From a Nobody To Having a Friend

" That guy seems to be in a whole lot of trouble, but I shouldn't meddle in what isn't any of my business. Itsuki wouldn't if he were in my shoes, so I shouldn't behave any differently."

These thoughts were rampaging through Itsuki's mind as he walked through the street, however—------------------

" No matter what, the package will be delivered to its rightful destination. "

" Do you seriously think you stand a chance to walk in on us? Dream on! "

Seeing the intensity and determination showcased in the boy's gaze, Itsuki couldn't walk further. Putting on the mask he had just bought, he took action before his body could assess what was going on.

By the time he came to, the hooligans were painfully screaming. The boy in front of him was amazed by his savior's prowess, so much so that he found the strength to carry himself back on his feet.

As the hooligans dawdle away at the speed of light, Itsuki soon vanishes from the spot before the boy has any chance to thank him for coming to his aid.

" He left so fast that I didn't get the chance to even thank him for coming to my aid."

In the moment of terror he was facing, the boy recalled the uniform his savior was wearing and mumbled, " My savior goes to the same school as me. I shall find him first thing tomorrow morning and repay my debt."

Miles away in the distance, Itsuki screams internally, " What did I do that for? Why did I interfere in what wasn't any of my business? I acted abstract from the original Itsuki, but I couldn't help myself. When I realized the severity of the situation, my body acted on its own. Not only that, but when I saw his gaze, I couldn't turn away. Those eyes were calling for help, so how could I just ignore them and walk away quietly? "

" It's a good thing I was wearing a mask as a means of security. The last thing I want is to draw attention to myself. "

Later that night, Itsuki informed himself about the world he had transmigrated into and about the life the original Itsuki had been leading until the moment he took over as the original Itsuki.

Based on the insightful pieces of information gathered, he was in Ishria, a world where sixty-five percent of the population is inherent to superpowers. The remaining thirty-five percent either get their hands on potions, which they can find at the Ishria marketplace, or get the assistance of a mage. Both services are affordable at a hefty price.

At dinnertime, while eating, Kiyoshi Ando, Itsuki's father, asked a rather peculiar question. " How is school, Itsuki? Have you made any friends yet? "

Poised as to how to answer the fathomable question, the father continued, " You never let others get near you. To be honest with you, I'd be more at ease if you had someone to confide in, someone who could understand you, someone you would share lots of things with, like a friend. "

" A friend? "

This is something I never experienced in my previous life, so I don't really know what to say or think right now. It's not all that bad to be a loner, but I can't bring myself to give him such an off-putting answer. What should I do? How do I answer this most simply?

Thinking about how to answer his father, the words came on their own. " For your peace of mind, father, I'll try getting along with others. That way, it might get easier to make a friend. "

Responding to his son, the father said, " Do it for you and not because I asked you to. "

Grinning slightly, he said, " I'll do just that. "

This was Itsuki's promise to his father, however, the next day, he soon regretted those words.

" I can't do this. They're all looking at me as if I were a stranded animal. I'm sorry, Father, but I'm afraid this is as far as I go. "

About to turn away, one of the classmates addressed him suddenly, startling him.

" Hey, you want to be friends! " The classmate asked, grinning slightly, to which Itsuki was about to respond when he soon said, startling him even more, " You weren't about to say something like, I'd love to, or let's be friends, right? Stupid! Who'd want to be friends with a nerd like you? "

Pissed off, Itsuki internally thought, " I don't have to put up with this crap even if I don't want to draw attention to myself. Even for an introvert, this is too much to bear. If I don't speak up now and take this any further, everyone in this classroom is going to think they can walk all over me and that I'm never going to retaliate. For my father's sake, I have to do this, otherwise, he'll be worried about my school life and that's the last thing I want. "

Facing off against his classmates, Itsuki said with a disdainful look, " I wouldn't like to be friends with such an airhead like you either, so this works just fine. Keep enjoying your miserable life to the max, will you? "

Noticing the anger in his classmate's eyes alongside the other classmates in the room who felt equally insulted, Itsuki walked out of the room without a word.

" So, this is the kind of life you've been leading, Itsuki. No wonder you wouldn't let anyone get close to you and would feel guarded all the time. Now, I understand why you didn't have any friends and led such a lonely life. "

Itsuki was so deep in thought that he didn't notice someone's evil eye being cast on him. Evading the sinister spell coming his way, thanks to his reflexive skills as a martial artist in training, Itsuki wondered who was the one attacking him in broad daylight.

Thinking it might be the classmate he offended earlier in the classroom, he was taken aback when he saw Jaaku Tango, the boy who was about to become his step-brother, a couple of meters away from him.

" It's you again. What do you want? " Itsuki was seriously pissed off. " Why would you attack me in broad daylight? "

"Why, you ask? " He smirked at him in disdain. " You ruined our plans with your meddling. Had it not been for you, I would have been part of that family now, and finally that shitty dojo would have been gone for good. "

" Shitty dojo? "

" My Mom and I had plans to sell it as soon as she became the lady of the house, but you ruined it all, so now, you're going to pay the price of our loss. "

A memory showed Itsuki just how much his current father loved his dojo even though he was scribbled with debts, he refused to sell it on numerous occasions, even when the original Itsuki asked him. Although he didn't ask him because he wanted the dojo gone, but because he couldn't stand anymore to see his father appalled and sad. After all, as a child, who would want to see their parents constantly worry and anxious?

Itsuki, who had transmigrated less than seventy-two hours ago, felt some kind of affection for his new home, so to have someone trashed it like that was extremely intolerable, even for him.

Sternly gazing at him, he asked Jaaku Tango, " You want to settle scores with me, don't you? "

" Yes, that's why I'm here, to beat the hell out of you. " He smirked as his response came across.

Acting naturally, he responded, " Then come with me! I know a good place. "

—

Following him closely, Itsuki brought him to the secluded alley where he saved the boy's last time.

Smirking even more, Jaaku said, " You've chosen a good place, not bad for a nerd. I can go all out without any interference this way. "

Putting some kind of distance between them, Jaaku threw balls at him one after the other, but all Itsuki was currently thinking about was the trashy words Jaaku threw at his father and the dojo he so cherished.

The more of his attacks he evaded, the closer he got to him. When he was close enough, he landed a foot kick but the power in that foot kick was a hundred times stronger than the one he landed on the hooligans. Even detained with supernatural abilities, Jaaku couldn't protect himself from the impact.

" This is for my father, that you trashed with your trashy words, a man who would have taken you in and treated you like a son without doubting even for a second your bad intentions. "

" For the record, our scores have finally been settled, right? I hope I never get to see your face again in front of me. And if you would like to report me to the authorities, think again before doing such a foolish thing. If I'm to see you even on the street, I'll beat the crap out of you, so keep that in mind before you cross me again next time! "

All said and done, Itsuki walked away from the alley. Unbeknownst to him, though, there were not the only two people present at the scene.

Hours later, when Itsuki and his father were having dinner, Itsuki suddenly said, " Father, I'll find a way to save our dojo from closing its doors. "

Sternly looking at him and expressing his intentions, Itsuki's father asked, confused, " Where is this suddenly coming from, Itsuki? Did something happen at school that you'd like to tell me about? "

—

Recalling the incident at school and his disagreeable encounter with Jaaku, he responded, " No, nothing happened. I just thought I'd tell you I never wanted you to sell the dojo from the start. The reason why I asked you to sell it was so you wouldn't have to worry about money anymore and finally settle your debts. "

Listening to what his son was saying, his father was delighted with the change in him. Responding, he said, " You don't have to concern yourself with our debts, but thanks for worrying about me. I'll find a solution and even if in the end, I have to sell the dojo, I'll do so at a good price. "

Adding nothing more to the topic, dinner continued, and an hour later, Itsuki left for bed. Sleeping soundly, he had no idea what he would be facing tomorrow at school.

The next morning, at school, during lunch hour, Itsuki found a note under his desk asking him to come to the rooftop. Thinking it was probably one of his classmates who wanted to settle scores with him, he headed to the rooftop as scheduled only to find—-----------

" Thanks for coming, Ando. "

Itsuki, who was utterly confused internally, thought on the spot, " Who is this? "

Not lingering any longer, the boy made a long bow in front of him and said, " Thanks for saving me the other day, Ando. I owe you my life, thank you so much. "

?

" What are you talking about? Saved your life? When did I do such a thing? You must be confusing me with someone else. "

" No, I've got the right person. " The boy raised his head to look at Itsuki. " Last time in the alley, you saved me from my assailants. If not for you, I wouldn't be here thanking you. "

Ringing a bell, Itsuki recalled the boy he saved that day. Not glancing over his face or clothes, Itsuki was astounded when he was now standing right in front of him and thanking him, to boost, but something was lingering in Itsuki's mind. How did he find out his identity when he was wearing a mask?

Thinking of asking him how he uncovered him, he thought it would be best to play innocent first as a means to test the waters.

" I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, dear student. You must seriously be confusing me with someone else. I never once ventured into an alley, so there's no way I would have met you there. " He gave off a fake smile.

Retaliating against his words, the boy said, " I can understand you wouldn't want anyone to know your true self, Ando, but I saw you again yesterday alongside your display of strength. "

!

" I have to admit that at first, I didn't know who you were as you left so abruptly, but when I saw you last night, I was more than convinced it was you who had saved me from my assailants. "

Itsuki was stupefied by the explanation given by the student. Glaring at him for the first time, showcasing his true self that no one knew about, he asked, " What do you want? Do you want to guilt-trip me or something? "

" No, no, I mean no harm whatsoever, Ando. " The boy expressed himself awkwardly. " I just wanted to thank you for aiding me. I mean no harm, believe me! "

Scoffing at him, he asked, You were looking for me only for that reason? To thank me for saving you, is that it? "

Without an ounce of hesitation, he responded, " Yes, I had no other intent in looking for you. Believe me when I say I have no intent of divulging your true persona to anyone. "

Letting his guard down, Itsuki grinned slightly and not fakely like a second ago, and said, " You've thanked me, now we're even. Don't look for me again from now on! "

As Itsuki turned to leave, the boy stopped him with a phrase, " Please wait! I have something else to say. "

Stopping, Itsuki asked without turning around, " What else do you have left to say? "

" My name is Akira Shirano from class B. Would you like to be my friend? "

—

Recalling the bad experience he had in the classroom, Itsuki finally turned around for the second time. " Why would you like to be friends with me? Is it because I saved you? "

" Not quite, because for that, I'd have to repay you. " Akira answered bluntly. " I seriously want to be friends with you without any bad intentions. "

Finding it hard to believe, Itsuki said, " I don't believe a word you said, but for the repaying part, I'd be very much interested. "

Akira was a bit disappointed, but still asked, " What would you like? "

Grinning fakely once more, Itsuki forwarded, " As repayment for saving your life, I'd like 100,000 Jewels. "

"Jewel" is the money used in Ishria. Just like its name indicates, it's sparkly like a jewel.

" Give me 100,00 Jewels and you would have settled your debt for saying your life. "

As he was leaving the rooftop, Itsuki internally thought, " That should scare him off. Father would be more at ease if I had a friend, but I'm not about to let myself be deceived for the second time. Although he didn't seem to be lying, I don't understand why he would like to be friends with me. "

" He must have heard that I didn't have any friends at school, which is why he must have proposed such an idea. "

Constantly thinking about Akira's words at home, he wondered whether his intentions were pure without any bad intentions as he had underlined earlier. Thinking of apologizing to him the next time he sees him for being so rude, he didn't have the opportunity to do so, because the next time he met him—------------

" Here's 100,000 Jewels as you've asked, Ando. " Akira handed him a bag of money, but Itsuki was too startled to react.

" What? "

" You asked me for 100,000 Jewels as compensation yesterday, didn't you? Here it is! You may count it to make sure the amount is accurate. "

I was joking yesterday, but he took it seriously. What do I do now?

" I don't want this money. You should take it back. I was joking yesterday, so—--------- "

" Yes, I know, Ando. You wanted to scare me away and despite knowing your intentions, I still brought you this money with a good conscience so you could see my sincerity. "

" I wasn't playing a game with you yesterday when I asked to be friends; I was very serious, but you took it to be a joke. Please accept this money from me! "

Touched, Itsuki accepted the 100,000 Jewels from Akira. " Sorry for acting like a jerk to you yesterday. As for whether we can be friends, I think we can try to get along. "

" Really! Do you mean it? "

" Yes, I do, see you! "

Two days after officially becoming friends, on his way to school, Itsuki found Akira lying in a pool of blood. 

Running to him, Itsuki screamed, " Shirano, wake up! You can't die on me this soon; it's only the second chapter. "