At a place in the Elf city...
"Where is that hall?" Raqnid muttered to himself, feeling lost after being left behind by Wells and Shila.
"Huh? Ray!" Raqnid accidentally bumped into Ray. Raqnid tried to avoid Ray, but Ray called out to him.
"RAQNID!" Ray shouted.
Raqnid turned back to face Ray after being called. "Ah, Ray!" Raqnid responded as if just noticing Ray.
"WHY, WHY, WHY DO I ALWAYS LOSE TO YOU! WHAT ELSE AM I LACKING!" Ray's voice grew louder.
"Lost? What do you mean, Ray? I don't understand," Raqnid asked, puzzled.
"Heh, don't understand! You never even looked at me as a competitor!"
"Competitor? What nonsense are you talking about? I'm not your competitor! Your competitor is Jilk!"
"Jilk! Heh, he's not on my level, but you are, Raqnid!"
"Me?"
"I know you're hiding your strength, Raqnid! I've been observing you alone! Demon Lord Vishnal, the Demon's fortress, and the Demon King! I know, it's all your doing!"
"Why me!"
"BECAUSE YOU LIED TO ME!"
"Huh? When did I lie to you!"
"You might have forgotten, Chubby!"
"Chubby?" Raqnid felt like he had heard that name before.
####FLASHBACK####
When Ray was 7 years old.
SMACK!
SMASH!
"Hahaha, fat ugly kid!" - Bully 1.
"Total loser!" - Bully 2.
"Worthless!" - Bully 3.
When I was in elementary school, I was a bullying victim. Because I was ugly, fat, and weak, other kids in school liked to bully me.
Every time I was bullied, no one dared to help me. They just watched from afar. I began to feel sick and resentful of my life.
No one trusted me; my parents were always busy with their work and rarely at home. My teachers at school didn't care about what I had to say.
But one day, while I was being bullied in the park, two kids came to my rescue. The two kids fought against the three bullies. Although the fight was unfair, the two kids defeated the 3 bullies in the blink of an eye.
"Oi, don't you dare touch this kid again!" said the first kid.
"Yeah, this kid is now our gang!" said the second kid.
"If we catch you touching him again, you're finished!" said the first kid.
"Remember, this kid is now under the care of Raqnid and Fat!" said the second kid, Fat.
"Raqnid and Fat?" Bully 1.
"Oi, they're the strongest kids around here!" Bully 2.
"Run!" Bully 3.
The bullies fled like scared cats.
"Oi, are you okay!" Raqnid reached out to Ray.
"I'm Fat, and this is Raqnid! Nice to meet you, Chubby!" said Fat.
From that day on, I often spent time with them. They were well-known in the area.
Even though they went to a different school from mine, their influence was strong enough that the bullies at my school no longer dared to bother me.
However, our friendship didn't last long because my parents had to move to a new job. Because of that, I had to move to a new house that was far away.
"Oi Chubby, why are you so gloomy!" said Raqnid.
"Yeah, it's not like you!" added Fat.
"I won't be able to see you guys again starting tomorrow!" Ray replied.
"Huh?" Raqnid and Fat were confused by Ray's words.
"Tomorrow I will move to a new house!" Ray said.
"What?" Raqnid and Fat were both surprised.
"Why are you telling us this now!" Raqnid asked.
Ray spoke up first, saying, "I don't want you guys to leave me just because I have to move."
"Why would you think we'd do that just because you're moving?" Fat exclaimed.
"Enough talk! Let's get moving," Raqnid interjected.
Ray, puzzled, asked, "Where are we headed?"
"Where else? Let's make the most of our remaining time together and have some fun so you won't forget us once you're in a new place," Raqnid replied with a grin.
Ray was taken aback by Raqnid's words. "Huh?"
"Chubby! Why are you still standing there? We've already made up our minds!" Fat urged.
"Alright, let's do it!" Ray responded with a chuckle.
They then spent the rest of their time together. They went to the amusement park, waterfall, and various other places. In the evening, they watched the sunset together.
"Raqnid! Fat! Thank you! Today has been the happiest day for me! I've never done all those things before! You guys are the best friends. Even though I only met you briefly, it meant a lot to me. Starting tomorrow, I won't be able to meet you guys like before. I don't know when I'll be able to meet you guys again!" Ray said.
"Sniff!" Raqnid and Fat shed tears.
"HAH! I HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW WE CAN MEET AGAIN!" Raqnid exclaimed.
"Huh? What's your idea, Raqnid?" Fat asked.
"High school!" Raqnid said.
"High school? What do you mean, Raqnid?" Ray was confused.
"Ahhh! Now I understand what you mean, Raqnid!" Fat said.
"What do you guys understand?" Ray was still confused.
"Listen here, Chubby! There's no high school around here, and the nearest high school is X High School. To go to that school, we need to take a 30-minute train ride," Raqnid explained.
"So?" Ray still didn't get it.
"You live in city Y!" Fat said.
"Yes, I live in city Y!" Ray replied, still not understanding.
"How many minutes from your place to school X!" Fat asked, trying to give Ray a hint.
"2 hours!" Ray answered.
"Why are you so slow, Chubby!" Fat slapped his forehead.
"Ohhh, if we take the train, 30 minutes! So, we might meet as often as we did at school X!" Ray finally understood.
"Yes! Geez, you're so slow to catch on!" Fat said.
"Alright, in 6 years, we'll meet again at X High School, Chubby! Promise!" Raqnid said.
"Yes, promise!" Ray replied.
The three of them promised to meet again at X High School.
The next day, Ray moved with his family to city Y. Since I moved to this new place, I've been determined to change for the better by losing weight. Every day, I make sure to exercise to reach my goal, and the hardest part is changing my eating habits. I have to eat smaller portions.
At the new school, I am no longer bullied because I have changed. 2 years later, I completely transformed from the Ray who was called "Chubby" to the Ray who is now known as the handsome one in my school. I'm known by many girls and boys. However, all of that doesn't matter because I just want to be with Raqnid and Fat, who are my true friends. They don't judge me by my appearance, and they accept me even though I was weak and ugly back then.
After 6 years, I completed my studies at elementary school, and I couldn't wait to go to high school. I told my parents that I wanted to attend X High School. They initially refused my request, and I had to attend a high school near our home.
However, I didn't give up. After persuasion after persuasion, I finally managed to convince my parents after a year of studying at the high school near our house. It was the moment I had been waiting for all this time, to meet Raqnid and Fat again. The night before I would attend X High School, I imagined that Raqnid, Fat, and I would become the most famous students at that school. "Raqnid and Fat must be famous at that school now!"
The first day at X High School arrived. It took 30 minutes from place Y to X High School by train.
When I arrived at the school, many girls were looking at me. I went straight to the teacher's room to find my homeroom teacher. My homeroom teacher then took me to the classroom.
As soon as I entered the classroom, many girls were mesmerized by my handsomeness. I looked around the class to find Raqnid and Fat, but unfortunately, they were not in the class. I sat down at my desk, and then many other students came around to introduce themselves.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Rose," the girl in front of me introduced herself. She was the most beautiful girl in the class. Then, the class president introduced himself. "Hello, my name is Sofia! I'm the class president for this class!"
I couldn't wait to meet Raqnid and Fat. I asked them about Raqnid and Fat.
"Raqnid and Fat? I've never heard those names before!" Rose and Sofia replied.
I asked again. "Ehh, how come you've never heard those names? I'm sure they are popular in this school!"
Unfortunately, no one knew Raqnid and Fat. I started to wonder if Raqnid and Fat really came to this school.
As I was about to go to the cafeteria, I ran into Raqnid and Fat. I was surprised to see both of them, who seemed to have changed a lot. They looked like ordinary students.
I greeted them, "Oi, Raqnid! Fat! Long time no see!" but they didn't greet me warmly.
"Hmphh, who?"
"Ahhh, forgot I'm slim now! It's me, Ray!" said Ray.
"Ray?"
"You used to call me 'Chubby'! 'Chubby'! 'Chubby'!" Ray tried to remind them.
They both grinned at each other as if they didn't recognize me anymore. But I didn't feel disappointed at all because maybe with a little reminder, they might remember me again. As I was about to tell them about our childhood meeting, another student came to greet them. When the male student greeted them, they warmly greeted the other student.
"Ohh, Sora!" said Raqnid.
"Sorry, we have to go!" said Fat to Ray.
They left me. Watching from behind, how the other male student stole my position next to Raqnid and Fat made me feel a little jealous.
After finishing school that day, I went straight to Raqnid and Fat's class. As soon as I arrived in front of their class, as soon as I was about to enter, I heard Raqnid and Fat talking about me.
"Hey, Raqnid, do you know that kid?" Fat asked.
"That kid? Ohh! What's his name again, Ray?" Raqnid replied.
"Yeah, Ray! That one!"
"I don't know, I don't even recognize him! He said we called him 'Chubby'! We've never called anyone else by that name!" Raqnid said.
"Uhhmm, I don't remember either!" Fat replied.
"Anyway, we better not get close to him! He might cause trouble for us!" Raqnid said.
"Yeah, that's right! I don't want attention like before!" Fat replied.
Hearing Raqnid and Fat's words made my heart ache. My friends, whom I consider true friends, have forgotten their promises and see me as a problem to them. So, with a broken heart, I gradually left.
Since that day, I have not paid any attention to them. I continued to live gaining popularity so that they would realize my presence. I will show them that I am no longer weak and in need of protection. I will be greater than the two of them.
####FLASHBACK END####
"So it's true, you're Chubby! Ray!" Raqnid asked.
"Yes, I'm the one you forgot!" answered Ray.
"You've really changed a lot," said Raqnid.
"Yes, I changed because of you and Fat! Because you two were so great when we were kids, I tried to change myself so people wouldn't see me as weak, but as one of your friends. Unfortunately, I'm still weak. Who would have thought that the person who was once the greatest and most recognized, now try to avoid recognition and live like an ordinary person. I feel so betrayed!" Ray expressed frustration.
"Forgive us! We never thought you'd change so much!" Raqnid replied.
"Heh, changed! Maybe my physical appearance has changed, but I'm still the same old Ray. I still can't do anything when my friends are in danger! I'm still as weak as before! I still can't defeat you, Raqnid! What am I lacking?" Ray vented with frustration.
"No, that's not true at all!" Raqnid argued.
"What's not true! Look at how weak I am, Raqnid! I can't even face the Demon King! If I were strong, they wouldn't have died!" Ray cried, tears streaming down his face as he remembered his fallen friends.
"Heh, Ray, you're such a good person! Your willingness to help others, from the very start until now, has never wavered in the slightest!"
"Hah? What nonsense are you talking about?"
"We never saw you as weak, Ray! On the contrary! We saw you as someone great! Yes, at first we knew you were often bullied, but we didn't care until one day, you changed our perception of you! You taught us the true meaning of greatness!"
#### FLASHBACK ####
"Thank you!" the convenience store owner said to the customer.
"Huh? Oi, isn't that the kid who used to get bullied a lot?" Raqnid asked Fat as they hung out in the convenience store.
"Yeah, he must have been asked by the bullies to buy something for them!" Fat replied.
*Why does he allow himself to be bullied like that? If it were me, I would have fought back against those bullies! Hurrhhh!* Raqnid thought to himself.
Ray then ran and stopped when he saw a beggar who looked very hungry. Without hesitation, Ray immediately gave him some food from his plastic bag.
"Huh?" Raqnid and Fat just watched the situation.
After that, Ray slowly walked away.
Raqnid and Fat, after finishing their snacks, walked home. On the way, they saw Ray being bullied in the playground.
"HAHHH, WHERE'S THE FOOD I TOLD YOU TO BUY!" the bully 1 yelled.
"USELESS FATTY!" bully 2 said, hitting Ray.
"WHY DO YOU BRING SO LITTLE MONEY!" bully 3 exclaimed.
Ray was beaten mercilessly.
*HUH? Why are you willing to help the poor earlier even though you know you'll be beaten badly if you don't bring the food?* Raqnid thought to himself.
*What's he thinking!* Fat thought to himself.
Raqnid and Fat just watched the situation with anger. They couldn't understand Ray's actions, allowing himself to be beaten just to help the poor.
"Why does he look so cool even though he's being beaten?" Raqnid wondered.
"Yeah, he looks really great!" Fat replied with a grin.
"Fat, do you think what I'm thinking?" Raqnid asked.
"Ahh, I feel the same way!" Fat replied.
They both started to be amazed by Ray's actions. Even though he was weak, he still helped those who were weaker than him.
"Let's go, I want to feel great like that too!" Raqnid said.
"Ahhh, me too!" Fat agreed.
#### FLASHBACK END ####
"We respect you, Ray! Your greatness lies in your caring for others! That's what amazes us! You may not see your greatness, but look around you, our classmates who are still safe! You've been the one who's been taking care of them and leading them all this time. They wouldn't be able to survive in this world without your leadership!" Raqnid praised.
"If you were the one leading, surely none of our friends would have died!" Ray countered.
"Wrong! I wouldn't be able to do what you did, Ray! Because I only care about myself! But you're different, you always prioritize others! That's why they trust you, Ray!"
"Hahh!" Ray was stunned by those words.
Raqnid approached Ray and hugged him, whispering to him. "You're amazing, Ray! Since the beginning, I was never worthy to be your rival! You can do what I can't! So, don't blame yourself, Ray! You've done your best! Keep leading us, Ray! You've never let me down, ever since I became friends with you, Chubby!" Raqnid said.
"Sobb.." Ray shed tears, releasing all the burdens he had been carrying. All his doubts and insecurities dissipated after being reassured by someone he held in high regard.
*Forgive me, Ray! For not being there when you were in trouble! Forgive me for misjudging you before! You must have felt lonely because no one knew the burden you've been carrying all this time! You're my idol, Chubby! From then until now!* Raqnid thought to himself.
For a few moments...
"Thank you, Raqnid!" Ray said with a smile.
"No, I should be thanking you!" Raqnid replied.
"We're still friends, right?" Ray extended his hand.
Raqnid shook hands with Ray. "Of course!"
"Ahh, let's talk some other time, Ray! Later with Fat too! I have something to take care of!" Raqnid said.
"Ahh, alright!" Ray replied.
Raqnid then walked away.
"Raqnid!" Ray called out to Raqnid once more.
"Yes!" Raqnid responded.
"She's going that way!" Ray pointed in the direction with his hand.
"Huh?" Raqnid puzzled. "Ahh, got it! Thanks!" Raqnid immediately headed in that direction without delay.