A Hero I Look Up To

Sometimes I Wish...

Tobio and Mia found themselves a new friend to hang out with. Her name is Serena Barlowe. She had silky white dyed hair cut into a bob with gray eyes, the same color as Mia's eyes. Her thin eyebrows are her natural dark-brown color. She wore a lavender t-shirt with two straps on the shoulders with a dark purple plaid skirt. She also wears black socks and Mary Jane's, an uncommon outfit a fourth grader could wear. Mia first befriended her, then was introduced to Tobio once they became friends. Now they instantly became a friend group, much to how Loid was with Tobio and Mia. The group was recently talking about Loid, who Serena was quite interested in learning about.

"This Loid person... what's he like?" Serena tilted her head. "Is he quite like Tobio?"

"Yes!" Mia shouted as her eyes had sparkled. She leaned towards Serena, who was across from her table."Loid's shy just like Tobio!"

"Mia, I...!" An embarrassed Tobio who's cheeks had turned red tried to stop Mia from explaining further, but Mia raised her eyes. She was shocked to see Tobio like that. Never in their time they jokingly argue did Tobio ever tell Mia to stop—not even during conversations. Serena snickered, without even knowing what's going on. After a few seconds, she decided to mention something about Tobio and Mia. She raised her eyes as she came up with a conversation starter.

"Do you two always do that?" Serena asked, pointing her finger in the sky.

"Sometimes." Tobio met eyes with Serena. "This doesn't usually happen all the time."

Serena tilted her head and went into a think pose, with her fist on her chin. She averted her eyes from the group for a few seconds, then looked at Mia, who raised her eyes as she pushed her chair back a few centimeters with her feet, letting out a gasp of air.

"Why are you so surprised Mia?" Serena stood up with her chair being pushed back a few centimeters.

"I didn't think you were gonna put that in some thought!" Mia exclaimed, slamming the desk with her fist. "I thought you were gonna...!"

Tobio chuckled. It seems that due to Serena and Mia's joking rage and anger, it made Tobio remind him of a certain memory.

***

Back in third grade, Mia and Loid had a certain argument in school. A comic series that the trio liked, Tomato Man, had released on February 12th, 2016–three days after Loid turned nine years old. Tobio was absorbed into reading a fictional novel until the mention of the Tomato Man series by Mia, where he seemed interested—closing the book with both hands and placing it down to join in the conversation. The looks on Mia and Loid's faces were a bit hard to read, but he remembered Mia had a smirk on her face and Loid had narrowed eyes. They were both bickering about the hype of the figures and comic books of Tomato Man, along with the mention of a late birthday gift.

"Well... Loid? What do you say we'd get that Tomato Man figure for your late birthday present?" Mia exclaimed with a smirk, leaning towards Loid who just stared at her with a straight face. "I bet what you want is in stock!"

"You do know Tomato Man came out three days AFTER I turned nine, right?" Loid sighed as he hung his head low.

Mia shrugged her shoulders. "So? Once we leave school, Chris will definitely take us to that release event at the convenience store!"

"I'm fine with what I have, I don't need the late birthday gift." Loid argued back, crossing his arms and turning away from Mia.

"You don't have to be so exasperated over Tomato Man y'know..." Mia sighed as she buried her eyes with her hand.

"Guys...?" Tobio tried to interfere, putting his hand in front of him, making a stop sign, but Mia rushed to Tobio in a heartbeat, slamming her hands on the desk and leaning forward. Tobio raised his eyes from the sudden sound that came from the desk, the sparkling eyes from Mia.