Chapitre 39: 39. Friends

Rei glanced towards her and saw her closing her lunch box. He took a deep breath and introduced himself, "Hello! My name is Toujou Rei. Nice to meet you." extending his hand.

Keiko felt surprised as she turned towards Rei. She looked around to confirm it was her and sighed anxiously.

She then extended her hand and gently shook Rei's and replied, "Nice to meet you too, My name is Kataoka Keiko." her face was red from feeling shy, but didn't stutter this time.

It surprised Rei to see she isn't shy and not shuttering anymore. He asked her curiously, "You don't seem to be shy anymore, Kataoka-san."

Hearing that Keiko felt embarrassed and explained, "I stutter when many people are paying attention to me."

Rei nodded and retracted his hand. He then said, "Kataoka-san, are you also new to town."

Keiko nodded and said, "I moved here from Okinawa. My dad transferred here. He works in a company. Are you also new to town, Toujou-Kun."

I nodded and said, "Yes, I came here from Tokyo as my grandfather isn't better." Rei treated Shidou as his grandfather after these few days. He always talked with Shidou whenever he was free.

She nodded, and they both continued to talk. Rei then noticed the girl in front of him also completed her lunch and wanted to introduce himself to her.

He poked her shoulder, calling her. She turned back and saw Rei and Keiko staring at her, making her feel uneasy.

She asked with a frown, "What do you want?"

Keiko spoke up instead of Rei with a smile on her face, "Hello! My name is Kataoka Keiko and this Toujou Rei. We both wondered if you want to be our friend." showing Rei.

The frown on her face grew deeper. She asked with irritation, "Who asked you to be my friend? I don't need your pity."

Keiko smiled and spoke, "Why would someone tell us to be your friend. We both are new and don't know about the class. We felt like you're a friendly person and wanted to be your friend."

The girl realized Keiko was telling her the truth. She turned her head to see Rei staring at her with a slight smile. She felt embarrassed for thinking these both are like others.

She asked, "Really! You both want to be my friends." there was anticipation written all over her face.

Keiko and Rei nodded. The girl had tears in her eyes but quickly wiped them away. She smiled and introduced herself, "Nice to meet you both. My name is Kono Mizuki. I hope we can be friends."

Rei nodded, meanwhile Keiko replied, "Yes, we can be best friends."

Mizuki nodded and Keiko continued, "So what are your hobbies." she faced Rei and Mizuki.

Mizuki was first to reply, "I like to practice karate. What are yours, Kataoka-san?"

Rei exclaimed and said, "Wow, you know how to do Karate. I like to paint. What are yours Toujou-Kun." and turning towards Rei? Mizuki also turned towards Rei to know.

Rei hearing answered back, "I like to cook and pl.." Rei stopped in the middle of saying 'play baseball' as he doesn't anymore.

He continued, "That's all." and stayed quiet under the curious gazes of the girls.

The three continued to talk with each other. Rei remembered something which happened at the gate.

Rei turned towards Mizuki and asked her, "Why is everyone avoiding you and talking bad about you, Kono-san."

Hearing his Mizuki froze and was scared that they will not be friends with her if she tells.

Rei assured her, "You need not tell us about it if it makes you uncomfortable, Kono-san."

Mizuki shook her head and replied, "It's nothing Toujou-Kun. I came to this town two years ago. My dad owns an enormous company which is very famous and so we are rich. When I joined the school, many were my friends. But slowly people also bullied me, and some parents told their kids to stay away from me. So people slowly distanced themselves from me, and I was ignored. My dad doesn't allow me to come normally and insists on coming in the car. Seeing this, it grew more." She started crying at the end.

Mizuki never understood why people hated her just because her family was rich. She felt lonely as she had no one to talk to and was always treated special. When Ren and Meiko wanted to be her friends, she was shocked and happy.

Seeing Mizuki crying, Keiko went near her and hugged her. She consoled Mizuki and said, "It's ok Kono-san. You are not lonely anymore. I and Rei will be your friends from now one." Meiko showed Rei to tell her something.

Rei understood and said hurriedly, "That is right, Kono-san. We will be your friends from now on."

Hearing them both, Mizuki stopped crying and asked anxiously, "Really! You both will be my friends."

Both Rei and Meiko replied, "Yes."

The three of them continued to talk for the complete lunch break. The Minoru came back to the class after the bell rang, showing the lunch break was over. The classes continued as usual. Rei was always an intelligent student. He felt the class was very easy and didn't pay much attention to it.

The bell rang again, and the classes were over. All the students talked as Minoru went out of the class. Keiko and Mizuki packed their bags. Meanwhile Rei was observing out of the window towards the school gate.

He saw many parents coming to pick up their kids. He felt sad as Tensei is no more to pick him up like usual. Rei felt a hand on his shoulder and turned.

He saw Keiko and Mizuki looking at him wearing their bags. Mizuki asked him, "Let's go Toujou-san."

Rei nodded and picked up his bag. He went out of with the two talking. As they reached the gate, they saw the same car which dropped Mizuki. Mizuki told them goodbye and went away. Keiko also went away when her mother came. Rei waited for the siblings to come and pick him up.

Sometime later they came, and Rei went home with them. Going home, they talked with each other about their first day. Rei also told them about Keiko and Mizuki. Sora and Meiko were happy for Rei as he made some friends.

As they reached home Rei changed his clothes and went to his usual jog with Sora. Coming back, he took a bath. He came down and saw Narumi giving snacks. He then ate some and told her about his day while Shirogana and Shidou listened from the side.

They felt happy for Rei making some friends. After eating dinner, Rei went back to sleep.