Bonds in Reflection

Ethan continued eating his lunch quietly, his thoughts drifting back to the moment he had almost smiled earlier. It had been so long since he had felt even a flicker of happiness like that—a genuine emotion trying to break through the walls he had built around himself. *I haven't smiled like that in over a year,* he thought to himself, his fork pausing mid-air. *Not since Mom…*

The thought weighed heavily on him, his appetite fading slightly. *Smiling only reminds me of her,* he thought, his chest tightening. *And it just… hurts too much.* He forced himself to take another bite, focusing on the texture of the food instead of the ache in his heart.

Rika's bubbly voice broke through his introspection. She leaned a little closer, her ever-playful demeanor impossible to ignore. "So, Ethan," she said, flipping her hair, "you're, like, sooo hard to read, y'know? But you should, like, try smiling more. It's good for you, you know?"

Ethan kept his gaze on his food, refusing to look up. He didn't respond, hoping his silence would discourage her, but Rika seemed undeterred.

"Oh my god, Rika," Emma said, rolling her eyes as she watched the exchange. "You're seriously going to break him if you keep pushing like that."

Rika turned to Emma, pouting playfully. "What? I'm just, like, trying to bring him out of his shell. Isn't that a good thing?"

Emma smirked. "Maybe, but he's not exactly the 'chatty' type. You've noticed that, right?"

Rika waved her hand dismissively before turning her attention back to Ethan. "C'mon, Ethan," she said, leaning forward slightly. "You can't just, like, sit there all serious. Life's too short to be sooo gloomy all the time."

Ethan's grip on his fork tightened, but he still didn't look up or respond. He focused on chewing his food, tuning out their voices as best as he could. *Why can't they just leave me alone?* he thought, irritation bubbling under the surface.

"Rika, seriously," Emma said, shaking her head. "You're relentless. Maybe he doesn't want to talk."

Rika huffed, crossing her arms but smiling faintly. "Fine, but I'm not giving up that easily. Ethan's got, like, the mysterious vibe going on. It's kinda cute."

Emma let out a laugh. "Yeah, sure, if by 'cute' you mean totally antisocial."

Ethan's jaw tightened as he stabbed at the last piece of food on his plate. The weight of their conversation pressed down on him, mixing with the memories he was trying so hard to suppress. *Mom always said I had a nice smile,* he thought bitterly. *But what's the point of smiling when she's not here to see it?*

Rika and Emma exchanged glances, their playful banter softening as they noticed Ethan's unchanging demeanor. Rika leaned back slightly, her usual energy dimming for a moment. "Hey, Emma… do you think he's okay?" she asked quietly.

Emma glanced at her brother, her expression unreadable. "Honestly? I don't know. He's been like this for a while now. But… maybe he just needs time."

Ethan finished his meal, stood up, and gave them a quick, silent wave before walking away, his shoulders hunched. Rika watched him go, her usual lightheartedness replaced by a hint of concern.

"Time, huh?" Rika said softly, looking at Emma. "Well, if time doesn't help, I'm, like, totally making it my mission to cheer him up."

Emma gave her a small smile. "Good luck with that. He's like a brick wall these days."

The two girls sat in silence for a moment, the weight of Ethan's quiet departure lingering in the air before they returned to their own lunches.

As they sat together finishing their lunches, Rika's thoughts drifted to Ethan. His cold demeanor and distant attitude lingered in her mind, and she couldn't help but wonder how Emma seemed so different. Turning to Emma, she decided to voice her thoughts.

"Hey, Emma," Rika began hesitantly, twirling a strand of her hair. "Can I ask you something kinda personal?"

Emma looked up from her sandwich, raising an eyebrow. "Sure. What's up?"

Rika hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Why aren't you, like, acting all cold and distant like your brother? I mean, you seem so… normal. Happy, even. Don't you miss your mom?"

Emma's expression softened, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. She set her sandwich down and leaned back against the bench, taking a deep breath. "Of course I miss her," she said quietly. "Every single day. But… I guess I deal with it differently than Ethan does."

Rika tilted her head, her curiosity evident. "How do you deal with it?"

Emma looked up at the sky, her gaze distant. "I try to focus on the things she'd want for me. Mom always told me to live my life fully, to be happy no matter what. I think that's why I push myself to stay positive. It's my way of honoring her."

Rika nodded slowly, her playful energy replaced by genuine empathy. "And Ethan?" she asked gently.

Emma sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Ethan was Mom's best friend. They were so close. When she died, it's like he lost a part of himself. He's been carrying that pain ever since, and no matter what I say or do, I can't seem to reach him."

Rika placed a comforting hand on Emma's shoulder. "That must be really hard for you," she said softly.

Emma nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "It is, but I know Ethan. Deep down, he's still in there somewhere. He just needs time to heal. And maybe… someone like you to remind him that it's okay to let go of some of that pain."

Rika's cheeks flushed slightly, and she laughed nervously. "Me? I don't know about that. I mean, he barely even looks at me without turning into a tomato."

Emma chuckled lightly. "That's a start, though. If anyone can get through to him, Rika, I think it might be you."

Rika smiled, her confidence returning. "Well, I'm not giving up on him," she said determinedly. "But… thanks for telling me all this, Emma. It makes me understand him a little better."

Emma nodded, her gaze softening. "Just be patient with him, Rika. He's been through a lot, but I think he'll come around eventually."

The two girls shared a quiet moment, their bond strengthening as they opened up to one another. Around them, the noise of the schoolyard continued, but for a moment, it felt like the rest of the world faded away.

Ethan walked away from Rika and Emma, his footsteps slow and deliberate as he retreated down the hallway. His thoughts swirled as he tried to process the events of the day. *Rika… what is it about her?* he thought to himself. *I just met her today. I saved her, sure, but… she's so different. That gal personality of hers… it's like she doesn't care what anyone thinks. It's… weirdly refreshing.*

Lost in thought, he didn't notice someone running toward him until he heard his name being yelled from down the hallway.

"Ethan!"

He turned to see a familiar figure sprinting toward him. It was one of his best friends, Ryan, a hyperactive guy he had known since last year. Before Ethan could react, Ryan practically tackled him in a bear hug.

"Dude! It's been forever! I mean, not forever, just the summer, but still! How've you been? Did you miss me? I missed you! This year's gonna be awesome… oh, man, we've got so much to catch up on!" Ryan rambled, barely stopping for breath.

Ethan just stood there, letting Ryan's words wash over him, his expression unreadable as usual. He gave a small nod but didn't say anything.

"Ryan!" two voices called out simultaneously. Ethan glanced up to see two more familiar faces approaching. The first was Claire, a sweet and soft-spoken girl who always seemed to bring a sense of calm wherever she went. The second was Maya, who was almost the complete opposite—her yandere tendencies often left Ethan both amused and slightly wary.

"Ryan, stop talking so fast all the time," Maya said, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms. "You're gonna scare Ethan off."

"Honestly," Claire added with a gentle laugh. "Give him a chance to say something, if he wants to."

Ryan pouted but stepped back, giving Ethan some space. "Fine, fine. But he's probably missed me the most, right, Ethan?"

Ethan gave another small nod, raising his hand in a half-wave before turning to leave.

"Hey, don't just walk away!" Ryan called after him, but Ethan didn't answer, continuing down the hallway in silence.

The three friends watched him go, then turned to each other.

"Same old Ethan," Ryan said with a grin. "Man of few words."

"He's always been like that," Claire replied. "But it's part of what makes him Ethan."

"No," Maya said firmly, her arms crossed. "He wasn't always like this. Don't you guys remember? He used to talk all the time. He was funny, always cracking jokes. He wasn't… this."

Ryan's grin faded slightly. "Yeah," he admitted. "That was before… you know."

Claire nodded, her expression somber. "Before his mom passed away. Everything changed after that."

"He stopped talking to us," Maya said, her tone sharp with frustration. "I mean, I get it—he was grieving. But it's like he just shut us out completely. And no matter what we did, he wouldn't let us in."

"We tried, though," Claire added softly. "We really did. But… maybe we didn't try hard enough."

Ryan shook his head. "Nah, Claire. It wasn't our fault. Ethan just… he needed to deal with it in his own way. We can't force him to open up if he's not ready."

Maya sighed, her frustration giving way to a more thoughtful expression. "Maybe. But it still sucks. I miss the old Ethan. And I hate seeing him like this."

Before they could say more, they heard someone calling their names from behind them.

"Ryan! Claire! Maya!"

They turned to see Emma approaching with Rika by her side. Ryan's face lit up as he ran toward her, the two girls following closely behind.

"Emma! We missed you!" Ryan exclaimed, pulling her into a hug.

"It's so good to see you again," Claire added, her smile warm and genuine.

"Yeah, it's been too long," Maya agreed, though her tone was more casual. "What took you so long to find us?"

Emma laughed, hugging them back. "I missed you guys too! It's been forever. I'm so glad we're all back together."

After a moment, Emma turned to Rika, gesturing toward her friends. "Guys, this is Rika. She's new here, but she's already been making things… interesting."

Rika grinned and flipped her hair. "Like, hi! It's soooo nice to meet you all. Emma's told me sooo much about you."

Ryan immediately stepped forward, his energy undeniable. "Rika, huh? Nice to meet ya! Any friend of Emma's is a friend of ours."

Claire smiled warmly. "Welcome, Rika. I'm Claire. If you ever need anything, feel free to ask."

"And I'm Maya," Maya said, her tone sharp but not unfriendly. "Just so we're clear, you're not planning on stealing Emma away from us, right?"

Rika blinked, then laughed. "Oh my god, no! I'm not, like, here to cause drama or whatever. You guys are, like, soooo lucky to have Emma."

The five of them began talking, their conversation lively and filled with laughter. Inevitably, the topic shifted back to Ethan.

"So, uh, what's up with Ethan?" Ryan asked, glancing in the direction he had gone. "Still the same quiet guy?"

Emma sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah, pretty much. But give him time. He's… been through a lot."

"That guy's a mystery," Maya said with a shrug. "But I guess that's part of his charm."

Rika's eyes sparkled as she spoke up. "Oh, he's definitely mysterious. But, like, I think there's more to him than he lets on."

Claire smiled gently. "That's true. Ethan's a good person, even if he doesn't show it much. He just needs the right people around him."

"Well, he's stuck with us," Ryan said with a grin. "And that's not gonna change."

Rika leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Hey, Claire, Maya… did either of you, like, ever fall in love with Ethan? You've known him forever, right?"

Both girls froze, their faces turning bright red. "W-What?!" Claire stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No way! Why would you even ask that?!" Maya said quickly, though her flustered expression betrayed her.

"Oh my god, you totally did!" Rika said, laughing. "Your faces are, like, sooo obvious!"

Claire fidgeted, her usual calm demeanor faltering. "I… I mean, Ethan was always… kind. He used to smile so much, and he… he made everyone feel safe. So, maybe, I…" She trailed off, her blush deepening.

Maya crossed her arms, avoiding eye contact. "It's not like that," she muttered. "I just don't want anyone else to hurt him, that's all."

Emma watched them with an amused smile. "Wow. Looks like I might end up with three sisters-in-law in the future."

"Emma!" all three girls shouted, their faces burning with embarrassment.

Ryan burst out laughing. "This is the best thing I've heard all day. You guys are hilarious."

Rika grinned, leaning toward Ryan. "Okay, Ryan, spill. What was Ethan like before? I've gotta know."

Ryan nodded eagerly. "Oh, man, Ethan was awesome. He used to crack jokes all the time, always had our backs. He'd pull the funniest pranks, too. You wouldn't believe how different he was. Back then, he was like the glue that held us all together."

Claire smiled softly at the memory. "Yeah. He was the one who always made us laugh, even when things were tough."

Maya's voice was quieter. "And he always knew how to make people feel safe. That's what I miss the most."

Rika listened intently, her playful energy tempered by a newfound determination. "Well," she said, flipping her hair, "I guess it's up to us to bring some of that back. Don't you think?"

The group nodded, their bond stronger than ever as they shared stories and laughter, vowing silently to be there for Ethan in whatever way he needed.

As the group continued chatting, Rika's curiosity got the better of her. She leaned toward Claire and Maya, her signature playful grin lighting up her face.

"So," Rika began, her tone teasing, "be honest with me. Did either of you, like, totally fall in love with Ethan before his mom died?"

Both girls froze, their faces turning a deep shade of red. Maya nervously tucked her hair behind her ear, avoiding Rika's gaze, while Claire crossed her arms defensively, her expression sharp but betrayed by her blushing cheeks.

"W-what? No way!" Maya stammered, her voice cracking slightly. "Why would you even ask that?"

Claire fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, her tone low but her yandere tendencies bubbling beneath the surface. "Even if I did, that's none of your business," she said, her voice quiet but intense. "Ethan's important to me. That's all you need to know."

Rika's eyes sparkled as she leaned closer, clearly enjoying their reactions. "Oh my god, you totally did!" she exclaimed, pointing at them dramatically. "Look at you two! You're blushing so hard right now!"

Maya's blush deepened, but she found her voice. "I just… I admired him a lot," she admitted shyly. "He was always so kind and funny back then. It was hard not to… like him."

Emma, who had been quietly observing, burst into laughter. "Oh, this is too good," she said, grinning from ear to ear. "So, what I'm hearing is that I might have three sisters-in-law in the future?"

All three girls turned on her, their faces practically glowing red.

"Emma, shut up!" Claire snapped, her arms crossing tightly as she glared.

"I-it's not like that!" Maya protested, waving her hands frantically.

"Oh my god, Emma, you're, like, sooo embarrassing!" Rika added, hiding her face in her hands but laughing along with her.

Emma's grin widened as she teased further. "Hey, I'm not judging. If Ethan ends up with a harem, I guess that just means I'll have a lot of sisters-in-law to keep me company." She laughed loudly, thoroughly enjoying their reactions.

"H-harem?!" Claire sputtered, her face practically glowing as her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Don't say ridiculous things like that, Emma!"

"Seriously, that's, like, so embarrassing!" Rika chimed in, fanning herself dramatically as if trying to cool down her blush.

Maya pointed a finger at Emma, her voice rising. "You're totally out of line! Who even talks about their brother like that?"

Ryan, who had been silent during this chaotic exchange, glanced around awkwardly before sinking into his own thoughts. *Man, I can't believe I'm stuck in the middle of this. Ethan, buddy, how do you handle being the center of all this attention?* He scratched his head and sighed inwardly. *Maybe I should… no, best to just stay quiet and let them sort this out themselves.*

As the girls continued to yell and fluster themselves, Ryan's thoughts drifted back to Ethan. *Still, it's kind of nice seeing them care about him this much. Maybe it's exactly what he needs.*

Rika, recovering slightly from her embarrassment, turned to Emma with a playful glare. "You're, like, waaaay too confident, you know that?"

Emma just shrugged, still grinning. "Hey, I'm just calling it like I see it. Besides, you're the one who brought it up first."

The group finally settled back into their conversation, though the teasing lingered in the air. Ryan quietly chuckled to himself, relieved the chaos had died down—at least for now.