Lightning Serenade

Chapter 16: Neito's Birthday Party

Denki and Hitoshi became inseparable.

Denki and Hitoshi were both absolutely delighted when they realized that they were in the same class together. And, just like Neito had promised, he sent an invitation to his birthday party to Denki through Hitoshi. Denki took it him and handed it straight to his mother so that he would not risk misplacing it, and begged her to go, but Denki's parents needed little convincing to allow him to go to Neito's birthday party. Denki's mom connected the dots quickly that these were the same soulmates from the mental hospital that Denki wouldn't stop talking about, but instead of tearfully wondering why they seemed to not like him some days like with his previous friends, Denki was always bubbling over with laughter as he talked about his newest, closest, two best friends.

Denki had gotten lucky when he ran into Momo at the mall while looking for a present for Neito. He knew he recognized that sleek, bouncy ponytail, and Momo was just as happy to see him as he was to see her. After formal introductions, Momo gave him her phone number and promised to keep in touch before running off to catch up with her friends that she was at the mall with. At this rate, Denki was going to find all of his friends from the mental hospital, and he was very excited about the possibilities.

At school, Denki's original friend group would try to pull him back over, sometimes actually thinking they were doing him a favor by giving him an out from being friends with the freak, but Denki would drag Hitoshi right along with him as he rejoined the group. Every time, without fail.

"You know that they're trying to get you to go without me, right?" Hitoshi asked one time at lunch as Denki started to repack his lunch bag to join his other friends a few tables away after he had been invited to join them once again.

Of course, Hitoshi knew that Denki knew, but what he didn't understand was why Denki would keep trying to include him every time.

Denki paused in his packing, looking up at Hitoshi in subtle horror.

"Sorry, Hitoshi! I didn't even ask if it was okay with you. If you don't want to join them today, I can—"

Hitoshi braced himself for Denki to suggest that he leave him there to eat his lunch alone, but he should have known better.

"—tell them I changed my mind. We don't have to join them if you don't want to."

"It's not that," Hitoshi reassured, also starting to pack up his lunch to follow Denki to the other table.

Hitoshi would follow Denki just about anywhere.

"I guess I just don't understand why you keep bringing me along," Hitoshi admitted with a shrug.

"Well, 'cause you're awesome, Toshi," Denki stated simply, closing his repacked lunch bag and standing up straight. "Once they spend more time around you and find out how cool you really are, I wouldn't be surprised if they start asking you to join them and to leave me behind," Denki confessed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly at the thought.

"Then why would you risk that?" Hitoshi asked, completely intrigued by Denki's thought process, as always.

"You deserve it," Denki answered simply. "You deserve to have all of the friends you could ever hope for."

Hitoshi thought quietly as he stood up from his chair and started making his way over to Denki's friends next to Denki.

Before they were within hearing range of the target table, Hitoshi muttered, "if I have you and Neito, who else could I ever need?"

Hitoshi glanced over at Denki to make sure he heard and was blessed with the sight of Denki's bright eyes sparkling as his grin overtook his whole face.