Kapitel 18: [Chapter 18] I Want to Be Friends with You
The first impression Lianon left on Neris was through a letter.
[I want to be friends with you. Nona]
Young Neris knew that her classmates didn't like her, and it bothered her.
She was too busy reading books during her free time to need someone to play with, but being disliked was a sad thing for anyone.
And when it was time to choose partners in class, no one wanted to be paired with Neris, which was quite inconvenient.
Her perfect world had quickly fallen apart after she entered school.
The letter arrived about three seasons after she started school. Neris was fed up with the whispers, things flying at her hair, and people suddenly tapping her shoulder, so she spent her time reading books in her secret place.
It just so happened that she was reading a book that day. A letter envelope fell out from between the pages.
Neris was quite excited when she read the contents. Who could the sender be?
It wouldn't be someone from her class. The new students who entered the same year as her all disliked her and avoided her, saying she smelled bad or had bad habits.
Maybe it was an upperclassman who hadn't heard the bad rumors yet?
Neris happily accepted the pen pal invitation.
[I also want to be friends with you. Neris.]
Since the book had to be returned to the school library, Neris put the letter in her locker drawer. The book with the first letter was also stored in her locker drawer. The sender would probably visit her locker drawer again.
Had Nona seen her response? Neris couldn't sleep that night, anxious and excited, and was overjoyed to find Nona's letter in her locker drawer the next day.
[I'm glad. What do you like, Neris? Nona.]
The letters went back and forth almost daily. Neris told Nona about the romantic quotes and scenes she liked from books, and her childhood fantasies.
Neris fundamentally loved to talk and was full of fantasies. Nona listened well to her stories, such as the one about fairies living in the lake, and responded kindly.
[Neris's stories are always fun. Did you read about the fairy in the lake from a book? You told it like you saw it yourself, and I thought it was real for a moment. I want to get closer to you. Nona.]
Nona was the first person to say she wanted to get closer to Neris. Neris grew more and more dependent on Nona. Even when the children ignored her during class, thinking about sending a letter to Nona made her forget her troubles.
Neris had a different range of activities compared to the other new students. The buildings that the new students frequently visited were often avoided by Neris because she didn't want to encounter people.
Eventually, she found an abandoned backyard in an old building that was rarely used for classes. She had discovered the place while doing volunteer work inside the school.
It was spring, and the world was blooming in vibrant colors. The backyard was quiet and desolate, providing a stark contrast to the lively season. Neris planted flower seeds she had bought with her allowance, using the only small patch of land in the backyard that received sunlight.
The sprouts struggled to grow due to the lack of sunlight, but this made Neris care for them even more. She wanted to prove that she could be useful and make a difference. She eagerly shared this place with Nona through her letters, giving detailed descriptions and explanations.
The next day, Neris discovered that her secret place had been completely destroyed.
The adults who tidied up the backyard were clearly not skilled in their work, as only the small plot where Neris had carefully tended to her flowers had been ruined.
[Did you visit my secret place? Neris.]
Neris didn't suspect Lianon, as she considered her as her first friend in the school. She simply wanted to inquire about the situation. However, Lianon never responded to her letter, leaving Neris feeling disappointed and dejected.
Bullying from other students became increasingly harsh, and Neris's other secret places were discovered one by one. She was always anxious and confused, wondering why they kept tormenting her.
Neris eventually found a safe haven in the library's secret spot, but that was only after some time had passed. In the meantime, she aimlessly wandered around, becoming more and more quiet.
A few weeks later, Neris was paired with Lianon for a public speaking class. Lianon was uncomfortable with this arrangement and showed her displeasure throughout the class. However, she couldn't avoid participating in the conversation practice.
Lianon wasn't particularly good at languages, and she eventually chose the same major as Neris, but that was because she struggled more with literature and music.
Neris, who didn't understand people who couldn't grasp the content of the lessons, kindly corrected Lianon's poorly constructed sentences. This unintentionally offended Lianon's pride.
"You're really funny. Are you really that good? If you're so great, why don't you get a perfect score? Are you here because no one wants to study with you? That's why no one likes you."
Lianon's words were harsh, and each one stung Neris. She knew Lianon was right; no one liked her. Neris couldn't understand what she had done wrong and blamed herself for everything.
As the class was about to end, Lianon exchanged notes with Megara and Alex. Neris, feeling left out and sensing that they were mocking her, thought of Nona.
I have a friend I exchange letters with. Why isn't Nona responding? Is she sick? Or has she grown to dislike me like the other kids?
Lost in her thoughts, Neris accidentally saw a note Lianon had carelessly left on her desk. The handwriting covered the entire page, and it was clear that the note had served its purpose.
The familiar handwriting and signature stood out:
[Nona.]
That's when Neris realized the truth. Nona was Lianon's nickname.
Neris couldn't believe what she was seeing. Lianon was annoyed, folding up the note and putting it in her bag, seemingly unbothered.
"You... were you? You're Nona? You're the one who ruined my secret place?"
Lianon's face showed a clear look of shock, but it quickly disappeared, and she rolled her eyes.
"What are you talking about? What secret place?"
"You sent me letters. You said you wanted to be friends. And you signed them Nona."
"Don't be ridiculous! Do you have proof?"
Of course, Neris had proof - all the letters she and Nona had exchanged. But she knew no one would believe her. Just like with the theft incident.
And what would it matter if someone believed her? The important thing was that there was no friend named Nona who had liked her from the start.
From that day on, Lianon acted like a cat with its tail stepped on whenever she saw Neris, her behavior becoming increasingly sensitive. Perhaps this was due to the guilt she felt, which she didn't want to acknowledge.
However, her attitude soon turned into accusations against Neris.
"Suddenly, you come up to me and call me a liar? Are you crazy? Are you going to complain to the teacher on my behalf? Thanks, I guess you're the only one who cares about me."
At a time when peer approval was more important than the truth, friendships often involved blindly believing in the moral integrity of one's friends.
The children were excited by the news that Neris Truede had falsely accused Lianon, and they would often ask Neris why she was lying and why Lianon would lie to her.
As public opinion intensified, Neris was eventually beaten up by a few classmates in the schoolyard.
No matter how much Neris denied it, it didn't matter. The children didn't care about the truth; they only cared about taking Lianon's side.
Would a "friend" lie to them? So, Lianon's words were the truth.
The incident was caused by children who were too young to understand the weight of responsibility and didn't need to take responsibility for their actions. The bullying, which started as a joke, escalated, and Neris was terrified and in pain.
Luckily, a passing teacher saw her and intervened before things got out of hand. Neris didn't suffer any permanent injuries but had to stay in the school infirmary for a few days.
After being discharged, it took courage for her to return to the classroom. The children who had brutally and persistently hurt her seemed like inanimate objects, devoid of feelings.
Would they do the same thing again if she returned to the classroom? Maybe not in front of the teacher, but what about when she was moving between classes or on her way back to the dorm?
Her secret place was no longer safe, and Neris truly had nowhere to go. She trembled as she entered the classroom, feeling a cold sense of relief that everyone was ignoring her.
As she walked to her usual seat, Neris couldn't help but glance at Lianon, who was also looking at her. When their eyes met, Lianon sneered.
"Are you going to tell the teacher again? Can't you do anything on your own?"
"Lini."
Megara called out Lianon's nickname, and Neris saw Lianon immediately calm down. She realized that Megara had intervened to resolve the situation.
And soon, Neris found out why Megara, who had previously ignored the bullying, had stepped in this time.
Neris's complaint about the bullying was dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Evidence? The bruises on Neris's body were the evidence. Witnesses? The teacher who had witnessed the violence was a witness, of course! However, that teacher was nowhere to be found, and Neris's injuries were surprisingly deemed "not severe enough" by the school.
As Neris walked into the classroom, she felt a sense of unease, knowing that she was alone and vulnerable.
After that, Neris didn't suffer the same kind of physical abuse, but it wasn't because the children had realized that Neris was also human.
That strange, temporary peace was the price of the children who had committed the violence being protected.
It was a result of the agreement made by Megara and the school, without even asking for the victim's opinion.
Why was Lianon protected? Why were those children protected?
Although Neris couldn't exactly remember who the children were who had directly committed the violence, she thought that they must have been somewhat useful to Megara.
Lianon was probably more useful than most other children, being the beloved daughter of the Vertha family and having some popularity.
So, this time, Neris thought that she needed to make sure that those words couldn't be used to manipulate her.
Neris's eyes met Lianon's, and she saw a glimmer of fear in them. Lianon's eyes quickly darted away, but Neris had already seen it.
Neris's gaze lingered on Lianon for a moment, and then she turned away, her eyes scanning the classroom. She knew that she had to be careful, that she couldn't let her guard down.
But she also knew that she couldn't back down. She had to keep pushing forward, no matter how difficult it was.
Neris took a deep breath and began to focus on her studies, her mind racing with thoughts of how she could protect herself and take revenge on those who had wronged her.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein