The following morning when I saw him while taking the trash out, I immediately asked him about last night's plans.

"So, how did the creative session go?" I raised my eyebrows in anticipation.

"EHH...WELL...IT DIDN'T HAPPEN." He spoke evasively. 

"Oh, you didn't like my suggestion? That's okay. We all have our own ways. " I replied casually.

"NO, I MEAN, I TRIED. " He elaborated, "I OPENED MY NOTEBOOK AND STARED HARD AT IT, THINKING OF WHAT TO WRITE BUT..."

"But?"

"ONLY TWO MINUTES LATER I FELL FACE-FIRST ON IT. WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING I HAD INK STAINS ON MY FACE. YOU COULD EVEN READ THE WORDS. " He told the story with utmost earnesty.

As soon as he finished I began laughing. I laughed so loud I drew the attention of some passersby. But I only stopped when I was done.

I was bummed to know my tips did not work out for him and put him in an embarrassing predicament. Although he did not seem as embarrassed with it as I would have been. Had I been in that situation, I'd also have never told the story to another soul.

But I suppose he did not think about things like embarrassment or humiliation. He seemed to do only what he wanted without any hesitation. It was quite refreshing honestly, that is what I liked about his company. It made me feel open-minded too like I could do anything, achieve anything.

... 

Later that day I decided to try out a new cheese recipe. When I had made it and confirmed it was delicious, I thought to take some to Rengoku. I was sad my suggestion worked out terribly for him and I wanted to make up for it.

When I walked out of my house I saw someone already standing at his doorstep, waiting for the door to open.

It was a teenage boy with dark-rusty hair and big brown eyes. He was wearing a checkered green and black jacket. He had a distinct scar on the side of his forehead. He also seemed to have a food box in his hand.

The next moment Rengoku opened the door and his face instantly lit up.

"TANJIRO! LONG TIME NO SEE!" He laughed.

"We saw each other at the crossing the other day. I said 'hello' to you and asked for your new address. Don't you remember, Rengoku-san?" Tanjiro answered, laughing awkwardly.

"OH, THAT IS CORRECT!" Rengoku laughed again, not an embarrassed chuckle but a full-blown guffaw as before.

In the meantime, I circled around to his front door too.

"KIRA! HELLO!" He waved enthusiastically.

"I made a cheese dish and thought you'd like it." I raised my container to show him.

"THAT'S SO NICE OF YOU, KIRA! THANK YOU!" He answered.

He then eyed Tanjiro's container with curiosity.

"My mom made your favourite snack today so I thought to bring you some."

"IT'S MY LUCKY DAY!" He chirped and invited both of us in.

...

I sat on the couch while Rengoku went into the kitchen to empty the food into his own containers. Tanjiro settled on an armchair. He just looked down and played with his index fingers. I assumed he was uncomfortable with my presence so I thought to ease the tension.

"So how do you know Rengoku?" I broke the ice.

"WE USED TO BE NEIGHBOURS!" Rengoku yelled from the kitchen before Tanjiro could answer.

He just pointed in Rengoku's general direction and nodded.

"Oh, I see..." I trailed off awkwardly. The plan had failed spectacularly.

I was just storming my brain about how to begin again when Rengoku returned with the dishes set up nicely to be served. He also had three sets of dishes to eat from.

I scooped some of my own food and put a small portion on my plate.

"HAVE THIS ONE TOO, KIRA!" Rengoku offered the one Tanjiro had brought.

"No, it's okay. It's for you anyway." I declined politely.

"DON'T WORRY, WE'RE ALL SHARING HERE! HAVE SOME!" He lifted the plate up and extended it towards me.

I was out of excuses so I hesitatingly revealed the real reason,

"Actually, I am vegetarian."

At this Tanjiro spoke up, "It's okay, you can have it." He addressed me for the first time and smiled.

In response, I smiled too, "Alright then! Give me some!"

Rengoku shifted a large portion of it onto my plate.

"No! Stop! That's a lot!" I exclaimed.

"WHAT? I BARELY PUT ANYTHING THERE YET!"

"What are you saying? No, please stop!" I spoke more briskly before he filled up half the plate.

He then turned to Tanjiro and did the same to him except he didn't listen to his repeated pleadings to stop and filled up his plate to the brim.

After a round of compliments circling around the table for all the food, Rengoku began the conversation again,

"SO HOW ARE YOUR FRIENDS?" He asked Tanjiro.

"They're as always. " He chuckled, "Inosuke is still struggling with his grades. Zenitsu fell in PE class, again, and then he cried, again. A couple of girls from our class giggled at the scene so he cried harder and we had to console him. "

I tried to stay quiet so as to not interrupt them but before I could control myself, I let out a little sound of laughter at his answer. I was not expecting it to be so chaotic.

"I'm sorry." I tried to subdue it with a cough, "I didn't mean to insult your friend."

"It's okay." Tanjiro raised his hand dismissively, "We're used to it."

"I HAVE A NEW STORY!" Rengoku announced to the room, "SO YOU SHOWED UP AT A GREAT TIME!" He then addressed Tanjiro specifically.

"Rengoku-san, I have said it before, I can't give you an honest opinion anymore since I am not a child anymore."

"IT'S FUNNY YOU THINK THAT!" Rengoku slapped Tanjiro's back, making him cough a little, "YOU ARE, OF COURSE, STILL A CHILD."

With that, he got up to get his manuscript, without giving Tanjiro time to protest.

"Do you always beta-read his stories?" I asked before the silence could waft in the atmosphere again.

"I used to. When I was a kid, he was just beginning to write apparently. One day he gave me one of his stories and I laughed and enjoyed a lot reading it. Since then he's been making me read all of them and give me his opinion." He explained, "I love to help him but I am afraid I won't be able to give accurate opinions now."

He returned with spiral-bound manuscripts.

"KIRA, I HAVE ONE EXTRA. I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO READ IT TOO. " He handed one to me.

"I'd love to." I replied as I was really curious to see what he writes.

So the both of us began to read the manuscript. Meanwhile, Rengoku focused on scraping the leftovers clean off of the serving bowls.

"SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?" Rengoku said as soon as we turned over the back cover of the manuscript.

"Since it's a children's book, I think the kid should go first." I said as I gestured towards Tanjiro.

He visibly blushed and muttered under his breath "I'm not a kid."

But Rengoku was already staring at him with anticipation at this point so he spoke anyway,

"of course, it is amazing as always. I especially like the shy porcupine who learns to make friends."

"I like the porcupine too!" I exclaimed loudly, startling everyone.

"The animals have such a personality. It's as if they're humans." I added, "How do you do that?"

He didn't reveal his trade secret and instead just guffawed as he always did.