Chapter Text
Preface:
Reki was pretty young when he discovered people were fake.
It was his 9th birthday and he had invited all his friends from class. The day was packed. His mom juggled Koyomi while still prepping all the food. She made desserts that were skateboard themed. They had even gotten little party favors, which seemed like nothing to most families. But Reki’s dad decided to make this birthday special.
He opened up his present from his family on his birthday, which was his first skateboard skateboard. He had been asking for months and the day finally arrived.
By Saturday, Reki was bouncing on his feet excited to hang with people. But then the morning turned to afternoon. Afternoon turned to the party couldn’t happen because it was going to be dinner time soon.
No one came to his party.
He went to hide in his bedroom closet to cry. He didn’t want his mom or dad to see him upset on his birthday after she put so much hard work in.
But it didn’t take his mom long. She knew when her boy was upset and they both laid on Reki’s bed as his tears slowly dried.
“Don’t worry. The right friends will show up someday, Reki.”
Chapter 1:
Phone. Backpack. Bento. He hugged his mom goodbye and made sure to stay back from Koyomi and her friends as they headed to school. It wasn’t ideal walking alone, but it was better than hearing them gossip about him.
“Why is your brother always alone?”
”He creeps me out. Can you tell him to take a different path than us?”
”Guys, he’s just walking to school. But I’ll see if I can talk to him.”
He groaned. Why couldn’t he just zone out? Sadly, it was too early in the morning for anything to calm him or numb his mind a little with thoughts of projects he was to work on after work. He pulled out his skateboard and decided to take another path. Hopefully he could have a better afternoon.
School was busier than normal. Students were in the courtyard passing out flyers for the upcoming school festival and concert. Of course he avoided being handed one. He wasn’t into parties or celebrations really. He doubted his teacher would notice he was missing if he hid in shop class. Just a few more months and he would graduate early and go off to an apprenticeship with his current manager, Oka.
He walked into class and noticed someone was in his seat.
Am I in the wrong class, or did the teacher replace me in the class haha.
“Hey, you’re in my seat.” He asked politely, but not in the mood to catch the name.
“Oh. Sorry. Teacher pointed back here so I just picked the seat near the window.”
“Oh. Well I would like my seat back.”
“Kyan. Take a seat. You’re late.”
Reki sat down angrily in the seat that wasn’t his. Something just felt different the whole class. The lead of his mechanical pencil felt off. His shirt was too tight. And the new guy, was he staring at him?
Reki peeked to the left and …
No way. He IS staring at him. Holy crap. Or was he copying his paper? Probably.
Reki turned back to his desk and curled the side of his paper from the new guy. Reki gritted his teeth slightly.
Hope tomorrow he picks a new seat. I don’t want to do this the rest of the semester.
Meanwhile Reki’s mind wanders to doodle this new guy in the middle of shark infested waters for stealing his seat.
———
Soon enough class was over. He didn’t take long to pack before he darted for the door.
“Kyan. Hasegawa. Please see me.”
Shit. What was this about? Hopefully this isn’t more homework.
“I see Kyan you haven’t signed up for the festival. What if you helped the new transfer student?”
“Help him? With what?”
“Well, Hasegawa signed up for the concert portion. Maybe you could help him practice singing and getting ready? It would be nice to show this kid around.”
Reki glanced and tried to give his excuse. Afterall he did have his apprenticeship and he wanted to use the shop room while everyone was at the festival. Nice and quiet.
“I have work…”
“Kyan, you can’t skip the festival for work. It’s part of attendance and it’s a grade.”
Shit.
“Don’t worry so much. Just let your work know that in the evening you’ll have school.” The teacher pats his arm as he gets to leave the room before Reki. Langa turns to Reki.
“You don’t have to. I’ll just lie and say you did if you really need to work. I understand the importance of having work.”
Reki at this point is kind of in his own head. But he’s only pulled out when Langa grabs his upper arm.
“Does your job have any openings? I know we just met, but after the festival I have to find a job. Do you know if your job or any in the area happen to have applications?”
Reki didn’t reply. He just stared at the hand on his upper arm in alarm.
Who was this guy? Why was he already so comfortable around Reki? He even asked where he worked.
“I’m sorry.” Langa backed his hand away.
Reki sighed. “You lying to teach isn’t going to work. I’ll have to just go. But, I can’t honestly help you. You should probably find another classmate.”
Langa nods. “By the way, you can call me Langa. I know we haven't formally met yet. Could we exchange numbers so I know where to show up tomorrow?”
Reki saw the outstretched phone. The pulse in his ears was killing him. The only contacts he had in his phone were his family and his mom’s friend that would pick him up if it was raining.
Simply. Reki couldn’t just trust this guy.
“I don’t. Have a phone.”
Langa just kind of pulled his phone back puzzled. “Oh ok…”
Reki turned away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
But Langa grabbed his arm again.
“Can you just meet me somewhere at a certain time?” His face looked lost and desperate.
“I …”
Reki could see Langa for a second. He was scared.
“We can meet on the roof during lunch and then head down to the teacher that is working with the students hosting the concert together.”
Langa nodded and let go of Reki’s arm finally.
Reki walked out into the evening sun to his job. He sighed realizing what was to come next.
———
“What do you mean you can’t work for 2 weeks?”
“Look, Oka, I didn't even want to do this stupid festival. But it’s mandatory.” Reki restocked the shelf. “They even have me coming in on Saturdays or else I would come in to help around then. Langa is part of the concert. Somehow the new guy landed the leading music role.”
“He must be a great singer.”
“Ya. Well. I don’t know why he needs someone like me. I’m sure he’ll find plenty of friends after rehearsal tomorrow.”
Reki continues to stock shelves while Oka is managing the register and he continues to groan.
“Ughhhhhhh”
Another moment of silence followed by more groans.
“Well let me know how it all goes. Your job is safe - I understand you have something related to school. Remember me when they have you building a set or something.” Oka tries to joke.
At that comment, Reki walks to the back.
There’s a moment where he’s angry, but after moving some boards he begins to cry. All the heat that built up behind his eyes poured out.
I don’t want to go through this heartbreak again making friends. I just want to work.
Reki rubs his eyes a few times. Palm peeling against his eyelids trying to stop his tears. It sucked. He pulled out his phone — the phone he told Langa he didn’t have — and began to look for a decent playlist to listen to while he worked.
He settles on some depressing heap he made that just allowed him to cry emotionally without having to actually cry. He would normally put some punk pop kind of stuff in his ears, but today was just one of those kinds of days.
The good news about work is he always felt his inner mind calm down as soon as he held any of his work tools. It’s why he was so excited to graduate. Excited to be away from people that could hurt him. His boards never hurt him. They were like a key to him not feeling like not wanting to give up on life.
Reki found his groove and later found Oka sneaking up behind him telling him his shift was over.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have me here helping you?”
Oka chuckled. “You need to go home and eat dinner. I’ll see you in 2 weeks. No worries.”
Oh right this was his last day for awhile. Reki sank a bit.
“Why so gloomy? People love taking a vacation from work?”
Reki groaned. “You wouldn’t get it. Plus I’m not really. Now I’ll be making stuff after school.”
Reki grabbed his bag and started heading out the door after giving sketchy a good pet on the head. “I’ll miss you little guy.”
The metal of the door he pushed clapped a little harder after his exit.
————
Home wasn’t bad but…
“You heard about the new guy in your class?”
“Ya what about him?”
“He’s gonna be the lead singer! People are thinking he’s in an undercover boy band or something. Who just gets the lead role the first time??”
“It’s … not gonna lie. Surprising how much traction one kid has on his first day.”
“I’m telling you there’s something about the new guy. All my middle school friends are excited about the school festival now.”
“Yay.” Reki’s tone goes into a defeated drone.
“Why are you always such a bummer?” Koyomi pokes her brother's head while looking at homework that needs to be done before he has to spend every waking second at school.
“I’m not. I’m just not in the mood today. I also need to let mom and dad know I won’t be at work for the next two weeks since I need to help with this stupid festival.” Reki lifts himself up out of the living room to tell his parents and then retreats to his bedroom where he can lock the door.
As the door clicks shut he finds himself tearing up again. The annoyance of it all brings him to tears.
He wasn’t looking forward to tomorrow.
———————
Just like he said. He waited in a spot for Langa to arrive during lunch. He rubbed his head. He hardly slept the night before just frustrated with everything. Langa sneaks up on him.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Do you need headache medicine?” Without Reki’s answer he drops his backpack to the floor and grabs out a little kit and holds out two pills.
“Uh.. ok. Thanks.”
“Sorry I know it’s not normal to accept. But my mom’s a nurse so she made me this little kit.” He shows Reki and it’s like some sort of cute craft for a pill bottle with the little stickers for the brands you have in.
“It’s ok - I trust you. At least not to kill me. But I’m fine. Thanks”
Langa’s expression turned morbid “I wouldn’t kill you. You’re literally the only friend I have.” He looks down and holds his backpack. “I hope I'm not coming off weird. I’m just … I don’t know about moving countries.”
“Ya I have no idea how you’re handling that and immediately going into a concert.”
“I’m trying to take my mom’s advice and try opportunities as they appear…I thought the festival looked fun” Langa sighs. “But it’s not going how I planned. Instead I now have people stalking my Instagram.”
“Ya. Wouldn’t know how to help you with that one either. I don’t use social media. Sometimes I open to see a few skateboard videos - with a non login - that’s how I get my new content.”
“Sounds nice to be off the grid. I’m addicted to this shit now. Speaking of skateboarding, I’d love to watch videos with you during breaks. I used to snowboard back in Japan. We can use my account.”
Reki bites his lip. It would be nice to see more than the top pinned post. But now he would be better off making a fake profile then spending every second with Langa.
“We’ll see. Speaking of, we need to get down to the teacher to see the assignments we have.”
They rush downstairs and Langa says, “Looks like I beat you.” He laughed and nudged Reki.
“It wasn’t a race man, but I’ll get you next time.”
Reki cracked a smile.