Expectations really don't always match reality.

'Ah, another difficulty.' Kenma thought when he saw the countless amount of steps leading up to the Higurashi residence.

He doubled check the address, it was a match. There was also a sign at the top of the staircase that said Higurashi Shrine.

Crap, did that mean she lived on a shrine? Wouldn't that mean her house would be a little away from the shrine.

Ah, that meant more walking…

But it was interesting to know that she lived on a shrine. It was another thing that made Kagome Higurashi an enigma.

With no choice he started his trek.

In order for his mind to forget the strain the stairs were putting on his legs, he started to unconsciously think of her again.

If the world was an RPG, Kagome Higurashi would surely be a support character such as a white mage or a priestess based on her family's lineage.

Since her family owned a shrine perhaps she may have had to undergo miko training. Maybe she also had some sort of holy powers that she would use to fight demons. Wouldn't that be interesting.

But of course, that would be impossible since she was just a normal junior high student like him.

After climbing the stairs he was able to find the Higurashi house, tuck a llittle further behind the shrine.

As soon as he rang the bell he was greeted by another difficulty.

"!"

The person who answered the door was an elderly man wearing a priest outfit.

Was he her grandfather?

The old man squinted his eyes as if he was examining him causing Kenma to look off to the side.

"I-" He didn't get to finish as the old man's eyes quickly widened and a loud screech stopped him.

"IyaaAAAHHHHHHhh! Zashiki-warashi! Keiko, take Souta and run!"

Before Kenma could even react, a paper talisman was slapped to his face. "O-ouch."

From the loud noises coming from outside a middle aged woman appeared. "Father, you can't just throw talismans at people who visit!" She berated.

The woman looked similar to Kagome Higurashi. Her eyes, although not blue like her daughter were the same.

Was she her mother?

Then the woman stopped nagging once she noticed his staring. "Who?"

The attention now focused on him, he couldn't help himself from looking away. "I-I...I"

The older woman smiled at him softly as if to encourage him to take his time. The smile reminded him a little bit of her. Her smile too held warmth in it.

"I'm a classmate of Kagome Higurashi. Um!" He quickly searched his bag for it. "Documents here."

"Ah, thank you for coming all this way to deliver this! Saito Sensei was saying that someone was coming over to deliver some papers. Thank you…?"

"Kenma Kozume."

"Thank you for delivering it, Kenma-kun!" She beamed.

He nodded in reply. He was a bit embarrassed on how friendly she was.

Mrs. Higurashi just like her daughter, had a bright aura that surrounded her..

"Kenma-kun, would you like to stay a bit for some refreshments?"

"I don't know…"

"It'll only be for a bit. Besides, it's the least we can do for you, after you came all this way to deliver something for Kagome."

'Ah, her kindness was too dazzling…'

And that was how he ended up in Kagome Higurashi's living room.

He was unable to reject Mrs. Higurashi's offer after she looked at him kindly. .

'Another difficulty yet again.' He thought.

With nothing to do he took a look around the house.

The house was a mix of traditional and modern design. Some rooms had tatami flooring while others like the kitchen had tiles. There were also shoji sliding doors. He was currently sitting on the floor on a low table.

It had looked big on the outside but it felt homey.

"Kenma dear, is there anything particular you would like to drink?"

"Um...no, not really."

"Then, I'll give you some iced tea."

Mrs. Higurashi brought back a cup of ice and a pitcher from the fridge. She sat across from him with a smile on her face in anticipation.

Of what?

"Th-thank you."

"!"

"It's refreshing isn't it." She smiled knowingly to his reaction.

He had expected it to be black tea from the dark color, however, instead there was a citrus flavor. Was it orange? Oranges were said to have a relaxing effect on a person. The tea also had a unique distinct taste to it.

In short, it was delicious. He quickly downed the cup.

Mrs. Higurashi refilled it. "Thank you, truly for delivering the documents. It must have been hard."

She must be referring to the countless stairs from his state. He must have looked tired enough for her to invite him in to cool down with some drinks.

"It was no problem." He lied to be polite.

"How is it?"

The drink?

"Delicious." It really was. He could easily drink another cup but that would be rude so he slowly drank what he had in order to savor it longer.

"That's good to know. Kagome had dried the tea leaves herself."

"Keuk!" He couldn't help but cough at the mention of her name.

She knew how to make tea? That was an unusual thing for a person of their age to know how to do.

A big smile was on Mrs. Higurashi's face as she gushed on her daughter's accomplishment. "Would you like some leaves to take back with you?"

"No…"

Thinking back, Kagome's grandfather had said two names when he had mistaken him for a yokai. Her mother and perhaps brother?

That would mean she wasn't here.

"Where's Higurashi-san?"

"Kagome? She's-"

"At the hospital! Right, mom?" A young boy who looked to be in elementary school quickly answered, laughing as if it was a natural answer.

Her eyes widened as if she just realized something." That's right!" Her high pitch voice came off as something strange.

But with no Higurashi there really wasn't a point to his visit today.

He quickly finished the cup and got up. "Thanks." He shouldn't prolong his stay any longer.

He was about to put his shoes on but stopped once the front door opened.

"Ah…" They both said out of reflex upon suddenly coming face-to-face with each other.

Eyes of recognition crossed the face of the very person he was thinking about, Kagome Higurashi.

"You…" She trailed in thought.

He unwittingly averted his gaze, yet she followed his movement to peer at his face.

He stumbled back a little at the close proximity she leaned in. "You're a classmate of mine, right?"

He nodded in reply. He didn't trust himself to talk in fear of saying something stupid.

"Kozuki-san?"

Ah, she was wrong. It was close but it still made him feel a bit sad.

"Ko…" His voice too low that if she wasn't close to him she would have been unable to hear it.

She didn't notice him at all did she?

"Ko?"

What did he expect when his only friend was Kuroo.

"Ko…" He tried again.

Even though his presence was small, how was she going to know him when they never even talked before.

Before…

Before they never interacted but, this was now.

Now, she stood in front of him.

Light blue eyes that were looking directly at him for his next words.

He took a big breath before looking at her. "It's, Kozume Kenma." He announced in a loud clear voice.

She may have not known it before but now, he will make sure she knew his name.

"Kozume?" She repeated like testing it out. "Ah!"

Red darken her face as she realized. "Sorry, Kozume-san." She corrected and smiled shyly.

It was a genuine smile not like the polite empty one she gave her friends nowadays. Her actions caused something in his chest to stir.

Why?

Why hadn't he talked to her before?

If he had, maybe he could have seen that smile sooner.

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