---
We climbed the apartnt stairs.
Yuna’s steps were lighter than they had been when we left for school this morning.
The mont the door to Unit 203 opened, she imdiately took off her shoes and arranged them neatly in the genkan.
She still clutched her blue bag to her chest.
I stepped inside first and placed the keys on the small shelf near the door.
---
"Wash your hands."
"Okay."
Yuna went to the small kitchen sink.
The tap turned on.
The sound of running water filled the cramped room.
I hung my work jacket on the back of a chair.
A few seconds later, Yuna returned.
Her hands were still slightly damp.
She opened her bag and pulled out the gray bento box.
It was empty.
She handed it to .
I took it and turned on the tap.
Water hit the plastic container with a soft patter.
I took the kitchen sponge.
I began to scrub the inside.
Beside , Yuna stood slightly on her tiptoes so she could see into the sink.
---
"Yamada ca to my desk," she said.
I didn’t stop scrubbing.
"The boy who was crying this morning."
"Yes."
Yuna stared at the bento box.
As if recalling the events of the afternoon.
"He was still sad because his bento was ruined."
"Makes sense."
The sponge moved in a circular motion at the bottom of the box.
The running water washed away the remaining grains of stuck rice.
---
Yuna squeezed the edge of her skirt slightly.
"But when he saw my bento..."
I waited for her to continue.
She raised her hands a little, tracing the shape of the box in the air.
"...he went quiet for a long ti."
"And then?"
Yuna held back a small smile.
"He said my bento looked like... a brick."
I rinsed the box.
The water ran heavily for a few seconds.
"An accurate observation."
Yuna nodded.
"But he said it was cool."
I turned off the tap for a mont.
Looked down at her.
"Reasoning."
"He said if it dropped, it wouldn’t break apart."
I tapped the box once against the sink.
"Correct."
Yuna looked a little more relaxed now.
Her shoulders weren’t as tense as they were this morning.
She continued her story.
---
"He sat next to my desk during lunch."
I picked up the lid and began washing it.
"And then?"
"He watched the way I ate."
I waited.
Yuna gazed toward the small table in the living room.
As if replaying the scene in the classroom.
"He said my bento was very neat."
"Structure aids eating efficiency."
"Then he asked if he could take a closer look."
I put the sponge down.
Gave the box a final rinse.
The water ran for a brief mont before I shut it off.
Yuna added in a quiet voice.
"After that... he offered half of his octopus sausage."
I shook the excess water off the box.
A light tap against the edge of the sink.
Tap.
The last drop of water fell.
"Food exchange."
"Yes."
"What did you trade in return?"
Yuna held up one small finger.
"A piece of egg."
I nodded.
"A fair caloric exchange."
Yuna looked satisfied with that conclusion.
She gave a small nod.
"Yamada also said tomorrow he wants to ask his mom to make a bento like mine."
I placed the bento box on the drying rack.
"Block-shaped?"
"Yes."
Yuna finally smiled a bit wider.
"But he said his mom might not be able to make it that compact."
I took a kitchen towel and dried my hands.
"That can be trained."
Yuna chuckled.
A short laugh.
Unforced.
---
After a few seconds, she opened her blue bag again.
She reached inside.
But this ti, her movents slowed.
She stared at the contents of the bag for a mont.
Her smile slowly faded.
Her hand felt the inside of the bag.
Then she pulled the fabric outward a little.
The cheap blue bag that had fallen onto the asphalt this morning.
She stared at it.
Silent.
---
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