"……?"

Ryan Bennett: "Once I come back from robbing, I'll be able to support you."

Ryan Bennett grabbed that bottle of mineral water and ran toward the sports field, searching for Class One along the way.

But since class hadn't officially started yet, everyone was scattered around with no fixed spots, so it wasn't easy to find anyone.

It was only because she knew Brian Carter so well that even if she only saw his back, or even just the back of his head, she could instantly recognize if it was him.

She hadn't run far before she spotted Brian Carter on the basketball court.

"Brian Carter!"

There were actually a lot of people around Brian Carter, a bunch of boys crowded together, and a group of girls in the distance seemed to be looking this way too.

But Ryan Bennett didn't notice any of that at all. Just like usual, she stood in front of Brian Carter with a bright smile: "Brian Carter, are you thirsty? Tired? Playing basketball must be exhausting. I saw you playing from far away just now—you looked just like Rukawa Kaede reborn."

Since he was going to play basketball, Brian Carter had changed into his own clothes, a loose gray T-shirt hanging off his frame.

Class hadn't started yet, and he was squatting on the edge of the court, one leg bent, sitting on the flower bed.

After hearing Ryan Bennett's words, he let out an "oh," tilting his chin slightly: "Go on."

"Your basketball skills are extraordinary," Ryan Bennett continued, "absolutely breathtaking, truly out of this world."

Brian Carter: "Nice use of idioms."

Ryan Bennett: "You're too kind. I, Lin, do have a bit of cultural background."

Having finished her flattery, Ryan Bennett felt the atmosphere was just right and handed over the water: "Do you want a drink? I bought it especially for you."

But Brian Carter didn't take the water from her.

He moved the hand resting on his knee, pointing a finger toward a spot on the court: "See that ball over there?"

Ryan Bennett followed his finger: "I see it."

Brian Carter: "I've only been here two minutes. Haven't even touched it yet."

Brian Carter withdrew his finger and looked at her: "I'm really curious—which Rukawa Kaede did you see? Maybe you can introduce me."

Ryan Bennett: "……"

She hadn't seen a damn thing.

She hadn't seen anything at all.

And this guy was just sitting on the court, not even playing.

Was that appropriate?

Ryan Bennett decided not to dwell on this: "Anyway! I bought you water!"

After knowing each other for so many years, Brian Carter didn't believe she'd be so kind: "No charge?"

Ryan Bennett: "There is a charge."

Brian Carter took the water: "How much?"

Ryan Bennett: "Two yuan."

As soon as Brian Carter twisted open the bottle cap, she added, "…Plus an eight-yuan delivery fee, so that's ten yuan in total."

"……"

Ryan Bennett held out her hand, ready to take the money: "If you're feeling generous and want to tip me, I wouldn't mind."

A few minutes later, outside the school store.

Emily Brooks was holding a sushi roll, utterly shocked.

Ryan Bennett: "Don't worry, eat up. This is legal robbery."

But the reason Emily Brooks was shocked wasn't because of the "robbery" itself, but because of the target of her deskmate's "robbery."

It took her a while to find her voice: "That guy just now, Brian Carter? You two know each other?"

Ryan Bennett gave a simple introduction: "Childhood friend, a brother-in-arms. But how do you know his name?"

Emily Brooks said word by word, "Because he's very, very famous."

Ryan Bennett: "?"

Before Emily Brooks could say more, the gym teacher's whistle interrupted, and everyone started gathering toward the field.

She hurriedly pulled Ryan Bennett to line up: "Time to gather. I'll send you the link after school, you'll understand when you see it."

-

Since the last period was PE, a lot of people just brought their backpacks straight to the field.

As soon as the bell rang, they slung on their bags and ran out of the school.

Ryan Bennett still had to go back to the classroom to pack up, then went to Class One to meet up with Brian Carter.

On the bus ride home after school, there weren't as many empty seats as there were in the morning. The bus was packed with students from No. 2 High School. Ryan Bennett and Brian Carter rode home together. After following Brian Carter onto the bus and paying the fare, she looked around and found there was only one empty seat left.

The empty seat was by the back door.

Ryan Bennett felt a little embarrassed. She reached out and tugged on Brian Carter's hanging backpack strap: "Don't you have something to say to me?"

"Like, maybe, 'let me give you this seat,'" Ryan Bennett continued, "Otherwise, I'll feel bad sitting down."

Brian Carter had already changed back into his school uniform. After playing basketball, it looked like he'd washed his hair—his bangs were slightly damp.

He glanced at Ryan Bennett as he spoke: "What can I do? I have thick skin. If you feel bad, I don't."

Ryan Bennett: "…You should respect your elders and care for the young."

Brian Carter: "Elder or young, which one are you?"

Ryan Bennett was quick to adapt and answered honestly, "I'm the young one." Then she added, "Daddy."

"……"

Brian Carter was speechless.

He took the backpack off his shoulder and tossed it into Ryan Bennett's arms: "Sit down and hold my bag."

Soon, the driver pressed the door-close button, and the bus slowly started moving.

The noise inside the bus was nonstop.