My Classmate, My Buddy (Anime Story)

Chapter 2

The next morning Rin's alarm went off and she groggily turned her head and turned off her alarm. She got up and went to the bathroom where she brushed her teeth and took a shower. She then put on her school uniform and put her shoes on. She then left the house and began walking to school. On the way, she visited the local convenience store to pick up a steamed bun and that was where she ran into Touma. 

"Hello again, Rin." Touma said

"Oh, Touma!" Rin bellowed

Rin smiled and was happy to see him again. Before she could say anything, Hanna, Touma's stepsister entered the store and saw the two looking at each other. She then stormed up and pushed Rin out of the way. Rin wanted to retaliate but remembered back to when Hanna got her suspended by telling the teacher a fabricated story that she had started a fight with her. Touma placed his hand on Rin's shoulder and she looked at him.

"C'mon, let's go." Touma said

The two of them left the convenience store and continued walking to school. Upon entering the classroom, the other students thought it was weird that the introvert loner gamer girl and the popular boy were getting along. Hanna entered the classroom behind them and did not like it. During lunchbreak that day, Touma and Rin went up to the school rooftop and Rin pulled out her game console and continued playing.

"Are you playing "Kamen Rider W: Heisei Battle" again?" Touma asked

"Yeah." Rin said

Touma then pulled out the Fuuto pi manga and Rin looked at it. She knew that some things in the manga were different to the game. After school that day, Touma decided to invite Rin over to his house. This felt strange to Rin as she had never been over to a friend's house before, much less a boy's. Upon entering, she met eye to eye with Hanna.

"What is she doing here?" Hanna asked

"Hanna, leave her alone. She's my friend." Touma said

Rin felt a surge of anxiety as Hanna's piercing gaze made her skin crawl. She had never been good at dealing with confrontations, and Hanna's aggressive demeanour didn't help. But Touma's calm and assertive tone seemed to diffuse the tension, and Hanna reluctantly backed off.

"Make yourself at home, Rin," Touma said, leading her to the living room. "Would you like something to drink?"

Rin nodded, still feeling a bit uneasy. "Yeah, thanks. Water's fine."

As Touma headed to the kitchen, Hanna shot Rin a dirty look before storming off to her room. Rin let out a sigh of relief, grateful to be rid of the tension. She took a seat on the couch, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Touma's house was cosy, with a warm and inviting atmosphere that made her feel almost at ease.

When Touma returned with her water, they sat down on the couch together, and Rin couldn't help but notice how natural it felt to be hanging out with him. They chatted about their favourite games and anime, and Rin found herself laughing and joking like she never had with anyone before.

As the afternoon wore on, Touma suggested they play some video games together. Rin's eyes lit up at the prospect, and they spent the next few hours engrossed in a heated gaming session. It was the most fun Rin had ever had with someone, and she couldn't believe how much she enjoyed Touma's company.

As the sun began to set, Rin realized she had to head home. "Thanks for inviting me over, Touma," she said, feeling a pang of gratitude. "I had a really great time."

Touma smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Anytime, Rin. We should do it again soon."

As Rin made her way home, she couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she never thought possible. And for the first time in a long time, she felt a spark of excitement about what the future held.

Over the next few weeks, Rin and Touma's friendship blossomed. They would meet up every day after school, either at his house or at the local arcade, and spend hours playing video games, watching anime, or just hanging out. Rin had never felt so accepted and included in her life. She began to look forward to school, not just because she got to see Touma, but because she had finally found someone who understood her.

As their friendship deepened, Rin noticed that Touma was different from the other popular kids at school. He wasn't arrogant or condescending, and he didn't care about his social status. He was kind, genuine, and always willing to lend a helping hand. Rin found herself drawn to his warm and caring nature, and she began to wonder if maybe, just maybe, she had feelings for him that went beyond friendship.

One day, as they were walking home from school, Touma turned to Rin and asked, "Hey, do you want to come with me to the upcoming anime convention? I heard it's going to be epic, and I really want to share the experience with someone who'll appreciate it."

Rin's heart skipped a beat. She had always dreamed of attending an anime convention, but she never had the courage to go alone. "Yeah, that sounds amazing!" she exclaimed, trying to play it cool.

Touma grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Awesome! I'll pick you up at 9 am on Saturday. Don't forget to wear your cosplay outfit!"

Rin's face flushed as she realized she didn't have a cosplay outfit. But she was determined to make it happen. She spent the next few days scouring the internet for inspiration, and finally settled on a costume from her favourite anime series.

On the day of the convention, Rin was nervous but excited as Touma picked her up from her house. She was wearing her homemade costume, and Touma looked dashing in his own outfit. As they walked into the convention centre, Rin felt like she was in heaven. The sights, the sounds, the energy – it was all so overwhelming, but in the best possible way.

Touma took her hand, leading her through the crowds, and Rin felt a jolt of electricity run through her body. She looked up at him, and their eyes met for a brief, intense moment. Rin knew that she had feelings for Touma, and she was pretty sure he felt the same way.

As they explored the convention, Rin realized that she had never been happier. She had found a true friend, a kindred spirit who accepted her for who she was. And maybe, just maybe, she had found something more.