, not eyeliner. You want to keep playing dress-up, fine, but if you don't start learning to cook and study properly, you'll collapse again.]
Yu hugged the cardigan to his chest defensively, cheeks flushing pink.
"I'm not… just playing dress-up. I… I really like it."
That silenced DK01 for a beat. Then, softer, but still sardonic:
[Fine, fine. I get it. But at least promise me you'll figure out rice before mascara, yeah?]
Yu smiled faintly, setting the cardigan neatly aside.
"...Okay. Rice first."
The little apartment grew quiet again, only the soft hum of the fridge and the faint rustle of clothes breaking the silence. Yu sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at his new treasures with wide, earnest eyes. For once, despite everything, the world felt a little brighter.
---
The door slammed shut behind him, rattling the frame. Taichi leaned against it, jaw tight, heart pounding far too fast for his liking.
'What the hell was that?'
His two idiot friends had just tried hitting on Yu—on Yu, dressed in twin tails and a skirt, arms hugging shopping bags like some girl coming back from a date. And Taichi… had thrown them out.
'Why?'
He scrubbed a hand over his face, groaning low.
"Tch… what the hell is wrong with me…"
Yamato and Souma's words replayed in his head: "cutie," "princess," "miss." He should've corrected them, should've laughed it off like usual. But instead, the sight of Yu flinching back—looking so damn delicate—had made something snap in him.
Taichi's fists clenched. His pulse wouldn't calm.
Through the thin wall, he thought he heard movement. A faint rustle. Maybe even Yu's soft, muffled voice. He pressed his tongue against his teeth, scowling, but that didn't stop the heat creeping up his neck.
Images of Yu in those twin tails, pink-cheeked, bright-eyed, skirt swaying… it was too much.
He grabbed a can from the table, cracked it open, and downed half in one go, trying to drown the thoughts.
But no matter how hard he tried, the truth gnawed at him.
For the first time in years, Taichi felt like he was losing control.
---
The night was still young when the glow of Yu's phone lit up his pale face, his red eyes wide with fascination as he scrolled through YouTube.
"'Beginner-friendly hairstyles.'"
He whispered aloud, leaning close to the screen. On the video, a girl with glossy hair demonstrated a simple side braid tied with a ribbon. Yu paused it, rewound, and mimicked the motions with his own snowy strands.
It was… not easy. His fingers tangled. His braid looked more like a knot. The ribbon slipped three times before he managed to tie it with a shaky flourish.
He puffed out his cheeks in determination.
"…Cute enough!"
On the counter, his first attempt at making tomorrow's lunch sat abandoned: rice clumps too soggy, egg omelet burnt on one side. He poked at the bento box with a grimace.
"Humans make this look easy in shows…"
[Shows aren't reality, genius. At this rate, you'll poison yourself before you seduce anyone.]
DK01 remarked dryly.
Yu huffed, shoving the burnt omelet into the box anyway and covering it with plastic wrap.
"I'm not wasting food! It'll taste better tomorrow."
[That's a lie and you know it.]
"…Shut up."
Still, he placed the bento carefully in the fridge as if it were treasure, then went back to practicing his braid while DK01 muttered under his breath about "priorities" and "doom by fried eggs."
---
Next door, Taichi sat on the edge of his bed, still fully dressed, staring at the floor. His unopened textbooks lay scattered, forgotten.
Through the thin walls, faint sounds carried: Yu's voice, soft and humming along to some video. The creak of floorboards. A muffled laugh.
Taichi grit his teeth. His chest ached in a way he didn't want to name.
Yamato and Souma's dumb comments circled in his head, mixed with the image of Yu's bright, innocent face. His hand clenched so tightly on the bedsheet that his knuckles whitened.
'Why's he acting like that?'
'Why's he smiling like that—like nothing's wrong?'
'And worse… why the hell does it bother me so much?'
He shut his eyes, but the image of Yu in those twin tails wouldn't leave him. Frustrated, Taichi finally collapsed back on the mattress, throwing his arm over his face.
"…Damn it."
---
The next morning, when school was about to begin, the classroom buzzed with chatter as students filtered in.
Yu entered shyly, carrying his bag and that lovingly packed (albeit tragic) bento. His snowy hair was neatly tied into a side braid, the end secured with a bright red ribbon. Against his pale skin and glowing red eyes, it looked dazzling—almost unreal.
A few students gasped.
"Whoa, she's so cute today!"
"Is that a new hairstyle? It suits her!"
Yu flushed, ducking his head, secretly thrilled that the YouTube tutorial worked. He clutched his bag tighter and slipped into his seat, trying to ignore the whispers.
In the back, Taichi froze mid-step.
The ribbon. The braid. The way Yu's red eyes sparkled under the morning light.
His chest lurched, and he sat down hard, staring at the desk to avoid staring at him.
Yamato elbowed him with a grin.
"Oi, oi, you see? Our new class princess is leveling up. If you don't move soon, someone else is gonna ask her out."
Souma snickered.
"She'd look damn good on a date, huh?"
Taichi snapped his pencil clean in half before homeroom even began.
When it had, everyone took their seats as the homeroom teacher droned on, the scrape of chalk against the blackboard filling the room. Yu sat primly in his seat, side braid falling over his shoulder, red ribbon gleaming against his pale uniform collar. Every so often he'd nervously tuck a strand of hair behind his ear, not realizing how the simple motion drew more eyes to him.
Fumiko Fujimori and Sakura Sato leaned back from the row in front of him, unable to contain their excitement.
"Yu-chan, you look amazing today!"
Fumiko whispered, clasping her hands together.
"Seriously! That ribbon—kyaa, it's so perfect with your eyes!"
Sakura added, practically sparkling.
Yu's cheeks flushed crimson, and he ducked his head with a shy smile.
"R-really? I… I just tried copying a tutorial…"
"Tutorial or not, you look like an idol!"
Fumiko gushed.
The whispers didn't stop with them. Around the room, boys kept stealing glances—some subtle, others not at all. A couple exchanged nudges and low murmurs. One even turned beet red when Yu caught his eye and quickly looked away.
And at the very back, Taichi felt his blood boil.
His fist clenched under the desk. His jaw tightened until it ached.
Every pair of eyes staring at Yu—every blush, every grin—they all crawled under his skin like fire ants.
'Idiots. All of them. They don't know anything.'
Because he did.
He knew that this so-called "new girl" was Yukio. Yukio, the boy he'd bullied for years. The boy he could never look in the eye without his chest twisting up.
And now Yukio was sitting there, glowing, drawing everyone in without even trying.
Taichi gritted his teeth harder.
'What the hell are you playing at, Yukio…?'
Yamato leaned back in his chair, smirking.
"Oi, Taichi, we're not ditching? Don't tell me you're going soft because of the new girl already. You keep staring."
Souma snickered.
"Can't blame you though. She's a ten."
The new pencil in Taichi's hand snapped clean in two. He muttered something about sharpening it and didn't look at either of them again for the rest of class.
---
When the bell finally rang, Yu perked up, clutching his lunchbox like a prize. He had worked so hard last night—burnt omelet or not.
Fumiko and Sakura dragged him to a sunny table by the windows of the cafeteria.
"Sit with us, Yu-chan!"
Sakura said brightly.
Yu's heart soared. He wasn't alone. Not this time.
He unwrapped his bento with a shy smile… only for both girls to freeze when they saw what was inside.
A half-scorched omelet. Rice that had congealed into sticky lumps. Sausages that looked suspiciously undercooked.
"…Yu-chan…"
Fumiko whispered, her face paling with concern.
Yu blinked innocently.
"It looks good, right?"
Then he took a big bite of the omelet. His face immediately scrunched up, cheeks puffing like a chipmunk. He chewed bravely, forcing it down, before coughing into his hand.
"…Mmh. Strong flavor!"
Sakura bit her lip to keep from laughing, but Fumiko's heart cracked on the spot. She leaned forward, taking Yu's hands in hers.
"Yu-chan… don't eat that again. I can't let you suffer like this."
Yu tilted his head, confused.
"Eh?"
"I'll teach you how to cook!"
Fumiko declared, determination blazing in her eyes.
"I cook for my little brother every day—I know what I'm doing!"
Sakura immediately perked up.
"Oh! And me too! I want to help! It'll be fun if we do it together!"
Yu's red eyes widened, glimmering with gratitude. He clasped their hands back, his voice soft but earnest.
"R-really? You'd… teach me? Thank you! I want to learn… so I can make food as good as yours!"
Fumiko gave him a warm smile, while Sakura grinned and already started planning recipes aloud.
Yu glowed with happiness, barely noticing how Taichi sat at the far end of the cafeteria, chopsticks clenched tight in his hand, glaring daggers into his untouched tray.
---
The final bell of the day rang, and Yu practically floated out of the classroom between Fumiko and Sakura. His tragic bento had long been thrown in the trash, but his spirits soared—he wasn't walking home alone this time.
"First stop, the supermarket!"
Fumiko announced, looping her arm through Yu's.
"We'll pick up basics—rice, eggs, some veggies. Don't worry, we'll keep it beginner-friendly."
Sakura added, tugging his other arm.
Yu blushed, tugged along like a doll, his white braid swaying behind him.
"U-uh, okay… I'll do my best!"
At the store, the girls guided him aisle by aisle. Fumiko showed him how to check if vegetables were fresh, while Sakura stacked ingredients into the basket with the efficiency of someone who'd done this a thousand times. Yu, wide-eyed, nodded at everything, clutching the list like it was a sacred scroll.
"Yu-chan, do you even know how to wash rice?"
"…You have to wash it?"
Both girls groaned in unison, then laughed, their voices ringing through the aisles. Yu laughed too, though embarrassed, and for once he didn't feel like he was on the outside looking in.
---
Outside, Taichi shoved his hands in his pockets, Yamato and Souma flanking him on either side as they ambled down the street.
"Man, what a boring day,"
Souma complained.
"Let's grab snacks or something."
"Or hit the arcade!"
Yamato added.
Taichi didn't answer. His eyes were fixed ahead, sharp and unblinking.
Because there, under the fluorescent glow of the supermarket sign, Yu stepped out between the two gyarus, shopping bag dangling from each hand. His braid caught the fading sunlight, the ribbon flashing bright red as he laughed at something Sakura said.
Taichi's chest tightened.
"…The hell's she doing here?"
Yamato muttered, squinting.
Souma's grin widened.
"Ohhh. Isn't that the cute transfer girl? Figures even gyarus wanna hang around her. Damn, she looks good even with groceries."
Taichi's fists clenched in his pockets.
'That's not 'she.' That's Yukio.'
The words burned in his throat, but he didn't say them. Couldn't. His friends didn't know. No one did.
"…Oi, Taichi,"
Yamato smirked, nudging him.
"You're staring again. Don't tell me you actually like her?"
Taichi glared, but his silence only made them laugh harder.
As Yu walked ahead, bright and oblivious, Taichi's gaze followed him like a tether he couldn't cut, every step pounding his skull with more heat and confusion.
---
Evening slowly approaches and by the time they reached Yu's place, his arms were loaded with bags of vegetables, sauces, and rice. Fumiko and Sakura had insisted on carrying most of the heavy items, though Yu still tried to help, puffing along determinedly.
"Wow, your place is cute!"
Sakura said brightly as Yu opened the door, peering into the tidy but lonely apartment.
"It's so clean too!"
Fumiko added, setting down her bags.
Yu beamed shyly.
"Th-thank you… I tried to keep it nice."
[After I told you to clean up your messes.]
'But it still feels so empty…'
DK01's voice hummed in the back of his head.
[Empty now, maybe. But apparently you've just been adopted by two loud humans. Lucky you.]
Yu pouted faintly, but his heart swelled.
'Not empty anymore.'
The three gathered in the kitchen, where Yu quickly realized he had no idea how to even stand properly at the counter.
"Okay, lesson one: washing rice!"
Fumiko clapped her hands. She poured rice into the bowl and filled it with water.
"Just swirl your hand gently, like this."
Yu copied her. The water instantly went cloudy, and grains clung stubbornly to his fingers. He frowned, shaking his hand.
"It's sticking to me! I think it likes me too much."
Sakura giggled, taking his hand and showing him how to rinse properly.
"No, silly, that's supposed to happen! Just keep going until the water runs clearer."
Yu obeyed, tongue poking out in concentration, and the girls exchanged a fond look behind his back.
Next came chopping vegetables. Yu's grip on the knife was awkward, knuckles white, the blade wobbling dangerously.
"Careful, Yu-chan!"
Fumiko gasped, immediately guiding his hands into the right position.
"Yeah, fingers tucked in! Like a kitty paw, nyah~"
Sakura added, demonstrating by putting her closed hand close to her temple.
Yu mimicked her.
"Nyah?"
This earned him another round of squeals from the girls before Sakura moves Yu's closed hand from his temple to onto the carrot.
Yu flushed, then blinked at the sliced carrot he just cut.
"Oh! It didn't break weird this time!"
He beamed like he'd just slain a dragon.
[Congratulations. You've defeated… produce.]
DK01 deadpanned.
Yu stuck out his tongue toward the ceiling, earning confused looks from the girls, but they were too busy coaching him to dwell on it.
By the time the rice cooker beeped, the vegetables were stir-fried, and Fumiko had taught Yu how to roll a simple omelet.
The three sat down together, bowls steaming in front of them. Yu clasped his hands in delight.
"It smells… edible!"
"It smells delicious!"
Fumiko corrected with a laugh.
"Now taste!"
Sakura urged.
Yu scooped up rice and egg, chewing slowly… and his eyes lit up.
"It's good! I helped make this!"
The pride in his voice made both girls melt on the spot.
As they dug in, Yu felt warmth filling not just his stomach, but his chest too. The loneliness of the apartment seemed to lift with every laugh, every bit of chatter about recipes and hair accessories.