Chapter 2: From Collision to Conversation

Kaoru whistled a random tune as he made his way to a nearby park, a small stack of books securely tucked under his arm. After a long day at school, he'd changed into something more comfortable and decided to visit a commoner's library. To his delight, it had been a hidden gem, filled with a variety of intriguing and classic literature. He had borrowed a few titles that caught his eye, eager to immerse himself in their pages. It was a rare treat, a chance to escape his worries for a little while.

As he strolled further into the park, the soothing rustle of leaves above him seemed to echo the tranquility he craved. Kaoru's eyes fell on a shaded bench beneath a sprawling oak tree, its thick branches casting soft shadows that seemed perfect for a quiet reading session. he stepped forward, his peace was suddenly shattered.

A blur of movement crossed his path, and before Kaoru could react, someone collided with him, sending his books flying. "Whoa!" Kaoru exclaimed, instinctively reaching out to steady the person who had crashed into him.

It was a girl, much shorter than him. For a moment, she froze, startled by the impact. Kaoru glanced down, taking in her slightly chubby frame. His eyes shifted to the ground, where her groceries had scattered across the pavement. An apple rolled away, narrowly missing his shoe, and a few leafy greens peeked out from one of the overturned bags.

"I'm so sorry!" she blurted out, her voice a mix of panic and apology. She hastily pulled away from Kaoru's grasp, bowing repeatedly. "I wasn't watching where I was going, and—"

Kaoru took a small step back, giving her some space. "It's okay, really," he replied, his tone light and reassuring. "No harm done, but it looks like your groceries might have taken a bit of a hit."

The girl knelt down, quickly gathering his books before turning her attention to her groceries. Kaoru crouched down beside her, picking up a can that had rolled a little farther off. As he handed it to her, he got a closer look at her face. A flicker of recognition passed through him—it was the girl from the playground, the one in the Jigglypuff onesie. Except now, she was dressed in a school uniform, which Kaoru recognized as one of the public school uniforms he had often seen around—complete with a plaid skirt and a navy blazer.

So, she really is a commoner, Kaoru thought, intrigued. He'd kind of figured as much from their previous encounter. The girls at his school would never be so openly sarcastic or unrestrained. Well, except for Renge maybe—though she was a different kind of crazy. Other than her, he pictured the refined, dainty, tea-drinking girls he was used to, or the fangirls who squealed for no apparent reason. He looked at the girl and almost snorted—Miss Jigglypuff definitely didn't fit into any of those categories.

"Are you okay?" he asked, slightly concerned. After all, she had crashed into him pretty hard; even he had to rub his chest from the painful impact.

Miss Jigglypuff avoided his gaze, still focused on gathering her groceries. "Yes, I'm fine," she mumbled, her flushed cheeks betraying her embarrassment. "I just… I forgot I have cram school, and I was in a hurry. Again, I'm really sorry about that."

Kaoru couldn't help but smile at her flustered state. "It's really no big deal. I think your apples survived." He handed her the last one, which had miraculously avoided any bruising.

She finally looked up, her eyes widening as she recognized him. "Y-you?" she stammered, looking absolutely flabbergasted.

He let out a soft chuckle, thoroughly entertained by her reaction. "So, you do remember me," he said, his tone light and teasing. "We really seem to have a knack for running into each other like this, Miss Jigglypuff," he added with a playful wink.

Amused, Kaoru watched as she struggled to hold back a snarky retort while huffing indignantly at the nickname. Nonetheless, she accepted his help to finish collecting her things. As she stuffed the last of her groceries back into the bags, she stood up, holding them close. "Well... thanks, I guess. For catching me and for not stepping on my apples."

Kaoru nodded, still entertained by the situation. "Anytime. Just try not to tackle any more strangers on your way to cram school."

She gave him a look that was a mix of irritation and reluctant gratitude. "I'll keep that in mind. Maybe you should too." And with that, she turned and hurried off, leaving Kaoru standing there with a grin on his face.

But as she disappeared into the distance, Kaoru's hand brushed against his pocket, a sudden realization dawning on him. He was still holding her necklace. The delicate gold pendant had been with him since their first encounter two days ago, a mystery he had yet to solve. Despite his best efforts to trace the engraved name, no one by that name existed in any database he could access—not even using a few of the less-than-legal tricks his father, a software developer, had taught him.

Yesterday he had gone as far as to have it examined by a jeweler, confirming that it was real gold. To him of course, the necklace was hardly expensive—it would barely register in his family's vast collection of valuables. But he was keenly aware that such an item might hold more value for someone from a less privileged background. It might be a treasured family heirloom, vital to her family's survival. What if her family was on the brink of financial ruin and needed this necklace to ensure they could buy food?

The thought weighed heavily on him. What if this really was her lifeline? He couldn't just leave it to chance. Kaoru nodded to himself with newfound determination. Tonight he would head back to the playground where they had first met. Surely she must live nearby, given she had been out in pajamas that night—or maybe she was just "quirky" enough not to care. Either way, Kaoru planned to keep an eye out for her. And if he didn't spot her there, he could always use her school uniform as a clue to track her down later. He was ready to return the necklace and, perhaps save her family from dire poverty.

At the playground, the night stretched around him in silence. He'd been waiting for an hour, his patience wearing thin as he switched between listening to music and letting his thoughts wander. The street lamps flickered occasionally, casting long shadows. The cool air carried the distant hum of traffic and a faint breeze rustled through the trees.

Kaoru had come to return Miss Jigglypuff's necklace, yes, but there was also that lingering sense of guilt from their last encounter. He remembered how sad she'd looked, crying by herself, and how his ill-timed attempt at chivalry had likely made things worse for her that night. His intentions had been good, but thinking back, his sarcastic remarks might have only managed to piss her off more.

It was almost midnight and he wondered if she'd show up. He paused the music, pulled out his AirPods, and let the night's silence envelop him completely.

Just then, footsteps echoed in the quiet. His breath caught in his throat as he turned sharply toward the sound. The shadow emerging from the darkness was unmistakably hers. As she moved closer, coming into the dim light of the street lamps, he could see her short, more chubby figure clearly. This time, she wasn't in the outrageous Jigglypuff onesie but a more subdued flannel pajama. But he noticed how she once again wore that sad expression.

Clearing his throat, Kaoru tried to keep his tone light and friendly, hoping not to startle her like last time. "Well, if it isn't Miss Jigglypuff herself. I was starting to think you weren't coming."

She stopped a safe distance away, eying him wearily. "Oh, it's you. The King of Nighttime Hijinks. What do you want now? Are you stalking me or something?"

Kaoru raised his hands in a placating gesture. "I'm not stalking you, and need I remind you that you were the one who tackled me earlier today? But yeah…I was hoping to see you here tonight." His voice was sincere, though he tried to keep his tone casual, not wanting to spook her.

She eyed him suspiciously. "And why's that?"

Kaoru pulled out the necklace from the front pocket of his hoodie, letting the piece of jewelry dangle in front of him. "Missing something?"

Her eyes widened, and she took a hesitant step forward. "My necklace," she muttered, clearly taken aback. "How did you—Where—"

"You must've dropped it during our 'brawl' the first time we met here," Kaoru explained, his tone softening as he noticed the worry on her face.

Still cautious, she didn't move closer, her mistrust evident. Kaoru could sense her apprehension and continued, trying to reassure her. "You know, if I wanted to do something, I'd have already done it by now. I also would have done it smarter—attacking you while hiding behind a corner or something. It would've been easier, don't you agree?"

She kept her distance, clearly weighing her options, before quipping, "Right… how do I know you're not going to attack me again, Sir Tackleton?"

Kaoru smirked, masking his slight exasperation. "Like I said, if I wanted to, I could've done it by now. I'm not coming any closer unless you want me to. I've learned my lesson; you've got a strong set of teeth, Puffzilla. So, it's your choice: you come over here, or nothing. And while you're at it, have a seat. I think we should talk."

"Throw it over," she demanded sharply.

"No," Kaoru said, his tone firm, still holding the necklace out but staying seated on the bench. "Come get it."

She scowled, her irritation simmering. "It's my necklace! You've really got some nerve setting conditions when you're holding something that belongs to me."

Kaoru let out a long sigh, his smirk fading. Here we go again. "Look, I get it," he said, his voice softer, tinged with genuine regret. "I'm sorry. You can have it back, no strings attached. If you really want, I'll toss it over. But… can we just talk for a minute? I've been thinking about what happened, and I wanted to apologize. I was only trying to help, even if it didn't come across that way."

Miss Jigglypuff hesitated, her gaze shifting between the necklace and Kaoru's earnest face. After what felt like an eternity, she cautiously walked over and took a seat beside him on the bench.

Kaoru handed her the necklace, and she accepted it with a soft, "Thank you."

"It's very pretty," Kaoru observed, watching her as she inspected the necklace. "I figured you'd definitely want it back."

"Yeah," Miss Jigglpuff replied, her tone softening as she ran her fingers over the necklace. "I was really freaked out when I couldn't find it. It was a gift from my mom."

Curiously Kaoru asked, "If it's not too personal, may I ask about the meaning of the words on it? I wondered if it's related to your name, is it Ai-Rei?"

She smiled mildly, the corners of her lips lifting in slight amusement. "Actually, you're reading it wrong. It's meant to be read as Chinese characters, not Japanese kanji. It's pronounced 'Oi Ling' in Chinese Cantonese but I prefer the Vietnamese translation, Ai Linh."

Kaoru frowned slightly, trying to make sense of it. "Why the different translations?"

"My parents are Hoa people, an ethnic minority in Vietnam," she explained. "They wanted a Vietnamese name, but one that could also be adapted into Cantonese, since that's the dialect they use with me. Japanese passports typically use kanji to represent names, so they chose characters that sound close to my Vietnamese name. In Japanese, my name is written as," she paused, drawing the kanji 愛リン in the air, "and pronounced 'Ai-Rin,' which is a close approximation of my Vietnamese name, 'Ai Linh.'"

She shrugged casually, the gesture contrasting with the complexity of her explanation. "It's quite complicated. Most people don't really care about it, and I'm not too fond of the Japanese pronunciation. So I just go by Ai. It's simpler and works well across all the languages."

"Does the name have a different meaning?" Kaoru continued, curiosity evident. "I know that 'Ai' translates to 'love' in both Japanese and Chinese. But what about 'Linh' or 'Ling'?"

Ai nodded. "It means 'spirit.' So it's something like 'loving spirit' or 'beloved spirit', I Kaoru nodded thoughtfully, considering her words. "I see. 'Ai Linh' does sound quite nice, though. It has a certain elegance to it."

"Thanks," Ai replied quietly, her fingers still tracing the intricate design of the necklace.

Breaking the silence, Kaoru offered a friendly smile. "I'm Kaoru, by the way."

Ai looked up, acknowledging his introduction with a nod. Both of them were unsure of what to do or say next, and the moment hung between them.

After a brief pause, Ai's curiosity got the better of her. "You know, despite how we met, I'm actually glad you came out here to return this. But I have to ask—why go through all this trouble? Most people would've just left it behind or handed it in at a police station."

Kaoru shrugged, his tone thoughtful. "I guess I didn't want it to be just another lost item. I thought it might be important to you, and I figured it was worth the effort to return it personally. Plus, with all the unlucky encounters we've had, I thought it might be nice to clear the air."

Ai raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So you were just trying to do the right thing and make up for our... earlier interaction?"

"Pretty much," Kaoru admitted with a chuckle. He hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "I felt a bit responsible for how things turned out on that night we met. Sorry if I startled you. That wasn't my intention." He deliberately left out the fact that part of his reason for wanting to return the necklace was because he imagined he was rescuing her and her family from financial ruin. From what he'd picked up from being around Haruhi and their friend Mei, commoners didn't appreciate having their struggles highlighted. So, he decided to keep his heroic intentions to himself in order not to embarrass her and make her feel uncomfortable.

Ai's gaze softened slightly, and she nodded slowly. "I appreciate that. It's rare to meet someone who actually tries to make amends rather than just brush things off. And I was the one who practically ran you over this afternoon, so I guess that's on me. Sorry about that."

Kaoru shrugged lightly, trying to downplay his actions. "Say, Miss Jigglypuff—" He noticed the scowl return to her face at the nickname, but continued anyway, "—I'm curious. Why didn't you just run away that night? And what's with being out so late? Isn't it a bit unsafe for a girl to be wandering around alone at this hour? I could have been a real threat. Or could it be you were just too dazzled by my charm and good looks?"

She gave him a pointed side-eye, her sarcasm and snark returning. "I saw your delicate pretty-boy features and figured I could take you on. When you started flailing and falling onto me, I thought, 'Here's a guy so non-threatening, he could probably use a handkerchief himself.' And what's with the nickname, anyway? You've got some nerve, Count Crashington."

Kaoru laughed, completely unfazed by her insults. "So, you were charmed, I see. But seriously, I'm curious. You seemed pretty set on sticking around instead of bolting. Why's that?"

Ai crossed her arms, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Why should I miss the chance to berate the clumsy idiot who decided to attack me in the middle of the night? But honestly, maybe you should keep your 'heroic' impulses in check next time. I'd prefer to avoid any more midnight surprises."

Kaoru grinned, shaking his head. "Well, you've got to admit, it's a unique approach. Next time, I'll stick to sending a text. Clearly, I missed the part of the fairy tale where the hero uses a more traditional approach. My bad."

She eyed him with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "You're really weird, you know that?"

Kaoru shot Ai a wry, ironic look. "Right, and you're as normal as they come. I run into girls in Jigglypuff onesies all the time."

He watched as her face flushed crimson. She glanced down at her flannel pajamas, and seemed to recall the Jigglypuff onesie she had been wearing during their previous encounter. The realization made her blush even harder.

She looked up, her embarrassment mixing with annoyance. "I'm still not sure if you're constantly trying to annoy me on purpose or if you actually have a shred of decency. You're pretty arrogant and audacious, I must say."

Kaoru smirked, leaning back on the bench. "Why should the two be mutually exclusive? I can be decent and still enjoy riling you up—it's fun. But you didn't really answer my question."

Her eyes narrowed, clearly unimpressed. "So you're saying you're a decent guy who just happens to get a kick out of irritating people? That's a pretty convenient excuse for being a royal pain in the ass." She turned her face away from him, clearly annoyed. "Also, I don't usually go out on my own at night if I can avoid it, but… I have my reasons." Her tone was cryptic, clearly indicating she wasn't keen on discussing it further.

She stood up, brushing off her flannel pajamas. "I should get going. It's getting pretty late, and I have an early morning tomorrow."

Kaoru stood up with her, feeling the chill of the night air. "Of course. I didn't mean to keep you out so late. But it was fun talking to you."

As Ai began to walk away, Kaoru called after her, his voice carrying a playful tone. "Hey, Miss Jigglypuff!"

Ai paused, looking over her shoulder with a skeptical expression. "What now?"

Kaoru grinned. "No hard feelings?"

She shot him a long look before rolling her eyes. "Fine. But if you ever sneak up on me like that again, I swear I'll do more than just bite. And for heaven's sake, will you stop with that ridiculous nickname?"

Kaoru laughed, deliberately ignoring her request. He enjoyed the nickname too much. "I'll try to announce my presence next time. Maybe with a song? Jigglypuff's lullaby, perhaps?"

She couldn't help but crack a smile, shaking her head in disbelief. "Whatever, have a good night, Baron Bumbles."

"You too, Fluffalicious," he called back with a playful grin.

With a final glance, Ai continued her walk into the night, her flannel pajamas rustling softly with each step. Kaoru watched her go, feeling a mix of amusement and satisfaction. The night had been unexpectedly interesting, and although he enjoyed getting a rise out of her, he was glad to have cleared the air between them.

As Ai disappeared into the distance, Kaoru turned to head back home. The playground was quiet again, and the cool night air felt refreshing. He smiled to himself, sensing that this wouldn't be their last encounter…

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm back with a new chapter way sooner than expected. I had this chapter ready for a while but felt it needed more work. After some tweaks, I decided to just post it, even though I'm not quite satisfied. I'm already working on the next chapter, so stay tuned (it might take a bit of time though). I hope you enjoy this one, and I'd really love to hear your thoughts on it!