Kanji sat sprawled out on his couch late one afternoon. He had just finished sewing a small animal for a kid in town and wasn't sure what he wanted to do next. He had more than enough materials to make more, but, with no one to make them for, he didn't seem to have the motivation. Just as he was about to doze off, his mother started calling him from the shop.

"Kanji!" she said. "You have company!"

"What? I do?" Kanji hollered back, surprised. He rarely had company, so he found himself wondering who it might be. He was about to walk out into the shop when Rise walked into the room.

"Hello Kanji!" she said cheerfully.

"Oh! Rise! W-what are you doing here?"

"What? I can't just visit my good friend Kanji?" Rise asked, pouting.

"N-no, of course not. You just...don't." Kanji replied.

"Well, maybe it's about time I started them!" Rise told him, giving him her best idol smile. Kanji sighed. He didn't mind her being there, he was just confused as to why she was. They were in the same class in school and they were at the very least friendly to each other, but that was about it. He couldn't think of any reason why they shouldn't become closer friends, though, so he just decided to roll with it for now.

"OK then." Kanji said. "So...what would you like to do?"

"I was actually hoping you could help me with something." Rise replied.

"So, you do have an ulterior motive..."

"Hey, don't be like that!" Rise protested. "I really want your help!"

"OK, OK!" Kanji said, giving in. "What do you need?"

"I want you to teach me how to fold origami." Rise told him.

"Y-you want me to what!?"

"Teach me origami!"

"Why the hell do you want me to do that?"

"I want to impress Narukami-senpai." Rise said, matter-of-factly.

"And w-what makes you think I know how to fold origami?" Rise made a face at him.

"Come on, Kanji." she said. "I thought you weren't gonna lie about stuff like that anymore. With all of the other craft stuff I know you can do, how could you not know how to fold origami?" Kanji thought for a second. He could just tell her that he really didn't know, but Rise was right. He had promised not to hide and lie about himself anymore.

"OK, fine. I do know how.." he admitted. "But I dunno about teaching anybody...I-I've never done that before..."

"There's a first time for everything!" Rise said happily. "So, what do you say?"

"Sure, why the hell not?" Kanji said after considering for a few moments. If Rise was anything, she was damn persuasive. "You take a seat and I'll be right back. I'm sure I have a beginner's origami book around her somewhere..."

"Thanks Kanji! You're the best!" Rise cheered, taking a seat on the couch.

"Uh-huh," Kanji replied sarcastically. He walked back into his bedroom and began searching for the book. He wasn't entirely sure why he was going along with Rise's little scheme. Maybe he was happy to finally use his skills for something useful instead of just as fuel for his torment. Maybe the fact that Rise of all people seemed to accept him for it surprised him so much that he had to go along with it. Whatever the reason was, he was roped into it now. It might even end up being fun in the long run. So Kanji finally dug out his old origami book and headed back into the living room to give Rise her first lesson.

Kanji and Rise feel a faint bond forming between them…