NEW FRIEND
Kota was fuming.
He watched as Toru once again tried to get Ayumi's attention by knocking over her eraser "by accident." Ayumi barely noticed, simply picking it up and continuing her conversation with Kota. Toru, clearly frustrated, huffed and crossed his arms.
Kota narrowed his eyes. *What's this guy's problem?*
It wasn't just today—this had been going on for a while now. Whenever Ayumi was talking to Kota, Toru would try to interrupt, usually by doing something annoying. Yesterday, he "accidentally" bumped into Ayumi's desk, making her pencil case fall. The day before that, he pulled out her chair right before she sat down—though he claimed it was just a joke. And now? The eraser stunt.
Ayumi, being Ayumi, never got angry. She just looked confused or ignored it completely. But Kota?
He was pissed.
By the time class ended, Kota had made up his mind—he was going to confront Toru.
—
Toru was about to leave when Kota blocked his path.
"Alright, spill it." Kota crossed his arms, his expression serious.
Toru blinked. "Huh?"
"Don't 'huh' me," Kota snapped. "What's your deal? Why do you keep messing with Ayumi?"
Toru stiffened. "I—I don't mess with her."
Kota scoffed. "Yeah, sure. Then why do you keep pulling all those annoying stunts?"
Toru looked away, clenching his jaw. He shifted uncomfortably before finally sighing in frustration. "…Because I want to talk to her."
Kota's scowl faltered. "What?"
Toru rubbed his face. "I just—I just wanted to say hi. But every time I try, she's already talking to you, and I can't find the right moment. So I—" He groaned. "I just… do stuff to get her attention."
Kota blinked. "…So you're telling me that instead of just saying hi, you thought pulling her chair, bumping into her desk, and knocking over her stuff was a better plan?"
Toru groaned again, this time covering his face. "I know it sounds dumb, okay?! But I panic! She's… she's really nice, and I didn't want to seem weird, but now I think I messed everything up."
Kota gave him a flat look. "Oh, yeah. You definitely did."
Toru groaned louder.
Kota sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, fine. You want to be friends with her, right?"
Toru peeked between his fingers and nodded.
Kota crossed his arms, thinking. He didn't like how Toru had been acting, but now that he knew the reason, he couldn't exactly stay mad. Ayumi was Kota's first friend, and if Toru really wanted to be friends with her too, then maybe he should help.
"…I'll help you."
Toru's hands dropped from his face. "Wait, really?"
Kota smirked. "Yeah. But you owe me big time."
Toru grinned. "Deal!"
Kota sighed again, shaking his head. *What did I just get myself into?*
*Next day
Kota had never seen someone fail so badly at something so simple.
Here he was, standing beside Toru, trying to coach him into saying just one normal sentence to Ayumi. But no matter what Kota did, Toru found a way to mess it up.
"Okay," Kota whispered as they stood near Ayumi, who was fixing her notebooks. "Just say, 'Hey, Ayumi. How's your day?' Easy, right?"
Toru gulped, nodding furiously. "Y-Yeah. Easy."
Kota patted his back. "Go for it."
Toru took a deep breath, turned to Ayumi, and—
"YOU HAVE REALLY SMALL HANDS."
A long silence.
Ayumi blinked up at him, confused. "…What?"
Kota palmed his face. "Oh my god."
Toru, realizing what he just blurted out, panicked. "I-I mean! They're… uhh… good for picking up small things?"
"…Huh?"
Kota groaned. "Abort mission. Abort mission."
Toru turned back to Kota, looking desperate. "I don't know what happened! My brain just—just shut down!"
Kota sighed. "Alright. We'll try again later. But next time, don't comment on her hands, feet, or any other body part. Got it?"
Toru nodded, looking traumatized.
—
Attempt #2
During lunch, Kota and Toru spotted Ayumi eating alone, as usual. Kota saw it as the perfect chance for Toru to approach her naturally.
"Alright," Kota whispered. "This time, sit down next to her and ask if she wants to eat with us. Just be casual."
Toru took a deep breath and walked up to Ayumi.
Kota watched, hopeful.
And then—
Toru stood beside her and loudly declared, "YOU EAT FOOD?"
Ayumi slowly turned to him, chopsticks halfway to her mouth. "…Yes?"
Toru, sweating buckets, forced a laugh. "Hah… Hah… C-Cool."
Kota, watching from the side, banged his forehead against the table. "This is painful."
Ayumi looked at Kota, puzzled. "What's wrong with him?"
Kota forced a smile. "Oh, nothing! He's just, uh, really impressed with your ability to… chew."
Ayumi frowned. "That's weird."
Kota shot Toru a death glare. "You're making it weird."
Toru mouthed, I don't know how to be normal.
—
Attempt #3
During gym class, Kota tried one last time.
"Alright, listen up," Kota whispered as they stood near Ayumi. "Just go up to her and say, 'Hey, wanna be friends?' Nothing fancy. Nothing weird. Just those four words. You got this."
Toru nodded, determined. "I got this."
He took a deep breath, walked up to Ayumi, and—
"I CHALLENGE YOU TO MORTAL COMBAT."
Kota slammed his face into his hands.
Ayumi blinked. "…What?"
Toru, once again realizing his mistake, panicked. "I-I mean, um, we should spar! No—uh, train? Uh—"
Ayumi frowned. "I don't know what's happening."
Kota grabbed Toru by the collar and dragged him away. "I give up."
—
After School – The Final Attempt
Kota and Ayumi stood outside, waiting for Max to pick them up. Toru, looking like he was having an internal battle with himself, was pacing back and forth.
Kota sighed. "You good?"
Toru groaned. "No! Every time I try, I mess it up!" He ran his hands through his hair. "This is so frustrating! Why is talking so hard?!"
Kota patted his back. "Relax. Just breathe and—"
Before Kota could finish, Toru suddenly ran forward, stopping right in front of Ayumi.
"Ayumi!" he blurted out.
Ayumi looked up, surprised. "Uh… yes?"
Toru clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and shouted, "I'M SORRY FOR BEING ANNOYING! I JUST WANTED TO BE FRIENDS WITH YOU, BUT I KEPT MESSING UP, AND I KNOW I PROBABLY SEEM LIKE A JERK, BUT I SWEAR I DIDN'T MEAN TO BE ONE, AND I—"
"Breathe," Kota whispered.
Toru exhaled sharply. "So, uh… wanna be friends?"
Ayumi tilted her head, confused. Then she turned to Kota.
Kota gave her a nod.
It was clear Kota had explained everything to her beforehand.
Ayumi smiled. "Okay."
Toru's jaw dropped. "Wait—really?"
Ayumi nodded. "I was confused at first, but if Kota says you're okay, then I trust him."
Toru was speechless.
Then, after a long silence—
"OH MY GOD, I DID IT."
He grabbed Kota's shoulders and shook him violently. "I DID IT, KOTA. I'M NOT A FAILURE."
Kota, dizzy, groaned. "Yeah… yeah, buddy. You did it."
Max's car pulled up just in time.
As Kota and Ayumi waved goodbye, Toru grinned like he had just conquered the world.
And Kota?
He was just relieved the nightmare was finally over.
CHAPTER END 🫠