A Hero I Look Up To

Neglect

Tobio has entered his middle school days as a sixth grader. He wears a white dress shirt with black pants. Of course, the kids were taller than him, but that doesn't stop Tobio from making new relations. In the new student orientation, the sixth graders had to choose a locker. Tobio picked the one that's closest to his homeroom class, so it would be easy to find. Tobio opened his locker to put his books in for the year. As he put his books in, he heard other students opening up their lockers and chatting with each other. Tobio takes out his schedule and closes his locker once he finished adding in his books, however, someone with grayish silver hair and a white hoodie with dark blue jeans was next to Tobio's locker on his right.

"This may be the chance to make a new friend," Tobio thought. However, as he looked at his eyes, it looked like an old friend of his. His face even looked similar to that friend, and the way he acts is how they also act.

"Did you want to ask something?" The boy asked in confusion, looking at Tobio who was surprised to see him. He looked away to continue putting stuff into his locker. "You know... if you stay silent and have nothing to ask, then you don't have to look at me..."

It took Tobio a while to process his thoughts while looking at him, however, the voice and the attitude. Tobio has finally concluded that the person he's seeing right in front of his own eyes is...

"Loid...!?"

"You know my name? How—"

It was indeed Loid Augustin, that same Loid from elementary school, that same friend that Tobio and Mia first made, standing right in front of Tobio. Both of them were at a loss of words, not knowing what to say, processing their thoughts. Suddenly, Loid dropped his bag and hugged Tobio.

"You don't know how worried I was when I transferred out of your elementary school you know!" Loid exclaimed with a worried voice. "Don't come calling out to me all of a sudden, you idiot!"

"Ahaha, sorry about that, idiot." Tobio decides to surprise Loid with the way he talks.

"You've changed, huh?" Loid noticed the switch in Tobio's voice and started to talk normally. "You used to be all shy and say a few words back when were in Kindergarden. Have you started to talk to more people?"

"Well that and Chris just wanted me to talk to people."

"Chris is still babysitting you at this age?"

"Surprisingly. I should say the same thing for you!"

"I haven't changed at all you know..."

Tobio meeting Loid once again was an unexpected event for him. Loid also felt happy to see Tobio who has changed his personality throughout the time he was no longer at Perkins Elementary School. This made Tobio realize something.

"So Loid, I... heard that your bakery got into a financial crisis." Tobio mentions, scratching his head with his right pointer finger.

"Ah... so you knew about it." Loid looked away from Tobio with a disappointing face. "However, you don't have to worry about it anymore."

"Why not!?" Tobio wondered, shaking Loid's shoulders. "You never told us the details which got Mia and I worried sick!!"

Loid let out a smile. "We dealt with the crisis already and the bakery's back up and running."

"No way!!" Tobio cheered. "That's awesome! Maybe I can come over?"

"Maybe." Loid said. "Just have to get permission from my mom to let you back in once more."

"Sweet!" Tobio exclaimed. "Anyways, can I have your number?"

"A-All of a sudden you want my number!?"