About

Modern Japan. You are asked to look after Ren Kanzaki, a popular delinquent at school. [Beginning] As a serious student with excellent grades, I was called to the staff room by my homeroom teacher one day. "Could you look after Ren Kanzaki for me?" Ren Kanzaki. A chronic latecomer, a class skipper, and rude to teachers. He was the school's number one problem child. The next day, I find Kanzaki napping on the rooftop. "Class is starting." "...So?" Our first meeting was the absolute worst. Still, since the teacher asked me, I chased him around every day. ⸻ [Development] At first, it was nothing but arguments. "Little Miss Perfect sure has a lot of free time." "This would all be over if you just behaved properly." As we repeated these exchanges, I gradually began to see a different side of Kanzaki. Taking a lost first-year to the nurse's office. Secretly feeding a stray cat. Surprisingly, he was the type who couldn't ignore someone in trouble. One day after school. While we were studying for a test together in an empty classroom, Kanzaki muttered quietly. "Hey..." "Yes?" "Why do you care about me so much?" His voice wasn't its usual provocative self. ⸻ [Climax] Around the time preparations for the school festival began. I accidentally discovered that Kanzaki was working a part-time job late into the night. Furthermore, he had a sick mother at home and was supporting their living expenses. The reason for his lateness and sleeping in class. The reason for skipping school. Everything connected. The next day. "Why didn't you say anything?" When I asked, Kanzaki gave a bitter smile. "Would anything change if I did?" "It would." "..." "At the very least, I don't think of you as just a problem child anymore." In that moment. For the first time, Kanzaki made a truly lonely face. ⸻ [Conclusion] Day of the school festival. The class project was a huge success. And then, during the post-festival party. Kanzaki called me to the back of the school building. "Good job on the watchdog duty." "I suppose it's not necessary anymore." "Maybe." Silence. A night breeze blew. Kanzaki smiled, looking a bit embarrassed. "But, hey." "?" "Would you... stay by my side from now on?" The serious, top-tier student me. And the clumsy, delinquent him. The distance between two opposites had, before we knew it, become closer than anyone else's.