Beginning of my New Journey

The raging fire burned my mother's mansion to ashes.  The mansion is located on the edge of a cliff close to our capital Kastral. Within the fire, there is a boy who is trying to find his mother trapped inside the burning mansion. The boy saw a woman's shadow and immediately called her.

["Ah! Mom!"]

The woman turns around slowly at the boy. It was his mom badly injured.

["Ryou?"]

 The boy has managed to find his mother in the room at the end closest to the balcony leading to the cliff hole. The mother looked at her son with relief. However, the mother was in a state of death. The mother's legs can no longer run. Her leg was badly burned. Even though the mother is seriously injured, she thinks of a way to save her son. She took a necklace with red diamonds from her pocket.

["Ryou, listen you'll have to stay alive!"]

The mother put the necklace on her son while saying that. The boy was afraid that his mother would leave him alone. He felt hopeless and wanted to be by his mother's side.

["No Mom please don't leave me alone!"]

Even though the mother is on the verge of death, she realizes that her son really loves her from the bottom of his heart. His mother gave her son one last smile. Remembering what his mother had been through with him. His mother felt that even if she died now, she would not leave any regrets behind

["Go!"]

His mother pushed her son off the cliff while telling him that. He knows that his mother pushed him to save the boy from this prison of fire.

["NOOOO!"]

That was, 8 years ago. I fell into the abyss. After that slowly, I lost my consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I woke up in front of the Kastral hospital. I don't know how I got out of that abyss somehow. But one thing I know, the necklace my mother had given me was lost. My mother entrusted me to the Kastral Hospital before the incident. The doctor at the kastral hospital was very kind to me. However, I cannot forget what happened to my family. 
My mother was all I ever had. And without her, I lost my path. I can't decide what should I do. Should I go to school? Or get some friends? Instead, I choose to die.
It was a rainy night. Alarm blaring in the Kastral Hospital. Nurses is panicking about  something. A doctor storms in to find what's going on. 

["Doctor! Emergency!"]

["What? What's with all of this ruckus?"]

They all frantically looking for something. What exactly is going on here?

["Ry- Ryou has disappeared!"]

Within seconds, the doctor's eyes widened in shock. And screamed

["Wha- What!?"]

After that, the doctor took command and tried his best to find me. But, what really happened to me? I ran out of the hospital without telling anyone. My clothes were soaking wet, my feet hurt from running outside without my shoes on. Dark sky, heavy rain. This is a good opportunity to attempt suicide. Because in this state no one is able find my corpse. But then, I stopped by the BiFrost Gate. And, I got an idea. I should just go through the gate and meet all of the mages on the other side. With that, I violated the Rules of Truth and should be given a painless death. The Rule of Truth is a rule made for humans that forbids us humans from passing through the BiFrost Gate. I tried to get closer to the gate but then I got caught right before that happen. After that, I was never able to get out anymore... Until, I'm at my age to go to the high school.

*8 Years Later

First day of my school. I had to skip elementary and middle school because I was restraint at the hospital. But now, I am FREE! Cherry blossoms look beautiful. Aaah, the perfect time to enter school.

["Finally, freedom is in my hands']

The wind feels good, the view is beautiful. Although, there are many big buildings around but at least the environment is clean and lots of beautiful trees. In those 8 years I was hospitalized. They still taught me school lessons even though I was in the hospital. 

["How long do they want to keep me in geez"]

There are many students around me. Some of them were hesitant to enter the school just like me. Just standing in front of the school gate. However, I knew that I had to enter this school. Because I also have a purpose in life. For that, I have to learn a lot and become a great student. Kastral high school is a school that only accepts from Kastral middle school. I managed to get in because of the doctors that has been taking care of me this whole time. It was a long journey. But, my mother's death is still hurting my soul even now. No, I have to stay strong and enjoy my life. After that, I entered the school area and headed to my class 1 A.

*In the classroom

["Ughh..."]

When I was a kid, I was always in the hospital so I hardly had the experience of talking to someone of the same age. Alright, let's take a look at the situation first. There are 35 students in this class and they all seem very familiar with each other. Well, that's because they all come from the same middle school, Kastral Middle School. I have prepared some steps to make new friends! This time, I will approach someone and make new friends with my own courage!

["I was barely getting any interaction  with stranger when I was little"]

It was nerve wracking, a lots of thought going through my head. What if I didn't get a single friend? I don't want that to happen. I have to make new friends no matter what because I'm sure my mom will be happy in the afterlife!

["Hey"] *Unknown voice

["WOAA- Wha- Eh?"]

Suddenly someone greeted me from behind. I was shocked that I screamed a little.  Who is he? Someone in my class? it seems so. But, why did he suddenly greet me?

["Oh did I startled you? My bad"]

He scratched the back of his head with a worried face. Looks like he didn't mean to scare me in the first place. He looks like a good person. I think I'll be with him for the time being. He sat right behind me. No wonder why he greeted me from behind.

["No, It's okay"]

I answered him but with a sense of exhaustion. I'm overthinking it. For 2 - 3 days I don't seem to need to rush for my 2nd step. At first I wanted to take a little approach through step 2. However, it doesn't seem necessary. He has approached me which means that he wants to be friends with me and all I have to do is be a good friend to him.

["You seem nervous are you okay buddy?"]

He's worried about me, I think I'm too nervous for this guy to see that I was nervous. I was too worried that I wouldn't make friends. I was so worried that I forgot about the possibility that someone would came up and to talk to me. I have to give him a good first impression for me to be a good friend.

["No- Yeah, Yeah I'm totally fine"]

I- I stuttered. This isn't good, at this rate maybe he'll think I'm a coward who gets scared just because of being greeted by a stranger from behind.

["You don't look fine to me"]

Alright, it seems like it's useless for me to pretend to be okay. I sighed and admitted it.

["Alright I admit it, I was nervous. So what?"]

["Well there's no one blaming ya. it's not easy to adapt in a new environment."]

He smiled at me and said that. However, I felt odd about what he just said.

["Wha- What?"]

I gave him a slightly flustered reaction on reflex. New environment? What's this guy talking about? Or is he the same as me? Or is it something more into it? I don't think I sho-

["Hey, Do you wanna be friends with me"]

["Hmmm, eh?"]

It took me a few seconds to process what he just said. When I realized it, my eyes opened wide with a confused face and stares at him. Did I mishear what he just said?

["Hmm? Did I stutter?"]

So I didn't misheard about what he just said.

["N- No, but. "]

I answered him with a bit of confusion at me. I never thought it would be this easy to make new friends.

["Huh..."]

I sighed and held my head. So I was really overthinking about making new friends. I even forgot the possibility that someone would ask me to be their friends.

["Hm? Do you not want to be my friends?"]

Oh yes I have to give him a reply.

["No it's not that. I'm just shocked that someone is asking me to be one of their friends"]

["Do you not like it?"]

He was right, what's wrong with accepting his offer. Besides, if I don't have good acquaintances in my class I'll panic.

["Nope. Sure, I'll be your friend"]

I accepted the offer and the nervousness I felt just now disappeared. He will be my new friend. I have to give him a really good impression. However, I had to resist telling him about my past.

["Yes! My name is Yuuto Kumagai. What's your name buddy?"]

Oh right, I should introduce myself. I've always been hesitant to introduce myself to strangers.

["My name is Ryou Akiyama. Nice to meet you. Buddy..."]

Yuuto Kumagai, my newest friend. I should leave a good impression on him.

Yeah, that's right. This is only the beginning of my new journey.