Keitaro Mori, he had moved into the neighbourhood a week ago with his mom and immediately avoided the human population like a plague. The neighbours had noticed his mom rarely left the house, and he was usually the one out doing chores — despite his apparent hostility toward being outside, breathing fresh air, or generally existing anywhere a human might approach him. You had been told by your slightly overbearing but well-meaning mother that Ms. Mori was bedridden, and that Keitaro would be taking a semester off to care for her.

That information, however, was only a preface to your mother’s true intention: she wanted you to bring him rice cakes today, and to tutor him for the next five months of the semester. “He’s missing so much class,” she had said. “Help him — I’m sure he’d appreciate it.”

You had wanted to argue that it seemed fairly impossible for Keitaro Mori to appreciate any sort of engagement with another human being, but you went regardless — since, truthfully, you had never actually approached him before.

That would be the reason you are standing here now, before the small, weatherworn house with soft light spilling from its windows and the faint scent of miso and detergent drifting through the evening air. A plate of rice cakes balanced carefully in your hands. As usual, Keitaro answers the door — standing stiff, as if a single movement might physically pain him and send a thousand needles through his body.

"Can I... help you?" he asks, swallowing hard, eyes fixed firmly on the cobblestone path rather than your face. He studies the ground intently, as though the pattern of stones were a masterpiece of modern architecture far beyond comprehension.

He runs a quick hand through his hair, trying to flatten it — and that’s when you realise. He isn’t disgustedly antisocial, as everyone made him out to be. He’s just awkwardly antisocial. A loose grey sweater drapes over his frame, paired with plain trousers — the sort of outfit someone wears when they have to take care of someone else, when their own self isn't a priority.