Weekend mornings are always exceptionally pleasant. Kyogumichi, uncharacteristically, slept in, and by the time he woke, sunlight already streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains. He stretched, walked to his wardrobe to rummage for clothes—he had no plans today, just intended to go out for a walk.
He eventually chose a simple white hoodie, paired with washed-out jeans and white sneakers, then grabbed a black baseball cap and pulled it low, obscuring most of his face. Standing in front of the mirror, he observed that this outfit was fresh and casual, completely shedding the youthful awkwardness of school and adding a touch of lazy, youthful charm.
Stepping out of the apartment building, the weekend streets were a bit livelier than usual. The warm sun shone down on him as he walked aimlessly with his hands in his pockets, listening to the street vendors' calls and children's laughter, feeling exceptionally relaxed.
As he passed a corner park, he heard a muffled sob. Following the sound, he saw a small boy in a primary school uniform crouching under a slide, hugging his knees, his shoulders shaking, looking particularly pitiful.
He walked over, his steps light, and crouched beside him: "Little one, why are you here alone?"
The little boy looked up, revealing a small face streaked with tears, his eyes red: "I… I can't find my way home…"
"Don't be afraid. Do you remember your home address? Or your mother's phone number?" Kyogumichi's voice was very gentle.
The little boy shook his head, crying even harder: "I only remember my older sister's name… Her name is Hori Kyoko…"
"Hori Kyoko?" He was startled; the name sounded familiar, like a classmate from the next class. He took out his phone, "Then do you know any landmark buildings near your home? Like a supermarket or a station?"
The little boy sobbed out a few place names, and he searched them on the map, roughly pinpointing the location. "I'll take you home; it's on my way." He extended his hand, "What's your name?"
"Hori Souta." The little boy timidly placed his hand in his; his palm was small and slightly sweaty.
He held Souta's hand and walked slowly, patiently listening to him intermittently recount how he got lost playing hide-and-seek with his classmates. Though young, Souta was sensible; after crying for a while, he wiped away his tears, only clutching his shirt corner tightly, afraid of getting separated again.
When they reached the entrance of a residential complex, Souta's eyes suddenly lit up: "Here! My home is here!"
He pulled him into the complex, stopping at the bottom of an apartment building: "It's here! Thank you, Big Brother!"
Just then, a girl in loungewear ran out of the stairwell. Seeing Souta, she visibly relaxed, then her face hardened: "Hori Souta! Where did you run off to? Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"
The girl had neat, long hair and delicate, bright features. Even in simple loungewear, her capable demeanor was evident. She was Hori Kyoko, currently scolding her younger brother with her hands on her hips, but her eyes were full of lingering fear.
"Sister, I'm sorry…" Souta lowered his head and pointed to Kyogumichi beside him, "This Big Brother brought me back."
Kyoko only then noticed him, and when she clearly saw him, she was visibly startled. The boy wore a black baseball cap, and the clean, sharp lines of his profile were visible beneath the brim. His nose bridge was high, and the curve of his lips was just right.
The sunlight fell on his fair skin, as if coating him in a soft glow. Even just standing there casually, he exuded a mysterious attraction.
Kyoko's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly put away her scolding demeanor, bowing to him: "Thank you so much! This child is too naughty; he caused you trouble."
"It's nothing, just a small favor." He waved his hand, his voice tinged with a smile, "He's very sensible, just accidentally got lost."
"Regardless, I must thank you." Kyoko looked up, and when she looked at him again, there was a hint of admiration in her eyes, "May I ask who you are…?"
"My name is Okabara Kyogumichi, and I'm a student at Sobu University."
"So, you're an upperclassman from the same school?" Kyoko was a bit surprised; she had never seen such a handsome boy at school. "I'm Hori Kyoko, a first-year. Thank you again for bringing Souta back."
"You're welcome." He smiled, "Since I've brought him back, I'll be going now."
"Wait a moment!" Kyoko quickly called out to him, pulling a fruit candy from her pocket and offering it, "Please take this as a token of my gratitude."
He was momentarily stunned, then took the candy: "Thank you."
"Then, goodbye." Kyoko smiled at him, her smile bright and cheerful, completely different from how she looked when scolding her brother.
"Goodbye." He waved his hand and turned to leave.
After walking a long distance, he looked back and saw Kyoko holding Souta's hand and walking into the stairwell. The siblings seemed to still be talking about something. He unwrapped the fruit candy in his hand and put it in his mouth; the sweet strawberry flavor melted on his tongue.
[Character: Hori Kyoko] [Bond Progress:0% → 3% (Triggered Event: Unexpected Encounter)] [Event Evaluation:She was moved by your good looks and kindness, forming a preliminary impression of you]
He continued his walk, the sunlight filtering through the leaves and falling warmly on him. He touched the candy in his pocket, a smile unconsciously curving his lips. This unexpected weekend encounter had, surprisingly, brightened his mood even more.
The streets were still bustling with people. He walked slowly, hands in his pockets. What he didn't know was that after he left, Kyoko stood at the stairwell entrance, watching his retreating figure for a long time, until Souta tugged at her shirt corner, bringing her back to reality.
"Sister, that Big Brother is so handsome," Souta said, looking up with his small face.
Kyoko's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lightly tapped her brother's head: "What do children know? But… he really is quite handsome."
At this moment, he was strolling in the sunlight, a sweet fruit candy in his mouth, enjoying this rare leisurely weekend.
Life is like this, full of unexpected encounters, like specks of light scattered on the road, inadvertently illuminating the ordinary everyday. He looked at the distant sky, thinking about what to eat at Shiina Mahiru's place tonight, and walked forward with light steps.