At that moment, Nagasaki Sumiyo also walked over.
She was carrying two bowls of steaming, fragrant white rice.
Seeing Bai Qiu holding his phone with a smile on his face, Nagasaki Sumiyo asked with a smile,
"Did something interesting happen?"
Bai Qiu set down the phone and looked at Nagasaki Sumiyo.
"I'm chatting with some friends from a few bands."
Bands?!
Friends… ah!
Nagasaki Sumiyo's hands froze for a moment.
Once, she too had a few close friends in a band.
But now…
In the Crychic group chat, she was the only one left.
Does Bai Qiu-kun also play in a band?
Just as Nagasaki Sumiyo was about to ask—
Bai Qiu spoke first.
"Sorry for troubling you again, Nagasaki-san."
The sight of the fragrant dishes in front of him made Bai Qiu's mouth water.
He'd been eating convenience-store bento the past few days. These home-cooked dishes made his appetite surge.
"Don't worry about it."
"And besides, I can't finish it alone anyway."
"Actually, I was supposed to eat with my mom tonight, but she suddenly had to leave for something."
Nagasaki Sumiyo said a bit awkwardly, explaining the situation outside the door earlier.
So that was it. Bai Qiu nodded.
In that case, the career-woman he met in the elevator earlier must've been Nagasaki Sumiyo's mother.
No wonder she looked familiar.
Thinking about it now, the two really did resemble each other seven or eight parts.
Right—her hairstyle was very safe, too.
The two smart people chose not to dwell on earlier events and began enjoying the food.
"I'm digging in!" ×2
Both of them were extremely good at reading the atmosphere, and their social skills were strong.
So there was no shortage of conversation while eating.
Naturally, the scene never turned awkward.
"Does Bai Qiu-kun usually eat this kind of thing?"
Nagasaki Sumiyo suddenly asked as she picked up a piece of karaage.
She recalled the day Bai Qiu bought so many instant noodles.
"Eating too much of that isn't good for your health."
She gently reminded him.
Although instant noodles tasted good, she personally preferred vegetable macaroni.
"Not that often."
"I live alone."
"So I usually eat outside."
Bai Qiu explained.
Compared to cooking for himself, he preferred trying out the many delicious foods sold around the shopping district.
Nagasaki Sumiyo looked a little surprised.
Living alone?
Then… he was the same as her.
So Nagasaki Sumiyo asked with a bit of concern,
"What about Bai Qiu-kun's parents?"
Bai Qiu swallowed the food and casually replied,
"They went somewhere far away."
The smile on Nagasaki Sumiyo's face froze.
"Sorry."
Even the way she looked at Bai Qiu carried a hint of pity now.
Why is she apologizing all of a sudden?
Bai Qiu raised his head, confused.
"Ahem… I don't mean they passed away. They're just working overseas."
He added awkwardly.
"But I haven't seen them in years."
He said lightly, as if it didn't matter.
"Eh…?"
Nagasaki Sumiyo's face flushed red as shock rose in her heart.
Years? That long?!
How could parents be so irresponsible…
At least her mom still came home regularly to check on her and eat with her.
Didn't that mean Bai Qiu had it even worse, even lonelier than her?
Thinking of that, a wave of sympathy rose in her chest.
Bai Qiu-kun must be really lonely…
It was a feeling she understood well.
But now, Nagasaki Sumiyo couldn't help but let out a soft, delicate complaint,
"Please don't say things that can be so easily misunderstood, Bai Qiu-kun."
"Sorry."
Bai Qiu put down his chopsticks, pressed his palms together, and apologized just like Hongxia would.
"It's all because Nagasaki-san's cooking is too delicious."
Then he picked up his phone again, planning to check if the band group chat had said anything else.
"Geez, even if you say that…"
Nagasaki Sumiyo's tone softened again.
Suddenly, the rectangular bandaid beside the dishes entered her view.
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
She changed the subject and asked,
"Does Bai Qiu-kun really like bandaids?"
She looked at his fingers—long, smooth, without any signs of injury.
Carrying cute bandaids around didn't sound like a guy's hobby.
She remembered how he'd instantly taken out a penguin-pattern bandaid when she fell last time.
And now he had so many bandaids with ocean-creature patterns.
Nagasaki Sumiyo couldn't help feeling puzzled… and intrigued.
This… was exactly the kind of thing Lamp would do.
"It's nothing. These were all from a friend."
Bai Qiu replied casually with a light laugh.
Lamp had given him a huge amount of bandaids.
He didn't really have any use for them himself.
After all, he was a keyboardist—not a guitarist or bassist who often hurt their fingers during practice.
A pianist's hands were precious.
"I see…"
A friend gave them.
A flash of light flickered in Nagasaki Sumiyo's eyes.
In that moment, a bold guess was born in her heart.
It… couldn't possibly be that much of a coincidence, right?
Little Lamp didn't seem like the kind of child who could easily make friends with boys.
However—Nagasaki Sumiyo dearly hoped her guess was right!
She tilted her head slightly upward, as if trying to recall something.
"Speaking of that, I also know a friend who loves collecting bandaids!"
She said with a bright smile.
"Does Bai Qiu-kun's friend also like smooth pebbles, or little pill bugs?"
Hm?
Bai Qiu became interested.
Someone like Lamp? Then maybe Lamp could become friends with that girl.
Bai Qiu knew—despite how Lamp looked like she was always lost in her own world,
deep down she really hoped someone could share her interests.
But girls who found Lamp's hobbies interesting were very rare.
"Yeah, and during class she'd place her little items on the desk and observe them."
Bai Qiu looked at Nagasaki Sumiyo.
"My friend does that too."
Nagasaki Sumiyo felt her heartbeat quicken.
The answer… was right in front of her!
Bai Qiu's eyes lit up at the same time.
At this moment, he too had a guess.
Japan was so small, after all. Tokyo was basically one big village.
They stared into each other's eyes, full of anticipation.
"This friend's name wouldn't happen to be Lamp, right?" ×2
Both of them asked in unison.