Gunther lies on his bed, humming a tune—Yankee Doodle, he thinks. He's not very good at remembering song names, but it doesn't really matter. He knows he's not the smartest, but at least he has lots of friends. In class, everyone relies on him for help. He's always willing to do their assignments, fetch things for them, and do anything they ask because they're his friends. Loyalty to his friends is everything to him. Even when he gets bullied and they don't step in to help, he never gets mad. Fighting scares him. It can hurt people, and he never wants to hurt anyone… never again.
His thoughts drift to Toru, his pet bunny. He wonders if Toru is being fed properly, if he's feeling lonely. Gunther has never been away from him for so long, but a couple of days ago, they brought him to this place and said he had to stay here for a little while. They assured him Toru would be okay. He's had Toru for as long as he can remember. The bunny had snuck inside somehow, and when Gunther found him, they weren't going to let him keep him at first. But after causing a major fuss, the council gave him permission to keep his beloved pet. Toru is his best friend, and he hopes he'll get to see him again soon.
The door opens, and a man enters. He looks wise, somehow, and smiles as he comes in. He sits down at the foot of Gunther's bed, like an old friend just coming to visit. "Hello, Gunther."
Gunther sits up, pulling his legs inward and holding them with his hands. "Hi, who are you?"
"Oh, just an old man, I guess. I'm more interested in you. I've heard about how friendly you are—that's a wonderful thing. But I wonder if you're getting the respect you deserve in return?" The man looks at Gunther and must see the puzzled expression on his face because he chuckles and rephrases his question. "I'm sorry, I might be a bit too wise for my years. I just mean, are your friends as nice to you as you are to them? Do they do things for you and help you when you need it, or do they only ask you to do things for them?"
Gunther finally understands the question, but he doesn't see the point of it. "I like helping my friends, and they're always happy when I do, so then I'm happy too. That's all that matters."
"Well, yes, it's always admirable to be selfless and help others without expecting anything in return. But at the same time, you must be careful not to be a pushover and let them take advantage of you. True friends would want to help you sometimes when you're in need, as a thank you for all you do for them. If they're not willing to do that, then they're probably not your real friends. If they don't stand up for you when you're bullied, then they're not your real friends. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Gunther feels overwhelmed by the man's words. "I—I like my friends! They're good people, but you make them seem mean. If I really needed help, they would help me, but I never need it, so it's okay. I really am happy just to see them happy. Even if I am taken advantage of sometimes, it still makes me happy!"
The man looks at Gunther with a mix of sadness and pity. "You really are too nice for your own good, Gunther."
Now Gunther is more confused than ever. "I'm too nice? I don't understand. Isn't being nice the right thing?"
"There's a difference between being kind and being naïve, and you need to learn that difference. You need to learn what it means to have true friends, so that you'll have a reference to compare your current friends to. I guarantee you'll see a whole different perspective. That's my biggest hope for you, son."
"Huh, son?" Gunther's eyes go wide for a moment, and the man's expression changes, but he quickly regains his composure. Just then, a guard signals the man, indicating that it's time to go.
"Oh, I don't mean 'son' in that way. It's just a common phrase old guys like me use to address younger boys such as yourself. A lot of people say it." The man stands and walks toward the door. "Good luck to you… son. Please be happy." He gives a tender smile before walking out, the door shutting behind him.
Gunther is still slightly confused, feeling like he's missing something important, but he quickly puts it out of his mind and lies back down, reflecting on the man's words. If that's not friendship, then what is?
The door opens again ten minutes later, and a pretty woman walks in. Gunther sits up again as she says, "Hi, Gunther, my name is Gia, and I'll be your advisor from now on. Would you mind coming with me?"
He stands up enthusiastically. "Sure! Will I be going back to my room now? Is Toru okay?"
"Yes, Toru is just fine and will be back in your arms a bit later. However, I'm taking you to a new room with some new friends for you to meet. I've already brought your roommate there, so he should be waiting. What do you say we head over there now? You'll be able to get more comfortable as well."
"Okay, sure! I love making friends. Is he cool? Does he like rabbits? Is he an earth user too?"
Gia simply laughs at his questions and excitement. Gunther doesn't take it personally, knowing he can be a chatterbox and get overly excited about things. Most people say they like that about him. They walk into a fancy-looking sector that feels like a clubhouse.
"Welcome to your new home. You're the last one to arrive for now, so you'll all be able to unwind and get to know each other. For the next few hours, you have free reign to do as you wish, but we just ask that you all remain within this sector until the General has briefed you all. He should arrive later tonight with your final friend. You can pass all this info on to the others. I'm exhausted from tours. Oh, here's your room code. I'll see you guys later on—have fun."
She leaves, and Gunther walks into his room. He hears the shower running—good idea. He starts to undress, and after removing his shirt, his roommate comes out of the bathroom. "Hey, roomie! Taking a shower too? Are they nice? I think I'll dive in for one myself!"
For some reason, the guy's face turns red. Gunther wonders why but quickly brushes it off. Well, whatever, he thinks. He's sure they'll be good friends.