Ryuta's Life

[Earlier that day]

The alarm clock on the table started ringing. The one sleeping on the bed opened his eyes. 

"It's 8am already??" He said while rubbing his eyes and turning the clock off.

I'm gonna be late! 

He thought but then he remembered that it's summer break.

"Ah I'm so stupid.. why did I even put the alarm when it's summer break?" He said and went back to sleep.

He's Tanaka Ryuta, 16 years old high school guy. Normally he'd be in school by now. Wait- actually, running towards the school. He wakes up late since he watches animes all night. And thus, always late for school. He sits at the last desk in the class. He tries to pay attention in class but he ends up getting lost in thoughts. He often gets yelled at for those two reasons.

 He has only two friends in class. Why two? That's because he's too shy to make new friends. Also because he doesn't want to get involved with new people. Those two, shinji and akane, are his childhood friends. He's really close with the both of them.

Shinji is a bright and cheerful guy. He is always smiling which also makes the people around him smile. Akane is a little bit rude and straightforward girl but she never means any real harm. Those two always make fun of ryuta being a crybaby and tease him how he has a crush on school's most famous girl Aoi. And ryuta, who gets angry at them when they do that, loves and hates the both of them at the same time.

"Ryu - kun? Ryu - kun?? You're still asleep? Wake up! Your friends will be here soon!" His mom said standing by the stairs. He did not get up. She came up. "Ryu - kun!!! I've been yelling for hours! When will you ever get up!?"

"Hmm? What's wrong?" He asked.

Door bell ringed. "Ryu - kun! Your friends are already here! Don't you remember-" she was interrupted by ryuta "Oh crap! Tell them I'm not home!"

"What!??" She was shocked. "What do you mean by "what"? Tell them I'm not here and ask them to leave" he replied.

"But they are your friends?" She couldn't believe what he just said. "So what? They are annoying! I told them I won't be going to the festival but they came here anyway! Tell them something that'll make them leave! I'm going back to sleep.." he said.

She went down, opened the door but she wasn't sure what to do. She knew ryuta doesn't want to go but she didn't want to make them leave just like that. "Hello aunt!" Said both shinji and akane. "Or shall I say big-sis! 'cause you look like ryuta's sister instead of his mom! I feel like you are getting younger and younger every time I see you. Maybe I'll need to call you lil-sis soon?" Shinji added. "You naughty boy! " She told him but he didn't hate what he just said "Anyways, let's go in" 

"Aunt, where's ryuta?" Akane asked. "Oh him! He said he's not at home" Mom replied. "Huh?" Said akane. Shinji said while going up the stairs "That idiot! As if he'd be awake to go out at this time.. I know he wakes up at 2pm on his days off. Tell that to someone who doesn't know you! Haha" Both akane and ryuta's mom laughed. 

"Akane - chan, would you like to have some tea?" She asked "Aunt, you know how much I love your tea!" Akane replied. Both laughed.

"Ryuta - sama! When would his majesty like wake up?" Shinji said. "What are you doing here?" Ryuta replied. "I came to wake his majesty up!" Shinji said with a smirk. "Shut up! I'm not going." Ryuta was annoyed by how he kept calling him that. But it's not like he hates his friends. It's just that he hates going out. "Too bad. I'm not leaving without you either." Shinji replied. "Shin! Please! Leave me alone! You know I'm not good at this stuff! You two go and have fun!" Ryuta said. "Hmmm?  But there's no fun without you?" Shinji said. "What do you mean?" Ryuta asked. 

Is there really no fun without me?? But I'm really boring to be around? What does he mean?? They always forget about me? So why?

 "I mean, there's nobody for me to annoy." he replied. "Shin!! You!!! I'm going back to sleep!" Ryuta said. "Just kidding!! Don't get mad!" Shinji said while laughing. "Let's go ryu. I really want the three of us to have fun! You didn't come last year either. Remember the festival we went to when we were kids! We had so much fun!!!" He added.

"Yeah I remember! When I fell down and got hurt. And when I was crying, you two went and played every single game in the festival. And then, I came back alone and you guys didn't even notice that I wasn't there. Then you came and asked me the next day that why did I disappear all of a sudden!" Ryuta replied. He knew what they'll do when he goes out. He's not like them. He can't join them when they are enjoying themselves like that. He ends up standing alone and looking at them.    

"What? You got hurt back then?" Shinji was shocked. That's because he didn't knew about that at all. And ryuta never said anything about that either. Shinji and akane were always having so much fun that they ended up forgetting about ryuta. That doesn't mean they didn't care about him. 

Ryuta wouldn't join them whenever they play or go out together. More like, he can't. They try to make him more like them and have fun the way they do, but he can't do that just because they are telling him to. Ryuta wants to be like others but nobody can change just like that. And they always feel bad for him not being able to join them. That's why they keep forcing him to go out. 

"Ryuta.. I'm sorry.. but! I promise! This time! I won't let that happen!! Believe me!! If I break this promise, I'll do whatever you make me do!" Shinji knew how he never tells anything about himself. Back then, he never told anything either, no matter how much he asked. He apologized because he thought it must've been his fault.      

"For real? You'll do anything???" Ryuta asked. "Yes! Anything!" Shinji replied with a smile. But his smile disappeared when he saw ryuta smirking. "Bro! I mean it must be something that I can do, okay!?" Shinji was scared.  "Haha! so you are sure that you will end up leaving me behind, huh?" Ryuta replied.  "No, I mean, IF I DID THAT! Of course I'll try not to!!" Shinji replied. "Haha okay! I'll come." Ryuta said. "Really!? Yay! Imma go tell aunt and akane about this!!! You better get ready in fifteen minutes!" Shinji said and went down.            

That stupid! I'm one hundred percent sure he'll do that. But that's exactly why I'm going.

"Aunt! Akane! Do you know? Ryuta's coming!!" Shinji was excited.

"Ehhh? How?" Akane asked.

"That's a secret!" Shinji smiled.

"He always listens to shinji. I wonder why?" Ryuta's mom said.

"Why indeed " shinji said. 

They don't know I sacrificed myself to make him go .