friend among enemies
Akiyama Mizuki is their name.
At first, Mizuki and I wouldn't say a thing to each other unless it was to at least try and break the silence. Usually it would be something like "Oh, your lunch looks good!" or "Do you have the notes from earlier's lesson? I sort of dozed off..." But it eventually evolved into things like "I started working on making a robot of my childhood friend." and "I saw these really cute parfaits at this café near Scramble Crossing! You should totally go and look when you can." And every time one of these conversations came up without issue, I'd feel elated. Like some warmth had blossomed from inside me and rested comfortably in my gut.
Every day, Mizuki and I would chat during lunch about whatever we could possibly think of. I usually talked about my interests in engineering and robotics, and they would talk about their love of fashion and cutesy things. I like this. I finally have a friend to talk to. Of course, there's Nene...but Nene doesn't go here. So I at least have someone here I can talk to without worrying about being judged or ostracized for what I like. I guess it's the same with Mizuki, since I've never seen them talk to anyone else. I wonder why? Mizuki's a nice person to talk to. I don't get why anyone else wouldn't want to befriend them. Though, I guess Mizuki may be thinking the same about me. It's just that I'm too weird...is Mizuki the same way? Is Mizuki weird to everyone else? That's pretty depressing if so...though, this whole world is depressing if you think about it.
No. Think optimistic, Rui. We're talking to Mizuki because they're genuinely a nice person and we need social interaction outside of a childhood friend who is on a computer for either schoolwork or video games. We're not talking to Mizuki because the whole world is extremely sad and dull.
...okay, maybe we are. But that's not the point!
Aaaanyway...
I sit with my lunch in my lap, sitting on the same bench as always, waiting for Mizuki to show up. I sit there for a few minutes, waiting, but Mizuki doesn't show. Are they sick? Did a teacher have to hold them behind for a task? Or did they just get so caught up in their schoolwork that they lost track of time and is now running late? Whatever it may be, I hope Mizuki's okay... I glance down at my food and decide to just begin eating it as I wait for Mizuki to show.
Before I'm able to bring my food all the way up to my mouth, something cold covers my eyes and floods my vision in black. Hands, probably, judging by how how cold they are and just from the way it feels. "Guess whoooooo~!" chimes a very familiar voice from behind me. I already know who it is, but what's wrong with messing around a bit? "My long lost cousin from Armenia here to finally give me the 1,600,000¥ he owes me?" I question. "No, silly! How could anyone possibly owe that much money to a family member anyway?" The cold hands are removed from my eyes. I blink my eyes open, my vision slightly blurred, to see the one and only Akiyama Mizuki standing in front of me with a proud smile on their face and hands on their hips.
"You seem proud. Something interesting happen today?" I cock my head, trying to think of all the possible reasons why Mizuki would feel proud in this moment. Are they a part of a sports team and just won a game? Did they finally accomplish a goal they've been trying to reach? Did they finally get something off their chest? "Nope!" they reply cheerfully before sitting down next to me on the bench. Okay...? "Then why are you in such a cheerful mood...?" I ask. "Jeez, can't people just be happy without reason?" Mizuki reaches up and flicks my forehead. I flinch and playfully swat their hand away. "No," I respond, "everyone must feel eternal pain and suffering inside and out for as long as they live, dark and gloomy their entire life, not a single drop of happiness shall flow through their blood without reason, or they shall be executed on the spot."
Mizuki rolls their eyes. "Okay, edge lord. Don't let them execute me then."
We then both proceed to eat our lunches in (a comfortable) silence.