Later that evening, Kavei returned to his job at the bustling restaurant. The warm glow of the lights illuminated the space, casting a welcoming atmosphere over the diners. With a polite smile, Kavei greeted each customer by the door, his demeanor both attentive and respectful. But greeting incoming customers wasn't his only job. He also moved gracefully between tables, ensuring that every patron was attended to.

Among the evening's guests was Kai, who had decided to dine at this particular restaurant today. As he settled into his seat, he lifted the menu card, his eyes scanning the list of dishes with interest. After a few moments of deliberation, he reached for the small brass bell on the table and gave it a gentle ring.

Kavei, who was attending to the door, bowed at the final customer entering quickly and politely before promptly appeared before Kai, dressed in his crisp black uniform. A lady in a black shirt and pencil skirt quickly took his job at the door making sure no one would miss the greeting. The restaurant was short staffed but well known for their amazing food and customer service. 

"Ah? Didn't you greet me at the door?" Kai inquired. For him, it was quite unnatural to see the same boy attend to him for most restaurants had assigned waiters and service staff. 

Kavei responded with a serene smile. Knowing that he would receive no verbal reply from his demeanor, Kai sighed lightly. "Okay. French bread and soup, please," he said, closing the menu card and handing it to Kavei.

Kavei accepted the menu card with a nod. He then turned and walked away towards the counter at the end of the hall.

A short while later, Kavei reappeared, balancing a tray with Kai's order. The aroma of freshly baked bread and savory soup wafted through the air, tantalizing the senses. Kavei carefully placed the dishes on the table, arranging them with meticulous precision. He bowed respectfully to Kai before retreating back to his duties, leaving Kai to enjoy his meal in the serene ambiance of the restaurant. Even with a rush of customers, there was a good hush in the restaurant for all enjoyed their food well in silence. 

(Scene: Kanazawa, Year: 2016, Time: 12:30 am)

The restaurant's employees finally closed the entrance together, signaling the end of another long day. Kavei stepped out of the main dining area after making sure the back doors were locked.

He joined his coworkers in the backroom, where they gathered their uniforms and belongings. Men and women had separate changing rooms but they all had their locker rooms in the backrooms. The only two ladies in the group bowed to the men and then disappeared into the changing room, the door to which was at the end of the backroom, opposite to the men's changing room. The four men in the room excluding Kavei, exchanged glances, seated on the waiting stools, before shifting their focus on Kavei who was standing leaned against the wall adjacent to the back-room's entry door, eyes shut, hands folded in front of his chest. 

"Kavei-kun," one of the men began as he propped his bag on his right shoulder. "the owner of the restaurant will be back soon. You should start looking for a job somewhere else."

Kavei cracked one eye open and the man a slow glance. This man, along with the five remaining staff members, had personally helped Kavei get a job here while the owner was away. The owner - who was a stickler for rules and wouldn't break the law for his life. Kavei sighed as he pushed himself up from the wall. He nodded at the man and then strode towards the the exit door at the other end of the room. He offered them a weary smile and a tired nod of goodnight before slipping out through the door into the night.

The quiet street was bathed in the soft, faint glow of street lamps, their light casting long shadows on the pavement. Kavei walked along the deserted road, lost in his thoughts, his bag hung across his shoulders as if on the verge of slipping.

As he walked, his attention was suddenly drawn to a familiar figure leaning against a nearby lamp post. The dim light cast a soft glow on the boy's features, sparking a sense of familiarity in Kavei's mind. He squinted, trying to place the face.

"Just served him in the restaurant. Senosan Kai. Ethereal, maybe. Pianist. Child actor. Cute," Kavei's words flowed out, his hands in his pockets now.

Kai, who had been lost in his own thoughts, overheard Kavei's quiet musings. His curiosity piqued, he approached the young boy directly. "Is that what you think of me?" Kai asked, his tone friendly.

Kavei blinked in surprise, caught off guard by Kai's sudden appearance in front of him and the direct question. He tilted his head as he came to a stop, facing Kai directly. 

"Oh? Then were you thinking out loud?" Kai pressed, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Realizing his mistake, Kavei quickly apologized with a small bow of his head, "Ah. Sorry. My bad." 

"No. It's okay," Kai reassured him with a small smile. "No one is this good at observing, at least the people that I know of, and it's so good that it's kinda scary."

Kavei chuckled softly, acknowledging Kai's remark. "Ah. Haha. Thank you and sorry for scaring you like that."

"Yeah, it's fine. Kavei, right?" Kai asked.

"You know me?" Kavei asked, surprised by the boy's claim.

"No. The nameplate on your uniform back in the restaurant," Kai explained, gesturing towards the spot on his shirt where his nameplate had once been.

"Right, right," Kavei replied, recalling the small detail.

"I am Kai. Senosan Kai. Well, as you already know." Kai said, introducing himself.

Kavei's eyebrows raised slightly. "Ah. Yeah, yeah. Who doesn't know you. Child actor and model, Kai. Son of the owner of one of the largest business groups."

Kai nodded with a smile. "Haha. Which school do you go to?" he asked, attempting to continue the conversation.

Kavei simply shook his head.

"You don't go to a school?!" Kai exclaimed, taken aback.

"Yeah, children not attending is not unheard of," Kavei confirmed simply, his tone nonchalant.

Kai cleared his throat as he probed further, "I'm really sorry to ask this as a complete stranger, but may I know why?"

Kavei shrugged, dismissing the question with ease. "Oh, don't be sorry. I just don't like studying. Not interested, not going."

Kai nodded, unable to fully understand Kavei's sentiment. "Ah.. okay.. good."

Kai shifted the flow of the conversation then. "Where do you live?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"The apartment across the fourth block. Black Street," Kavei responded, his gaze drifting momentarily ahead.

"Would you like me to walk you home?" Kai asked politely.

Kavei countered with a question of his own. "Who'll drop you?" he asked.

"I can walk home myself," Kai replied, his tone casual.

"I guess I can too," Kavei said, taking a step forward and continuing down the dimly lit street.

Kai watched him go, his mind swirling with thoughts. "Is this dude putting up a wall? Does he not want to talk to me? Is that it?" he pondered. "Wow. Kavei is the only person who has ever ignored me, I guess."

"Great. So you know. See you around," Kavei called back, his figure receding into the darkness.

As Kavei disappeared from view, Kai couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of curiosity. "So I know what?" he muttered to himself, mulling over the words as he stood under the streetlamp, the soft light casting long shadows on the pavement. 

The night was quiet once more, leaving Kai alone with his thoughts and a newfound interest in the enigmatic Kavei who had simply replied to his thoughts, but, how was he to know that?