"Himawari Chan, I have liked you since we were 1st year, please go out with me!"

On the evening of a sunny day, Yoshinaga Taiyo confessed to his very first crush. Still, in a bowing position, he is too embarrassed to face her. Her name is Ono Himawari, and she is a student in a different classroom from him. A few seconds of silence passed, and Ono Himawari finally opened her mouth.

“Pfft!! Are you for real?" She replied with a snickering tone.

"Who the heck confessing their feelings on graduation day, it was so outdated. Sorry, but I don't even know who you are so, best of luck finding truly one hahaha."

Upon hearing her response, Taiyo stood still. He was unable to say what he wanted to say as if his brain was malfunctioning.

She left him with laughter that very much hurt his feelings. Her appearance slowly faded from his vision until he could no longer see her.

A few minutes passed he finally decided to go back to his classroom. He walked through the silent corridor, his head still replaying the response Himawari gave him. He arrived at his classroom, and sat on the chair where he used to sit then finally sadness came crushing toward his heart.

"Waahhhh!!!" He cries his eyes out. He then slams his head to his desk while crying out loud, tears streaming down like a waterfall making his desk flooded. He cried so much until his best friend, Itou Akari came.

“I wonder who the heck is crying like a baby lost his mother at this time of day. It was creepy when I walked through the silent corridor. And…was it you Taiyo?” Annoyed Akari who came from another empty classroom, walks towards Taiyo while his question greets with silence. Taiyo responded to his name by slowly lifting his face while still crying a stream-like waterfall.

“Unhhh…” he answered.

“Pfft-puwahahahaha!!” Akari suddenly burst into laughter upon seeing his friend’s crying face.

”YOUR FACE LOOKS SOOO HILARIOUS I CAN’T- HAHAHAHAH!” Five minutes later,  Akari calmed down a bit while his friend Taiyo looked at him with desolate looks in his eye. He was also done with his weeping session.

”What’s wrong my man, your confession didn’t go well I presume?” He asks randomly.

Upon hearing those questions, Taiyo bit his lip a bit then he replied” She said…b-best of luck finding your truly one.”

“I see.. well! Time for you to move forward buddy.” Akari said with an energetic tone not because Taiyo's confession didn't go well but to lift the gloomy mood surrounding his friends.

“I-uuwuugh~” His eyes start to tear up again. Akari notices his about to burst crying and come up with a plan to avoid ‘disaster.’

“Okay okay don’t cry baby why don’t we go on a little tour of a grocery shop? Let’s eat nabe and forget your sadness.” Akari offers him his specialty dish as a form of soothing his friend’s broken heart. That is the least he could do to his sad friend.

Both Taiyo and Akari start packing their belongings to leave the school. Deep down they will miss this old classroom, maybe. They then go straight to a nearby grocery shop to buy ingredients for their dinner.

After buying the ingredients for their dinner later, they went straight to Yoshinaga's residence, where Taiyo is currently living with his grandmother. The sun had almost set by the time they arrived. Both of them went inside to greet Taiyo's grandmother, Yoshinaga Tsubaki, who was having her tea time.

"Granny, we're home." Taiyo greets his grandmother in the living room as soon they arrive.

Hearing the familiar voice, she immediately reply the calls while still holding her cup of tea.

"Welcome back Taiyo. You're quite late. Oh, Akari is here today, too."

"Evening granny, both of us planned to have dinner here. I hope you don't mind my sudden intrusion. Oh and here's a little souvenir. I hope it's up to your taste." Akari greets Tsubaki as soon he meets her.

"Oh, then I gladly take it. Help yourself as you please; you may use the kitchen at the back, we can enjoy this after dinner together." Tsubaki replied.

"Thanks a lot, granny! Come Taiyo you should help me, you can set the table afterward." Akari happily went to the said kitchen. He then grabbed Taiyo by his arm and dragged him to the kitchen.

"Okay, I got it I'll help you don't drag me~."

In the kitchen,

Both Akari and Taiyo prepare some ingredients essential for tonight's dinner. Akari is known to be a good cook by people who know him. Meanwhile Taiyo on the other hand, needs to be guided for him to make a decent meal. Akari is well aware of his friend's cooking skills, so he invites him to help in the kitchen so he can guide Taiyo until he can make a decent meal on his own. 30 minutes have passed, their hot pot is almost ready to be served.

"Done! Now time for the taste." Akari takes a small spoon and takes a sip of the soup. After the tasting, Akari's face twists into a sour face. His eyebrows squinted and his tongue stuck out.

"Urk!" Why does this soup taste too sweet? He asked while looking at Taiyo.

"Sweet? I don't think I add any sugar in it..." Taiyo replied to him as he grabbed one of the ingredients he put in earlier. It was sugar instead of salt. His face becomes restless because he knows how scary his friend can be if he messes up in cooking something.

Both of them were speechless because not only did Taiyo confuse salt and sugar but he put an immeasurably large amount of it. They look at each other in silence for a few seconds. At the speed of light, Akari grabbed another clean spoon, scooped the soup, and fed Taiyo for him to taste. Once he tasted the soup, his expression twisted into a sour face as well.

"Bleurgh pwah pwah! Too sweet!!!"The taste was too strong to handle he ended up sticking out his tongue like Akari did earlier.

"See? You are still confused between salt and sugar even in your kitchen. Seems like I still can't look away when you do some cooking." He complains while 'fixing' the hot pot taste.

"Man... cooking just not for me. All I can manage is instant noodles with bland taste hyuk-" Before he could finish his sentences, Akari slapped a bit both of his friend's cheeks. Taiyo's mouth became puffed with both Akari's hand still latched on his cheeks. Akari's gaze locks with Taiyo's eyes.

"And that is why I will invite you to cook with me. It doesn't matter how many times it takes for you to achieve edible meals, all you need is dedication and hard work to make it happen. So don't give up so easily. As your friend, I want to taste your delicious cooking someday." Akari encourages his friends with his word of wisdom.

Hearing his friend's words, Taiyo feels motivated to keep up with his friend's energy and his future plans.

"Yeah, I will work hard to achieve that goal!" Taiyo replied to his friend enthusiastically.

By that time the hot pot is ready to serve. As they had planned, Taiyo will start setting the table while Akari will serve the food on the table. Tsubaki on the other hand went prepare some cold drinks to match the food that have been served on the table.

"Thanks for the food!" They pray together harmonically. They take their own time to devour the foods served before them at their own pace.

After they finished their meals, Tsubaki prepared some snacks paired with warm tea. The snacks were brought by Akari when they did the grocery shopping earlier, so she decided to enjoy it with everyone. They chat to pass some time. During this time Akari takes a chance to tell Tsubaki about what happened earlier at school.

After listening to Akari's story, Tsubaki then reaches out her hand to pat Taiyo's head with sympathy.

"Dear me is that true Taiyo? No need to worry, as she said you will meet your destined partner someday. In the meantime, Akari and this old lady will support you. Let the past remain in the past and strive for the future ahead."

Hearing what his granny said, he felt relieved. Deep down he vowed to himself not to make his grandmother disappoint adopted him 15 years ago.

"Yes, granny! I will promise you I will never, ever disappoint you in the future as well. I will become the most reliable man you ever have! And of course, I will not disappoint with a single rejection! " He said in an enthusiastic tone.

"That's the spirit !" Both Tsubaki and Akari clapped their hands upon hearing Taiyo's declaration.

At the same time, Akari's phone rings indicating that it is time for him to go home. He looks at the time and shows it is almost 10 o'clock.

"Ah... It's already this late. Time sure flies so fast. Well, I should head back right now. Goodnight granny, Taiyo. "Akari stood up, then took his bag and went towards the main entrance.

"Oh, okay~ have a good night's rest too." Taiyo replied while munching on the snacks.

"Let me see you off, Akari." Tsubaki on the other hand wanted to see him off.

"It's alright granny I can see myself off. You shouldn't stress your body too much." Akari wants to politely decline but Tsubaki insists.

"Ah... no don't give me that. This lady is too old already, who knows how long I have to live left." Tsubaki jokes a bit, but it is the truth that cannot be denied.

"I-sigh...okay, if granny insists I won't stop you." Feeling defeated, Akari lets Tsubaki do as she pleases.

When they are at the main entrance, Akari wears his shoes. He looks back at Tsubaki and bows to her. Before he could step his foot outside the house, Tsubaki voice out her thought.

"I hope your mother recovers soon Akari. Feel free to come here if you want someone to talk to." She is well aware of Akari's mother's condition. With a sad look, she just sincerely hope that his mother recover back to her usual self.

"Thanks for your concern granny. Yeah, I too, hope that she will be back to her usual self someday. I can't wait for that day to come. Anyway, I might not visit you during the holidays. I will notify Taiyo if I come to visit next time." He spoke his mind with a distant look, still wearing a deceitful smile on his face.

Hearing what Akari said, she closed her eyes not to speak too much about the matter since it would only bring sadness to the young boy standing in front of her. A few seconds later she replied to him.

"Yeah, I understand. Don't push yourself too hard. Just call Taiyo if you need any help."

After hearing her response, Akari nodded his head before he left as a sign of understanding. He then makes his way to his home where his mother, Itou Suzuki currently living in.

Tsubaki watches Akari's back as he slowly disappear from her view. Deep down she knew that this boy named Akari would be occupied attending to his sick mother and wish to stay by her side as long as he could.