Mitsuo Is Going To Shift His School

Chapter 7

"Oh hey! Yukiko" I said as a greetings like I usually do whenever I see her otherwise Robot is not going to spare me for  tarnishing his friendship with her even though it's usually hard for me to remember her name usually,but this time I remembered because of recent events.

Instead of greeting me back like usual she frowned after seeing that it was me and ignored me as if I didn't even exist which kind of hurt because she is usually the first one to greet with a smile on her face every time whenever we met. Because I never made the effort, Robot did. 

I have to made up to her after all she was the only one who was upset by that rumor, at least I think she was. 

" Yukiko! What's wrong? Did I do something to make you upset?" I said in the most pitiful voice I could muster.

She suddenly turned towards me in a flash, her eyes showing various emotions- anger, hurt, disappointment everything and her finger pointed towards me  .

But seeing disappointment in her eyes only reminded me of yesterday's events as...........................how my friends or should I say fake friends did.............

* Sigh *

"You..." She started to say but I cut her off 

"Are you also disappointed that me leaving the school was only a rumor, and  I am not actually leaving the school . Just like everyone else you must also wanted me to actually leave so you can befriend Perman. Don't you? "

That was the first thing that came to  mind and I blurt it out .I was hurt that she was also just like them but....................

* smack *

She slapped me after I said that and when I saw her face . There was anger, disappoint and .........................guilt or not. Since when was I good at reading people anyway. Her eyes were moist and her angry tears were threatening to flow down.

"Do you really think so low of me , Mitsuo? Did my friendship meant nothing to you?"  

I just stared at her and kept opening and closing my mouth like a gaping fish....

" Let's talk  " She said with finality in her voice , before I can say anything she dragged me to a nearby park .I just followed.

Besides I can afford being late as It was not going to be something new but this conversation is also important.

We sat down at swings ,  whole park was empty at this hour of the day. Then there was a long silence between us which I certainly didn't like so I decided to break the ice.

" What do you want to know ?" I asked .

" Everything from the start " 

So I started telling her how I told Perman[ aka me but I can't tell her that so I am going to say its perman all along ] about Mikiko's departure , and how he commented that my friends wouldn't even care if I left, in a joking way  of course. How I get offended by this comment and argue with him about it and how he decided to spread that rumor without telling me just to prove that I have fake friends who only need me when Perman is needed. And how right he was after how all my friends and classmates reacted.

By the end of it I was on verge of crying barely able to control myself .

I don't know when but Yukiko engulfed me into a much needed hug and let me cry on her shoulders while saying comforting words for me.

" I'm sorry to hear that ."

" I will always be there for you."

" You're my best friend."

" I'm your real friend. I'll never use you or hurt you."

That last comment shook me from inside and I wrapped my hands around her and hugged her back.

" Thank you" 

That was all I was able to say at the moment.

Maybe I should leave the work of making friends to robot after all he is the reason I was able to get a supportive and genuine friend like Yukiko.

************************

After my little outburst in the park ,she asked me to clean my face in the public bathroom as we still needed to go to school . I can't go there looking like a pathetic excuse for a person after all . Of course she didn't say this .I was the one who said this in my mind after all I am not ready to hear an earful from her if I say that out loud.

After that we walk  towards the school in complete silence . We were not late as we still had 15 minutes left .

I was at peace.

We arrived at school and people stared at me and whispered .

Huh...

This is going to be a long day .....................

I sighed .

But...................

I felt her hand  on my shoulder. When I turned around to look at her she smiled and said

" Everything is gonna be alright . Make them realize what they have lost"

I couldn't help but smile back while nodding .

Remind me....................... to treat Robot with nice cake , after all he is the reason that I have a real friend who I know will support me no matter what.