Adrift

Chapter 3

A small wooden boat floats on a calm sea. The skies are a clear blue and there is no one else around. A boy sits in the boat holding his knees up to his chest with his arms and is trembling a little. His face is a little red from crying, but tears aren't currently flowing. The boat goes up and down gently with the water as it floats along. There are no oars and no motors. No means of propelling the boat at all. This small boat is in the hands of the currents as it slowly makes its way through the ocean. There is no way to know where it will end up or even if it will ever make it back to land. The boy curls up in a ball and starts crying again as he lays on the floor of the boat.

***

I left my house as usual and started walking. My mood is slightly upbeat thanks to the new friends I have made. It isn't long before Koro comes into view up ahead, waiting for me to show up. I breathe a sigh of relief that my fears were unwarranted. They really do want to be friends with me. Koro said hello as I approached. There is a strange look on her face. Something I had never seen on her before. "What is that expression for? You seem, I don't know, unsure of something."

Koro looks at me like she is about to say something but then we hear Ryou yelling hello to us and she turns her attention away. I hope she is doing ok. Maybe she is still a little shaken from her near death incident. I continued to ponder the meaning as Ryou joined us and we all walked to school.

"I had a hard time with that homework assignment last night," Ryou exclaims as we are walking. Her statement goes mostly unnoticed by me. I snapped back to reality after she spoke and replayed the words in my head.

"Yeah, it was a little tough but not too bad," I replied after an awkwardly long pause. Now Koro seems to be back in the conversation and is listening as she looks at the two of us.

"I agree with Aki, it wasn't that bad."

"I guess that makes me the dumb one of the group," Ryou replies as she smiles and holds in a laugh. I didn't notice her expression but didn't like what I heard.

"Don't say that. You are just as smart as us. You are ranked like fifth in our class," I retorted somewhat louder than needed. Ryou looks a little stunned and for a moment can't seem to talk. She blinks a couple times before replying.

"You are the highest ranked student in the class, Aki. That's two spots above koro and 4 above me."

"So? Doesn't mean you are the dumb one. Everyone has their strengths. I am sure there are things you are better at than me." I may have spoken with more excitement than necessary. Koro smiled a little at my reply, making me realize my mistake.

"She wasn't really being serious. It's nice that you came to her defense but no need to get riled up." Koro's response confirms what I didn't notice until that moment. I internally facepalm at my actions.

"I didn't realize. I am sorry."

"No big deal. Nice that you tried to cheer me up even if it was unnecessary." Ryou smiled bigger and I relaxed a little. We spent the rest of the walk to school discussing the homework and comparing answers. I smiled a little as the conversation went on. It was nice to socialize and have a good time. When we arrived at school, I was a little sad the fun had to end but knew they would chat more at lunch. I hope they like me enough to walk with me every day. As predicted, Ryou and Koro joined me for lunch in the gardens. There was more silence than anything as we ate, but I still enjoyed the company. I wonder what we will talk about on the way home. I should ask more questions to get to know them better. Hopefully they won't be put off by my curiosity.

I met Ryou and Koro at the gates again to walk home together. I used the initial silence at the beginning to ask them something. "So, what do you guys like to do? Outside school, I mean"