On her way to Kaoru's place, Kaoru, riding a bike with some lunchboxes on the back passed by.
"Oh Kujou-san, good afternoon." Kaoru said with a smile.
"Huh?! Kawasaki-san?! What are you doing here?" Kanade, surprised asking why is he here.
"Oh, I'm just delivering the food to the customers. Things will get busier from now on, I don't think I'll have time for school." Kaoru said.
"Don't you miss going to school?" Kanade asked. As her words gets through, the smile Kaoru put on his face fades.
"Y-Yeah... I do. But I couldn't do anything about it." Kaoru said, it sounded like he really wanted to go, yet he's unable to do so.
"Is there any problems?" Kanade asked.
"N-No, I just have to be the head of the family after my dad's gone. All the responsibility falls on me. I can't just leave them to my mom right now." Kaoru said.
"If you're here to persuade me to go back to school, just give up. I should be going, if I delivered late, I'll get complaints." Kaoru added.
"H-Hey!" Kanade called to Kaoru.
"Having you getting involved in my life is already a blessing. Just let it end here. I do not deserve to be treated like this." Kaoru said.
"I-I see..." Kanade stopped following Kaoru, he cycled off into the distance until he disappeared behind a corner.
"Since when did my presence became like this... It just feels lonely..." Kanade laments, realising that is how people view her presence. Soon after, a man approaches Kanade, prompting a conversation.
"Little miss, you're wearing the uniform from Hokutosei right?" The man asked.
"Yes, I am. How can I help you?" Kanade responded.
"You see... I'm a regular at the shop where the father of the kid you spoke with earlier owns the business. You know that kid is going to quit school and help the business right? Can you change his mind? Kids like him shouldn't be quitting school for this reason." The man said.
"I see... I came here for the same reason, but he just wouldn't listen." Kanade said.
"I see... That explains the expression you made a moment ago. Well, it wouldn't be long until Kaoru-kun really take over the business by quitting school. We outsiders can't really help in that regard." The man lamented.
"Well, I have someone waiting for me. Gonna pay his grave a visit." The man said, waving his hand while holding a bottle of sake on the other hand.
"I see, have a safe trip." Kanade said before heading back home.
"I'm home." Kanade said as she entered her house.
"Oh Kanade, welcome home. Did anything happen today? You're early." Yuuki said.
"Oh... I went elsewhere today." Kanade said.
"Alright, I'll make something for you then." Yuuki said before heading to the kitchen.
"Thanks mom." Kanade said before heading upstairs. When Kanade came downstairs, Yuuki already finished cooking.
"So... Where did you go?" Yuuki asked.
"I just found the person I'm looking for halfway, here." Kanade said while showing a picture she took from the shop before heading home.
"Oh, this one huh? We occasionally ordered food from this shop. I heard the owner passed away, I wonder how are they managing now..." Yuuki said.
"I see..." Kanade responded.
"Is there any problems?" Yuuki asked.
"I happened to know the owner's son. He's in the same school as me." Kanade said.
"I see, is there any problems on his side?" Yuuki asked.
"Apparently, he wanted to quit school to work in the shop." Kanade said.
"Oh dear... That's not good..." Yuuki responded.
"I was trying to persuade him to come to school, he's a bit obstinate about it though..." Kanade said.
"It's not easy to persuade someone who made his mind after all." Yuuki said.
"Mom... Did I made my presence a bit too special?" Kanade asked.
"Hmm? Why do you ask that?" Yuuki asked.
"He told me... My presence is a blessing, and I should not get involved with him because he said he does not deserve me." Kanade said.
"By the sound of it... This boy seems like he's interested in you." Yuuki said.
"E-Eh?!" Kanade's face turned bright red.
"I-I mean! I think he do?!" Kanade flusters.
"Aww, to see my daughter's flustered face, that boy is something else." Yuuki continued to tease.
"Stop teasing me, mom!" Kanade said.
"Hehe... I'll stop, I'll stop." Yuuki replied.
After having a meal, Kanade returned to her room and lied down on her bed.
"I've never considered these feelings before... I thought I liked Kei-kun... Yet, I felt conflicted about this... Who is my fated person...?" Kanade thought.
On the way riding his bike back to the shop after finishing his delivery, Kaoru stopped by the bridge to witness the sunset.
"Kujou-san... What do I do... After saying those words..." Kaoru puts his palm on his chest, feeling the rapid palpitations of his heart, unsure whether it's from the long cycling or from the words he hastily left behind.
With the crisis on hand, Kaoru has to work hard. He must concentrate on his work, otherwise his father's co-owner will take over the business. Although his mother promises him that everything will be fine, it's a matter of pride that he don't want to give up the business his father built from scratch. After a short break, Kaoru returns to the shop, just to pick up new orders.