Kazuto had always been stupid. Not regular stupid. But legendary stupid.
Before going to school, he used to walk 4 km just to see his crush and check how she was doing.
That crush loved him very much.
Well… at least in his mind she loved him.
Because, in reality, he had already gotten in trouble for entering her house in the middle of the night and sleeping in the same bed.
He was nicknamed the dumbest guy in school, but he had an enviable pride — a pride that didn't care about what others said.
— Mom! I'm going to school — said Kazuto, cheerful as ever while drinking his strawberry juice.
— Sweetie, you're forgetting the flowers — his mother replied, handing him flowers of different colors.
— But the botany class is tomorrow, right?
— Even I, and I don't even study there, know the class is today. You need to pay more attention to your subjects, son.
After Kazuto received the flowers, he ran through the streets toward the school.
Humming his favorite song — "The Dried-Fish Warriors" (a bizarre series where people wear fish suits and fight farting bloodthirsty cats).
After an hour of walking, Kazuto arrived at school and was greeted by his best friend, Mike. They walked down the hallway looking for their classroom.
— Here! This is today's schedule — Mike handed him a list.
"7 AM — botany class
9 AM — break and buy boiled banana leaves with peanut juice
10 AM — spy on the girls' bathroom
11 AM — skip class and kiss any girl that walks by"
Reading all that, tears streamed down Kazuto's face.
— Why are you crying?
— Because you're a genius!! You are me! — he said, hugging his friend.
The two hugged as if they had just confessed to someone and received a "yes" for the first time.
At that moment, a classmate ran past them in a hurry and became the last in an already long line.
Curious, Kazuto and his friend asked what was going on.
— Misato lost her flowers! Now she needs flowers for the botany class, so we all lined up for her to pick one. The flower she chooses will stay with her. What a privilege!! Don't you guys think?
Those words exploded inside Kazuto's head.
— This is my chance.
Mike put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
— Go for it, buddy.
Kazuto went to wait in the line.
Minutes… minutes… more minutes passed.
Misato rejected every guy, and only Kazuto was left.
— Show me your flowers — Misato demanded.
— Misato-kun spoke to me — Kazuto thought.
— Hey! Why are you taking so long? My patience is running out.
Kazuto searched his backpack. NOTHING! THERE WAS NOTHING. NO NOTEBOOKS, NO PENS, NO BOOKS, NO FLOWERS.
His backpack had been chewed by a rat at the bottom, which caused everything inside to fall out.
Misato was accompanied by two friends, Rin and Marin. They burst into laughter like never before.
Misato sighed deeply:
— What a disgrace…
— I'll get the flowers, I promise! Wait for me, Misato-kun! I'll… I'll… I'll be right back!
Kazuto ran out of the school looking for the flowers.
He saw his notebook and his pens but didn't pick them up. He kept searching for the flowers.
He climbed trees; on one of them he found five pigeons dating three chickens. He interrupted the moment and was chased.
After that, he entered a bar, ordered an expensive juice, and fled.
Time passed quickly. Heavy rain began pouring down. Misato took Mike's flowers — Kazuto's own friend — and together they attended the botany class.
12 PM. Class ended. Kazuto, soaked from the rain still falling from the sky, small scratches on his forehead, and his clothes dirty and sweaty, saw all his classmates leaving before he even entered the school.
— Misato-kun! I did it… I found the flowers!
— Idiot, did you really waste all this time looking for flowers?
Everyone started laughing at Kazuto.
Misato continued:
— I took Mike's flowers. He seems much more responsible.
Mike lowered his head and said nothing.
Kazuto dropped the flowers — once in his hand, now on the ground.
— You're a handsome guy… too bad that beauty isn't rewarded in your brain! HaHa!!
Misato laughed loudly; her friends followed her lead and laughed as well.
Even Mike smiled.
Since the rain was heavy, they didn't stay long and soon left.
Some got taxis, others were picked up by their parents, others caught a ride.
Kazuto? He was the only one left, kneeling and picking up each petal from the flowers Misato had stepped on.
Each petal was a memory… of how his mother helped him choose the perfect flowers… of the money spent… of his motivation with his mom.
— Boy!! Go home, it's raining too hard! It's dangerous to stay here! — shouted the school guard.
Kazuto walked down the road, hands in his pockets, looking at the sky.
But then, a car being chased by the police sped toward him at full speed.
The cars fired bullets that hit random areas.
A bullet grazed Kazuto's ear.
A scream of pain echoed through the rain.
Terrified, the boy tried to hide, but the wet, slippery ground made him trip several times.
And so, the robbers' car ran over him, bringing him to his death.