Friend

"Hey, kid, are you awake? You need to get up or you could get kicked out of the park."

I heard a voice next to me. I'm way too tired to get up, though. I slowly opened my eyes and saw a guy with a familiar uniform.

"I am not a kid! I'm 14 for your information."

He looked at me and started to walk away. "Hey! Where do you think you're going?"

He looked back at me as he kept walking. "Unlike you, I have a place to be. It's my first day back at school."

I quickly got back up to catch up with him. "No way, I thought your uniform looked familiar! What school do you go to?"

He looked at me suspiciously. "Kijono High, why?"

I lit up in joy. "Really? I wasn't expecting to find a student that goes there today! What's your name? I'm Zero!"

There was an awkward moment of silence while I still had a smile on my face.

"Haku is my name," he answered, avoiding eye contact.

"Hey, why are you looking away?"

"Ah, don't worry about it. So, why are you so happy about me going to school?"

I stared at him. "Well, I might go to that school and it also might be my first day there too! And, well... I was hoping you could be my... friend?"

He didn't answer.

"You're doing it again!"

He looked at me with his hand on his face. "Oh sorry, I can't help it."

"Help what?"

He covered more of his face. "Nothing, never mind."

"Well, we're here. I'm going to the principal's office." I put on my puppy dog eyes.

"What now?"

"Well, some people are going to take me there, but since you are my new friend, I want you to meet them!"

He gave me the coldest glare. "I am not your friend. You and I are almost polar opposites. And who are those people."

I stood there, thinking, I don't even know who they are. How am I gonna ask him to stay here with me to wait for people I don't even know?

"Hahaha... well... I don't know."

He slowly turned his head toward me. "How do you not know."

"Ah, see, here's the thing, I was walking around outside, and I was lost, so these kids from here were just wa—"

"Just shut up... annoying human."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, never mind."

"Haku, why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"I ask you what you said and you say never mind. Why?"

"It's not really much of a deal, so don't worry about it."

He looked nervous. Should I ask what's wrong? Nah, he said he's fine, so I'll take his word for it.

"It's almost 6th period, so your 'friends' should be out here and I can leave you."

"But we are both going to the principal's, so you won't be leaving."

"I'll just go the other way."

"Other way where? There's only one way to the principal's office that I know of."

"Fine, be that way. It's okay if there's not another way there. I'll just get there before you."

I turned around quickly and glared. "Are you trying to race me?"

He glared back. "So what if I am?"

"Do you know how fast I am?"

"We're just going to have to wait and find out, shorty."

"Who you callin' shorty? Long legs."

"Tsk, tsk. Quick subject change, why were you laying on the bench at the park?"

How am I gonna answer him now? I don't want him to feel sympathetic for me, but I guess I have to tell him. I'm not much of a person to lie.

"Well, I don't have a house to live in, so... I was taking a nap until I had to get up and go see the principal, but then you showed up and woke me up in time, thankfully."

Now, things might be awkward between us and I don't want him to think I'm a runaway or something.

"Oh, well, I'm sure it's none of my business to ask further questions about it, so I'll change the subject again."

I was honestly expecting more of a reaction, but I guess this guy is one of those simple people that don't have an interest in personal things.

*School Bells Ring*

"They should be here soon..." I hope they won't bail out now. I already asked Haku to stay here and meet them, so, so much. "Hey, this isn't much of an issue doing this, right?"

"Um, not really, but you do owe me a favor in the future."

"What, why?!"

"Don't give me that. It's a small price to pay." I guess he is right. He did put up with my annoying talking and let me walk with him, so I guess I can deal with that.

"Oh, I think I see them now. You can finally meet my friends!"