For very much not the first time (not even the second), a whisper-match between Keiji and Haruto was occurring in the library.

"What the hell did you do?!"

"Hey, there is absolutely no proof that that was me." Keiji's eyebrows arced up in minor annoyance.

"Who else would rub hot pepper powder on someone's locker handle?!"

"Someone with a vendetta?"

"What did she do, then?"

"Like I said, I have no idea. Zero involvement on my end." This was a blatant lie, and everyone knew it, but he left behind no traces, and therefore there was no way for Keiji to get in any serious trouble for it.

"Keij, it's not good to do that! Her eyes stung for like an hour!"

"She shouldn't have rubbed her eyes, then. I don't need your lecture, anyway. First of all, I didn't do it, and second, if I had been the one to do it, I'd obviously know it's not a 'good' thing to do. I'm not a dumbass."

"Your moral compass is all out of whack."

"You know, in the southern United States—"

"What does this have to do with anything?!"

Keiji didn't even stop talking despite the interruption. "it's the culture to be more like me and less like you. They perpetuate what, in psychology, is often called a 'culture of honor,' wherein every individual is likely to take small actions as slights and do everything they can to protect their reputations. It's actually rather interesting, and it can be traced back to when economies were based mainly on agriculture or herding—"

"Well, you're not in the Southern US, you have never lived in the Southern US— wait, have you?"

"No, dimwit."

"Wait, I knew that, people here remember you from middle school— Ah, frick. My point is, you were born and raised in Japan! Y'know? The place where we're not supposed to rock the boat?"

"Hmm, interesting. I've not looked into my lineage in the slightest. Perhaps I should attend to that. Part of me wonders whether I have any ancestors who lived in the US. It seems that, in general, I was raised with a rather Western viewpoint. My family is much more individualistic as opposed to the common collectivist culture we're surrounded by—"

Haruto felt a bit like he was being forced to take a dose of his own medicine. "Agh! Will you just stay on topic?!" A light shush followed that statement from the library worker. "Sorry." He took a few seconds to compose himself, inhaling deeply through his nose. "Look. The intro— hmm, what's that word?"

"Are you going for introspection?" Keiji was writing something.

"Ooh, yep, I was! The introspection's great, but I still don't know what you think she did to deserve that."

"She's a goddamn liar." The words were whispered so casually, the same as if he'd said, "The sky is blue." He even shrugged. Haruto felt like screaming at the utter lack of clarification. "Don't you have your craft club to get to?"

"Ahh— crap. Were you just trying to waste my time with your rambling?"

Keiji tore a small scrap of paper out of his notebook and slid it toward Haruto. Upon closer inspection, it had his phone number and LINE ID. "Not here. Okay?"

"Why does everything have to be so complicated with you?" In spite of how annoyed he felt, he couldn't help but smile at the fact that he didn't even have to ask for Keiji's contact info. It had been offered freely.

A self-satisfied smirk. "That's how it goes. Bye, Haruto."

...

Keiji had half-hoped Bisque would forget about calling to try and dig deeper, but as always, he was proven incorrect about the lengths this guy would go to. At about 6pm, Keiji received a string of texts.

Hi Keij

It's Bisque

Obviously

So

About the hot pepper?

And about your victim being a liar?

Keiji grunted. Not my victim. I didn't do it. Call me.

The phone started ringing immediately. "Hello. I will be speaking quietly. I don't want to bother my parents. They're busy."

"Why couldn't we just have texted, then?"

"This way, there are no logs."

"You're paranoid. I'm not gonna rat you out."

"You say that, but you definitely seem like the type to snitch on me 'for my own good,' and I'm not leaving any text logs."

"Okay, okay. You've stalled enough. What did she say?"

"That little bitch has been spreading rumors that I've been buying meds off you and using your damn stimulants to help me study."

There was a loud clatter and a very quiet, "Shit!" Keiji nearly started to cackle. Seemed as though Haruto had dropped his phone. "Seriously?!"

"Yep. I don't care if people think I'm a cocky bastard or a shithead. That's the truth, after all." Haruto winced at Keiji's description of himself. "But I will not allow people to propose that I'm a cheat. I earn every grade I get by busting my ass off, and I do it while clean. I have no advantage over them. Aside from any innate ones having to do with genetics or how I was raised, at least. I figured a bit of karma would make her shut her mouth, or maybe even take it back."

There was silence on the other end of the line for a long while. "I understand why, now. But why did you have to go so far? Isn't what you did sort of assault?"

"Disproportionate retribution is sort of my thing."

"Meaning?"

"I'm known for taking small issues and handing out far larger paybacks. In this case, the issue wasn't even small. Anyway, it'd been a while since I caused any serious problems. People are gonna think I'm getting soft just because I don't fucking torment the little first year who sticks to me like glue."

"Don't call me little. I'm only a year younger than you."

"Whatever, shrimp."

Haruto furrowed his brows. "Keiji, I'm not kidding!"

"Kay."

"What if people start judging me for spending a crap ton of time with a bully?"

"That's what you've been doing, nincompoop! I've been telling you that since you found me! You've known this whole time that my reputation is bad, so you went into this fully aware of the potential consequences. Besides, your name was getting dragged through the mud already, too. Do you want people to think that you're the type of guy who would sell your prescription?"

"Of course not!" Haruto's voice sounded watery.

"Shit, are you crying?"

"N-No!" But he was clearly close.

Keiji cast a glance to his nightstand, where the corny friendship bracelet was resting against a book. "Look. Keep your distance for about two weeks, and people will move on. If anyone asks you about it, tell them you're mad at me. They'll know you disapprove of my alleged actions."

"I guess that makes sense... Thank you for going out of your way to defend the both of us. Still. I don't want you causing trouble, Keiji."

"Well, then. We're at an impasse."

Keiji heard footsteps approaching and hung up without a word. "Are you talking to somebody?" his father asked.

He sent a frantic text. Don't call back. I'll be there in a second.

"No, Father. I'm recording my audio log."

"Fine. Don't spend your time too trivially."

"I understand, Father. I am about to begin reviewing my flash cards."

"How many do you have in circulation right now?"

"Allow me to verify." He didn't actually have to, but this bought him more time.

What happened?

NOYB

"Seventy-three."

"Any that you've had to send back to the beginning?"

"Four of them. I apologize."

???

"Carry on, then. Dinner will be ready in about an hour."

He called Haruto back. In spite of him presumably being right next to the phone, it still took him a couple of rings to answer. "What does NOYB mean?"

"None of your business."

"Then, why did you send it?"

"No, I mean it stands for 'none of your business.'"

"Ohhhhh. I was trying to come up with stuff, but none of it made sense. Like 'night of your birth,' or 'new offer you buy.' Oooh! 'North of your backyard!'"

"Points for creativity, I guess. By the way, I have to go. There's a lot of recreational studying to do before cram school, so I can't keep wasting time."

"Recreational studying? Those two words are literally opposites."

"For quiz show appearances. Need to learn as much random stuff as possible. Hanging up now–"

"No, wait! I had a semi-important question."

"Quickly."

"Do you want to visit sometime? To spend time with my parents? I haven't told them that I reconnected with you, but I think they'd want to see you again."

Keiji had never actually been to Haruto's house. And of course, Haruto had never been to his, either. The rare times they met when they were little, it was always somewhere else. He hesitated. "Yeah. Okay. Just, uh... keep me posted, and I'll try to find the time. I'm curious to see your pottery workshop, as well."

"Keiji?"

"What?"

"You won't ever pepper my locker, right?"

For all the capableness and resolve he'd gained as he'd grown up, Keiji could still smell the fear rolling off him in waves. "Not you. I promise. Now, get your homework done. Bye."