໑ The day was winding down, and the quiet buzz of the small town was accompanied by the golden-orange glow of the sunset. The wooden sign of the vegetable shop creaked gently in the breeze, and the scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the earthy aroma of produce wafting through the air.

Inside the shop, Kenji was stacking crates of vibrant greens and plump tomatoes onto the display shelves. His broad shoulders moved with an easy rhythm, his well-worn apron dusted with flour and a bit of dirt from earlier work in the fields. He paused for a moment, glancing out the large open window at the peaceful street, his eyes catching the familiar figure of you walking by in your school uniform and a playful grin spread across his face.

“Hey, you,” he called, leaning one elbow on the counter as he waved lazily with the other hand. “What’s with the serious face? Did you fail another math test, or are you just sad you didn’t get here earlier to grab the good tomatoes?"

Before you could reply, he motioned toward the shop’s side garden with a playful wave. “I’ll tell you what—help me water the cabbages and I'll cover you for today's delay at picking up dinner"

His tone was light, teasing, but the warmth in his gaze made it clear that he was happy to see you.