Vol 1. Friend or no Friend?

As I reflected on my thoughts, a boy wearing our school uniform entered the classroom. He had an athletic build, was of average height, and exuded a relaxed confidence that could only be described as "cool." His school bag was slung casually over his shoulders. When the teacher noticed him, she gestured for him to come forward. After confirming something with him, she turned to address the class.

"This is a transfer student, and he will be joining you all starting today. Please take care of him."

Ah, a transfer student. That explained why he arrived a week late. The teacher then signaled for him to introduce himself. He stepped forward as though he had been waiting for this moment. Without hesitation, he began.

"My name is Aki Yamada. I transferred here from Holy Saint Public School in Rajpura. I enjoy watching and playing football. Nice to meet you all."

His voice was calm and mature, carrying a quiet confidence that seemed to captivate everyone. Perhaps it was his demeanor, athletic build, or polished introduction, but the entire class gave him their undivided attention.

As someone who usually kept to himself and sat alone, it was inevitable that Yamada would end up sitting beside me. He approached my desk, sat down without hesitation, and didn't say a word.

The room buzzed with chatter when lunchtime arrived as everyone shared their meals with friends. Everyone, that is, except for us. Neither of us had any companions. Feeling a bit sorry for him, I decided to speak up.

"Hey," I said, breaking the silence.

He turned to me, waiting for me to continue.

"If you want, you can change your seat. They're not assigned permanently," I suggested.

He didn't respond.

No response, huh? I shrugged it off and returned to eating my lunch. He did the same. After we finished, we both sat in silence, lost in thought. A girl with short black hair entered the room. She glanced at us and smirked.

"Both of the 'silent boys' are sitting together! Hehe," she teased, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

Her comment wasn't directed at anyone in particular, but it ensured that the entire class noticed us. What were we, some sideshow? I gave her a weak smile, as did Yamada, though her amused expression suggested she was disappointed by our lack of reaction. Unfortunately, her desk was right next to ours, and her comment made us the focus of unwanted attention. The room filled with murmurs, but I tried to ignore them.

"Why don't you talk to anyone?" I asked Yamada after a while.

"I don't have friends... yet," he replied.

"Why don't you talk to anyone?" he asked, mirroring my question.

"Same," I said.

And just like that, our first conversation ended. It was also my first real interaction with anyone in this class. Deep down, I wanted a friend, and Yamada seemed like someone I could connect with. I decided not to let this chance slip away.

From that day on, I tried to converse with him daily. Surprisingly, the exchanges were effortless, and I began to enjoy talking to him. He seemed to enjoy it, too. Gradually, we started spending more time together. During P.E., his athletic prowess made him the star player in every game while I watched from the sidelines with my average physique. Despite our differences, we grew closer. To the rest of the class, we probably looked like friends. But were we? Or were we just two loners seeking solace in each other's company?

I convinced myself we were friends, even though I couldn't shake the feeling that he'd eventually leave once he made new friends. Still, I clung to the idea. It felt comforting, even if it wasn't entirely true.

Two weeks passed since Yamada had joined our class. He was good-looking, intelligent, friendly yet reserved, and excelled at sports—qualities that naturally drew attention. Slowly but surely, more people began to notice and include him in their circles. I knew our time was limited, but I was okay with that. For a brief moment, his presence made my life a little brighter.

One morning, I arrived at class a few minutes early. Everything seemed normal until someone called out Yamada's name.

"Yamada," said Jun Fujiyama, a popular boy in our class.

Yamada and I both turned to see him standing nearby. Jun smiled confidently.

"Why don't you sit with us?" he asked.

I had been expecting this. I had even prepared myself for it. Yamada glanced at me briefly before turning his attention back to Jun. Clearly, he was conflicted, so I decided to help him decide.

"If you want to sit with them, go ahead. I told you before, the seats aren't permanent," I said softly so only he could hear.

"Sure, why not?" Yamada replied, smiling at Jun.

Jun looked pleased. "Come on over, then," he said before walking away.

Yamada turned to me. "Are you okay with this?" he asked.

"Don't worry about me," I replied.

But it hurt. Even though I had anticipated this moment, it still hurt. That day, I made a decision. I would embrace being a loner. I promised myself never to consider anyone a friend again. The pain of being left behind was too much to bear.

From that day forward, Yamada became one of the "nobles" in the class, sitting with Jun and his friends. Meanwhile, I returned to my solitary existence. My new seatmate was Paki Youtskei, a small, pale boy with a quiet demeanor. Like me, he belonged to the group of outcasts.

Even now, one question lingers: Was Yamada ever truly my friend?