Chapter 3: NEW FRIENDS AND OLD HABIT *

POV: REN-

*TW:* Bullying, social anxiety, mention of death

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Rule #2: *Make new friends.*

Sounds easy on paper.

In real life it means standing in the art room at lunch and pretending I’m very interested in drying paint.

It’s been 3 days since the rooftop.

3 days since Kaito said _“I’m trying to be better”_ and I almost believed him.

3 days since Rule #1 got a footnote: _“Avoid him when it matters.”_

I’m failing at all of them.

---

The art room smells like acrylic and old wood.

There are 4 other people here. I know their names from yearbook photos.

*Mina* - president of art club. Dyes her hair blue. Doesn’t take shit.

*Haru* - quiet. Always wears headphones. Draws monsters.

*Sora* - loud. Popular. Dated Kaito’s cousin last year.

*Yuki* - first year. Always has paint on her hands.

None of them are talking to me.

In the old timeline, they didn’t either.

I sit in the corner. Open my sketchbook.

Draw the gym. Empty. Poster rolled up.

Then cross it out.

"That’s good."

I jump. Mina is behind me. Blue hair tied up. Holding a mug that says _I survive on spite_.

She points at my page. "The perspective. It’s clean."

"Thanks," I mumble.

"You new?" she asks. Like she doesn’t already know I’ve been here 3 years.

"Returning," I say. "I guess."

She laughs. "Fair. I’m Mina. You’re Ren, right? Poster kid."

My stomach drops. "What?"

"Kaito’s team posted it in the group chat. Said 'new poster slaps.' Got 30 likes." She shrugs. "You’re famous now."

I want to die.

Rule #1 is screaming.

"Cool," I manage.

Mina sits next to me. Doesn’t ask permission.

"So. You eat lunch alone every day?"

"Yes."

"That’s sad. Wanna eat with us?"

I stare at her. "Why?"

"Because you look like a wet cat and art club rule #1 is no wet cats at lunch." She grins. "Come on. It’s just onigiri and gossip."

I should say no.

Rule #2 says yes.

"Okay," I hear myself say.

---

The cafeteria is loud. Too loud.

500 conversations at once. Trays clanking.

My chest gets tight.

Mina doesn’t notice. Or she pretends not to.

She slides me to a table in the corner. Haru is already there, headphones on. Yuki is drawing on a napkin.

"This is Ren," Mina announces. "He draws. Be nice or I’ll cut your paintbrushes."

Haru gives me a small nod. Yuki waves with painty fingers.

We eat in mostly silence. It’s nice.

No one asks about Kaito. No one asks why I’m here.

Just: "Pass the soy sauce." "Your linework is sick." "Did you see the math test?"

For 20 minutes I forget about April 12th.

Then Sora shows up.

"Who’s this?" she asks, sliding into the seat across from me.

Eyes me up and down. "Oh. The poster boy."

My onigiri turns to dust in my mouth.

"He’s with us," Mina says, flat.

Sora laughs. "Since when does art club adopt strays?"

"Since always," Yuki mumbles.

Sora leans in. "Hey Ren. Kaito’s been asking about you."

The cafeteria goes silent. Or maybe just in my head.

"What?" I say.

"Nothing." She smiles, but it’s sharp. "Just. He doesn’t usually notice people. Weird."

I don’t answer. Can’t.

Mina kicks me under the table. "Ignore her. She’s bitter because Kaito blocked her cousin."

Sora flips her off and leaves.

The air comes back.

"You okay?" Mina asks quietly.

I nod. Lie.

Haru finally takes off one headphone. "She’s an idiot," he says. "You’re fine."

First full sentence I’ve heard from him.

I almost smile.

---

After school. Library. Safe zone.

I’m trying to do homework. Math is impossible when your brain keeps replaying _“Kaito’s been asking about you.”_

My phone buzzes. Unknown number.

> *Unknown:* this is kaito. from track.

> *Unknown:* you left your eraser in the gym

I stare at it.

I didn’t leave an eraser.

But my heart does stupid things anyway.

I type: _thanks_

Three dots.

> *Unknown:* you good? after today

After today. After Sora. After the cafeteria.

> *Me:* im fine

> *Unknown:* cool. dont let them get to you

> *Me:* ok

> *Unknown:* see you

That’s it.

I read it 6 times.

Rule #1: *Avoid him.*

My thumb hovers over block.

I don’t press it.

---

Saturday. Art club open studio.

Mina convinced me to come. "You need people who aren’t jerks," she said.

There are 10 people here. Music playing. Paint everywhere.

It’s chaotic and warm.

Haru sits next to me. He doesn’t talk much. But he slides me his headphones once.

It’s lofi. No words. Just piano.

"Better?" he asks.

I nod.

Yuki shows me how to do watercolor gradients. I mess up 3 times. She laughs and fixes it.

For the first time in 2 years, I feel... normal.

Like maybe I can have this. Friends. Art. Saturdays that don’t end in rain.

Then the door opens.

Kaito.

Track hoodie. Sweatpants. Holding a duffel bag.

He freezes when he sees me.

The room freezes.

Mina looks between us. "Kaito. What?"

"Coach sent me to drop off banners," he says. Fast. "Didn’t know you guys were here."

He doesn’t look at me.

I don’t look at him.

But I can feel him.

He puts the banners down. Turns to leave.

"Wait," Mina says. "Help us move these tables first."

He sighs. "Fine."

For 10 minutes we work in silence. Me on one side of a table. Him on the other.

Our hands brush when we lift it.

Static.

He pulls back like I burned him.

When we’re done, he mumbles "thanks" to the room. Not to me.

And leaves.

The door closes.

Everyone exhales.

"Well," Mina says. "That was awkward."

Haru looks at me. "You alright?"

I nod. Even though my hands are shaking.

That night I draw again.

Not the rooftop.

I draw the art room. 5 people. Paint. Music.

Under it I write:

_Rule #2: Make friends._

_Status: Trying._

I cross out _Trying_.

Write: _Working._

---

Sunday night.

My phone buzzes again.

> *Unknown:* hey

> *Unknown:* the eraser thing was a lie

> *Unknown:* i just wanted to check if you were okay

My chest hurts.

> *Me:* im okay

> *Me:* thanks

> *Unknown:* good

> *Unknown:* night ren

I don’t sleep.

But I don’t dream of tires either.

*END OF CHAPTER 3*

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*AUTHOR’S NOTE* 🫶

We got friends!! Messy, awkward, real friends.

*Next:* Chapter 4: "The Rain Test"

Where April starts early and Ren has to decide if he runs or stays.

Thank you for reading this with me. We’re building something good 🫶

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