Friendship is a strange relationship

It’s impossible to know who your next friend will be. It’s common in society for people with similar personalities and interests flock together into one group. Some groups are friendly and wholesome. Others are vicious and mean. Few tend to be geeking over a common interest. The ambitious ones were either athletes or good-looking in some way. Such friendships would go far. But the type of friendships that go beyond, the tightest of friendships are those with contrasting differences.

“Has anyone seen Sakura?” Hana asked, paint littered in hidden spots and crevices all over her uniform. Her hair had gotten shorter, she’d cut it again.

Tsuga answered, a sandwich in his mouth. “She’s not here, and I guess you two didn’t come to school together.”

Hana shook her head. Misao looked up from her mirror after fixing her long hair that had been flattened and styled to perfection. “I mean where else could she be but there,” Misao said.

“Right. That’s the only place she could be.” Hana folded her arms.

Up on the rooftop, a young girl laid flat on her stomach, a makeshift toy in her hands. Speaking in a language most students her age doesn’t even understand. Unless you were in the military. “This is Hawk. This is Hawk. Over.” The girl waited, as she looked through the scope, prowling her gaze over the fields. “I’ve spotted a potential suspect, over.” The girl locked onto a target. A middle-aged man in a shirt and dress pants. Brown short hair and slim face. “I’ve got you now, baldy—”

Behind the young girl the door slammed open, startled she picked up her weapon and aimed at the door. “Sakura!” someone said, but the young girl didn’t notice her name being called as she shoot her weapon. Pellet after pellet launched out at top speed. The person stopped in their tracks.

“Hawk, has found new target,” Sakura said. Through her scope she watched the intruder. Noticing the black hair style her friend had, she dropped her weapon. “Hana?”

Hana stood straight. Sakura laughed, “ah, sorry, sorry. I didn’t know it was you. I thought it was an intrude—” Hana, though a fantastic artist, was an excellent judo athlete. Sakura was given a good toss over Hana’s shoulder before she could complete her sentence.

“Oi, idiot,” Hana leaned in next to Sakura’s face. Sakura felt cold sweat, “what did the teacher say about coming to the rooftop?”

“…not to come to the rooftop,” Sakura replied.

“And yet, here you are.” Hana’s voice sunk.

Sakura looked from side to side, thinking of a good reply to this. “And yet, here I am. I mean I was just looking for the English teacher, you know, he’d given me an E last semester and I just wanted to get revenge. Yes, revenge.” She snickered light-heartedly.

Sakura was promptly grabbed by the ear back to class before she’d cause any more trouble. 

Even amongst friend groups, there is often a rather special individual who is belongs to their own classification. A personality that stands out more than usual. No one is sure if it’s because of their wealth, or their face. In the next class to Sakura's class there was such a person.

Grouped in the centre of the classroom four boys had a very interesting discussion.

"How was the date?" Yoshi asked, taking the seat in front of Miki's desk. "Did you have fun?"

Miki shrugged, "It was alright. Could be better," he replied, his head resting on his palm.

"Why?"

"She was late. And we had nothing in common, everything she liked I disliked. Who likes attending wrestling matches on the regular! People are in crowds, everyone's making noises, someone's gotten their neck and back broken--unrefined, I tell you. Her manners were also all over the place. I refuse to waste my time on someone who doesn't fit into my refined lifestyle," Miki concluded, shaking his head. 

"Just how do rich people even date? How late was she to begin with?" Manabu asked. 

"Five minutes," Miki replied.

"There he is, the punctual, old-timey Miki."

"I'm not old-timey, just fastidious."

"Yoshi, you know what fastidious means?" Manabu asked jokingly.

"I know, I'm not stupid!"

"What did you bring this time, you don't liek going empty handed Miki-chan," Hide commented. 

"Stop with -chan, and of course I brought something," Miki grinned, feeling incredibly proud. "I brought a diamond necklace to celebrate the event.  Listen boys, to impress rich ladies, you must show you're also rich. However, it's also good to have standards. Never give anything worthwhile to someone without manners!"

Manabu laughed, "You're very adamant on her manners, did she say something?"

"I'm not a fruitcake!"

"Ah, she called him a fruitcake." The boys all said. 

"The audacity to call me a fruitcake, what fruitcake is this pretty, rich and lean!" Miki huffed, holding Yoshi's eyes.

"Are you admiring a reflection of yourself through my eyes," Yoshi asked. 

Miki paused, "no, 'cause that would be embarassing."

He totally did, the boys thought. "Well, still I bet when Miki showed the necklace, Miki was like, ‘here, for you.’ Kyaaaa, the cool type of guy,” Yoshi laughed.

Miki grinned, “of course, I mean, what of girl wouldn’t like lavish presents thrown at her. I thought I was super cool as well. I took her to a nice restaurant, gave a stunning necklace. The night was perfect.”

“Miki would be the perfect guy,” Hide said nonchalantly. Miki’s pride increased along with the length of his nose. “If he didn’t have a petty personality.”

Miki frowned, “what do you mean petty? I have a perfect personality.” Manabu, Yoshi and Hide arched a brow at him.

"What happened to the necklace? Did you let her keep it after she called you a fruitcake?" Hide asked. Miki flinched, the word fruitcake was doing a number on his self-esteem.

"What do you take me for? Of course I took it back."

Hide's face remained stoic. Yoshi cackled. Manabu gaped at Miki. “You’re petty," Hide said.

"Stingy," Yoshi added.

"Selfish,” Manabu finished.

With each word from Hide, Miki’s pride crumbled into a nearby grave with his name on it. "Shut it! You know how expensive those were?"

Hide shrugged. “The only thing you’re good at is being good-looking.”

“And rich,” Manabu added. The other two nodded

“I mean,” Miki pouted. “It’s not my fault they’re not my type.”

“Fair, but you're still petty.” Hide’s words were like a poisoned arrow through Miki’s chest.

Manabu giggled, “knowing you, you must have told her all those things.” Miki kept quiet, looking into a far distance out the window. “Uwaaa, trash. It’s a miracle you didn’t get slapped.”

Miki kept silent again.

“Again!” they exclaimed.

Miki stammered, “I mean! Not to mention, she didn’t even say thank you for the meal.”

“Ah, that is bad manners—don’t change the subject!” Yoshi nodded. “I really don’t get why you’re like this. No girl will date you if you keep acting like an asshole.”

“That reminds me, what kind of girl is your type?” Manabu asked.

“I like beautiful girls! There is no man who can say no to a beautiful woman, no man I tell you!” Yoshi declared with a flourish of his hands.

Manabu nodded in firm agreement. “Of course not! However, no matter what a girl looks like if she’s blessed in all the right places, it’s a given a man is no more than a humble servant,” Manabu said, with a face of stern determination.

Next to Yoshi, Hide chuckled confidently. “You fools know nothing! Girls with beautiful hands are the most majestic of all. Do you understand how sensational it is?”

In the corner, next to the group of boys, Kaoru and her friend Yuri eyed them with disdain. “It’s a wonder how this many idiots found themselves in the same classroom,” Kaoru said.

“Idiots are the luckiest of all human species, after all.” Yuri replied. “I dunno whether to feel sorry for Miki-chan, he must be surrounded by them all day. Even though he’s such a trashy person.”

“Miki, what ‘bout you? What’s your type of girl?” Manabu asked, after a slight altercation with Hide. Miki brushed through his hair, he looked to be thinking very seriously about it. And for some reason the class was silent during this thoughtful time.

“I’m not sure. Someone as pretty as me? Maybe even as wealthy as me. With clear eyes, nice lips, rosy cheeks, pale skin, good legs that are lean and strong, not just slim, and weak. She must be healthy and workout just as much as me, maybe even more, and, and—” Miki rambled on for about another minute before smiling lovingly. “That’s who I like.” There was a wave of disappointed sighs.

Hide’s face stonewalled, “so, you’re asking for a perfect woman.” The three thought about Miki’s reply, trying to picture just who could possibly fit such strict criteria. The conclusion they all came to was—Miki, was asking for a goddess. In sympathy, they clapped his shoulders. Telling him, everything will be alright even if he dies alone in the future, they will always be with him.

Yuri and Kaoru exchanged glances. “Maybe they’re just idiots, all four of ‘em.”

Friend groups are always an interesting dynamic to behold and once established it’s a difficult bond to break and interrupt. Luckily, life always finds a way.