They sat on the wooden floor of the balcony, which faced the sturdy stone wall.

"What happen?" - Sunny asked bewildered.

"Did something happen before coming here?"

"Huh? It's fine." - He waved his hand.

"Sunny!" - Kiyo definitely didn't believe it, trying to find the reason.

The two were silent for a moment, then he spoke:

"Recently, I've been in a bad mood, I don't even bother to get up early or make any plans. Not even combing my hair. You know what my family background is like."

"Sunny..." - Kiyo pushed him into his lap, letting him lean on:

"It's okay. You're far away from home, and our brothers are by your side, so you have nothing to worry about, okay?"

"Yeah.." - Sunny sighed.

They sat there, looking up at the blue sky. At the same time, the sound of passing truck, with typical laughing and talking of urban people just passed by. An indescribable mess.

Sunny still leaned against Kiyo and Kiyo fiddled with his brown hair. Then he noticed something on the back of his neck.

He wondered why, before coming here, he didn't do anything to prevent Sunny from being beaten like this. Now away from his family, in a new environment, Sunny might be unfamiliar with, but now he doesn't have to be bullied by his sister anymore, which is a good thing.

The problem is, Kiyo doesn't belong to that family, rather he has no family. Does that mean Kiyo can't do anything? He didn't have the right to meddle in people's family affairs?

Knowing that, Kiyo could only see how the wound on Sunny's body was, but he did not do it until now, because Sunny did not show him the previous times. He said softly and slowly:

"Put your arm out here, Sunny... Let me check a little bit."

"Huh? Um.. Check?"

"That's right. Check. I want to see if there's something wrong with your hand."

Sunny reluctantly rolled up his sleeves. He always wears long clothes when going out, no matter how hot it is.

At first glance, Kiyo was also a bit shocked. There were quite a few bruises up there, some of which are growing on young skin. His hand was still the same.

"Those places... are they new?"

"Yeah, from yesterday and two days ago."

Kiyo stared, then stood up:

"You sit still, I'll go get some medicine and apply it."

He entered the room, opened the refrigerator and took some ice cubes, closed the cabinet, took a clean towel, and went to where Sunny was sitting:

"Sit still. Let me put it."

He tied the ices to the towel, then leaned over Sunny's arm.

"Have you put the ice on?"

"Yeah."

It was indeed moist, but Sunny wasn't noticing how long it took for the wound to heal, but instead noticed Kiyo's expression. It was a serious, focused expression as if he was oblivious to his surroundings.

Sunny's face turned red, but Kiyo didn't see it. He noticed that Kiyo was exuding an unusual beauty, aside from his straight, loose black hair and his regular, well-proportioned face. Is it about Kiyo's kind heart, behind that cold exterior?

"Hold on. I'm a little tired." - Kiyo smiled lightly.

Sunny took the towel and peeked at the person next to him. For Sunny, Kiyo was still beautiful.

Kiyo tried to go inside, but Sunny pulled him back.

"What?"

Sunny hesitated.

"Honestly... I thought you were pretty."

"Pretty?! I'm not like that-" - Kiyo blushed, not daring to admit it.

"It's true. That's why I want to sit with you for a while, just looking at you is fine."

Kiyo had to sit down, he also looked at Sunny. To him, Sunny is also pretty. With slightly parted brown hair, bright eyes, soft cheeks, and a cute face. Alas, Kiyo felt like kissing him, or holding him in his arms, or carrying him.

They looked at each other for a moment, then turned away.

"Dude, I'm going to get embarrassed to death." - Kiyo covered half of his face, not letting Sunny see his silly face.

He sat and laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm serious... You're so cute right now, Kiyo."

"C'mon." - Kiyo still covered his face.

***

Kiyo, Sunny and Ryota spent half their summer vacation exploring the Capital. They didn't have much of an impression, probably because they had heard about Chushin quite a bit.

There aren't many trees, the streets are concrete (like in their town), relatively spacious, and the houses seem a bit old, but at least there are modern architectures, and half of them are borrowed. of foreign countries. Kiyo feels the city is a "half West half us" place.

They also tried some dishes such as potato cakes, fried noodles, and snail vermicelli... It was delicious, but compared to the countryside, it was a difference.

The people there aren't too friendly, they talk a bit fast, walk quickly, in general, they do everything quickly, they don't even look at anyone to say hello. But they still do it very carefully, in order.

Chushin still has cyclos from the old days, some people walk, some people ride bicycles, and some people still walk while carrying poles and storing fruits. Still crowded.

All show a classic, but also a modern style of the city.

Kiyo was fine here, but the downside was so crowded, and he ran out of energy after a while.

Almost to the neighborhood next to the school, Ryota said:

"Let's go back, this is too tiring."

"Yeah, crowded places don't suit us." - Kiyo replied.

They disengaged and returned to the apartment. Ryota sat in another corner to read the story. Sunny missed work, so he opened his laptop:

"I'd rather stay home and study this program. I don't want to be left out."

"Me too." - Kiyo went to the backyard to see if there was anything to fix.

Of course not. The installation was better here than in the countryside, so breakdowns are unlikely. So, Kiyo didn't have many opportunities to fix the equipment and furniture like back in town.

Do what now? There wasn't much to do, and Sunny and Ryota had no problem asking for help.

I think I should go to work tomorrow..

The next day, Kiyo and Sunny applied for part-time jobs at a convenience store.

Kiyo was used to this kind of work, so he didn't have to worry. But for Sunny, being in such an environment for the first time, and having to meet guests, he was quite embarrassed, so in order to avoid people's eyes, he pulled the visor quite deep.

"What's wrong Sunny? Are you scared?"

"No, but I'm new here, so I'm not used to it... Especially the eyes of the guests.."

"They won't do anything, I guarantee it. Just sit down, you don't have to stand much." - Kiyo said that, but he never sat down.

Sunny glanced around, seeing if there was anything to rearrange, then suddenly, he saw a little girl, sneaking a box of meatballs into her shirt and running away.

He stood up and ran after it.

"Stop!"

She was scared and was about to run to the other side of the sidewalk, but Sunny held her hand. She was afraid to look up.

"Did you steal the meatballs box?"

She didn't answer, holding onto the shirt she was wearing.

"Is that true?" - Sunny still insisted.

She nodded and took the box back to him.

"Why did you do that?"

"My family has been hungry for days, and I have no money."

Then she pointed to a shack on the other side of the sidewalk. Her clothes were also full of stitches and stains. The black hair tied on both sides was equally messy.

Sunny was silent, then led her into the store.

She thought he would report it to the shop owner, but no, he pulled out two bills, and told Kiyo to cash the box of meat.

Finished, he gave her.

"I bought you this. Go home and cook it okay?"

She was touched, bowed her head to thank and apologize to him, and then left.

Sunny went back to his desk and adjusted the visor a bit.

"Did she steal?" - Kiyo asked.

"Yeah.. but she said she's been hungry for a few days, and she doesn't have any money, so I bought it for her."

"But she did-"

"I know. But I don't want to let her starve. Her face also looks kind, maybe it's because she's so hungry that she takes a risk."

Kiyo thoughtfully returned to his work.

Days later, the girl never returned to the store.

Although he never saw her again, Sunny sometimes remembered his first day at work and wondered how her family was now.