Karuizawa Kei's departing figure gradually grew smaller beneath the dazzling neon signs.
Kazehara Tetsu stood quietly on the street corner. He wasn't in any hurry to head back to the Dormitory.
He needed to restock his dwindling supply of everyday necessities.
After crossing several streets, Kazehara Tetsu pushed open the door of a convenience store that stayed open twenty-four hours a day.
He picked up a gray plastic Shopping Basket with one hand and walked at an easy pace through the somewhat narrow aisles.
Though his Personal Terminal held a vast fortune in Points that most students couldn't hope to earn in several lifetimes, Kazehara Tetsu's spending habits were surprisingly practical.
He didn't linger in the luxury sections, where products were beautifully packaged and advertised as "limited edition" or "premium." His eyes passed only over the largest and most durable items.
To him, an item's value lay solely in how long it lasted and how well it served its basic purpose. Any extra brand markup was just a tax on vanity, a way for merchants to fleece gullible customers.
Just as Kazehara Tetsu casually picked up an extra-large bottle of Body Wash and turned the corner between the Daily Necessities Area and the Snack Area,
his steps abruptly faltered.
In front of a shelf displaying a variety of Holiday Special Candy, a striking flash of black caught his eye.
It was a head of smooth black hair, tied back with a simple Red Hairband that swayed gently with its owner's movements.
Perhaps sensing the shadow that had suddenly drawn near, Horikita Suzune turned her face toward him.
The instant she recognized Kazehara Tetsu, a clear flicker of surprise crossed her placid eyes, immediately buried beneath a veil of indifference.
"What?"
Horikita Suzune put back the box of candy whose ingredients