The Importance of Friendship Friendship is an essential aspect of our lives, providing emotional support, shared interests, and a sense of belonging. Aren Kuboyasu recognizes the value of friendship and seeks to deepen his bond with his best friend, Saiki. Through these experiences, Aren knows that they can create lasting memories and strengthen their connection, which he feels may be disappearing as he often feels as if Saiki ignores him.
Aren faces a common challenge when trying to spend quality time with Saiki: finding a moment alone away from their other friends. The bustling school environment, the constant presence of their peers, and his and Saiki's friends who are always with him, whether it be walking to school or going to the bathroom together ( it's always almost Nendo), make it difficult to plan private outings. However, Aren's determination drives him to find a solution to this predicament. But first he needs a foul-proof plan that even a god wouldn't be able to find a loop around; of course, the only exception is that Saiki says no.
Planning the Outing is what Aren understands to be the most important part of creating an engaging and enjoyable experience for Saiki. He meticulously plans an outing after school, intending to go to the movies and the mall. Researching movie showtimes, checking the availability of Saiki by asking their mutual friends when they have Saiki, and coordinating their schedules become crucial steps in ensuring the success of his plan. He cannot let someone ruin his plan because if they did, Aren would have done this for nothing.
In order to make the invitation to Saiki more memorable, Aren decides to surprise him with the proposal. He writes a personalized note for his parents, expressing his desire to spend time together and the details of their planned outing. This surprise element adds excitement and anticipation to the occasion, which makes it even more special for both friends.
Aren's journey to spend quality time with Saiki faces various obstacles. First there were the unexpected changes in schedules; apparently on Wednesday, when Nendo had Saiki take him to the ramen shop, it closed, leaving them to move it to Thursday, which means everyone else's schedule moved or Saiki was double (and sometimes even triple) booked. And Aren, being a gentleman, didn't want to ask more of Saiki's time after he had such a full day, so that makes his scheduling all mixed up and messed up; the conflicting commitments and unforeseen circumstances threaten to derail his hard work efforts. However, Aren's determination and adaptability enabled him to overcome these challenges and find alternative solutions that may have taken over a day, which led to a week, then 2, and maybe 4, until it got to over a month.
After numerous attempts and rescheduling, the day finally arrives. May 17. There are twenty-two days left of school.
"Yo Saiki!" Aren yelled across the hallway. Saiki looked back, stopping in his tracks. Aren walked just in case anyone tried to interrupt their conversation.
"Saiki, I was wondering if you had some free time this weekend? I hope you're not too busy or tired from the others, and if you are, I understand. But I was thinking that you and I could go to the mall before or after we catch the new movie." Aren dug into his pockets and held up two tickets that had a diamond-colored star.
"Look! I saw the flyer on my way home and purchased them for us!" Aren leaned in while his smile and eyes widen. To be honest, he looked like a child. That's why Saiki decided to go easy, but that also meant another thing.
The diamond color star ment that He purchased the 3-D glasses, the chairs that massage you while throwing you around to make you feel like you're in the movie, the same with water effects, because surprise surprise, it's an island movie.
Saiki, to be honest, wanted to forget about the whole island deal, but he knew how much trouble he went through (same with the money), so he said yes.
After Aren successfully executed his plan, he went on with his day. The next day and the rest of the week, he heard his friends try to make and create plans with Saiki with summer coming in. Saiki said he was going to be away the whole summer, much to his friends dismay (he will leave the week after summer break starts and come back the week prior to school starting to give him a break and time to unpack).
But you couldn't care; nope, not one flying fuck, because guess what? Saiki said that for the weekends to come, they can hang out before he leaves for his grandparents. Yup, you heard that right. Saiki himself made a plan for him and Aren.
And Aren couldn't wait for the weekend to come.
Saiki looked at the tattered phone in his hands and felt sad.
He walked over to the window and reflected on his dim surroundings. He had always hated the damp street with the buildings overcrowding it, the slobbering, squiggled stores everywhere, and the windy and cold weather. It was a place that encouraged his tendency to feel sad.
Then he saw something in the distance, or rather, someone. It was the figure of Aren. Aren was a try-hard insecure with dark eyes and an easily tempered mind.
Saiki gulped. He glanced at his own reflection. He was an introvert, rude, a coffee drinker with dead eyes, and had an easy-going personality. His friends saw him as a shy, jealous god. Once, he even made a cup of tea for an envious baby bird.
But not even an introverted person who had once made a cup of tea for an envious baby bird was prepared for what Aren had in store today.
The drizzle rained like running cats, making Saiki annoyed.
As Saiki stepped outside and Aren came closer, he could see the defeated glint in his eye.
Aren glared with all the wrath of 7365 popular broken delinquents. He said, in hushed tones, "I hate you, but I want to become better and closer friends."
Saiki looked back, even more annoyed and still fingering the tattered phone. "Aren, I want you to be my friend, my best friend," he replied.
They looked at each other with angry feelings, like two damaged dogs yelling at one another at the end of school, which had moody music playing in the background and two spiteful students rampaging to the beat.
Aren studied Saikis's pink hair, purple eyes, and average mouth. Eventually, he took a deep breath. "But I'm sorry," began Saiki in apologetic tones, "but I don't think this would be good for the both of us. I want to make this split between us easy," Saiki said, looking at Aren's mouth. He doesn't even have the balls to look at him in the eyes, Aren thought.
"But I can't; I just don't hate you, Aren."
"I can't find it in my heart to hate you, but you hurt him, Aren." Saiki said, finally looking him in the eye.
But wait. There was emotion in his voice. Never in Aren's life has he ever seen any emotion besides anger in Saiki's eyes.
"Hating you would make this so much easier."
Aren looked grumpy, his emotions raw like a knotty meat chain.
Saiki could actually hear Aren's emotions shatter into pieces. Then the try-hard insecure hurried away into the distance.
Not even a cup of coffee would calm Saiki's nerves tonight.
