"Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness. generosity, moral courage and the like. More than anything else, it is how about we treat other people"- Dennis Prager

I woke up early.

The birds were singing outside, which was nice.

I had no paint, so I left for some breakfast instead.

Surprisingly, I wasn't the first one there. There was a sports team that sat around a single table, talking excitedly between themselves, not to mention several other early risers, folded over their textbooks and food.

Lilly was there, so I went to go sit with her. She was sitting on her own with a plate of eggs.

"Hi, Lilly" I greeted her.

Lilly almost dropped her fork "Oh, Kaito, you startled me. I didn't know you took breakfast this early"

"Don't usually" I admitted "But woke up early. I've got nothing to do so..."

There was a long silence as we ate our meals. I finished first naturally, but I was content to sit in silence until Lilly spoke again.

"Kaito, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

I shrugged, forgetting she couldn't see me, so I hastily added an "Okay"

"Do you think of Hanako as a friend?"

That was a odd question. I was confused: did she think I didn't like Hanako, or considered her as something other than a friend? "Yes...Why?"

She smiled "No real reason. I do have another question though. Why is it that you think of her as a friend?"

Her questioning was making me a little nervous for some reason "Well...uh, she's nice, we...we both like similar things, I think. She's...she's uh..." I was going to say"pretty" but I stopped myself. I had never considered Hanako's looks before, at least beyond what her burns must feel like.

"Since I've known her, she hasn't really connected with anyone" Lilly spoke "She doesn't seem interested in other people, and I think people are a little scared off by her appearance"

"Why? Isn't that bad? We're all a little, well, not normal"

Lilly sighed "If you don't mind me saying, I think you're a little naive"

Huh? "Um...Okay?"

"While Yamaku has a stronger sense of community compared to other schools, it's far from being free of conflict. Rules cannot remove human nature, after all, only suppress it"

I guess so, I wasn't the best expert on human behaviour, but I knew of a time when I was bullied and ostracised for being half-british. "I know that. But Hanako's...normal, at least I think she is. A normal person. I thought that she and I were alike I guess, so I found it a little easier to talk to her"

"Kaito," Lilly's voice was warm "I think you are naive, but I also think that you're a good person. It is perhaps one of your better traits"

I think that was meant to be a compliment "Um, thanks"

"Tell me, are you free tonight?"

I was "Why?"

"I was hoping you would join myself, Hisao and Hanako for tea this evening"

"Where?" I asked her

"Hanako and I often use my room for tea parties together. Please, if you'd like, feel free to drop by after dusk"

"Okay. Which room is yours?"

"225; Room 25 on the second floor"

I nodded, trying to commit the number to memory "Okay"

"Very well then, I had best be off. I have class representative duties to attend to, after all" she rose from her seat "Until this evening, Kaito"

"Bye"

I left the boys dorm alongside Hisao that, and it wasn't long before we came to Lilly's door.

Hisao was trying to flatten his hair with his hand as we walked, but that one strand of hair that came out of his crown refused to settle.

"I don't think that's working" I told him, earning a scowl in response.

"Is that you, Hisao? Kaito? The door is open, you can come in" came Lilly's voice from the other side of the door.

"Does it feel like we're breaking rules here?" Hisao quickly whispered to me.

I was confused by his statement "How?"

"You know. A pair of guys in the girls dorms after dark?"

I wasn't sure what he meant by that...Oh wait. Now I did. "You're making this weird" I told him "Don't be weird"

He sighed "Okay" and opened the door. The room was much cleaner than mine, with neater (if slightly more expensive) furniture. The room smelled funny, a fusion of makeup products and perfume, that reminded me of my mother.

The two girls were both seated at a low table with a red tea set between them.

Lilly had let her hair down, a curtain of gold that fell down to her waist. She was dressed in dark blue, almost black pyjamas that showed off a tantalising amount of leg.

Hanako on the other was dressed in a pink gown that looked a couple of sizes too large, making her look even diminuative in appearance. She met my eyes for the briefest of moments before dropping her head, a small smile and a flush of colour on her face.

"There's no point in you standing in the doorway, boys" Lilly spoke up.

We came in, the room seeming much smaller now that there were four of us. "My my, I'm afraid this really is a small room for the four of us. Would you like to take a seat?"

The pair of us slowly made our way over, I myself was taking care not to smash anything. Hisao sneaked a look down Lilly's top. Dirty boy.

"Well now," Lilly said after we were seated "How about some tea? Hanako, could you please pour?"

"S...Sure" Hanako nodded, her stutter seemingly worsening "Kai...Kaito w-would...would you...would you like..."

"Tea?" I vocalised the question for her "Yes please"

"Do you need a hand?" Hisao asked.

"N...No," Hanako shook her head "I'm fine, thank you"

Lilly smiled as if she knew a joke that she wasn't sharing.

"Long day?" I asked Hanako, in an attempt to calm her with conversation.

"Y...Yeah" she responded. There was a slight "ting" as the teapot tapped the edge of the cup. Hanako took a sharp breath. She must have been really nervous.

"It's okay Hanako" Lilly's voice was as soothing as a bell "There's no need to be nervous"

Hanako seemed to calm at her words, as she poured the rest of the tea much more easily "Here you are"

"Thank you, Hanako" Lilly smiled

"Yeah, thanks" Hisao said

"Thanks" I spoke as well

"Y-You're welcome"

Lilly's hand carefully reached out for cup and took a delicate sip. Hisao and I followed suit. The tea tasted much better than what we usually had.

"Mmm," I grinned like a fool "This is good"

"I wasn't going to say anything" Hisao spoke as well "But it does taste a little different from any tea I've had before..."

"Looks like you picked the right one, Hanako" Lilly smiled "You've done well, even if it was a bold move"

I looked to her "You picked it?"

She nodded

"Cool. Good job"

Hanako's smile returned, bigger than before. It was cute "I'm glad you like it"

I thought back to the conversation I had with Lilly this morning. Why am I friends with Hanako? Lilly seemed to be really concerned about her, like a sister or something. I wanted to be a good friend, but it's not I'd be able to much about her problems. I don't think her burns are actually a major problem, she's just shy and self-conscious about them, much like me and my own scars. We similar in both interests and personalities. I think that was enough to be friends.

"So Hisao," Lilly spoke "Are you enjoying yourself?"

Hisao looked like he was daydreaming, but still he answered after a moment "Yeah, it's relaxing. Almost like I'm not in the school anymore"

"Do this often?" I asked her

"Quite often, but not as often as we take tea in the school building"

I went to take another sip, but sadly found it empty. I made a disappointed whine in my throat.

"That was delicious" Hisao said "Thank you"

"Yeah" I said as well "Thanks"

"You...You're welcome" Hanako smiled

"Yes, you're most welcome you two" Lilly said "It's nice to have the extra company"

"Well, any time you need someone to fill that position, I'm always available" Hisao smiled at her.

"Me too" I said as well, maybe a bit too enthusiastically "Always. Anytime"

Lilly yawned, trying in vain to hide it with her hand "Pardon me, I think I'm a little tired"

"I think we're all a little tired..." Hanako said

"My my," Lilly smiled at her "How astute we are tonight, Hanako. We really should head to bed; we all have class tomorrow"

"Yeah..." Hisao spoke, rising "We should probably go. Come on Kaito"

I didn't rise immediately. I wanted to stay and have more tea. But eventually, I got to my feet. My voice sounded like a despondent child "Okay"

"Thank you coming boys" Lilly said

"Th..Thanks" Hanako said as well "You'll come again?"

"Sure!" I said almost immediately.

"Not even armies could stop us" Hisao added with unexpected debonair. Hanako blushed again.

"Such determination Hisao" Lilly chuckled

"Either way," Hisao smiled, nudging me with his arm "We best be going"

Hanako got to her feet as well as followed us to the door.

"Are you coming with us?" Hisao asked her, the slightest of smiles on his face.

Hanako's blush spread further across her face "No...I...not...this room...isn't..."

"I was only joking" Hisao chuckled

While I was a little annoyed by his "joke" (I never liked making fools of people) I smiled for Hanako's sake "Goodnight Hanako"

"Good...Goodnight"

"Goodnight Hanako" Lilly spoke "Goodnight boys"

"Night" Hisao and I said in unison.

And thus the tea party ended. I kind of dragged my feet as Hisao left ahead of me, while I caught Hanako by the shoulder to speak to her. Hanako jumped liked I had given her a shock.

"Sorry!" I reflexively said "It's just...You're nervous"

"W-What?"

"You...uh...act nervous around me. Around Hisao. I mean, that's okay, I get nervous too. But you know you don't need to be, right? I mean, we're friends, right?"

She smiled "R-Right. We're...friends"

That made me feel a little warmer inside and brought a smile to my face "Good. If you want to...you know...spend some time together or something, you know, hang out or something: let me know" I added with what I hoped was a more playful grin "I mean, we still need to have that rematch"

"S-Sure...B-But I don't think you'll win"

I chuckled "It wouldn't be fun if it was easy"

Hanako may have laughed there, but it was a little hard to tell "G-Goodnight Kaito..." she said before quickly rushing into her room. It wasn't very far from Lilly's.

I left to catch up with Hisao, who had stopped to wait for me at the stairs.

"What was that about?" he asked me

"Hm? Just wanted to talk to her" I explained

"Just talk?"

"Yeah"

"Then why do you look like you won the lottery?"

To be fair, I did have a large smile on my face "I...I just...It's good knowing I have friends. I didn't have many before"

Hisao smiled and gave me a friendly clap on the shoulder "I suppose that's a good thing"

We walked by our rooms together and bid each other goodnight.

My name is Smith Kaito, Kaito Smith. I was in an accident. I lost my left hand and lower left leg. My parents are Johnathan Smith and Harumi Yamamoto. I live at Yamaku Academy. My friends are Hanako, Hisao and Lilly.

I have friends. I am happy.