365 Days With You

Friends or Not?

A sigh escapes from Ryan's mouth as he continues to do his homework. Leon is sitting next to him reading silently as they wait for their short friend. After a few minutes past, the bell rings and they look at each other in confusion.

“I thought you guys always meet up here in the morning?”

The questions repeatedly play in Ryan's head as he looks at Mark who's studying at his desk. “Um…hey.” Moving his eyes to look at Ryan, Mark wide his eyes when he saw the guy and he immediately looks away ignoring his friend.

Ryan is confused with his behavior but sits next to Mark anyways. Mark, on the other hand, felt very uncomfortable with Ryan sitting next to him. Ryan notices the discomfort and nervously went back to his old seat behind the class.

The new Mark sigh in relief, but then he remembers the paper he found in Mark's pocket. All he can think of is how to make himself stay in Class C. Glancing at the club president, he saw him staring with a creepy vibe. He also wonders since when Mark and Ryan become so close as if they're friends.

The lunchtime arrives and Mark saw Leon waiting outside their class with Sylvia. They walk towards Ryan but then look at the short guy too.

“Lunch at the rooftop again? Sylvia wanted to come with us to talk with you.”

A confused expression appears on Mark's face and he points to himself.

“Me?”

Leon looks at Ryan who's just shrugging answering his questioning face. Sylvia went to the short guy and pats him with a smile. “Nice joke buddy. We're friends don't act as if we're a stranger.” Mark saw the dull stare Sylvia gave him and let out a laugh.

“Fine~ Let's go.”

A smile appears on Ryan's face as he held Mark's hands. “Okay…save this cute friendship moment for later. Let's go.” Leon walks out first and leads them to the rooftop. Sylvia saw Mark and Ryan eating normal foods until she saw Leon.

“Is that a pizza?”

“Oh, don't you know he always brings pizza for lunch?”

Widen her eyes at Ryan's statement, she quickly put her food in front of Leon. “Eat!” Staring at the girl and Ryan, he ignores them and starts eating his pizza. “LEON EAT REAL FOOD!”

“NO! YOU'RE NOT MY MOM!”

Mark clenches his fist while looking at those three. His heart felt rage when he saw Ryan being friendly. Packing his food, he makes his way to the door and leaves. Steps after steps, he found himself facing something disgusting.

He saw his old body bloody behind the school area. He heard a scream behind him and look towards the girl he knew as Thalia. “I NEED TO TELL THE TEACHER-!” But to her surprise, there's a teacher nearby and went to Mark who is looking at the body.

“INFORM OTHER TEACHER!”

The teacher ordered Mark but he walks towards his old body instead. All he could think is the faces real Mark did when he's begging for life. 'I kill him- I did it right-? But the time limit-' Feeling tears falls to his cheeks, he held the dead body's hands and cry.

Watching from afar are the three best friends and they stare at the scenes. Their eyes focus on the short guy. Glancing a bit at the dead body, Ryan takes his leave and went to his classroom. Sylvia helps Mark up and Leon went to the dead body.

“Not too near Leon.”

“Yes, teacher- let me help you watch over the body while you look at the front gate to see if the police have arrived or not yet.”

The teacher nod and went to the front gate. Sliding the door open, Sylvia helps Mark to sit on the infirmary bed and wipe the blood from his hands. “Don't feel terrible about it. It's a game remember?” His eyes wide and he moves his head to look up from crying.

“You-”

“We're friends. Remember? Don't act as if we're a stranger.”

His hands start to tremble as he backs away from Sylvia. “Y-you-” A laughter could be heard in the room and when it stops, a pair of eyes stare deeply at Mark. “Yes. I invite you to play this game. You remember...”

From outside, a pair of eyes peeking and eavesdropping on the conversation. Hearing someone walking towards their way, they left right away. Ryan slides the door open and saw Sylvia trapping Mark at the wall.

“I'll come back later-”

Sylvia darkens her face as she throws her shoes at Ryan.

“WE AREN'T DOING ANYTHING!”

“Mm, kay.”

Mark blinks and felt a bit better because of how fast the serious mood turns to a funny mood. Sylvia gave him a face that shows their business is not over yet. Leaving the place, Ryan sat down and makes sure Mark didn't feel uncomfortable. Mark sat back on the bed and look at Ryan.

“Who are you huh?”

His heart starts beating as he realizes this is the new life he had to live. His new life in a dark world with his three new friends.

“Wh-what?”

Ryan sighs and leans in his seat. "Mark...don't cry when someone is dead. Even if it's someone he knew. He also killed his own mother." Mark wide his eyes as he looks at Ryan in the eyes. "H-he's-!" Ryan holds his hands up and looks at the door. "Oh hey, short stack. The teacher wants to talk with you." Leon stands there with his jacket.

"What's up with the jacket?"

"We can go home. Let's go."

Reaching his hands into his pocket, Leon shows those two a piece of paper. "Look. This was near the body. It says here...New target." Ryan and Mark immediately take the paper from Leon. "It's Mark's paper! Thanks!" They shove the tall male and lock the door. Leon wears his jacket and smile. "What a shame~ They have to kill the first player."

"Hey!"

He looks to his right and saw Thalia and her friend. "Hello, Thalia. Oh right, call me Leon. I forgot to tell you that." She gave a smile and nodded. She then points to her friend. "She's my best friend Amy." Leon gave her a small smile as she replied with a shy smile. "Want to walk together?" Thalia invites which Leon immediately nods to answer.

Tapping their foot on the floor, Mark and Ryan look at Sylvia who's reading the paper, and glared at them. "Who gave you this?" They look down and Sylvia kicks the chair next to her. "L-LEON!"

"Did he read it?"

"No...and I don't know you're in this game too."

Biting her lips, she looks at the paper. "I'm surprised you're in this game too Ryan...How are you, two newbies...getting level extreme, and target the first player?! This is unfair!" Ryan looks at the paper and Sylvia. "Isn't it weird we had our name in one paper?" Sylvia sigh and points at the paper. "It's good that your partner is Ryan which is someone you know. I once had an old guy as my partner."

"Someone, I know?"

Sylvia looks at Mark who's avoiding Ryan's stares. "He's now your friend no matter what. Now...If we want to look for the first player...we need someone with a good connection. Now, you guys have been too closed to Leon...I suggest you stay away from him since I just found out Ryan is in the game too." Before they could question it, Sylvia stops them from talking by glaring.

"What? You gonna bring an innocent guy into this dark world?"

"But you keep trying to befriend Leon!"

Mark looks at both students who fight each other and ignoring him. "Is there any player that could help us look for the first player?" Sylvia thinks for a while and gave them a smirk. "Do you think we could use Leon's new friend?" The two male tilted their head.

"Oh come on! He befriended a girl from class B!"

Leon dropped Thalia at her house and offer to walk with Amy. "N-no you don't have to-" Leon drops his smile and moves his hand to pat the girl. "Why are you refusing a friend offer?" The girl looks at him in shock.

"We're friends?"

"Of course. What do you think? We're friends or not?"