𝟶𝟶𝟷: 𝙰 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍?

"Goodbye, Toya! Have a good first day of school~!" My mother chirped, waving.

I wave back, almost trembling all over. Is it too late to go back home? No, you can't go back. This is for your own sake, your therapist recommended going to school! Plus, it's the only best method they could offer.

I am Toya Aoyagi, a first year in highschool... Going back to school for my first time ever. Well, I can't remember if its my very first time. Technically first time of highschool.. I'm so confused. But still, I have been homeschooled my whole life, so I.. I don't know how to feel. I'm scared, my hands are shaking, I want to go back- aand now I'm at the school gates. God, I have to stop speaking in my mind.

I slowly step in, and then immediately get swept by a huge crowd of people. I'm now in the building, trying to avoid people as much as possible. Though it's hard, because everyone is staring at me.. Is my hair a mess? Is my outfit wrinkled? No, it can't be, I made sure to fix everything this morning..

"Who is that cute boy?"

"My, he's so handsome..!"

1-B.. is this my classroom? I check my paper to make sure, and once again, get swept inside. It's too late to go back out. I look at the seating chart, and go sit down. Everyone is still staring at me and whispering.. I look down, flustered with embarrassment.

Someone sits next to me, and I try my best to avoid eye contact.

-*-*-

My seat partner and I have been assigned to clean the class after, and I'm clearing the board. It's my last assignment before we leave school. He hasn't been here.. did he have plans? This is sad.

Imagine being a loner on the first day of school, everyone whispering and looking at you, on top of the fact you're the only one cleaning. Wow.

Maybe school won't be so bad? I can get used to being around people by just watching from a distance, I can't handle huge crowds.. it'll be easier.

"Oh, sorry I wasn't here. My sister starting making a fuss that I accidentally took her bag.. even if they're the same. Wait, did you clean already?"

I freeze. Why is he talking to me..? How do I respond?

I start to back up, and he tilts his head. Breathe, Toya. Remember the strategy your mother taught you- I can't breathe.. why can't I breathe?! I can't even see his face, I--

"Woah, watch out!" He sprints, pushing me out of the way, and the chalk erasers fall on him instead.

"Are you okay?!" He says, immediately getting up to look at me. I nod, still shocked.

"That's a relief! Here, let me help you up." He holds out his hand.

I look to the side, still wide-eyed. I grab his hand, and stand there.

How can I thank him? Think, Toya. An idea pops up in my head, so I run to the chalk board.

"Hm?"

I grab the piece of chalk, and begin writing.

"Thank you for saving me."

He stares in confusion, and smiles.

"No problem. But.. why were you so scared of me? You looked pale. Are you sick?"

I take a deep breath, and continue writing.

"I'm sorry about that. I panicked and didn't realize where I was stepping."

"Nah, it's fine. I just did what anyone would do. Sorry if I frightened you, I didn't mean to. Also, can I ask another question?"

I nod.

"Why are you writing?.." he nervously chuckles.

Should I share it with him? Will he make fun of me?.. Is he making fun of me?

I clench the chalk, and begin writing.

"I have bad anxiety. I grew up isolated from people, and I don't know how to interact with them. The anxiety turned into me forgetting how to interact with others later on. I'm sorry I can't talk.. I can't bring myself to."

He reads it, and I look down, fidgeting my hands, waiting in anticipation.

He takes his hand off his chin, and goes to get his bag.

Damn it, Toya.. you've really done it this time. He walks up to me, and hands out one of his notebooks.

"Here. You can use this to talk to me." He gives me a kind smile. I blush, and wave my hands around, shaking my head. I couldn't possibly accept this..!

"It's okay! Since I'm not a mind reader, it'll be easier. And I'm 100% positive other people aren't." He takes my hand gently, placing the book in it.

I look at him, and bow. I grab a pencil, and start to write.

"You're very kind. I'm glad to have someone like you sit next to me, and thanks again for..

wanting to speak to me."

"No problem. You know, I wondered why you were shaking during our self introductions and roll call.." he laughs, and the light in my eye immediately fades.

"Wait!! I was joking!! Please stop packing up!"

-*-*-

We walk together down the stairs, and I hold the notebook in my hand.

Wait-

I look at him, covered in chalk on his hair, and clothes. I panic, and try to find something in my bag to clean him up. Where did my handkerchief go?

"Is something wrong?"

"The chalk. I need to help get it off of you."

"Oh, it's fine! Don't worry about it. Come on, I'll walk you home."

"But you uniform is all messed up, too.. It must have really gotten you dirty."

"Ah, this.. No, it's not that. If you saw today, I don't really wear my uniform properly. It gets too suffocating and annoying." He shrugs.

I nod, and we continue walking. I stop again, because I forgot the introduce myself.

"I completely forgot to tell you my name. I'm sorry for my rudeness. I'm Toya Aoyagi. What's your name?"

"Oh, It's fine. I'm Akito Shinonome. Also, Toya is a pretty name. No wonder why you catch everyone's attention." He laughs.

I blush, and hide my face with the notebook.

"Thank you."

-*-*-

"Oh my gosh Toya, is that your.. F-friend?!" My mother gasps, running out of the house. I nod in excitement.

"Oh, hello, you must be Toya's older sister." Akito says, but he must be flattering her.

"Oh, stop it~ You're making me blush. You're very handsome yourse--... Why is there chalk all over you?!" She shrieks, dragging him inside.

I try to stop her, but she's fast. I really hope that he isn't back yet..

"Here, Toya, give him an extra pair of clothes! Get in the tub right now!!" She shoves him in the bathroom.

"Wait, Mrs. Aoyagi, I--"

She shoves some of my clothes, (where did she get them from-?) slams the door, and goes to cook a meal.. I hope she doesn't do anything overboard..

"I'm going to make dinner! Please help our lovely guest feel welcome!!" She cries tears of joy. Good grief..

-*-*-

After I find the towel, I go to hand him it. I open the door, and see him.. ohmygod.

I jump, putting the towel over my eyes. His eyes widened, immediately covering himself with the shower curtain. I bow so many times, and he tells me it's okay. I give him the towel, and run out.

I run and shut my bedroom door, and slide down it. Why does my face feel so heated..? This is so embarrassing...

-*-*-

After he gets out, he comes out with the towel on his head, rubbing his hair dry. We sit awkwardly, and the silence is so loud. He clears his throat, breaking it.

"S-So, um.. I see you have a piano..?" He points to it.

I nod, and he goes silent again.

"Do you still play it?"

I shake my head.

"...."

"...."

"Bo~ys! Dinner is ready!" My mother barges into the room, with her apron on. "Even if your daddy is gone, let's still enjoy this meal with your new friend!" She pinches my cheek.

I lightly push her away, flustered, and Akito tries his best to respect me and not laugh.

When we're at the table, I'm worried he'd think my house is too formal or classy it's weird.

"Wow, this looks amazing. Thank you for the meal, Mrs. Aoyagi. You have a lovely house, by the way." Akito smiles.

She bumps me with her elbow, whispering.

"He's a very kind fellow, how did you meet? Did he pay you?" She teases, and I choke on my food.

I shake my head, blushing. My face is all red, a mix of embarrassment because of my mom's question, and my mother raising her eyebrows at me.

"No, he seems like a nice guy, actually. It's a pleasure to be friends with him. He's very kind, just like his mother. I see he gets his looks from you, very gorgeous." He says, not embarrassed at all.

I grow flustered, and choke again. She smiles, and pats my back.

"Come on, let's eat before dad gets home and complains about his trip."

I nod, and begin eating.

-*-*-

"Thanks again for the food, Mrs. Aoyagi!" Akito says, putting on his shoes.

"No problem~" She says, and we both wave.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Toya. Please don't be uncomfortable with me by then!" He shouts, waving.

His uniform washed so quickly.. how does mom do two things at once..?

"He's so perfect! His family must be very lucky to have him."

I nod in agreement, and go inside.

-*-*-

[ The next day ]

My mother slams the door open, and I get alarmed, sit up quickly, with my heart racing fastly.

"Toya!! School starts in 20 minutes!!" She shrieks, pulling me out of the bed and gets my bag prepared for me.

I try getting dressed quickly, and it's a miracle I showered the night before. Mother grabs a snack for me, shoving it in my bag, and I run out as soon as she does.

"Wait!! Toya!!" Her voice fades, and I barely caught what she said.

[ At the house ]

"Oh no, his bento.."

"That boy." Toya's dad says, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You know, you should be nicer to him." His mother's smile goes away, and she gives him a nasty look.

"Don't you tell me what to do. He'll never be successful in life by being mute. I did not raise a son who thinks he has 'social anxiety'. You need to lecture him about that, stop babying him." He glares at her, and goes inside. Once he's fully in, she sighs.

"It's your fault he's like this." She mutters under her breath, and follows.

-*-*-

I made it at least 5 minutes before school started.. that's good. I yawn, trying to keep my eyes open. Then, Akito sits down. I jolt, and grab my notebook.

"Good morning, Shinonome."

"Oh, good morning Toya. And we're friends, so let's skip the honorifics, okay? I want you to be more comfortable with me." He smiles.

I nod, and smile back.

'friend'..?

-*-*-

When it's time for lunch, I grab my bag, looking for it. It's.. not there. Did I forget it? This is just great... Well, whatever. I can just take a quick nap, I'm really tired.. I almost fell asleep during class. I lay down on my desk, and shut my eyes.

Akito notices, and taps my shoulder.

"Do you not have lunch?" He asks.

"I must have forgotten it. I woke up late today."

"Oh, that's not good. Do you want some of mine?" He offers, and I shake my head. I couldn't possibly accept something he must have taken time to make..

"You're not comfortable with taking things from other people, huh? You're really kind, you know. But I don't want you starving, so how about we share?" He says, and my cheeks turn red.

"I..--"

"YO, AKITO!!" A girl says, slamming her food on his desk.

I jolt, and shut my mouth. Did I almost... Talk? I sit in excitement, knowing I passed the first step: getting comfortable with speaking.

"Get your damn food off of my desk." He says, shoo-ing her away.

"Come on, don't be like that. It's my first day of school, so I need someone to- oh my god." She looks at me, and gasps.

"Akito, you have a friend?! With your gay ass?!" She squeals, jumping with excitement.

"Was the last part necessary?" He rolls his eyes, handing me his food. I thought we were sharing..?

"Hello, it's so nice to meet you!! I'm An Shiraishi, but you can call me An!! You're so pretty, can I be your friend?! Thank you for putting up with him! I'm also a hall monitor, so--" She says, shaking my hand violently with both of hers.

He pulls her off, and throws her.

"Sorry about that.. she's a super annyoing girl. I don't even know why Kohane is still with her." He says, and I'm still frozen with sudden shock.

"Hey, I love her! Stop being homophobic, Akito."

".. whatever. Anyways, eat. I'm going to get a drink. An, don't bother him again."

"Fine, fine." She waits for him to leave, and looks at me. "So, what's your name?"

I begin shaking, and write it down. It feels more scarier trying to communicate with people without Akito around.. I feel safe near him.

"To.. ya.. Aoyagi? Wow, I like your name! Pretty name for a pretty boy."

Is my name actually that pretty? She notices I'm not eating, and takes the food.

"I'll feed you! Say 'ahh~'!" She grabs the fork, making a train sound effect.

Why me..?

It'll be too rude of me to refuse her, and I don't want to get blamed for anything... I open my mouth, embarrassed, and she puts the food in.

This is.. really good... Now I'm too focused on the food to notice people staring, and the fact she's feeding me like a child. Girls and boys whisper around us.

"You don't think they're dating do you..?"

"She's so lucky..!"

Akito slams the classroom door open, and looks down at her, like a demon almost...

"Welcome back, Akito! I think Toya was too shy to eat your food, so I decided to help him!" She says, and he snatches the fork from her, he grabs her face, throwing her once again..

"Sorry if she's making you uncomfortable." Akito says, handing me the fork.

"Is it.. good?" He asks, sitting back down, looking the other direction.

I nod, and continue eating.

I'm starting to.. like school.

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷, "𝙰 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍?": 𝚎𝚗𝚍.

-*-*-

Note: I will be making a Halloween special!! So I won't update until Oct. 30! I hope you enjoyed, I swear I'll still continue my 'dangerous love' story, it's just I need inspiration, as I have a writing block. (Halloween special still in progress)