[A/N: The Power stones for the preliminary Goal have been slowly rising, but ultimately, still lacking. At this rate, we won't be able to raise 59 stones before Chapter 21, guys ಠ︵ಠ]
***
As the sun dipped below the horizon, signaling the end of my successful first day outdoors, I turned to Don with a genuine smile.
"I should head home too. Wouldn't want to get my parents worried," I remarked, reflecting on the enjoyable time spent with Don. Despite our initial hiccups, he turned out to be a good and intriguing kid.
"Guess so. Oh, right, almost forgot," Don's eyes flickered for a second. "I don't think I got where you live," he mentioned.
"Oh, uh... I live in the house up on the hill, the one closer to the plain," I replied, offering a relatable description of my residence.
Don placed his hand against his chin, deep in thought. "Hmmm..." he pondered for a few seconds. "But isn't that where old man Cliff stays?"
"Old man Cliff...?" I muttered, a tinge of surprise in my voice.
"Yeah, you know, the untalented blacksmith," Don clarified.
"Untalented...? Yeah, he's my father, actually," I affirmed immidiately, nodding firmly at the precise description.
A small "Eh" escaped Don's lips as he processed this unexpected revelation.
"H-he's your dad!?" Don exclaimed, clearly surprised.
"I see. I guess that checks out your last name, Bellar. I thought maybe it was some kind of coincidence, but to think you're actually his son?" he continued, his green eyes gleaming. "I honestly didn't know old man Cliff had a child, much less a son," he mused, placing an arm against his chin.
It struck me how someone like Cliff, who spent the majority of his time in his workshop, could be so well-known. Truly, it's a small world. "Okay, it's settled!" Don declared, as if reaching a firm conclusion. With an overly exaggerated voice, he announced, "Reo Bellar, from now on, we're friends!" accompanied by a wide, genuine smile.
My internal panic ensued. 'Friends? What is he saying? It hasn't been a full day since we met; I could be some criminal or an impostor for all he knows.' I took a moment to glance at Don, my self-consciousness palpable.
His decision seemed final – friends. It struck me as somewhat alien since I hadn't experienced many, if any, friendships in my past life. The solitude was my norm, viewing others as mere presences – people coincidentally sharing the same space, akin to second-string characters in the grand narrative of life. It wasn't about thinking the world revolved around me; quite the opposite. I simply never considered anyone as friends; they barely crossed my thoughts.
In the intricate tale of life, everyone is a protagonist, and inevitably, there are side characters – individuals casually populating the background, akin to NPCs in a video game. I, too, played the role of just another background character in someone else's narrative. That was my reality, my perspective.
Moreover, my concept of friends wasn't pristine. It was nuanced and complex, shaped by a past where connection and companionship weren't focal points. The idea of friendships carried a certain weight, laden with ambiguity and perhaps a touch of skepticism.
I viewed friendships as potential parasites and leeches, entities that thrive off you and discard you when their use is exhausted. Outwardly, they adorn you with the term "friend," yet internally, you become mere fodder. In dire times, when genuine need arises, they often prove unreliable.
However, I realized that allowing one negative experience to shape my entire ideology of that word might be unjust. Don, though a bit bratty and seemingly hard-headed, doesn't fit the mold of those I can't handle well. There's a genuineness about him, an assurance that he's not one to leech off others. Perhaps his tough exterior is merely a façade, but simultaneously, he promises an absence of dull moments.
I sighed.
"Mmh." I give Don a firm nod with a smile, and he responds with a toothy grin. "Well then, I guess I'll be off now. See you next time," I say as I bid farewell, turning around to leave.
"Tomorrow, that is," Don adds with a wave. I didn't quite catch his words, but I nod in acknowledgment and follow the path away from the lake.
In this new chapter of my second life, I've made my first friend. With that thought, I head home, contemplating the potential richness that this newfound friendship might bring.
.
.
.
.
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The next day dawned in the Bellar household, and I was roused from my sleep by Layla's charming humming and the rhythmic clang of Cliff's forging. The early birds were in full chorus, chirping a cheerful symphony, while gentle sunlight seeped through the gaps in my window.
With a yawn, I rolled out of bed, contemplating the necessity of morning stretches for a body that always seemed inexplicably fit. Regardless, I decided to engage in a few light stretches – a habit that made me feel oddly normal. Back on Earth, I hadn't given much thought to my body's shape; whether it was frail or not was inconsequential. However, covering most of my past life's regrets became a newfound motivation for maintaining a semblance of fitness.
Completing my morning routine, I strolled up to the window and threw open the blinds, eagerly inhaling a lungful of fresh air. The morning sun gently kissed my face, and I couldn't help but think, "It's going to be a great day." That is until a rogue rock smashed hard into my unsuspecting head.
...Yes, the universe had a peculiar way of injecting a dash of chaos into what was supposed to be a serene morning.
An audible "Guh-hyuck" escaped my lips as I forcefully plummeted to the floor.
Seriously, what the heck?
I laid there, blinking in confusion, as if the rock had taken a detour on its way to some other cosmic destination and decided my skull was the ideal pitstop.
Receiving an unexpected rock to the head was not the morning pick-me-up I had envisioned. Stumbling my way back to the window, I scanned the surroundings for the miscreant responsible for this rude awakening, and there he was.
A familiar face, with creamish-brown hair and lively green eyes, appeared beyond the wall. Don waved back at me with an impish grin, as if tossing rocks at friends was just another casual morning routine. I couldn't help but question the peculiar dynamics of our budding friendship, wondering if dodgeball with rocks was the norm in this world.
'The hell was the rock for?!' I bit down on my tongue, suppressing the potential outburst that threatened to escape. Seriously, what possessed Don to turn my head into target practice?
Now, why on earth was he even here? Had the concept of knocking not graced his existence? And, more bewilderingly, how did he manage to accurately pinpoint my window? It was like he had a sixth sense for inconvenient wake-up calls.
Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I contemplated the impending encounter with Don. The universe had evidently decided to spice up my life with a generous serving of Don-related chaos.
With that resigned sigh, I opted to change my clothes and venture outside to confront the rock-wielding culprit. As I descended the stairs and stepped into the open air, I realized that Cliff had beaten me to the punch. The two of them were engrossed in some light chatter, Don's face lighting up intermittently.
Suddenly, the events of yesterday flooded my mind, causing a wave of worry to wash over me. Hastening my steps, I approached the duo from behind, preparing for whatever absurdity might unfold.
"Ah! Reo, I didn't know you were awake. You sleep well?" Cliff's booming voice instantly noticed my presence. He turned around, looking at me expectantly.
"But of course. My morning, however, was a little... rocky," I quipped, sneaking a glance at Don, who responded with a stupid smile. Cliff's expression remained stoic, as if he were contemplating the metaphorical meaning of a "rocky" morning.
Ignoring the lack of reaction, I redirected my attention to Don. His trademark smile was plastered all over his face, and I suppressed the inexplicable urge to smack it off.
"So, Don. Are you going to come in or..." Cliff inquired, leaving the sentence hanging.
"Ah! No, that's okay. I've got something planned with Reo," Don declared with enthusiasm.
"Oh, okay then. Guess I'll head inside. You guys have fun," Cliff stated, returning indoors.
I watched Cliff's back vanish behind the closing door, patiently biding my time. As soon as the coast was clear, I turned to Don, trying hard to hide my dissatisfaction.
"So, how may I help you, Don?" I inquired, maintaining a level of formality.
"Huh? Why are you being so formal? We're friends, so loosen up," Don insisted, patting my shoulder with an air of familiarity. "R-right. Sorry about that. So, what is it?" I responded, adjusting to the more casual tone.
"Nothing really, I just thought maybe we could hang out or something… c'mon, let's go. The others are waiting," Don suggested, promptly dragging me out of the compound and down the hill.
As we descended, I couldn't help but reflect on the odd turn of events that had led to this unexpected friendship.
"Th-the others?" I stammered, a little confused and definitely intrigued as I was unceremoniously pulled along.