CHAPTER TWO – FAMILIARIZATION

For Kirumi, maid duty was the norm.

Hope's Peak Academy tasked its Ultimate students to hone their talents, and she aimed to do so as diligently and as consistently as she could. It was never a dull routine, all things considered—not only did she get to improve her talents as the Ultimate Maid further, but she also got to acquaint herself rather well with the schoolmates that she served. Granted, some of them were rather demanding, though Kirumi could not blame them; not all of them had the time to bounce between participating in academic matters, shaping their talents and taking care of any personal chores. And so, all throughout the first week of classes, there was no shortage of tasks for Kirumi to lend her talents to, and no moment where she did not feel some measure of pride for it all.

She got up from her bed, stretching her arms gracefully. Even in the darkness, she knew where her things were; she had taken time to clean up everything and sort out what needing sorting before she went to sleep every night, to the point where she had practically memorized everything in her room by now. After she had finished smoothing out her bed's covers and rearranging her pillows, she took out some fresh exercise clothes and a towel from the nearby closet and made the necessary preparations for her morning routine.

Fifteen minutes later, as she stepped outside the dormitories, Kirumi breathed deeply as the pre-dawn chill bit into her. Dressed in a long-sleeved running shirt and a modest pair of black jogging shorts, she still felt odd in some ways. Perhaps it was the fact that she had grown used to wearing her maid uniform for so long that she felt rather out of place when wearing casual clothing. But of course, it would not do for her to exercise in her uniform, nor would it be practical to skip her workouts just because she did not feel too comfortable in casual wear, so here she was. Quietly, she made her way to the front of the school.

As she drew nearer to the fountain in the main courtyard which often served as her starting point, she saw a familiar figure already standing there—Kiyotaka Ishimaru, the Ultimate Moral Compass.

"Good morning, Taka," she said as she walked closer.

Kiyotaka looked around; his intense, red-pupiled eyes shone with both recognition and cordiality as he spotted her. Like her, he was wearing some jogging attire.

"Ah, good morning, Kirumi!" he said in that loud, resolute tone that he often spoke in. "Early again, as usual!"

Kirumi smiled back. The first time she had met Kiyotaka, he had questioned her about wearing a maid uniform instead of the Ultimates' brown uniforms. She found out later on that he was a member of the school's morals committee—its most fervent member, truth be told—and that he was often roaming the halls in between classes, enforcing the school's rules to the letter by reprimanding students who were not wearing their proper uniforms or those who seemed to be skipping their classes for the sake of leisure. Soon, his all-white uniform and loud voice became a common occurrence for those who wandered the corridors. Though some might have seen him as forceful and even rather sanctimonious when it came to such things, Kirumi found him to be a highly respectable individual; she had met very few people who strove to uphold their principles and standards in their line of duty the way Kiyotaka did.

"Another fine morning for a jog, don't you think?" said Kiyotaka with a proud air as he flexed his arms. "And it is good to see that I am not the only one around here who values the benefits of daily exercise to one's work ethic. After all, a healthy body and a healthy mind go hand in hand!"

"I agree with your sentiments," Kirumi stated. "Perhaps if we set an example for others, we can help them realize such simple but meaningful philosophies in a better light."

Kiyotaka laughed. "Well said! I've always repeated that we Ultimates have a duty to serve as role models for the good of society. I will always do my best to stay true to that course!"

"I would expect nothing less from the Ultimate Moral Compass," said Kirumi amiably. "It is my duty to help someone like you. If there is anything I can do, please do not hesitate to make a request of me."

Kiyotaka stood up ruler-straight, as if he was a soldier being addressed by a commanding officer. His chest swelled with pride. "I appreciate your words, Kirumi! Your help is worth that of a hundred people, and I'm sure many of the talented Ultimates here can vouch for that!"

"I am merely fulfilling my duties as a maid," Kirumi stated, bowing her head modestly. "But still, I thank you for your kind words as well."

Again, Kiyotaka smiled. "It is an honor and an inspiration to have a person like you in this academy. Now then, as much as I would like to stay here for a while and talk to you, I must get on with my jog before the sun rises. We shall talk later!"

"Ah, of course," said Kirumi. "I should be preparing as well for my own exercises. Do take care, Taka."

As Kiyotaka jogged off, Kirumi set about stretching and warming up before she followed in his general direction. All around her, birds chirped quietly in the trees around the academy, their trills resonating alongside the calm rush of water in the fountain near her. Without its multitude of students walking around just yet, Hope's Peak Academy seemed like a whole new place in the quiet hours before dawn. Still, what made it even more beautiful and meaningful were the people that worked and studied hard in it for a better future, and she was more than honored to be considered a part of it all.

By the time Kirumi was done jogging, she had finished six laps around the school. Kiyotaka was nowhere to be seen—Kirumi knew that he liked to jog a lot farther and longer—though there were more people starting to come out; groundskeepers who were finishing their early morning duties across the school grounds, and students who got up to exercise once the sun had started to shine its rays against the pre-dawn darkness. Even so, the cold morning air still lingered, casting a chilly bite on Kirumi's face as her sweat dried up. Knowing that the school would officially start opening up in the next hour, she made her way back to the fountain and did some last exercise routines before going back to the dorms to shower and change.

The dining hall was still relatively empty when Kirumi arrived later on for breakfast, though the smell of food was already wafting in the air from the nearby kitchens. Only a handful of students were present, and most of them still bore the makings of sleepiness in their eyes and dispositions. No one spoke much, so the sound of people's footsteps and some occasional whispers sounded louder than usual within the hall's spacious confines.

Breakfast for Kirumi came in the form of broiled salmon, fluffy brown rice and some hearty miso soup. There were more delectable choices available for those who wanted them, such as scrambled eggs, ham and hotcakes, but Kirumi always preferred to eat light and healthy. Sometimes, she did indulge outside of her diet's limitations—some sweets during the evening, or an extra helping of a favorite meal at lunchtime—but she never went too far beyond what her standards dictated. Such were the things that were part of one's personal code, after all.

Kirumi was just about to order some food when she spotted another familiar sight: the pointed ears of a black beanie, dwarfed by nearly everything else around it. This came as a bit of a surprise; in the week that he had spent with Kirumi and everyone else, Ryoma Hoshi never showed up much in the dining hall, let alone to eat a meal there with everyone else or at such an early time. And yet here he was, standing close to the counters where food was being served to the students, perusing which fare to choose for his breakfast as he chewed idly on another one of those candy cigarettes he always had. He was still wearing his usual prison garb topped with a leather jacket, adding to his odd appearance amid all the other students who were in their uniforms.

Kirumi went up to him; her footsteps made Ryoma turn around. He narrowed his eyes almost resignedly as he saw her, almost as if he was anticipating running into her or anyone else.

"Morning," he muttered.

"Good morning, Ryoma," Kirumi greeted back. "I didn't count on seeing you here."

Ryoma grunted. "Woke up too early. Couldn't go back to sleep, so I went out for a little morning stroll. I saw you jogging around the school earlier while I was out."

"Did you run into Taka as well?" asked Kirumi.

"No. Good thing too, I guess," Ryoma replied, chuckling silently. "He would've told me off again if he saw me in these clothes."

"I suppose you are right," said Kirumi, smiling along with him. "But I guess he would let it slide since classes technically have not started yet. Are you going to eat breakfast?"

Ryoma glanced at the dining hall's counters again. "Maybe. This place reminds me too much of our cafeteria back at prison, but I also don't want to get used to eating only convenience store food for three years. I guess it was just a matter of time before I tried out the food here."

"I see. If you're not comfortable here, would you like me to prepare some food for you to eat at your room instead?" asked Kirumi dutifully.

"No, it's okay," said Ryoma. "You're here to eat too, right? You shouldn't let me interrupt you or anything. Go ahead and do what you want. I'll be fine."

"Then in that case, may I keep you company while we both eat?" Kirumi offered.

Ryoma turned around to look at her. "Why?"

"Food is often enjoyed best with company," said Kirumi. "Of course, I do not speak for those who prefer to eat alone, but I appreciate the presence of other people during mealtimes. Let's just say that . . . it is something I do not experience all the time."

Staring at her for a few seconds, Ryoma looked both hesitant and curious. "Because of your job—I mean, your talent, right?"

Kirumi inclined her head in response. "Most of the time, I wait for everyone to finish eating before I eat. To be honest, I do not mind—I've grown used to it, after all. But it does feel better if there are others around to share my mealtimes with, and the people in this academy make for some wonderful company indeed."

Ryoma looked away, nibbling on his candy cigarette. "Well, it'd be uncool of me to refuse after you said that. . . But I gotta warn you—I don't talk that much, so it's gonna be a pretty quiet breakfast for both of us."

Kirumi smiled. "I would be honored either way."

True to what he had said, Ryoma did not speak much on his own as the two of them ate. Kirumi asked an occasional question about their upcoming class activities and the future events the school had in store, and while Ryoma replied to her queries, he did so with brief words, saying nothing more, nothing less. This came as no surprise to her; in class, Ryoma rarely spoke to anyone, and not even Miu's crass insults about his height, Tenko's fiery threats regarding his gender, Kaito's constant pestering about his sports days or Kaede's encouraging words for his melancholy could rouse him from his silence. Most of the class treated him with the same level of respect and cordiality that they would show each other, but mostly everyone agreed to simply let him be once they saw just how coolly reserved he was.

Still, Kirumi could not help but be interested in a lot of things regarding Ryoma—his career as a tennis prodigy, the tragedy that led to his fall from grace, and his time in prison. Such were things that she had heard alongside the rest of the world, whether from word of mouth or through the news, but her curiosity was not an intrusive type, the kind that fueled gossip and put the rumor mill to hard work.

Privately, Kirumi somehow felt compelled to help him.

When a short silence fell between them, Ryoma regarded her with resignation in his eyes. "I told you, it was a bad idea to spend time with me. You must be getting uncomfortable by now."

Kirumi matched his gaze. "What do you mean?"

"I know you want to ask me some stuff, but you're thinking twice because I don't look like the kind of guy who'd like that."

"How can you tell?"

"I can see it in your eyes." Ryoma set his chopsticks down as he leaned back against his chair. "You're the last person I would mistake for a busybody, but I can tell that you're curious nonetheless."

Kirumi regarded him meaningfully for a moment. "You're very observant if you are able to deduce such a notion simply by looking at me."

"Well, that's one of the things that you learn when you play—"

At that moment, Ryoma stopped just short of finishing his sentence. Noticing this, Kirumi looked at him again; there was a reflective look on his face, as if he suddenly remembered something and was mulling on it in silence.

However, the look was gone before Kirumi could even say anything, and Ryoma continued rather somberly, "It's just one of the things I learned along the way."

"I see." Kirumi let her gaze linger upon him for a moment, musing if she had guessed correctly about what he might have tried to say.

By the time the two of them had finished eating, more familiar faces showed up to eat in the cafeteria; Kaede showed up with Shuichi, whose nervous air belied the sleepiness that still lingered on his eyes. They joined the two of them, and their table soon lit up with some livelier talk. However, Kirumi also noticed that Ryoma seemed to recede in silence, only replying when a question was directed his way.

By the time more of their classmates showed up—with Kaito, Korekiyo and Rantaro following not long after Kaede and Shuichi—Kirumi had finished eating. As part of her daily routine, she stood by readily after she had deposited her breakfast tray, waiting for any student to make a request of her with their own desired breakfasts or with some other task later on in the day. Meanwhile, Ryoma had finished alongside her, although he opted to go back to the dormitories with nary a word to anyone. Kirumi watched him go, his small figure soon being drowned out by the ever-growing number of students walking into the cafeteria.

By noontime that day, Kirumi had managed to complete no less than forty-two requests from various students. Granted, it was not necessary to count them all, but she always found herself tallying them in her mind one by one, not unlike the way she counted the clothes she folded or the books she stacked on shelves or whatnot. In between, there was also the occasional odd task that she needed to fulfill for various Ultimates, and these were usually the duties that stood out the most. In their own class, Korekiyo Shinguji would occasionally ask for her assistance as he tallied down his previous field researches in various rural provinces across Japan, as per his talent as the Ultimate Anthropologist; Class 77-B's Teruteru Hanamura, the Ultimate Cook, would approach her outside of class and inquire about new recipes and ingredients that he would be experimenting on for future lunches, often with a suggestive remark—politely ignored on Kirumi's end—in between his queries; and Class 78's Ultimate Fanfic Creator, Hifumi Yamada, liked asking for her thoughts regarding his plans for his latest work featuring his favorite anime character, Princess Piggles, even if he was the one who did most of the talking.

Once the school bell rang for lunch, Kirumi made her way to the kitchens, helping the cooks and serving meals to those who did not want to fall in line for their food. In spite of the pickiness and even the occasional arrogance that some students displayed while expecting her services, most of them were gracious enough to voice their thanks. Kirumi did not mind one bit; she had dealt with more arrogant people before in her years of service, and she knew that replying with subservient courtesy colored with a touch of self-respect was the right way to deal with such conceit. And so, she served them all without complaint or comment, only speaking to ask if they required anything else, or if the service and the food were to their liking. Soon, even the most demanding began to mellow their approach towards her, seeing as how she held herself up with both dignity and an unabashed devotion to her duty.

Soon, she spotted a small group of her classmates converging upon a table to eat—Kaede and Shuichi, never failing to show up together; Miu Iruma, with her black straps and pink sailor uniform standing out garishly above the brown uniforms of the other Ultimates; Himiko Yumeno, whose black witch's hat and pointed brown boots were drawing stares from other students; and Tenko Chabashira, her twin pigtails swinging behind her as she hurried after Himiko. Kirumi went towards them, ready to serve them like she had been doing for the past half-hour. Kaede stood up when she saw her approaching, waving with a smile on her face.

"Come join us, Kirumi!" she called out. "We were just about to eat. The others will be coming in as well."

"Yes, come eat with us, Kirumi!" said Tenko. "If any of these degenerate males take up too much space, I'll kick them out!"

"H-Hey, there's no need for that," said Shuichi, his hat pulled a little low over his eyes.

Kirumi bowed with a smile. "Thank you for the invitation, but I will be eating later instead, as always. I just wanted to ask if any of you needed any specific kind of food from the kitchens. I would be glad to procure some for you."

"Again? Are you sure? I mean, you do this every day and all. . ." said Kaede.

"Of course. It is always my duty to serve," Kirumi replied.

"Hmm. . . I think I'll take a look at the food they're serving from the kitchens before I ask for anything," Kaede proffered. "That way, you won't be too swamped with everyone's orders just yet, Kirumi."

"I think that's a good idea, though some of that English tea you prepared earlier for breakfast wouldn't hurt, Kirumi," said Shuichi with a smile.

"Very well, I shall prepare some more for you," said Kirumi.

Just then, Miu's loud and snarky voice carried over them. "So you're still our 'maid-to-order,' then?" the Ultimate Inventor commented towards Kirumi, laughing as she sat down on a chair and placed her legs atop the table as casually as one would do on a footstool. "Apart from cooking and cleaning, what other services do you have for all these virgin plebs? I mean, your outfit's bound to give some of them more than a few nasty ideas!"

"Geez, there's no need to say stuff like that, Miu," said Kaede in an admonishing tone. "And get your legs off the table!"

"And there goes Miss Sour Tits again," Miu grumbled, though she grudgingly lowered her legs back down to the floor nonetheless. She turned back to Kirumi and said, "Anyway, since you're asking, I think I want some more of that custard taiyaki they had yesterday. Do you think there's some more at the kitchens, skivvy?"

"I'll see if there are," said Kirumi, ignoring Miu's obnoxious term. "Will there be anything else?"

"Yeah, make sure there's lots of custard in them, alright? Nothing like biting down into something big and seeing oodles and oodles of thick, creamy goodness just oozing out!" said Miu, hooting.

"Doesn't a trashy skank like you have anything better to do than spoil everyone's lunch with your pervy thoughts?" rang the snide voice of Kokichi Oma, who had just arrived at their table. "I mean, it's hard enough to endure seeing your ugly vulgar face every day in class. . ."

Miu recoiled at that, her hands trembling as she glared at Kokichi. "Hey, you plebs should be g-grateful that you even get to be in the same room as a gorgeous girl genius like m-me!" she cried out. "And stop acting like it's easy to be around a shota pipsqueak like you!"

"Please, no quarreling, especially here in the cafeteria," Kirumi interjected firmly.

"Oops. I'm sowwy about that, Mommy," said Kokichi, looking at her with a childishly contrite look.

Kirumi stood up straighter. It had not taken long for Kokichi to christen her with such a nickname after their first week together, and she found the term rather insulting. "Please do not call me that," she remarked stiffly. "I am a high school student like the rest of you. Again, if you have any requests about your food, just inform me and I will be on my way."

"I'll think about it. You've been surprising us all with your cooking for the past week, though, so anything you cook ought to be good, Mommy." Kokichi snickered playfully, while Kirumi sighed with mild annoyance.

Himiko's eyelids looked droopy as she sat down. "Nyeeh. . . It's such a pain coming all the way here to eat," she said, not unlike a young child who resented being asked to tag along into a gathering of adults. "Do you mind if you just deliver food to my dorm starting tomorrow, Kirumi?"

"If that is what you wish," said Kirumi dutifully.

"I can also deliver your food for you if you'd like, Himiko!" said Tenko quickly, looking excited as she took the seat next to Himiko. "We can eat together, play together a-and maybe even sleep together!"

Kaede looked up with a start. "I don't think that came out the way you meant it to, Tenko," she said with a nervous laugh.

"Oh, please. Of course it did," said Miu. "As if Miss Andry hasn't shown enough of that kinda dirty talk with lil' Donkey Lips before."

Himiko shot her a bothered look. "If my MP wasn't already low, I would turn people like you and Tenko into frogs."

"Eh?! E-Even me, Himiko?!" said Tenko, who looked rather dismayed. "I just want to s-spend a lot more time with you! If we got to know each other better, I will make sure you'll feel happy and safe in my company!"

"I prefer being alone," said Himiko. "It helps me practice my magic better."

"Alright, I think we should just s-settle down and think of what to eat, guys," Shuichi cut in rather nervously.

"'What to eat,' huh, Pooichi? You say that but you're just thinking of eating out flat-chested Bakamatsu over there, aren't ya?" said Miu, laughing as she nodded towards Kaede.

"I knew it! You degenerate males are always filled with dirty, perverted thoughts!" Tenko hissed as she glared at Shuichi, who like Kaede had turned red with both embarrassment and indignation. "Try anything, and my Neo-Aikido will break your limbs like twigs!"

"Ah! I-It's not like that!" Shuichi cried out.

"God, Miu!" exclaimed Kaede, wrapping her arms around herself as if in defense of Miu's crass comment about her build. "Some things are just best left unsaid!"

"H-Hey, I just wanna have some fun, okay?!" Miu shot back, her obnoxious air dropping as she looked frightened for a moment. "Geez, some people j-just can't take a joke. . ."

Kirumi permitted herself another sigh—this time of silent amusement —as the banter raged before her, from Tenko's threats towards Shuichi to Kaede scolding Miu to Kokichi laughing as he egged them on, all while Himiko sat muttering what sounded like incantations under her breath. As always, the Ultimates of Hope's Peak were proving to be quite the colorful bunch, engaging and awe-inspiring as they were like Kiyotaka had mentioned earlier in spite of all their teenage insecurities, outstanding quirks and raging hormones. The arrival of the rest of them—even Keebo who could not eat but was starting to enjoy everyone else's company—made things even more enjoyable to witness, even from the sidelines.

However, even with all this, they were still one person short, and Kirumi found her concern rising again as she dwelt on the fact. Inwardly, she decided to start doing something about it.

Carrying the tray of food before her carefully, Kirumi walked through the corridors in silence. Technically, she was free to eat for herself now that she had tended to those who needed her services for lunchtime, but her initiative of bringing food to Ryoma's room was more important to her at the moment than the prospect of eating her own lunch. Admittedly, having no idea what kind of food Ryoma actually preferred, Kirumi pondered if the meal would be to his liking—a bowl of piping hot miso ramen with cuts of braised pork, sheets of nori, sliced leeks and an egg, with a pot of green tea to go with it.

Because lunchtime had not ended yet, there were very few people around the dormitories. Sunlight seeped through the windows, bathing the floor in a soft glow. Her shoes clicking and tapping as she walked, Kirumi hastened her pace, not wanting to let the ramen grow too cold before Ryoma could eat. Then again, she had no idea if Ryoma was even in his dorm room at the moment, meaning he could be anywhere in the school. Nonetheless, Kirumi kept walking dutifully, intending to push through with her initiative regardless.

Like all the rooms of the Ultimates, Ryoma's door was marked with a placard that displayed his surname and initials, as well as a smaller line beneath that showed what his Ultimate talent was. Kirumi eyed the placard for a moment before knocking, carefully balancing the tray of ramen and tea on her other hand. At first, only silence registered in the wake of her knocking. Undeterred, Kirumi knocked again.

This time, the door opened a few inches. Ryoma's round, melancholic eyes seemed to glow amid the darkness in his room.

"Yeah?" he muttered, his eyebrows flying up in surprise as he saw that it was her. His pointy-eared beanie was gone, revealing a cropped patch of short, bristly, pale red hair. It was the first time that Kirumi had seen him like this, having only known Ryoma from his past through newspaper articles and mugshots on television, and it surprised her slightly as well.

"What do you want?" Ryoma asked quietly.

Kirumi gestured towards the tray. "I figured you'd be hungry, so I prepared some ramen and green tea for you. Forgive me, though. I had no idea what food you would like, so I took the liberty of choosing for you."

Brow furrowed, Ryoma let out a sigh. "Well, I am hungry," he admitted, "but I'm not the type to order food from the cafeteria, let alone having it delivered here. You didn't have to go and do all that, you know?"

"It's okay," said Kirumi. "Consider it a compliment of sorts."

Ryoma stared deep into her eyes. Kirumi wondered if he was sizing her up again in the same way he did at breakfast earlier, and she found herself doing the same in return as she saw a myriad of emotions beneath his gaze—conflict, resignation, and even a hint of regret.

"Alright," Ryoma said at last. When he opened the door fully, Kirumi saw that his jacket was also gone, revealing the striped prison uniform he wore beneath it.

"Come in," he muttered, stepping aside to let her pass.

As she stepped inside his dorm room, this being the first time she had done so, Kirumi was met by a somber darkness due to the curtains being drawn on the nearby windows. And unlike the rooms of other Ultimates that she had seen, Ryoma's room was devoid of anything related to his talent, or even any decorative piece that would help lighten the dreary atmosphere. In spite of this, though, she noticed how Ryoma seemed to maintain cleanliness in the same way she did in her own room; there was no litter around, nor a wayward article of clothing lying on the floor, which were common sights in the rooms of some Ultimates that she had helped clean in the past week. Kirumi also could not help but notice that Ryoma's bed was missing its mattress—only his pillows and blanket were sitting on top of the bed's bare frame, arranged as neatly as everything else. The missing mattress stood behind the bed itself, stripped of its cover and propped against the wall.

She heard Ryoma grunt behind her. "It was too soft, at least compared to what I've gotten used to," he said. Kirumi looked around and saw that he was staring at the bed as well.

"Oh. I see. . ." Kirumi nodded to herself, feeling some sympathy well up in her. Ryoma, on the other hand, sat down on the bed and stretched his arms.

"So . . . are you gonna wait for the tray?" he asked, looking up at her. "It might be too much of a bother for you, and people might get funny ideas if they saw you come in here and staying for too long."

"I do not mind," Kirumi replied. "I have waited on a lot of our schoolmates before. Staying and waiting is merely a part of my responsibilities. If you want me to leave and just return for the tray later, however, I would also be glad to oblige."

Ryoma shook his head. "That sounds like even more of a bother for you, to be honest." He let out a small sigh. "Alright. If it's not too much of a problem, you can stay."

At that, he stood up and walked over to one of the two dressers in the room, the chains from his manacled ankle clinking with every other step. He opened the bottommost drawer and took out a small aluminum cup, placing it next to the ceramic one that Kirumi had brought along for his tea.

"Do you wanna share?" Ryoma asked as he closed the drawer. "I mean, I don't know if I can drink all this tea by myself, to be honest."

Kirumi gazed upon him, her eyebrows raised in polite surprise. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," said Ryoma, sitting down at a chair next to the table. He shifted where he sat, as if he was painfully conscious of the awkwardness of his request, though Kirumi did not mind in the slightest. "I mean, it'd be a waste if I don't drink it all, and I figured that sharing it with you is better than . . . than having you just stand there waiting."

"If that is what you want," said Kirumi.

"Only if you're also okay with it," Ryoma proffered in return. "I mean, I know people request things from you all the time and it's part of your duties, but . . . well, I think this is more of an invitation. From one classmate to another."

Kirumi regarded him with fresh eyes for a moment. In truth, there were very few Ultimates who remembered that she was also a schoolmate in spite of her maid duties. Somehow, she expected Ryoma to be one of them, though she could not say when she had come to such a conclusion. All she knew was that, in spite of his obvious discomfiture at being waited on like this, Ryoma was sincere in his words.

"Yes," she stated at last with a small smile, "I would like that."

It was mostly a repeat of how their meal earlier in the morning had gone, but Kirumi found it even more profound this time around as she sat across the Ultimate Tennis Pro, taking small sips of green tea from the ceramic cup she had brought. Ryoma had chosen to use his aluminum cup instead for his own batch of tea, its scratches and dents telling Kirumi that it was a timeworn chalice from prison that he had undoubtedly brought along. All around them, the relative darkness lent its hand in creating a melancholic atmosphere that seemed to go along with Ryoma's serious air.

"If you do not mind me asking, Ryoma," said Kirumi after a few minutes of silence, "have you ever considered dining with the rest of our class during mealtimes?"

As he slowly chewed through a mouthful of noodles, Ryoma looked pensive. "Not really. I don't think anyone's looking for me there."

"Quite the contrary. Kaede has asked me a few times if you were okay. She and Shuichi seem to be harboring a desire to speak to you on one of these days."

"What about? There's nothing to discuss."

"They want you to feel like a true part of the class—which you are, of course. And it makes for a nice sense of unity, after all, to see everyone gathered around a table eating and talking to one another."

Ryoma let out another grunt. "How about you? Are you able to join everyone else even with all the work you do?"

"I find time to do so," said Kirumi, taking another sip of tea. "Admittedly, I don't do it often given how many students might need my services at any moment, but I try."

Ryoma stared at her for a moment. "Have you done this before? Sitting down, talking to someone over a cup of tea, not waiting on them?"

"I've had similar encounters like this before with my former employers," Kirumi replied. "Sometimes, when they need advice or simply a listening ear, I sit down and talk to them. Whatever they might need of me, I strive to give."

"I see." Ryoma nodded, looking deep in thought again as he drank the broth from the ramen bowl. Kirumi, meanwhile, refilled their cups of tea in equal silence, not wanting to impose any more conversation that Ryoma might find too irksome or casual. Even so, she eyed him again, remembering some of her past employers who, like him, were burdened with more things than they would like to admit. It was evident in the weight beneath his empty eyes, so visible and yet rarely questioned as Ryoma's aloofness always made people think twice before asking him anything. And yet, his remoteness only made Kirumi remember how she had assisted such people before, and it brought her back to her earlier instinct of helping him. Though she was reconsidering a few things out of respect for Ryoma's boundaries and privacy, Kirumi felt that she may have already made the first of many steps that etched her decision in stone.

Ryoma finished eating around the same time that their tea ran out. He inclined his head as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "You can cook pretty well," he acknowledged. "That might be the best meal I've had since prison."

"If you like, I can prepare similar meals for you in the future," Kirumi offered.

"I don't know. It might be better than going out to eat with all those people around, but I also don't wanna be a constant bother to your responsibilities."

"You don't have to worry about such things. I can handle the workload."

"I'm sure you can. It's just . . ." Ryoma shook his head. "I don't want you wasting too much of your time on someone like me. There are other people who deserve your services more than I do."

Kirumi bowed. "It's not often that I take the liberty of deciding for myself who requires my services, but if you will, please allow me to keep assisting you like this. If you would not take up the prospect of joining our class during mealtimes, permit me to at least bring you food so that you would not starve yourself for too long before going out to eat. And if there is anything else you need assistance with, I will do my best to help in that as well."

"I hope that doesn't mean you're gonna be following me around like a servant or something," Ryoma told her bluntly. "I won't let anyone do that."

"Do not worry. I will not do anything that will make you feel uncomfortable. Just think of it as . . . an invitation. From one classmate to another."

Ryoma looked up at her, his seriousness partially dissipating and his round eyes exuding mild surprise at the turnaround. Kirumi stood up straight, trying to stay as formal as ever, but her amusement had picked up slightly as she gauged Ryoma's reaction. After a few moments of silence, Ryoma let out a soft chuckle.

"Well-played," he said. "Alright, if that's what you want, then sure. But on one condition, though."

"Yes?" asked Kirumi.

Ryoma nodded towards the tray. "Bring a pot of tea every time."

Now it was Kirumi's turn to be surprised. Staring deep into Ryoma's round eyes again, somehow she felt reassured by the circumstances that had led up to this moment. With the mixture of seriousness and acknowledgment on his face, the Ultimate Tennis Pro seemed to think so as well.

She smiled at him. "Of course."

A/N: Finally decided to upload this story after months of deciding and now that I've got a bit more free time. It all started out as an idea that I became more and more invested in with every page I wrote and planned. And I figured that it'd be a fresh change of pace after I write chapters for my DDLC fic, so that I won't run out of ideas by focusing on one story too much. To those of you who follow my DDLC fic, don't worry, I will still be continuing that one more frequently than this. Expect uploads to either fic every other week or so. Cheers!