I'm Here For You
754 Words
I had always wondered what the magic my aunt was so fond of talking about really meant. She always said it could only happen when you were willing to open your heart to others. I never understood it.
But after finally letting everything out, I felt lighter. It was as if I could reach the skies.
"Rosetti, be honest with me... will you be my friend?" Genji asked.
Rosetti smiled warmly.
"Of course. I've wanted to be your friend ever since the first time we met."
After their conversation, Genji returned home.
"Genji, were you crying?" his aunt asked as soon as she saw him.
"No. Why would I be crying?" he replied, looking away. "It's just been a stressful day."
His aunt continued studying his face.
"I don't know what happened out there, but you've changed. I can't really explain it, but you're no longer giving off your usual gloomy vibe."
Imagining all the things she could be referring to, Genji shook his head.
"Maybe you're the one who needs some rest, Aunt."
Then a thought crossed his mind.
"By the way, what exactly is the magic you spoke of earlier?"
His aunt paused for a moment.
"How do I explain it?" she muttered.
After thinking for a while, she smiled.
"Just think of it as the magic of friendship."
That night, Genji lay in bed thinking about those words.
The magic of friendship...
Before long, sleep carried him away.
The next morning arrived far sooner than Genji would have liked.
As he stepped outside to head to school, he found Rosetti waiting for him.
"Let's walk together," she said cheerfully.
On their way to school, Rosetti attracted curious glances from other students. Genji, who wasn't used to that kind of attention, quickly let go of her hand and hurried ahead.
When he finally reached his desk, something felt different.
The classroom that had once seemed silent now felt alive. Conversations filled the room. Students laughed, chatted, and moved about.
The sounds that had once gone unnoticed were suddenly impossible to ignore.
As Genji tried to process this strange feeling, Rosetti approached him.
"Why did you run off?" she asked.
"I don't know. I just don't like all the attention."
After a brief pause, Genji asked,
"Has the class always been this crowded?"
Rosetti looked around.
"The class is exactly the same as before. In fact, it's even calmer than when I first introduced myself."
Genji frowned.
"But for some reason, it feels full of people I've never noticed before."
A look of understanding appeared on Rosetti's face.
"I get it."
"It's not the class that changed, Genji. You're the one who changed."
Genji looked at her in confusion.
"For the first time, you're actually seeing the people around you instead of ignoring them."
Before she could continue, the classroom door opened.
"Good morning, Miss Livingstone!" the class echoed as their homeroom teacher entered.
Rosetti smiled.
"We'll continue this conversation during lunch. Remember, you're still my lunch buddy since we didn't get to eat together last time."
As she walked away, Genji watched her.
She's smiling like someone who just won an award. She must really be enjoying this, he thought.
The morning classes passed as usual, and eventually lunch break arrived.
To everyone watching, it seemed as though Rosetti had been waiting for lunch more than anyone else in the entire school.
She grabbed her lunch and headed straight toward Genji's desk.
However, on the way, she overheard Zina and Anani talking.
According to them, Genji must have somehow manipulated Rosetti. There was simply no other explanation for why someone like her would want to spend time with someone like him.
Before Rosetti could correct them, the rumor spread through the school like wildfire.
Within hours, Genji had become the center of attention.
Even some of the teachers seemed secretly entertained by the gossip.
Realizing how bad things had become, Rosetti rushed to find Genji.
When she finally found him, something felt wrong.
His expression was empty.
His eyes seemed dark.
Rosetti could tell his emotions had become tangled together.
Then Genji spoke in a cold voice.
"So this is the real reason you wanted to be friends with me."
Rosetti froze.
"To make yourself look like a victim and gain attention."
"Genji—"
"I'm just a pawn you're using to achieve your goals."
He looked away.
"Figures."
A painful silence followed.
Then Genji lowered his head.
"Why did I ever think someone would genuinely want to be friends with me?"
- Writer
