Chapter 3.

"Ahhhh, just a little more." I said tapping my phone restlessly.

"Got him!" I shouted as I sighed before relaxing on my bed.

"Could you keep it down big bro am trying to study." My little sister said from the room opposite mine.

"Sorry about that, how's studying going for you?" I asked.

"Why do you care?"

"Cause I really want you to pass." I said before standing up.

I walked down the stairs and straight for the refrigerator. I picked up a glass and poured myself some fruit juice. It was Saturday, one of the best days in a week for me, obviously it's cause I'll have a lot of game time.

"Izumi..!"

"Yes mom!" I answered while resting on the counter.

"I need to get to work now, and I want you to go grab some stuff from the convenience store." She said walking down the stairs.

"Oh..."

"Oh, and I won't be back for dinner neither would your dad. So prepare for just you and your sister." She said walking out of the house. "My cards in my room, and so is the list." She said.

"Yeah, yeah." I said before walking back to my room. "I'll finish this level real quick and get going." I said, shutting the door.

An hour later:

"Big bro, I wonder how many minutes a level of a game is." Kaede said standing in front of me.

"Huh? When did you get in?" I asked pausing the game.

"Come on, let's go to the store together." She said as I looked back at the game.

"I'll be with you in a sec. Am almost done." I said as I kept playing.

"The hell!" I screamed when she dragged my phone.

"Let's get going, not like the game's running anywhere." She said as I stood up reluctantly.

"A new pack of soap, oh there it is." I said walking towards it.

"Aren't you done?" Kaede asked as I sighed.

"You... I thought you were trying to help me, little did I know you were only after some shaved ice." I said picking out some noodles.

"Why would I want to help you?" She asked.

"Well, adunno." I said going to the counter and paying for the stuffs.

"Do you even have friends?" She asked.

"Where'd that come from suddenly?" I asked as we walked home.

"Well, you don't look like a fun person." She said.

"It's not like i need friends for anything." I said as she nodded.

"You really are pitiful." She said.

"Well, I actually got one." I said as she looked at me surprisingly.

"Seriously?"

"What the hell?!" I asked as she giggled.

"Well, am just shocked. You are more of a loner." She said still giggling.

"Just look at you dissing me on and on." I said as she kept laughing.

"Sorry, sorry." She said still laughing.

"Tch."

"Yay, you made it." Tanaka said smiling.

"Y-yeah." I said forcing a smile as we walked into a karaoke box.

"The others are waiting."

"The others?" I asked as he nodded.

*Hahhhh, I was scared for a second there.* I thought, remembering what happened the previous day, being Friday.

FRIDAY.

"Hey, Izumi."

"Y-yes, Tanaka-san." I said as we played a racing game in the arcade.

"Let me just be direct, don't wanna go wasting your time." He said hitting the buttons.

"Mm-hm."

"Wanna go for karaoke tomorrow?"

"Huh?"

"Together?" I asked as my face turned red.

"Yeah, it's gonna be fun." He said smiling at me.

"Hey, Yusuke!" A guy shouted. They were like 8 or more people in the room.

"Hey, Hirotaka." He said waving at the guy.

*Whoa, he's really popular. Wait.... are there girls in here?* I thought looking around and seeing some guys speaking to the girls.

"T-t- Tanaka-san. " I called as he looked at me.

"What's the problem?"

"Am I really allowed to be in a place like this?" I asked pointing at myself.

"Ha ha, what the hell are you saying? These are our classmates. Some of them though." He said laughing.

*Huh.. I've never seen these guys before.* I thought.

"Let's go sit." He said.

"Heh..? You like game's too Kaneko-san?" A guy asked as I nodded.

*It's not like I do any other stuff. Ahh, I really wanna leave here.* I thought.

"That's cool, no wonder Yusuke has taking a liking to you." Hirotaka said.

"Like I mean, he's not some unique person, he looks bor..." the guy couldn't complete his statement as Tanaka stood up.

"T- Tanaka-san." I called.

"He's a friend of mine, okay. Just hold off anything you wanna say." He said.

"Whoa Whoa! I was just kidding." The guy said as Tanaka looked at me.

"Let's go." He said as I got up reluctantly.

"Who the hell does he think he is?" The guy asked when we left.

"Am really sorry about that." Tanaka said looking away.

"N-no, am really not bothered about that." I said smiling.

*Atleast they held off a bit cause of him. I've gone through worse times.*

"It's not okay, they don't know you but they speak ill of you. They've been saying bad stuffs but you don't speak up." He said pissed off.

"It's not like you know me either, so please. Am grateful that you stood up for me though, no one's ever done that." I said smiling.

"Tch, okay. If that's what you want." He said as we walked out.

*Although it bothers me, I really don't want him loosing his friends cause of someone like me.*