"Not every warmth is a promise—
some are only borrowed…
just long enough to be missed forever."
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Shiyi looked at the rain, then back at his serious face. She realized he wouldn't let her walk. "Okay. Thank you, Kashima. You're really kind."
"But... are you sure?" Shiyi asked, looking at the expensive black Mercedes waiting at the sidewalk. It wasn't a crazy car, but it looked very top-class and luxury. "I don't want your driver to go the long way just for me."
"We're going that way anyway." Kashima lied gently. "And it's much safer."
Shiyi looked at the rain, then back at his serious face. She realized he wouldn't let her walk. "Okay. Thank you, Kashima. You're really kind."
Just then, Shido appeared out of nowhere. He didn't just walk; , he hopped happily towards them lifting his pant legs up high. He looked like a girl trying to keep his dress clean and held out his hand to Kashima with a dramatic look on his face.
"Oh, Young Master Kashima!" Shido said in a high, funny voice. "Please save me! My beautiful black crystal school shoes will be covered in mud! A delicate person like me cannot walk in such a mess!"
Kashima rolled his eyes, but a tiny smile almost touched his lips. "Shido, stop acting like a fool. If you want a ride, just say it."
"I want a ride!" Shido said normally, grinning. Hori and Tamiko joined them, laughing at Shido's drama. They all walked to the car. But as they reached the door, the Driver stepped out. He was a middle-aged man who looked very strict.
"Young Master," the Driver said, bowing only to Kashima. "The Master said you must come home immediately. No friends are allowed today."
Kashima's face turned serious. "Driver, tell my father or the Butler that I am at the library. I am taking my friends to visit Kento."
"I cannot do that, Young Master," the Driver said, shaking his head. "I will not tell a lie to the Master. It is wrong."
Kashima felt his blood pressure rising. "But I am telling you to—"
Suddenly, Shido put his hand on Kashima's shoulder. He moved Kashima aside and stood directly in front of the Driver. The Driver looked up, startled by how tall Shido was. There was a long moment of silence. Shido just stared at him.
'Don't tell me...Is this kid thinking of hitting me?' the Driver thought, feeling a cold sweat on his back. 'He looks like a troublemaker.'
"Shido, no!" Tamiko cried out, her voice shaking. "Please don't think of hitting him! He's an elder!"
"Yeah, Shido, stay calm!" Hori added, grabbing Shido's arm. "Don't do anything bad!"
Kashima just stood there, looking at the Driver. "Actually, go ahead, Shido. You have my permission to hit him. He's being very annoying."
Shido didn't hit him. Instead, he leaned in and spoke in a very respectful, soft tone. "Excuse me, Mister. Can I ask you something? Are you an angel?"
The Driver blinked. "What? An angel?"
"Well," Shido said, his voice suddenly turning sharp and savage. "Only angels never lie, right? Have you really never told a lie in your life? Or are you just doing this on purpose because we look like pests to you? Do we look like we don't belong in this nice car?"
The Driver gulped. He looked at Shido's intense eyes and then at the worried girls. He realized that if he said no, these kids would stay in the rain and he would be the one who looked like a villain.
"Fine," the Driver muttered, looking away. "Just get in. All of you."
"Thank you, Mister! You're the best!" Shido cheered. He hopped toward the car, stopping to admire the shiny paint. "Wow, look at this! This car is amazing, Kashima. The leather probably smells like money."
Kashima walked past the Driver. "He didn't deserve your thanks, Shido."
Shido turned around with a mischievous smirk. "You're right. You're the one who needs a thank you!"
Without any warning, Shido grabbed Kashima's face and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"HEY!" Kashima yelled, his face turning a bright, glowing red. He pushed Shido away with all his might, wiping his cheek with his sleeve. "Don't do that! That's gross!"
Shiyi and Hori watched, trying not to laugh. Shido just laughed and jumped into the front seat. Kashima stood there for a second, his heart racing. He acted like he was disgusted, but deep inside, he felt a warm spark of happiness that his friends were so close to him. He climbed into the back seat next to Shiyi, still blushing hard.
As the car pulled away from the school gates, the sound of the rain against the roof became a soft, rhythmic hum. Inside the car, it was warm and lively. Shido was already messing with the radio, trying to find a high-energy song, while Hori and Tamiko were chatting with Shiyi about the best fruit to buy for Kento.
Kashima sat by the window, his head leaning against the cool glass. He looked at the reflection of his friends' smiling faces in the dark window. For a moment, he felt a strange ache in his chest.
'They're so happy to be heading to a home where someone is waiting for them,' he thought quietly.
His mind drifted to his own home—a massive, beautiful mansion that always felt more like a museum than a house. Most of the time, the rooms were empty and silent. His mother, Kaori Sakurai, was a world-famous Hollywood actress. She spent most of the year in Europe or America, filming movies and walking on red carpets.
To her, Kashima was a beautiful son she could show off in photos, but she barely knew his favorite food.
Then there was his father, Seijurou Kanzaki. As the CEO of the Kanzaki Group, his life was his work. He saw Kashima as a project—a successor who had to be perfect in every way.
Kashima stared at the passing streetlights. In his house, no one ever asked how his day was. No one noticed if he came home late or if he was feeling tired. In fact, he realized with a bitter feeling that he actually preferred it when the house was empty. When both his parents were home at the same time, the silence was replaced by the sound of shouting.
They fought about everything—schedules, money, and their dying marriage. The "Perfect Kanzaki Family" was just a loud, broken mess behind closed doors.
A small, sad smile touched his lips as he looked back at Shiyi, who was laughing at something Shido said.
'At least here,' Kashima thought, his gaze softening as he watched her, 'it's warm.'
The car drove through the heart of Tokyo. Even though it was raining, the city was beautiful. Bright pink, blue, and yellow neon lights reflected on the wet street, making the roads look like they were covered in jewels.
Shido was having the time of his life. He was pressing the buttons to move the headrests and admiring the fancy wood trim on the doors. "Seriously, Kashima, I could live in this car. Does the fridge in the middle actually work? Can we put snacks in here?"
"Don't touch the fridge, Kirishima," Kashima said.
Hori looked out the window and then at their reflections. "Guys, we really need to stop. We are going to a sick person's house wearing these stiff uniforms. We look like we're going to a funeral or a business meeting. Kento will feel like he's back at school the moment he sees us."
"I agree," Kashima said, sitting up straighter. "It would be better to wear something casual. It feels more personal."
"But it'll take way too long to drop everyone off and wait for them to change," Shido pointed out, finally letting go of the seat controls. "By the time we reach Kento, he'll be retired and old."
Hori smirked, a look of quiet power on her face. "Driver, take the next turn. Stop at the Kagachi main store."
Shiyi's eyes went wide. "Wait, Hori! That's the most famous fashion building in the city! I've seen it in magazines. We can't just go in there!"
Hori just waved her hand like it was no big deal. "It's fine, Shiyi. My mother is Mari Tokisaki. She's the founder of the entire Kagachi line. And my father, Kaneki Nagachika, owns the Hospital beside the store and all the medical clinics nearby. It's basically my second home. We can get whatever we need there."
The car slowed down as a giant, glowing glass building appeared. It looked like a diamond standing in the rain.
As they stepped out of the car, Shido whistled, looking up at the high ceilings. "Okay, I feel poor just looking at the doorman," he joked, though he walked with his usual confident swagger.
The moment the heavy glass doors slid open, the atmosphere changed. The air inside smelled like expensive perfume and fresh lilies. The floor was made of white marble so polished that Shiyi was afraid to step on it in her school shoes.
The staff—all dressed in perfectly tailored black suits—were busy assisting wealthy customers. But the second they saw Hori walk in, the entire room seemed to stop. One by one, the employees stood up straight and tucked their hands behind their backs.
The floor manager, an elegant woman with a sharp bun, came rushing over with a look of pure delight. She bowed so low that her forehead almost touched her knees.
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SNEAK PEEK LINES 💬
"Hold on, little one. The dawn is coming."
"Make way! Give the sick man some air!"
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— With love, one forehead poke away from collapse,
Sakura Shinomiya 💫