私の家へようこそ。　(Welcome to my home.)

School ended a few minutes ago. Now I'm standing at the school entrance. Why am I standing here? It feels like I'm waiting for someone, but I don't know who.

"What'chu doing?" A voice asked behind my back.

I turned to see who it was.

"Hey! What are you doing? Waiting for someone?"

It was Sayuri. Of course, I should have known.

"I don't know what I'm doing too, but I should start heading home now," I said as I started walking.

"Do you mind if I visit your home?"

I stopped. Turned around to see Sayuri. Her eyes were shining in the sunlight like a lightbulb in a dark room.

"Sure," I said as I turned back to my original direction.

I can feel a difference in Sayuri's aura. It was a lot more...bright.

"I live kind of far, so don't complain!" I shouted to her.

"It's okay! I live far from school too! This road is the same road I take to go home..." Sayuri whispered herself, but I somehow could hear clearly.

We arrived at my home after 25 tiring minutes of walking.

Flashback to a conversation they had while walking:

"Are we there yet?" Sayuri asked, out of breath.

"Just a little more," I answered. I knew that there was still at least 70 meters of walking.

"Oh, it's my house!" Sayuri asked while pointing to the apartment across the street.

"You live there?" I asked Sayuri.

I looked up at the apartment. It has been there for quite some time now, and it looks...expensive.

"Yea, I do. You can come over whenever you're free!" Sayuri exclaimed.

"Uh-ok! We should continue walking." 

(End of flashback)

So it turns out, Sayuri lives pretty close to me.

"Alright, let's go in," I said, leading the way to my house.

"Welcome to my home!"

Sayuri was so it made me feel a little uneasy. I had no idea of what she was thinking. Besides, why do I care?

I slid open the door and yelled, "Mom! I'm home!" My mom came out of the kitchen wearing an apron.

"It's unusual for you to bring someone to our home, so, who is this good-looking lady?"

"Hi, I am Momoe's friend from school. It's nice to meet you." Sayuri introduced herself.

"You're such a pretty and well-mannered girl! I'm happy that my daughter has befriended you. Now, come on in and have some snacks. You all must be hungry."

I wonder what it felt for Sayuri to enter my home. I've never been to another person's home because no one has ever invited me. I have to say that I was lonely as a kid. That was perhaps what made me an easy target for the bullies to tease on. How would my life have been different if people did not bully me?

"I would not have been able to meet Sayuri." That was the first thing that came to mind. I want to get to know Sayuri better. I want her to trust me like how I trust her. I want to get closer to Sayuri.

My mom brought out the snacks. Unbelievably, she made us some pancakes with fresh fruit and syrup on top.

I gave my mom a, “Why all this?" look.

"I just had to make something special because Momoe brought home a friend for the first time!" She replied as she sat down. "So Sayuri, what's your surname?"

"It's Kobayashi, Sayuri Kobayashi."

"!!"