My Friends

Kido's POV

Beep

Beep

Beep

I stopped my digital alarm clock with my right arm and groaned, still half asleep. My eyes opened slowly as I woke up. I yawned while I stretched out my arms. I read the digital clock. 7:30 a.m.

"I should get ready for school." I said in a tired voice.

I got out of my bed and dressed in my school uniform. I went to my bathroom and looked at myself from the mirror. My eyes were red and tired from crying all night. To clean my face up, I washed it and brushed my hair. I left my bedroom and walked into my kitchen. I stuffed some bread into my mouth for breakfast. After that, I left my empty house to go to school. I was listening to music through my earphones. I acted like everything was normal. I escaped reality again. I entered the world of music. It was just a dream...Don't think about it. Forget about it. Forget about it just like how Ayano forgot all about you. I'm acting like my old self before I met my friends.

I continued walking while listening to my music. Then someone from behind me pulled my earphones out of my ears. That person covered my eyes, too. I couldn't see anything.

"Guess who?" Even though I couldn't see anything,I knew that person was smiling that same stupid smile of his.

I suddenly had a flashback.

A year ago, it was September and quite hot. I was walking to school by myself. Then, I see darkness."Guess who, Kido?" A girl's cheerful voice could be heard from behind me while covering my eyes with both of her hands.

"Ayano..." I whispered quietly. I forgot all about the idiot right behind me. His hands slowly uncovered my eyes.

"No, it's Ka-" He started. "Wait...what did you say?" He asked and sounded kind of surprised. I turned around and looked at him.

"Um...nothing." I noticed he wasn't riding his bike today.

By the way, where's your bike?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

The idiot scratched the back of his head and laughed nervously.

"Someone stole it?!" I exclaimed after he told me what happened.

"Hey, I didn't say that. I said it disappeared when I forgot to lock it when I was at the park and don't say it out loud." the idiot said quietly to me.

"Geez, I didn't think you'd be this stupid." I said.

"Well on the bright side, I get to walk with Kido every morning from now on." The idiot said and put his hands behind his head..

"I...don't see the bright side." I said.

"Well aren't you optimistic?" He said with sarcasm.

"The weather is really nice in April. Don't you think so too, Kido?" Kano said to start a conversation. We continued walking

I didn't say anything, but I did agree with him. Spring is my favorite season.

"Also, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom." Kano said softly while looking at the trees around us. I looked around and saw that he was right. It was slightly windy and I saw the pretty cherry blossoms blowing gently along with the wind. I noticed that Kano was staring at me for a long time.

"What?" I asked him.

He moved closer to me and reached out his hand towards my head. I was confused in what he was going to do. Then he touched my hair.

He showed me a cherry blossom with his usual smile and said, "You had a cherry blossom on your hair."

Soon after, I remembered the picture of Ayano and me in front of the cherry blossom tree. I stopped walking.

Kano asked, "Kido? Are you alright?" I was silent for awhile. I looked at the ground and clenched my fists. Then, I remembered what Kano told me.

"I used to have a friend who would say when you're feeling sad, then smile. It'll make you feel better."

I looked at him. I put a small, but fake smile on my face.

"I'm fine, you idiot."

No, I'm not. I really want to cry right now.

"Sorry to make you worry."

It still hurts even when I'm smiling.

"Let's hurry to class or we'll be late."

I miss you, Ayano...

I grabbed his hand for the first time. It surprised both of us. I dragged him with me to go to class.

"W-wait, Kido! Run slower." I ignored him.

I can't forget about Ayano!

Kano's POV

Kido is acting really different today. This morning she smiled at me! Then, she grabbed my hand and dragged me to class. Heck, she hasn't even hit or kicked me yet! I actually want her to injure me right now. She's acting like a totally different person and it's freaking me out! I barely heard her when she said, "Ayano" earlier. Does she know Ayano? No. It might be a different Ayano. There could be a lot of people in Japan with the same name.

"Hey does Kido seem friendlier to you guys or is just me?" I asked the group.

"Yea I noticed that too." Mary said.

"She is acting a little strange." Seto added.

"She's quieter...than usual. " Momo said.

"All I know is that she's not injuring Kano." Shintaro joked.

We're all worried for Kido now. It feels likes she's acting more distant. When I saw her smile, I saw pain in her face. She was hiding her true self behind that smile. I do that too after she told me to smile whenever I was feeling sad. Ayano...

I wasn't paying attention at class. All I heard from the teacher was something about clubs. Kido wasn't paying much attention either. She just looked at the pencil in her hand thinking deeply. The bell rang. It was lunch time. Kido got up from her seat. I was going to follow her. Then, I saw my friends. I went up to them and asked, "Do you guys want to be ninjas?"

I convinced my friends to come with me to follow Kido. We tried to followed her stealthily. I'm surprised she hasn't noticed us yet.

I became Kido's friend to try understand her more. I don't know much about her except that's she so violent, but not today. I also didn't feel like leaving her alone so I became her friend. We followed Kido to an empty room. We hid behind the door and opened it a little. We saw that Kido was sitting on a table by herself. She covered her face with her hands.

"I don't deserve to have them as friends." Kido said to herself.

"After what happened to her...how can I have friends?"

I was confused and shocked. Everyone else was, too. Then, she stood up from her seat quickly. Shit. Does she know that we're here? No wait...She grabbed her chair and lifted it up. Wait what is she going do with-

She threw it against the wall!

"WHY CAN'T I JUST FORGET ABOUT HER?" She screamed out to nobody. Kido leaned against the wall and slid down. She buried her head in her knees and cried silently. I couldn't stand seeing her in that state anymore. I opened the room's door wide opened. My friends and I entered the room. Kido looked up at us, surprised. Her eyes were really red.

"What are-"

"Kido, you idiot!" I cut her off.

"How can you say that you don't deserve friends?" I asked.

"Everyone deserves friends. We're your friends, Kido! I shouted at her.

Momo said, "Yeah and friends open up to each other.

Mary added, "We stick together, especially when times are rough."

Seto said, "We're always there for them when they need us.

Then, Shintaro said, "We'll always be your friends no matter what happens!"

Kido looked very shocked for a moment. Only silence can be heard.

Then, she stood up. Kido began to laugh while some tears fell out of her eyes. She looked at us and she smiled. It was different than the first time. It was a genuine smile. Her smile made me smile.

"I'm such an idiot. This whole time, I thought that having friends was a bad idea. I don't know what to say now..."

Then I said, "We can be idiots together!" I received a glare from Kido. Everyone else laughed.

Momo suddenly shouted, "Group hug!"

Kido's mood changed instantly and said, "Wait. Wha-"

We all hugged her. She was in the middle and we squished her tightly.

Kido was red and said, "You can let go now."

I said, "Nope. We'll never let you go. Let's just stay like this for a while."

Everyone nodded.

Kano's POV

I sighed. I didn't really mind the group hug. I was actually really happy. I was so happy that I had friends. I haven't been happy like this since I was friends with Ayano. Ayano...I'm so very sorry. I tried to forget about you, but if I forgot about you, I would forget about all the times you made me smile. I smiled as they hugged me. This feeling I'm feeling feels so nice. This whole time, I seriously thought that I was going to be alone for the rest of my life.

"Thanks, everyone."

Happy New Year, everybody! Please review to tell me what you think. I just wanted to point out that January 2nd is Kido's birthday ahaha. It's also on the same day of my crush's birthday! Isn't that cool? I seriously wish that I could write the next chapter about Kido's birthday, but my story takes place in April! Also, I have to return to school soon. I've been procrastinating, so I need to finish my homework soon. I might not be updating for a few days.

P.S.

I have edited some of the earlier chapters and made them longer kind of. So I actually did some research on first days of school in Japan. I tried making it realistic as possible ahaha. So check out Chapter 1 if you want. :)