I Won't Be a Loser

"Are you hurt anywhere? Do you feel any pain?"

Noticing the girl trembling slightly from embarrassment, Haruto quickly reined in his expression and focused on her well-being. Kiyoura Setsuna lowered her head, her biting gently on her lip. Slowly, she raised her gaze toward the boy in front of her. Seeing his concerned expression, the intense shame she felt began to subside, if only a little. She shook her head silently.

A piece of burdock root slipped from her hair, and the flush that had just started to fade returned in full force, painting her cheeks a deep crimson.

"Good to hear you're okay. Let's clean this up first. If you don't mind, I can help you pick the burdock out of your hair," Haruto offered gently.

Setsuna initially wanted to refuse, but as she considered the situation—how she couldn't see her own head and how trying to clean it herself would likely be futile—she hesitated. Walking home like this and risking being seen by someone she knew would be mortifying.

With her reason prevailing over her pride, she nodded lightly. "Thank you."

Another piece of burdock slipped from her head, but by now, Setsuna had grown numb to the humiliation. Resigned, she sat cross-legged on the floor, watching as Haruto got up from the ground.

"Are you okay, Miyamizu-kun?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Dusting himself off, Haruto rubbed his chest lightly but felt no lasting discomfort. Smiling reassuringly, he said, "I'm fine. I try to stay in shape, so something like this won't bother me. Let me get a towel; just wait here for a moment."

Haruto left Setsuna in the room and went to fetch a towel. After unwrapping a new one he had bought earlier, he soaked it in warm water from the bathroom. Returning to the room, he hesitated briefly before sweeping the scattered burdock root into the trash.

Placing the trash can aside, Kento sat in front of Setsuna, whose flushed face betrayed her embarrassment. Under her slightly averted gaze, he carefully reached out and began picking the pieces of burdock from her hair, one by one.

Thankfully, since the dish was stir-fried, there wasn't much sauce to worry about.

In the quiet room, Setsuna sat still, her senses heightened to every gentle motion as Haruto carefully combed through her hair. Stealing a glance at the boy in front of her, she noticed his calm, focused demeanor. His gaze held no trace of awkwardness—only clarity and indifference.

Despite being a high schooler like herself, Haruto carried an air of maturity she had only ever seen in adults. His face was almost too refined, striking a delicate balance between masculine and youthful. To Setsuna, his gentle presence felt almost maternal.

Her heart began to race. Face growing hotter, she dropped her gaze to the floor, hiding behind her lowered lashes.

About ten minutes later, Haruto finished picking out all the burdock from her hair. Disposing of the last bits in the trash, he declared with a smile, "All done."

"Thank you, Miyamizu-kun. I'm so sorry for causing you all this trouble."

Setsuna's voice was earnest, but Haruto simply waved off her apology. "It's nothing. Just a little accident. Honestly, I should be thanking you for your kind gesture. It's a shame I didn't get to try your kinpira gobo burdock."

A mix of guilt and other unspoken emotions stirred within Setsuna. Picking up the overturned food container from the floor, she looked at Haruto's warm smile and felt a pang of reluctance to leave. But she knew she had to.

"Next time, I'll bring you a fresh batch. I'm really sorry for today. I'll be going now."

"Alright. I'll look forward to the taste of your kinpira gobo burdock next time."

After helping her to the door, Haruto watched as Setsuna slipped her soft white socks into her shoes. She turned back toward him, her face once again flushing red as she bowed deeply.

"Thank you. Goodbye."

Haruto nodded with a smile, watching as she hurried away. Once she disappeared from view, he closed the door, glanced at the stains left on the floor, and sighed.

"Well, better clean this up."

_ _ _

It was already dark, and the streets were quiet. Thankfully, Setsuna didn't run into anyone who might have seen her in such a disheveled state. Rushing home, she entered the living room, where her mother, Kiyoura Mai, was waiting.

Mai was sitting on the couch, watching TV while waiting to have dinner together with her daughter. But when she saw Setsuna walk in holding the food container, her hair stained with sticky black residue, and an unusually flustered expression, Mai's curiosity was piqued.

"What happened?"

"I tripped," Setsuna replied curtly.

"Are you hurt?" Mai stood up, concern evident on her face. She approached to check for injuries, but Setsuna quickly pushed the food container into her mother's hands.

"I'm fine. I'll take a bath first. You can eat without me," she said, heading toward the bathroom.

"Did your new neighbor see you like this?" Mai asked casually.

"...Yes."

Setsuna's footsteps faltered briefly. Without looking back, she continued walking. Her heart felt oddly heavy as she replayed Haruto's face and actions in her mind.

In the bathroom, she closed the door, removed her ribbon, and let her hair fall loose. As she pulled off her sweater, her mother's voice called out from the other side.

"What kind of person is he?"

Setsuna paused for a moment, then replied softly, "He's... a good person."

Hearing her daughter's response, Mai's eyebrows lifted in surprise. She hadn't expected Setsuna to give such a high evaluation of someone she'd just met. A knowing smile crept onto Mai's lips.

From years of living with her daughter, she recognized the subtle hesitation in Setsuna's tone.

It seemed her daughter was finally stepping into puberty.