"Kogoro…"
Doiwaki Ruri's lips curved into a slight, helpless smile as she shook her head, clearly used to Mouri Kogoro's scatterbrained ways. "He's still so forgetful."
"He was probably too excited and mixed up the location," Hii Eri said, grabbing her friend's hand to cheer her up.
"Even if Kogoro's not here, Shuichi and I are," Hayashi Shuichi said with a grin. "Think of it as a friend hangout. I made some fruit porridge—try it."
Eri pulled Ruri to the counter, and Hayashi Shuichi handed her a bowl.
Ruri looked at her two friends, eyes brimming with warmth. "No need to worry. I know Kogoro's quirks—how could I be mad over something like this?"
She scooped a spoonful of porridge, savored it, and nodded approvingly. "Rich fruit flavor, perfectly blended with the rice aroma. It's complex and delicious."
"Shuichi, I didn't know you had such great cooking skills!"
"He kept it hidden," Eri said, shooting her childhood friend a smug glance. "I only found out two weeks ago. He never told us before."
"Isn't that better?" Ruri gave a knowing smile. "One of you should be good at cooking—it'll make things easier when you're together."
Eri's face flushed red, her eyes darting nervously as she stammered, "W-Who's going to be with him!"
"You two grew up together, so close no one could come between you," Ruri said, her smile confident. "I'd say it's impossible for you not to end up together. Right, Shuichi?"
"Uh…" Hayashi Shuichi froze, his gaze instinctively flicking to Eri.
Though she pretended not to care, Eri's eyes were locked on him, a subtle tension in her expression.
Hayashi Shuichi hesitated. "Today's about you and Kogoro's date. Why talk about me and Eri? Tell us about you two."
Eri's face fell, clearly displeased with his dodge.
Fujimine Yukiko, meanwhile, fumed. She felt Ruri's "no one could come between you" was a jab at her. What a perfect bestie for Glasses Girl…
Yukiko bit her lip, then blurted, "Eri said tons of girls liked Shuichi in junior high. Doiwaki-san, never had any feelings for him?"
The question hung awkwardly in the air.
Hayashi Shuichi stayed silent, while Eri, though annoyed at Yukiko for ruining the mood, was curious about Ruri's answer.
Ruri glanced at Yukiko, then at Eri, amused. "Shuichi's handsome and kind, but he's not my type. I see him more like a big brother—no other feelings."
"When you confessed to Kogoro, that shocked us," Eri said, diving into gossip mode. "When did you start liking that idiot?"
Ruri's cheeks pinked, her eyes shy. She stirred her porridge for a long moment before murmuring, "Actually, I noticed Kogoro back in kindergarten. By junior high, I knew I liked him."
"Kindergarten?" Eri and Hayashi Shuichi exchanged surprised looks.
"Did that idiot bully you?" Hayashi Shuichi asked.
In their memories, young Mouri Kogoro wasn't a class tyrant but definitely a troublemaker, always causing headaches for teachers and classmates.
"Bully me? Never," Ruri said, shaking her head. She propped her chin in her hand, her gaze dreamy, as if lost in those innocent days. "I was shy in kindergarten, with no friends, always alone in a corner. Once, some kids stole my toy and mocked me. I was about to cry when Kogoro stepped in, stood in front of me, and yelled at them until they ran off. That's how I got to know you guys."
"So that's how it happened. Classic Kogoro, playing hero," Eri said, nodding with sudden understanding, her eyes full of nostalgia for that brave little Kogoro and helpless Ruri.
"Kogoro, the hero saving the damsel," Yukiko teased, nudging Hayashi Shuichi. "What about you? Why didn't you step up?"
"Back then, Shuichi was always stone-faced and silent," Ruri laughed, her eyes warm with memories. "The whole class was scared of him, me included. He had this unapproachable aura."
"What? That's a thing?" Yukiko's interest piqued. "I thought Shuichi was always a girl magnet!"
"In kindergarten, everyone secretly called him Ice Face," Ruri chuckled. "Kids were more scared of him than the teacher. When he showed up, everyone went quiet, afraid to upset him."
"Ice Face? Your personality was that bad?" Yukiko gaped, incredulous.
She was about to press further when Eri frowned, her tone sharp. "Enough, let's drop it…"
"Why not?" Yukiko pouted, hands on hips. "I want to hear more about Shuichi's childhood. Can't I?"
Eri's face darkened but she stayed silent. Ruri shook her head. "You're misunderstanding. Eri doesn't want you asking because—"
"It's nothing," Hayashi Shuichi cut in. "My parents had just passed away then. I was in a bad place, didn't talk much. The kindergarten teachers and a doctor even thought I had autism."
(Chapter End)
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