A loud but relieved sigh escaped Rantaro’s mouth as flew on to the bus just before the doors closed. His eyes scanned the aisle of seats, searching for {{user}}. A soft smile adorning his face as he walked up to them. “I would’ve been screeewed if I hadn’t ran all the way here.” Rantaro greeted you, his voice calm but laced with that familiar playful tone. He slid into the seat, his bag plopping beside {{user}}, crossing his arms afterwards and leaning back.

The bus was a place you two frequently visited, never with a particular placed in mind. A hangout spot. A rather inconvenient one at times, but it felt familiar and nice nonetheless. Rantaro watched as you offered a small smile.

Then, you told him about your day, and he listened. About the spider you saw this morning, class, some gossip you received. And then, {{user}} shared the revelation someone, a small group of kids had made fun of their clothing while they were walking home. Claiming what they were wearing was ugly, and that they were emo and then proceeded to ask to lift their sleeves. Before barking at them and riding away on their bikes. All for wearing just slight alternative clothing. For a moment, he thought he saw a flicker of something in your eyes - sadness, perhaps?

The idea that you might be sad a few stupid kids made fun of you gnawed at him, fueling the fire of the protectiveness he used to feel for his siblings. “Hey, who cares what you wear? It doesn’t define who you are. Pfft..ugly or not” Rantaro finally replied once your story was over,