Friends

Nejime Seikyo POV

Everything can be bought with money. That's the main principle of the Seikyo Family. Since I'm the third son, I inherited that kind of thought process too.

As long as you have money, you can do whatever you want in this world. Following that mindset, I grew up. Until I reached middle school.

When I'm still in middle school, I bought everything with money. Friends, Grades, Lover, everything! So many people are sucking up to me, and they're sticking around like glue.

I didn't really mind it, because I'm used to it. One day, my father dragged me to a hospital because of a cold. They're too overreacting, really. It's just a cold.

They even hired the greatest doctor around. We even came here personally so the doctor has any materials he needs. The doctor said that I have a cold and they confined me. Who the hell would be confined by a simple cold? Me, of course.

I was put into a VIP room with no other people besides me lies. It's quiet, too quiet. After a day of rest, I immediately recovered but my parents are still not fetching me here.

So I walked around the Hospital. Nobody actually knows about me so I walked and walked around the Hospital.

"Hey, do you want a cookie?

"Thank you, little miss."

"No, It's okay! I baked too much anyway!"

There's a weird girl in front of me who was giving out cookies to everyone. Old or young, she's giving cookies to all of them. After staring at her for approximately 4 minutes, she noticed that I'm staring at her and immediately approached me.

"Hey, you're staring me for a while now. Do you want a cookie?"

Well, I looked closely at the cookie she's giving to me. I noticed that It's just a low-class cookie you can buy in cheap stores. While I already tasted the best of the best of cookies.

Since I don't really want to waste her generosity, I accepted it. She smiled at me then left to give out cookies again.

I looked to the cookie once more and ate it whole. What is this cookie? It's so hard and It's not melting in my tongue. It's too sweet and the bits of the cookie are sticking in my teeth.

Is this really a cookie? I still swallowed it after a while. I walked around again after swallowing the cookie.

After a little bit of walking, I encountered that girl again but this time, she's approaching me while still running. She continued to approach me until our faces were in a point-blank range.

"Hey, I just noticed that you have the same age as me. Want to have fun?"

Have fun?

+++++

She asked me to have fun in her room and since I don't really have anything to do, I accepted her offer. It seems she's a patient in this hospital too, and the hospital lends her the kitchen and she bakes the cookies there.

"Sorry for bothering you like this. You see, there are not many kids here that share the same age as me so I'm really glad when I found you."

I see so she wants someone to play with, huh? Well, I don't really have anything to do and It's better than to rot in that room so I'll guess I'll play along.

I nodded my head to her and she gave me a really cheerful smile. We did what she wants. Watching some movies that I really enjoyed too. Reading some books and talk about it after we finished. Playing some board games and card games. Since my family likes high stakes gambling, I have experience playing games. So I easily won.

We spent the whole day playing around and I can truly say that I enjoyed it. This is not like having fun with those so-called 'friends' of mine. This is really having fun!

After we played around, she asked me something all of a sudden.

"Well, It's kinda hard playing with you if I don't know your name. So do you mind telling me your name?"

So, It's just my name, huh? If I tell her that I'm the son of a rich family, what will she do? Will she get shocked? Sad? Or maybe happy that she made a friend with someone like me.

"Nejima Seikyou."

I still want to play with her. I don't want to come back to those hypocrite friends of mine that don't do anything but to suck up to me. I want real bonds! I decided to say my real name. If she's going to suck up to me then I guess It's the end.

"I see, Nejima Seikyou? Are you somehow related to the Seikyou Family?"

"Yes, I'm the third son."

"Ooooh, I see."

She just gave the 'I'm amazed' face then started talking again. Wait, she's not even surprised!?

"Wait, before you talk again, why are you not surprised!? Aren't you glad that you met someone like me!? Or maybe angry that I'm from a different class than you, or..."

Why? She didn't do anything and her reactions are still the same as before when I said my name.

"But... Nejima... that's a wrong mindset!"

Huh? Wrong Mindset? What is she talking about?

"The power of your family, you didn't earn it. It's just a coincidence that you were born in that kind of family. So there's no reason for you to feel proud or expect someone's reactions when telling your name. Just always think that you're a normal person like me and the others. Your name is yours! Maybe the Seikyou Family is the reason you were born but... your life is yours!"

What? I'm having the wrong mindset? I see she's right. What did I accomplished to feel proud and all! Be angry with those people who sucks up to me! I don't have anything! All of the things I have now are because of my family!

That's why... those guys are sucking up to the family, not to me! Judging this girl to be like them... is wrong, to begin with! This girl... even knowing that I'm part of the family, she didn't even look to the family I had. She looked only at me! Things that I have and my personality!

"What's your name?"

I want to know her name. She smiled at me and said:

"My name is Chitose Kirigaya! Nice to meet you! Nejima!"

END OF CHAPTER 44