Ibuki walked through the halls of the academy with a joyful pep in her step. It was lunchtime and she was on her way to meet up with one of her favorite persons ever! She had several of course be this one was definitely up there. The super duper reliable kindhearted sweet strawberry flavored mechanic, Kazuichi! At least, that's what she would call him. The two would always hang out together at lunch. They had done this since their third year of middle school. Ibuki would always look forward to it despite her seeing him on a daily basis. It gave her the chance to not only be rid of her boredom, but to de stress and relax with her dear friend. She had also prepared a special assortment of snacks. Chocolates, gummies, and a box of pocky's. No special occasion, just an appreciation of there continued friendship.

The musician made her way outside to the courtyard and followed along a row of flowerbeds. She stopped to pick a couple of them, the color reminds her of Kazuichi's stylish hair. Nowhere to put them, she placed them both in her hair.

"Pixie Ibuki! Hmm, the cutesy look never suited me."

She kept the look for now and resumed her walk. She reached the field and spotted her friend sitting under a tree. The same one they say under since they started attending Hope's Peak. She hadn't walked up to him but she could tell something was wrong. He was sitting down holding his legs with what looked like a thousand yard stare in his eyes. While not the first time she's seen him like this, she was still worried. She knew he had a stressful life. Whether it was about his abusive father or lack of self esteem, she knew it could be a number of things floating around his head.

"Oh Kazu! How's the number one mechanic doing?" He didn't seem to notice her so she sat down next to him. "Heyyy, Ibuki to Kazuuu! Can you here me?"

That time it was directly in his ear and he reared his head back. "DAHH! HEY WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?"

"Because you were ignoring Ibuki. You know I hate it when you do that!"

He stuck his finger in his ear to make sure he could still hear from it. "Sheesh, sorry about that. I just had some stuff on my mind."

Ibuki could see his face filled of melancholy. Something really has him down. "Ibuki can see that, I could see it when you were barely visible. You know you can tell me anything if that helps. Besides, I brought goodies for us as well! Maybe these will cheer you up!" She took out the assortment of snacks and placed them between them.

"Chocolates AND Pocky's? You're not trying to confess to me about something, are you?"

"NOOO! I brought because I'm a good friend, Kazu." The mechanic couldn't help but notice she blushed slightly when she said that. He appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. She began eating through the bag of gummies while he took out a single pocky stick and held it in his mouth. He still seemed down about something. Ibuki didn't want to seem nosy so she tried to talk about something else. She talked about how she had found a "new way" to play her guitar. Combining both holding her breath while spinning on the ground. Kazuichi was rightfully puzzled as to why someone would think this would be a good idea. But this was Ibuki, she is filled with weird ideas. She then explained how the actions put her in a certain state of mind. One where she claims to being able to see the physical entity of the music she plays. He couldn't help but give a small chuckle at the explanation however his grimace returned shortly afterwards.

"Mmmmmm! Kazu? I don't want to be pushy but please tell me what's wrong?! I hate seeing you like this!"

She stared at him with worried eyes. Kazuichi tried to avoid eye contact but knew that it was useless. She was persistent and only meant well. They were best friends, she couldn't help but care about him.

"S-sorry Buki. I didn't want you to worry about me. It's just..." he relaxed his shoulders and laid his head against the tree trunk, "I was thinking about something. Do you- do you ever wonder that if you were to die, would others remember you?"

Her heart sank. Where did this come from? Yesterday he was smiling and laughing like usual. Even when was down in the dumps, he never spoke about something like this.

"Kazu, why would you think like this? You're not going to die on Ibuki, are you?"

"No-no no it's nothing like that. It's just..." he took his hat off and rubbed the back of his head. "I was thinking my talent and with everyone else here. They all have something that makes them useful, successful or powerful even. You have an ultimate gymnast, nurse, cook. Hell even that dumbass Komaeda is the luckiest guy ever. So much that THAT is his ultimate talent. It all just makes me think about my talent and how useless I am. I mean just look at you, musically talented, can sing, able to play any kind of instrument. You have it all to be the ultimate musician. All I can do fix cars and put together electronics that usually break easily afterwards. So much for being an ultimate mechanic."

Ibuki couldn't believe what he said. His song filled with sorrow. His eyes never shifting towards her, staying on his hat. His heart bared a heavy weight brought by his anxiety and low self esteem. This is like as if life itself had rejected him.

"But you know there's more to you than your talent, Kazu." He finally turned his head towards her. Eyes showing nothing but concern for him. "You shouldn't measure your own worth based on what others can do. I mean, you are Kazuichi Souda! You're Ibuki's best friend!"

"I know that, it's just what about me is different than from anyone else? How am I special to anyone?"

She had turned her whole body towards him, eyes locked onto him.

"What're you talking about? You're different because there's no one else like you, Kazu! No one can rock that hot pink hair or those shark chompers like you do! And you help others in ways no one else can, Ibuki included!"

"I guess but anyone can fix a car an-"

"Not me! I also can't fix my amps, my lighting, my pyrotechnics, or anything else I needs for her shows! Because I have you to help me. Ibuki knows she has you to rely on. We're a duo after all!"

"Yeah, I guess you're right." He was able to let out a small chuckle and his shark-tooth smile she loved to see. "Someone has to keep an eye on you."

Ibuki giggled and leaned onto his shoulder. "Listen Kazu, if nothing else helps, you will always mean so much to me. In a way, you are the light that shines my life. If it were a song, it would be titled, 'The Ultimate Sharp-Toothed, Pink Haired Mechanic that Brightens the Life of the Ultimate Musician!'"

"Well that's a literal way to call it." Kazuichi felt his face warm up a bit. Ibuki always had a way to make him feel better no matter how down he was. But this felt different, there was a hint of seriousness in her voice for a brief moment. Something she doesn't do often due to her energetic nature. He appreciated it knowing that she cared for him, like she always did.

"OH CRAP! Lunch is almost over and we didn't finish any of our snacks!" The mechanic snapped from his thoughts and noticed too that the snacks were practically untouched. At least the chocolates and pocky's. The gummies were almost gone.

"Oh, I guess your right. I still have the one pocky I was eating."

He put the stick back in his mouth but noticed Ibuki had gotten closer to him. She had a twinkle in her eyes which usually meant she was up to something.

"You're not going to finish that before class, let me help!" She placed her mouth on the other side of the stick. A surprise pocky game, of course she would do this!

"Not this again 'Buki, the last time you were half 'n inch away from being my first kiss!"

"Well who else better than Ibuki?"

Kazuichi decided to play along with her game while his face was burning red. His best friend's cheeks were glowing as well. This was not either the second or third time she has done this and it most certainly won't be the last. Slowly both ultimates inch towards each other's lips taking bites as they go. Both hearts race as they are back at the same spot on the pocky stick as they were the last time. That time Kazuichi broke away as he refused to get any closer. This time he was determined not to lose again. Or so he thought, he nervousness overcame him and he broke away losing again.

"Yayyyy! Ibuki wins again!" She giggled at the mechanic's bright red face as he tried to hide behind his hat. Never mind that her cheeks were just as red.

"Shut up! Let's just get to class!"

The two made their way to the main hall where they would go to separate classrooms. Kazuichi was about to turn away before he felt the musician's surprisingly strong arms wrap around his waist. "H-Hey! Whats this for?!"

"Nothing, just making sure you don't fall back in your bad mood again!" He was fine, just surprised. He then felt her put something over his ear. The flower she had picked earlier. He never noticed it until now. "Now you are Pixie Kazuuuu! Now you keep that on or your not invited to Ibuki's rehearsal later."

"Is this your way of telling me I'm invited then?"

"Sorry, Ibuki can't hear you I'm on my way to class byyyyeeeee!"

He bolted down the hall, leaving him in a confused state. He pulled the flower from his ear to look at it. Pink, just like his hair. He let out a small laugh and smiled, "I'm the light that shines her life, huh?"