### Chapter 9: New Beginnings
**The Next Day**
Break time had arrived, and Haari was feeling the weight of his busy day. “Ahh, I’m exhausted. I should rest until break time is over,” he muttered to himself as he headed to the rest room.
Just then, Ashi appeared, her face a mix of concern and relief. “There you are.”
“Hm?” Haari looked up, puzzled.
“I’ve been looking for you the whole time. Where have you been?” Ashi asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Haari glanced at his watch. “Nicawa-san, what’s the matter? Aren’t you going to eat your lunch? Break time will be over soon.”
“I would if I could find you on time. Here, take this,” Ashi said, handing him a lunch box with a warm smile.
Haari stared at the box in surprise. “What’s this?”
“I brought a lunch box for you. Make sure you eat it,” Ashi said, her tone gentle but firm.
Haari was taken aback. “Lunch? But why? I didn’t ask for this.”
“You mentioned that you always eat outside, and it’s not good for your health,” Ashi said matter-of-factly.
“Yeah, I know, but still...” Haari trailed off, feeling conflicted.
“I enjoy cooking. It’s like a hobby for me. Preparing one extra lunch box is nothing. And didn’t you say we’re friends? It’s natural for friends to help each other,” Ashi explained with a warm smile.
Haari hesitated. “Okay, but...”
“Oh, and return the lunch box when you’re finished eating,” Ashi added before turning to leave.
As Haari finished his lunch and stared at the empty box, he felt a pang of guilt. “Wait, Nicawa-san went through all this trouble for me. I can’t just return it empty.”
**Evening**
Back at his place, Haari sat with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. “I wonder if Nicawa-san will like that. I thought a lot before doing that. I hope she doesn’t think of me as a weirdo for that.”
He took a deep breath, reassuring himself. “What’s done is done. Nothing’s going to change now. All I can do is hope for the best.”
He took a deep breath, reassuring himself. “What’s done is done. Nothing’s going to change now. All I can do is hope for the best.”
**Ashi’s Place**
Ashi had just finished a refreshing shower and was ready to get dinner started. “Hmm, now it’s time to cook some recipes. But first, I should wash the lunch box and then start cooking.”
As Ashi took the lunch box out of her bag, she noticed it felt unusually heavy. “Eh? This lunch box feels heavier. Did Kichiro-san not eat his lunch?”
Curious, she opened the lunch box and her eyes widened in delight. “Wow, ice cream! Did Kichiro-san put this in the box? Thank you, Kichiro-san!”
A warm smile spread across Ashi’s face as she admired the thoughtful gesture. “I really appreciate this. It’s the little things like this that make me so happy.”
Ashi carefully placed the ice cream in the freezer, a warm smile spreading across her face.
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**A Few Days Later**
As the days passed, Haari and Ashi's friendship continued to grow. Their interactions became more frequent, and they started to enjoy each other’s company more. One crisp morning, Ashi entered the office with a small, brightly wrapped package. She found Haari at his desk, engrossed in his work.
“Good morning, Kichiro-san,” Ashi said, her voice cheerful.
Haari looked up, surprised. “Good morning, Nicawa-san. What’s that you have there?”
Ashi set the package down on his desk. “It’s a small gift to say thank you for everything you’ve done. I thought it would be nice to show my appreciation.”
Haari’s eyes widened. “You didn’t have to do this. But thank you.”
As Haari unwrapped the package, he discovered a handcrafted bookmark, beautifully designed with intricate patterns. “This is amazing. Did you make this?”
Ashi smiled. “No, I found it at a local market. I thought it would be a nice touch for someone who loves books as much as you do.”
Haari’s smile grew. “It’s perfect. I really appreciate it.”
Throughout the week, Haari found himself using the bookmark and thinking of Ashi’s kindness. Their friendship continued to blossom, with both of them finding small ways to support and help each other. They shared more personal stories and experiences, deepening their bond.
One day, Rafta approached Ashi at her desk. “I heard about the nice gift you gave Haari. That was really thoughtful of you.”
Ashi blushed slightly. “It was nothing. The other day, I saw Kichiro-san reading a book on the rooftop. When I was at the market, I found a new book and thought I’d borrow it for him. I can get you one too if you want.”
Rafta nodded. “No, I’m not much of a book reader like Haari, but thanks for offering.”
Later that week, Haari said, “Nicawa-san, there’s a local book fair happening over the weekend. I thought it would be fun to check it out together. What do you think? Wanna come with me?”
Ashi’s eyes lit up. “That sounds like a great idea! I’d love to go.”
As the weekend approached, both Haari and Ashi felt excited about their outing. It wasn’t just about the book fair, but about spending time together and continuing to build their friendship.
On the day of the book fair, the sun was shining brightly. The fair was bustling with people, colorful stalls, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee from nearby vendors.
“It’s already time. Did I come too early?” Haari wondered aloud, glancing around.
“Kichiro-san!” Ashi’s voice called out from behind him. “Did I make you wait?”
Haari turned back, smiling. “No, I just got here.”
“Good, then let’s go,” Ashi said, beaming.
Haari couldn’t help but notice how different Ashi looked in her casual clothes. “Wow, Nicawa-san, you look great!”
Ashi blushed slightly. “Thanks. I’m glad you think so.”
They wandered through the fair, exploring various stalls and chatting about their favorite books. The vibrant atmosphere and shared excitement brought them closer. Haari noticed how much Ashi enjoyed discussing different genres and discovering new authors.
As the day ended, Haari and Ashi sat down at a nearby café, sipping hot drinks and reflecting on their day.
“I’m really glad we did this,” Haari said, genuinely content. “It was a lot of fun.”
“Me too,” Ashi agreed. “It’s moments like these that make me appreciate having a friend like you.”
Haari smiled warmly. “Likewise. Here’s to many more days like this.”
Ashi took a sip of her drink and said, “Thank you, Kichiro-san, for the other day.”
“You’ve already thanked me many times; you don’t have to keep repeating it,” Haari said, chuckling.
“No, it’s not for that day,” Ashi said, her tone serious. “It’s for the ice cream you included in the lunch box.”
“Oh, that? Don’t worry about it. It was nothing,” Haari said, dismissing it with a wave.
“Please don’t tell anyone what I’m about to say,” Ashi said, her tone earnest. “The thing is, I actually like ice cream, even at my age.”
“Wow, I didn’t know that,” Haari said, genuinely surprised.
“How could you? I’ve never told anyone because it’s embarrassing,” Ashi admitted, her voice tinged with anxiety. “People might laugh at me for liking ice cream at my age. You wouldn’t do that, would you?”
“Do what?” Haari asked, puzzled by her concern.
“You know, laugh at me for liking ice cream,” Ashi said, her eyes searching his face for reassurance.
“Who knows, maybe I would,” Haari teased lightly.
“What?” Ashi’s eyes widened in shock.
“Just kidding!” Haari said quickly, noticing her distress. “I’m not going to laugh at you. It’s perfectly natural to like something, It doesn't matter what your age is. In fact, I think it’s great that you enjoy ice cream. It doesn’t matter what people say. It’s your life, not theirs.”
Ashi’s expression softened as she listened. “Really? You mean it?”
“Absolutely,” Haari reassured her with a warm grin. “Everyone should do what makes them happy. Don’t let others’ opinions bother you. If you like ice cream, then enjoy it!”
Ashi hesitated for a moment, then a small smile began to form on her lips. “You promise you won’t tell anyone about this?”
“I promise,” Haari said sincerely. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Ashi let out a relieved laugh. “Thank you, Kichiro-san. I feel better now.”
Haari said sincerely. “Now let’s head back; it’s getting late.”
“Yes,” Ashi agreed.
Their friendship had grown from simple gestures of kindness to a meaningful connection. As they left the café, both felt a sense of contentment, knowing they had found something special in each other. The journey ahead seemed bright, filled with new adventures and the promise of deeper bonds.