Episode 3:Home visit

So, it turns out Yuna isn't that bad.

After lunch, she spent the rest of the break fixing her makeup or whatever girls do. Personally, I think makeup is a waste of time.

Anything I don't use is a waste of time.

Period.

A few classmates gathered around our desk, suddenly interested in Yuna. She spoke in a sweet voice I could've sworn disappeared the moment she sat next to me.

Honestly, it was terrifying.

Then she announced she wanted to use the restroom.

"Okay?"

"Come with me."

I blinked.

"There are literally five other girls here. Pick one of them."

"Why would I do that? I consider you my friend."

Friend.

Did she just say friend?

"And you promised to show me around the school."

I couldn't even respond.

I just stood there while everyone stared at me like I had suddenly become the main character.

Hold on.

Is this one of those stories where the weird girl becomes popular?

Do I become the beauty queen next?

Will I abuse my newfound power?

The possibilities were endless.

Yuna snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"We're here."

I had somehow followed her all the way to the restroom building.

While she went inside, I waited outside in the hallway.

That's when I saw him.

Ren Akiyama.

Holding a basketball under one arm.

He was probably heading to practice.

I tried to look cool.

Emphasis on tried.

Instead, I nearly tripped over my own feet trying to find the perfect pose.

Why?

Why do I always betray myself when I need me the most?

Then he noticed me.

"Hi, Mina."

HE SAID HI.

TO ME.

"Hi! How are you doing?" I replied with what I thought was a charming smile.

It wasn't. I was furious and even kicked the air until I heard her voice 

"Oh my God," Yuna whispered beside me.

I nearly jumped.

"What?"

"You like him."

"What? No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"..."

"Fine! I have a crush on him! Happy?"

She grinned.

"I'll talk to him for you."

"Are you insane?!"

I grabbed her arm.

"He doesn't know, and I'd like to keep it that way!"

By the time we returned to the classroom, lunch was over and our homeroom teacher had arrived.

For the rest of the day, Yuna kept asking the same question.

"How long have you liked him?"

I ignored her.

"Months?"

Silence.

"Years?"

Nothing.

By the final bell, I had mastered the art of pretending she didn't exist.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

"Mina! Wait!"

She caught up to me outside the school gates.

"Where do you live?"

"Not your house."

For a moment, I was proud of that response.yeah you all reading no that was funny...no? Okay moving on.

She, however, was not impressed.

"Very funny."

"I know."

"I'm serious."

"I'm riding home now. We'll see each other tomorrow."

"But I want to meet your mom!"

"...Why?"

"Because I'm hungry."

She dropped to her knees dramatically.

"Please! Have mercy on a poor transfer student!"

"Get up! People are staring!"

"Only if you let me come!"

I sighed.

"Fine. Where's your bike?"

"I don't have one."

Of course she didn't.

"My driver is supposed to pick me up, but this is more exciting."

I stared at her.

Rich.

She's rich.

The signs were there all along.

"Hop on."

Surprisingly, it was her first time riding a bicycle.

The entire ride home consisted of her screaming every time we hit a bump.

---

The moment we walked into my house, my mother's voice echoed from the kitchen.

"Mina! Take this to the neighbors! They need to try my new recipe!"

"Welcome home Mina how was school"."great mum "...I greeted myself since my mum wouldn't 

"I brought a friend."

Silence.

"Is it a dog or a cat?"

"What?! No! It's a human!"

My mother stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Mom, I am capable of making friends."

"Debatable."

"Mother!"

"Hi, Mrs. Kurose!" Yuna said with a bright smile.

My mother froze.

I heard something metal hit the floor.

"Oh my goodness..."

She slowly pointed at Yuna.

"You're real."

"I've been trying to tell you that!"

"Sit! Sit down immediately!"

Yuna sat down without hesitation.

"What would you like to eat?" my mother asked.

"Everything."

My mother gasped.

"I like her already."

"Me too," I admitted.

"Where are you going?" Yuna asked as I started backing away.

"My room."

"I'll come with you!"

There was no stopping her.

The moment she entered, she looked around excitedly.

"It's so cute!"

"It's tiny."

"It's tiny and cute."

"Very funny."

"I'm serious!"

Then her eyes landed on a framed photo sitting on my desk.

She picked it up.

"WAIT."

Too late.

"OH MY GOD, IS THIS YOU?!"

"It was taken years ago!"

Tiny Mina stared back at us from the frame with missing front teeth and an unfortunate haircut.

"You were adorable!"

"Give it back."

"No."

"Yuna."

"No."

Before I could wrestle the frame from her, my mother called from downstairs.

"Dinner's ready!"

The moment Yuna tasted my mother's cooking, she nearly cried.

"Mrs. Kurose, you're beautiful, talented, AND you cook like this?!"

My mother blushed.

"Oh, stop it."

"No, seriously. Can I live here?"

"See? She gets me," my mother said proudly.

I watched the two of them laugh and suddenly realized something.

This was the first time my house had ever felt this lively.

As Yuna prepared to leave, she suddenly held out her phone.

"Your number."

"What?"

"Friends exchange numbers, Mina."

Friends.

That word again.

I slowly took her phone and entered my contact information.

When she looked at the screen, she laughed.

"You saved yourself as 'VIP Bottom Rank.'"

"It's my title."

For the first time in eighteen years...

There was finally someone else in my contacts.

And somehow...

I didn't hate it.

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