---please read beginning author 's note----

'Tuna? ' Nanami repeats. That response isn 't so much

'out of left field '

as it is a different ball game altogether. 'Are...are you hungry? '

That reply must be unexpected too, judging from how long it takes until the child 's next blink. 'Sujiko. '

Does that mean yes? 'I don 't have any food with me, ' Nanami tells him, apologetic. 'Would you like me to bring you something? '

Swing and a miss. Nanami 's batting average remains zero. 'Ikura. '

That tells Nanami nothing. Time to pivot. 'I 'm Kento Nanami. What 's your name? ' he asks, even though he already knows it.

Toge,

the woman had said. Thorn.

'Because he 's a thorn in our side, '

a passing man had commented, and it took a truly tremendous amount of restraint not to smack him.

Instead, 'Mentaiko. '