The End Of The Beginning

Hey , Renji , wake up ! Class is starting and you fell asleep !
Oh sorry ! I just dozed off for some reason , I was really tired 
Renji thinks in his mind :
Huh so that was all a dream after all , it all felt so real , I was talking to someone about my middle school days but I don't know who. Forget it I should prepare for class , I even let Rin wake me up.
The teacher enters the class and tells everyone to sit down. The teacher starts writing math problems on the board for the kids to answer . 
Who should I pick to answer? Oh right , Renji you didn't answer in a while ! 
Renji doesn't come to the board because he is spacing out thinking about something.
Man , high school started and Rin is still my only friend , I really am that hard to approach,huh?
RENJI , I SAID COME TO THE BOARD AND ANSWER THIS PROBLEM !
Renji gets flustered because of the sudden scream .
Right , sorry miss. 
Renji goes to the board and answers correctly .
Renji has always been a smart person even though he is very lazy but his confidence is still at an all time low because of his past in middle school , he isn't a proud about his achievements even though he always got first place at every competition he attended , he even gets full marks on every exam he takes , he's a prodigy but he doesn't seem to notice.
Good job , Renji , just be more careful next time and don't space out in the middle of my lesson .
Ok , Miss.
As class comes to an end Rin approaches Renji.
Hey , Renji , I want to talk to you about something .
Hey , sure, what's up ?
Me and  a couple of classmates are going to the mall , I wanted to invite you too !
Thanks for the invitation but I think I would just be a bother .
One of his new classmates approaches him :
You won't be a bother , Renji , we never talked before haven't we ? We should start from now , I am Sujo Alyssa , nice to meet you.
Yeah, we haven't talked before , you didn't have to tell me your name ! I already know it , it is nice to meet you too .
Oh really ? I thought you were the type to forget things quick , you were spacing out in math class you know? 
Yeah....
Well your grades seem pretty high but you don't go around showing them to people , if I had grades like you I would be showing all my friends !
Your grades can't be that bad though , right? 
About that.... At the last exam I took my score was 44/100.
Well if you need help studying you can come to me !
Really ? It would be a huge help !
Hey guys I'm still here you know? You can talk to me too ! 
Right , sorry Rin.
Anyways about the mall , I was thinking about going on Saturday !
Great Idea !
The bell rings and everyone sits down for the next class . 
Renji can't do anything but be excited about the fact that he got invited to the mall and is going with his fellow classmates . Though he only knows about Rin and Alyssa , he hopes he won't be a bother to the other classmates he doesn't know at the mall. 
Fast forward to Saturday Renji is all excited because he dressed his best for the mall , even went to the hair dresser , but he thinks about one thing , should he go with the mask or not . As Renji is thinking his mother barges into the room with excitement as this is the first time Renji is going out with friends in years ! 
Renji , you should take that mask off you know ? You are a very handsome boy and I'm confident many girls will fall for you ! 
Thanks ,  mom . but I don't think that's true.
As the mother is about to open her mouth a noise comes out of Renji's pocket , it's his phone ringing because someone is calling him .
Must be Rin , let me answer this .
Hey , Renji , I hope you dressed well for the mall !
How couldn't I Rin , this is my first time going out in years after all !
Renji's mother can do nothing but think about how close Renji is to Rin with a smug smile on her face.
You two are very close , are you dating ?
Renji looks with a flustered face at his mother.
No , now get out ! 
Renji's mother gets out of the room and says:
Ok ok , have a great at the mall !
Sorry about that , Rin , my mom can be very annoying at times .
Rin hesitates to answer , why you might ask?
She was shocked after hearing Renji's mom asking if they are dating still looking at the phone with a blush on her face.
Yeah.... your mom is really funny . 
Really ? I don't approve .
Well you should get going , in 20 minutes we need to be at the mall to meet with the others !
Right , I will close the call , see you at the mall ! 
As Renji hangs up he begins walking towards the front door to begin going to the mall .
As the taxi arrives he goes into the car.
Going to the mall huh , Going with your friends or something ? The taxi driver asks .
Yeah , I am going to the mall with my classmates !
Alright , kid .
As Renji arrives he pays the taxi driver and starts walking towards the mall scared because this is the first time in years he hasn't wore his mask in public.
Everyone starts giving Renji looks because he is so handsome .
Renji think's this is because he is ugly but just goes towards the meet up place.
Wait... Is that Renji ? 
Hey , Renji over here ! 
Renji hears Rin and goes towards her where there are also his other classmates.
Hey , sorry for being late !
Alyssa thinks in her mind : 
Is that really Renji ? He has been hiding such a beautiful face behind that mask.
Rin thinks the same as she exchanges looks with Alyssa.
Renji I'm glad you could finally take your mask off.
Thank you , Rin , this couldn't be possible without your support .
Please , I'm flattered ! You look really nice , you know. Says Rin with a flustered face and a blush.
Renji blushes back as he hears what Rin says . 
Look at these two love birds , can't you just date already ! Says Alyssa .
Both Rin and Renji look at the ground in embarrassment .
Right , I forgot to introduce you to our other classmates ! This is Tadano 
Hey ! 
And this is Tsubasa !
Heya !
Wait ,There is only one guy aside from me ?
Yep , you have a problem with that ? 
No...
Alright then , let's go eat ! 
Tadano approaches Renji 
Hey , it's kind of embarrassing for us to be with 3 girls right ?
Yeah, I was expecting at least like 3 boys to be here ! 
Same , well let's go follow the girls , we are falling behind you know ? 
Right , let's go . 
As they arrive at the place where they will be eating they sit down at the table and start ordering.
Shall we split the bill so it can be fair for all of us ?
I don't see a problem with that . Say's Renji 
Same here . Say's Tadano 
I see no problem . Say's Alyssa 
Me too ! Say's Tsubasa 
Alright , let's start ordering ! 
Tadano let's start with you , what do you want to eat ? 
Pepperoni pizza ! 
That's so childish.
Hey that's offensive you know ! 
Renji doesn't answer and asks Rin next.
What do you want to eat , Rin ? 
I think I want an Chicken Alfredo
Okay ! 
What about you , Alyssa ? 
I think I will also be taking Chicken Alfredo , it looks very tasty .
Alright !
And the last one remaining , Tsubasa , what do you want to eat ?
I think I will be eating Pasta with tomato sauce. 
Ok , it's settled then ! Let's wait for the waiter. 
Hello there , could I take your orders ? 
Yes , we would like 2 chicken alfredo's , 1 pepperoni pizza , 1 Pasta with tomato sauce and for me an Alfredo pasta. 
Will that be all , or do you want something to drink too ? 
What do you guys want to drink ? 
Cola , please ! Say's Tadano 
I want cola too , please . Say's Rin
Same here . 
Alright we would like 4 colas please. 
Ok , your order will arrive shortly.
Well Renji you are rather way more social in public than at school , it's almost like you have become a completely different person , at school you are always staying alone reading Light novels and you only talk with Rin , you also wear that mask but you look handsome , you shouldn't hide your face ! And also try talking with us too from now , we are your friends too !
After hearing Alyssa's kind words, Renji with a smile responds with : 
Yes I will talk with you all from now on and I will stop hiding behind my mask.
Everyone is smiling at the wholesome moment.
As everyone is talking Renji notices a similar face. It was Haruki.
Renji stares in disbelief and starts trembling looking at Haruki.
Hey , Renji , is everything alright ? Rin asks. 
Rin doesn't know what is going on but he notices he is looking somewhere .
As she look's where Renji is looking she sees why Renji is trembling.
Rin grabs Renji's hand and says: 
You shouldn't be scared of him anymore , you have us now.
Renji regains his hope and goes back to normal.
Hey if you don't mind me asking , why are you scared of that guy ? Alyssa asks
Well , it's a long story .
Well I would like to hear it , I need to know what is bothering my friend.
As Renji hears the word ”friend” he start's telling everyone his story .
Well , that's why I'm scared of him , he's the reason I have been hiding behind a mask after all.
Renji , just so you know , you aren't ugly , and if you ever need help from us , please ask us for help.
Everyone else nod's in approval of what Alyssa just said .
Renji looks at everyone with tears forming in his eyes and says:
I haven't received such kindness before so I don't know how to react but , thank you so much !
Tadano puts his hand on Renji's shoulder and says : 
I will always have your back , just so you know ! 
Thank you , Tadano.
That day I was the happiest person alive , I felt like I had just been reborn , not because I died but because I became a completely new person.