Episode:4

Yuki stepped closer to the man crouched beside the car, his voice quiet.

“…Ren?”

The mechanic paused — not visibly startled, but still. A flicker of silence.

Chen, who had followed Yuki lazily from the car, immediately perked up.

“Wait, you know this guy?”

Yuki didn’t take his eyes off Ren. “Yeah… we went to school together. Third High.”

Chen blinked, clearly surprised. “Seriously? That Third High? But you went abroad for college, right? So he must’ve been your school classmate?”

He took a step closer, eyeing Ren critically — the stained overalls, the messy hair, the smudges on his cheek.

“…That school only takes the best — and the richest. Weird, right?” Chen tilted his head. “This guy doesn’t exactly look like he fit in.”

Yuki frowned slightly. “Chen, enough.”

Chen laughed, brushing him off. “I’m just saying. This is kind of shocking. No offense, but—he looks more like someone who fixed the school’s plumbing, not studied there.”

Ren didn’t say a word.

Chen nudged his foot against Ren’s boot. “Oi, don’t just crouch there. Turn around. You should say hi to your old classmate.”

Still kneeling, Ren’s voice came out low and cool. “Prices are set by the boss. I don’t handle discounts.”

“Ugh, cold much?” Chen rolled his eyes. “Come on, just say hi or something. Don't be so stiff.”

Yuki interjected quietly, hoping to defuse the moment. “Your coat’s really dirty, Ren. Go clean it up. Haru just messaged me — he’s already waiting outside.”

Chen sighed, glancing at his phone. “Right, he’s always on time. He says he’s leaving if we don’t show up soon. I’ll go check the payment. You two catch up—if he even remembers how to talk.”

As Chen walked off, Yuki looked at Ren with an apologetic expression. “Sorry. He… doesn’t always know when to stop.”

Ren didn’t turn around. “Your tire’s fixed.”

Yuki hesitated. “Thanks.”

Then, softer—

“After I left… where did you go? No one really knew what happened to you.”

Ren was quiet for a moment, still focused on wiping his hands with a rag.

“…Another city,” he replied flatly.

His voice held no warmth. No surprise. Just distance.

Yuki watched him closely. There was something about Ren’s tone — like a wall too high to climb.

You haven’t changed at all, he thought.

A small smile touched his lips. “Let’s meet again sometime.”

He turned and walked away.

As their car drove off into the misty street, headlights fading, Ren stood up and finally turned to look at the retreating vehicle.

“…You haven’t changed at all,” he murmured.

But this time, his eyes weren’t cold. They were burning quietly — with something Yuki had no idea about.

Back then…

Yuki had always been sick. Missed classes. Stayed behind the others.

So, when the transfer student joined Class 10 during the spring semester, Yuki didn’t get to meet him.

Instead, he heard about him. From whispers. From complaints. From Haru.

> “He doesn’t talk to anyone.”

“Wears the same hoodie every day.”

“Thinks he’s better than us.”

Class 10 was filled with the children of CEOs, celebrities, and politicians. Even Yuki, quiet and polite, was one of them — though he never fit in comfortably.

Ren didn’t belong. That much was clear.

He wasn’t loud.

He wasn’t rich.

He didn’t try to make friends.

And yet—

After just one month, he topped the midterm exams.

Number One.

Above the student council heir, the real estate prince, the model-student twins.

It caused chaos.

Some laughed bitterly. Some were pissed. Some spread rumors.

But to Yuki, recovering from his latest hospital visit, it just made him curious.

> “Hey,” Haru said one afternoon, tossing his arm around Yuki’s shoulder. “You’re finally back, Sleeping Beauty.”

“I’m not sleeping. I was sick,” Yuki grumbled.

“Same thing~ Anyway, let’s celebrate your return to the land of the living.”

“With what?”

“Barbecue,” Haru said, grinning. “That transfer kid? His family runs a stall downtown. Let’s go bother him a little.”

Yuki blinked. “Wait… really?”

He hesitated. Part of him was unsure. But the bigger part… just wanted to see.

What kind of person is he? That transfer student named Ren?

And so, he went with them.

Down the street. Through the noisy market. Haru leading the group like a mischievous prince, dragging Yuki along.

Laughter echoed around them. Vendors shouted prices. Something sizzled in the air.

Yuki was overwhelmed — slightly lost, eyes darting around — until Haru pulled him closer and pointed.

> “There. That’s the stall. See?”

Several of their classmates were already there, crowding around a simple food cart with a worn-out canopy.

One of the richer students leaned on the counter, mockingly:

> “We came to support your stall~ You should thank us, transfer-kun!”

Yuki stayed at the edge of the crowd.

He didn’t see Ren at first.

Just the steam rising, smoke curling through the warm air, and the smell of grilled meat and spices.

And then—

He saw him.

Behind the cart. Focused. Mask pulled up to his nose. Sleeves rolled to his elbows.

Eyes calm.

Movements precise.

Cooking like it was nothing, but like it was everything.

And Yuki just stood there.

Still.

Staring.

For a moment — he forgot the noise, the crowd, even Haru beside him.

All he could see was the boy behind the grill.

So that’s him…

The transfer student who shook the entire class by doing nothing but being himself.

Yuki didn’t say anything.

He couldn’t.

But his heart…

Quietly leaned forward.

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