Chapter 7: Osana Najimi, Ojosa Mako

Ojosa had never seen Osana like this. To be fair, she had only known Osana for eight days, but during that short time she'd only known Osana as a baby sitter frantically searching for the baby, but without the panic. Now, that very personification of reckless youth looked like a malnourished mummy.

Osana's room was bare. There was only a short desk to be used while sitting on the floor, the futon bed currently under Osana's emaciated appearance, and an open suit case containing clothes and pants, plus a small school bag.

"What happened, Osana?" Ojosa put her hands on Najimi's forehead.

"Call me Najimi, Ojosa. Unless you don't want to be my friend?"

"Sorry, Najimi." She helped Najimi sit up on the futon. "What happened?"

"It's a super silly thing, Ojosa," Najimi said. "I couldn't befriend that Komi girl."

"Komi? Shoulder-length hair, slim, doesn't talk?"

"Yeah. She didn't talk to me either."

"Even after you bothered her with unlimited questions?"

"Yeah."

"Even after you ran around her asking her opinion on whatever is around both of you?"

"Yeah," Najimi said.

"Even after you make weird noises for a few hours?"

"No! Not even my patented Bird with a Broken Beak Scream made her respond! She's a maniac! A statue! Wkrenf!"

Ojosa couldn't handle looking at Najimi being this weak. She pulled a plastic cup and a thermos flask from her purse, poured orange fluids from the flask, and handed it to Najimi.

"Hang on, this is super delicious, what is this?" Najimi asked, draining the whole cup.

"It's 'Mako Energy Drink', new invention by my chef. I heard you haven't eaten in two days, so I brought you something to help you freshen up."

Najimi looked at the cup. "I never had problems with making friends before."

Ojosa nodded. "You are a professional."

"But then Komi was just...off. Utterly distant, almost like an alien."

"Maybe it's not the right time."

"What do you mean, Ojosa?"

"If you had tried to befriend me last year, I'd ask my butler to kick you out. I think if you give her some time, she'll be your friend."

"Really? You think so?"

Ojosa gave her widest smile. "Everyone would love to be your friend, Najimi. They just need to realise it."

Najimi returned the smile. "Thanks, Ojosa!"

"You're welcome. Hm? Why are you lying down again?"

"I've been bedridden for six days, gonna make it a full week."

[break]

"Oh," Tadano said.

"I never thought Najimi could be that sad," Komi said. "So I'll have to work harder to be a greater friend to her."

"Yes, definitely," Tadano said. His thoughts went back to something Najimi said at the beginning of the first year…

[break]

"And do you know what I learned from me being bedridden for a week, Tadano?" Najimi asked.

"That your friend is correct? Komi actually wanted to be your friend, but it took several years."

"That was important, but there was a more important lesson."

"Which is?"

"If you pretend you're weak, your friends will bring you food and drinks."

[break]

Oh well, Tadano thought. She brought me food and drinks when I was sick too, it's mutual support.

"Tadano?"

"Yes?"

"What are you thinking about?"

Tadano decided not to tell Komi about what Najimi said. Wracking his brain, he finally came across a story. "Speaking of kids, turns out Baba was good with one! One...specific one. It's one of the kids you met during first year's snowball competition."