Karaoke.

"Ahhhh, just a little more." I said, tapping the game console restlessly.

"Got him!" I shouted, throwing the console on my bed before doing a celebratory pose.

"Could you keep it down, big bro? I'm trying to study." My little sister said from the room opposite mine.

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

"Why do you care?"

"Can't I care about my little sister?" I asked before standing up.

“Studying's going fine.“

“You don't need help?“

“Now you're asking if I need help? I begged you last two weeks.“

“I was busy then, okay?“

“Hmph!“

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 'no school 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, and neither would your dad. So prepare something for just you and your sister." She said, walking out of the house.

"My card's in my room, and so is the list." She said.

“Where are you off to? And why won't you be back?“

”I'm going out with your father, and we'd be back by morning. See you, honey.“

"Yes, mom." 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." Shiori 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. I'm almost done." I said as I kept playing.

“A dating sim? Ha, I thought you were over that.“ She said.

“2D girls are very cute! I'd never get enough of them!“

“Yuck, you're disturbing the neighbours with your nonsense.“

“…”

“Big bro…”

“Ugh, let's go.“ I said, turning off my phone and standing up.

...¥¥¥...

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

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

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

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

"Well, maybe cause i need it!" I said, going to the counter to pay for the stuff we bought.

...~~~...

"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. No one would want to be friends with you.“ She said.

"Ouch… that hurts. Well, it's not like i need friends for anything." I said as she nodded.

"You really are pitiful." She said.

“How?!“

“You used to be more cool.“ She said in a low voice.

*…*

“Eh?“

“Nothing.“ 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, I'm 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.

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

FRIDAY.

"Hey, Izumi."

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

"Let me just be direct. I 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.

*I planned on telling him that I was straight. Looks like there's no cause for worry.*

"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, though.* I thought.

"Let's go sit." He said.

"Heh..? You like games too, Nakamura-kun?" 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 taken 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.

"I'm really sorry about that." Tanaka said, looking away.

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

* At least 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. I'm 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 losing his friends cause of someone like me.*

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