The morning air was crisp as Kenjiro and Ichigo walked to school together. Kenjiro, still sore from last night's beating, moved sluggishly, wincing with every step.
"So, how does it feel to get your ass kicked by my dad?" Ichigo smirked.
"Like hell," Kenjiro grumbled. "At least it wasn't my own father doing it."
Ichigo chuckled. "You sure about that? If your dad were here, he'd probably do the same."
Kenjiro scoffed. "Nah, my dad loves me. He'd never lay a hand on me."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Dude, your mom literally approved of my dad beating the crap out of you. What makes you think your old man wouldn't?"
Kenjiro opened his mouth to argue but found no good rebuttal. After a moment, he sighed. "I guess you have a point… but still, it was unfair! He beat me right when I was about to quit the game!"
"Wait… you actually quit?" Ichigo asked, surprised. "You mean you're done with Battletoads? Or gaming in general?"
Kenjiro smirked. "I already beat it. Didn't you hear me celebrating outside?"
Ichigo blinked. "I thought you lost so hard you went insane and just thought you won."
"I'm serious!" Kenjiro pulled out a photo. "See?"
Ichigo inspected the picture. "Wow… I can't believe you actually took a photo to prove it. And… wait, why are you wearing sunglasses?"
Kenjiro crossed his arms. "Because it looks cool. What else?"
Ichigo squinted. "And… is that a broken controller?"
Kenjiro scratched the back of his head. "Yeah… I kinda slammed it in excitement after winning."
Ichigo sighed. "So, I'm guessing your parents aren't buying you a new one or fixing it?"
Kenjiro shrugged. "Doesn't matter. I said I'd quit gaming until high school. By then, I plan to get a part-time job to save up for my own stuff… or just wait until they give it to me on my birthday."
Ichigo raised a brow. "I thought you were planning to move to America with your mom when you reached high school? And didn't they plan to sell the house too?"
"That was the original plan," Kenjiro admitted. "But I decided I'd rather stay here. I like it here. Mom can move alone—I'm fine on my own. And as for the house, my family's already rich. They'll let me take care of it myself as long as I behave until high school."
Ichigo held up a hand. "Okay, okay, I get it. But do you really think you can handle all that on your own?"
Kenjiro grinned confidently. "Who do you think I am? I'm Kenjiro Sato. I can do anything. I'm even in the top five at school!"
Ichigo chuckled. "Alright, I'll give you that. But there are some things you can't do."
Kenjiro frowned. "Like what?"
"Comforting someone when they're sad, beating Battletoads in one try… should I go on?" Ichigo teased.
Kenjiro sighed. "Okay, fine. Maybe 'I can do many things' is a better way to put it."
"Yup, that sounds more accurate," Ichigo said. "You know, I never thought I'd see you behaving."
"Playing too many games made me misbehave. I think I can handle it till high school."
"You sure you'll be fine without games till then?"
Kenjiro shrugged. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I have other activities, you know, like listening to music and playing instruments."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you can play instruments? I didn't know that."
Kenjiro smirked. "Duh. You've been to my house before. Haven't you seen the guitar hanging in my room?"
Ichigo blinked. "I thought it was just for decoration."
"Nope. I can actually play it. Not just the guitar, either—I can play other instruments too. I was planning to practice rock guitar at home since rock music is one of my favorites, but—"
Ichigo groaned. "We'd be disturbed forever. I'd rather hear you scream than listen to you playing rock guitar. Oh wait, that's even worse—screaming while playing."
Kenjiro sighed. "Yeah, that's why my mom won't let me have any rock instruments at home."
Ichigo tilted his head. "What's your favorite song?"
"American song? Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver."
Ichigo frowned. "That's not even rock music."
Kenjiro smirked. "I said rock is one of my favorites. There's no rule saying you can only have one favorite genre, right?"
"I guess you're right," Ichigo admitted.
After a moment, Ichigo added, "Honestly, this is the most we've ever talked."
Kenjiro shrugged. "Yeah, so?"
"And you didn't run to school like you always do."
Kenjiro groaned. "Dude, your dad hit me so hard I still feel it. I'd rather let my body heal first."
Ichigo glanced at Kenjiro's bruises, still visible under his uniform. "Damn… okay, maybe he did hit you harder than I thought." He smirked. "But you did deserve it."
Kenjiro sighed. "Yeah, I know."
Ichigo blinked. "Wait… you're admitting it that easily?"
Kenjiro nodded. "I know what I said and did was wrong. But what can I do? It's just my nature."
Ichigo smirked. "Well, you could try to change."
Kenjiro sighed again. "It's hard."
"You can try."
"It's hard for me," Kenjiro repeated.
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just say you can do anything?"
Kenjiro rolled his eyes. "Bro, weren't you listening? I said I can do many things, not everything. There are some things I can't do, you know."
Ichigo chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I heard you."
"Then why are you repeating it?"
"To annoy you," Ichigo grinned.
Kenjiro groaned. "You're still salty about yesterday, aren't you? So petty."
Ichigo smirked. "You talked about my dead mom. That's not 'petty.' At least I didn't punch you or tell my dad."
Kenjiro smirked back. "Even if you had a weapon, you still wouldn't beat me. And good thing you didn't tell your dad—'cause if you did, I'd just call you a snitch."
Ichigo shook his head. "Nah, from now on, I'll handle my own problems myself."
Kenjiro hesitated before asking, "Would you miss me if I actually left town?"
Ichigo thought hard but found no particularly fond memories. "Not really."
Kenjiro sighed. "Well, that's just cruel. But sure, if I were in your place, I'd say the same thing. I'm staying because I like it here."
Kenjiro also thought, 'Also, there's some supernatural stuff going on here, and I hope whatever's out there stays away from my parents abroad.'
"Do you think we'll ever see something other than ghosts? Like a big scary monster? Or a Grim Reaper?"
Ichigo scoffed. "You read too much manga. That'll never happen."
Kenjiro thought, 'I don't know about that. After everything we've seen, I doubt it's impossible.'
Kenjiro groaned, clutching his side. "Gah… I still can't believe your dad hit me this hard. This feels more like torture than discipline."
Ichigo smirked. "You deserved it. How the hell do you forget my sisters' names? No wonder Dad went extra on you."
Kenjiro let out a long sigh. "...Yeah, my bad. Sorry."
The two continued their conversation as they approached the school gates. Just as they arrived, they spotted Tatsuki waiting for them.
Tatsuki crossed her arms as she spotted Ichigo and Kenjiro approaching the school gates. "Not often I see you two walking together, even as neighbors."
Kenjiro groaned, still feeling sore. "His dad literally beat the shit out of me after I celebrated my victory."
"Wait, really?" Tatsuki raised an eyebrow. "I never thought Ichigo's dad would hit you. He's usually pretty chill. If he did, you must've done something really stupid."
Ichigo sighed. "He was screaming outside in the middle of the night after beating a game. Right next to our house."
Tatsuki blinked. "Wow… yeah, that sounds like something that'd get you in trouble."
Kenjiro crossed his arms. "Trust me, I had to do it. I was losing my mind trying to beat that game for four years!" If I count my past life, it's actually ten years… but no need to tell them that.
Tatsuki smirked. "Four years? That's ridiculous. And I bet you don't even have proof."
Ichigo grinned. "He actually does."
Tatsuki looked at Kenjiro in disbelief. "Wait… seriously?"
Kenjiro pulled out a photo and handed it to her.
She examined it and snorted. "I can't believe you actually took a picture. And… why the hell are you wearing sunglasses?"
Kenjiro puffed out his chest. "Because it looks cool!"
Tatsuki shook her head. "Well, congrats, I guess. That's all I can say."
Kenjiro smirked. "Thank you. That makes me happy."
Tatsuki's eyes narrowed as she looked at the visible bruise on Kenjiro's face. "Still… that looks painful. Did Ichigo's dad really beat you just because you screamed at night? There's more to this, isn't there?"
Ichigo deadpanned. "He literally forgot my sisters' names."
Tatsuki's expression turned blank. "Yeah, okay. I agree with that punishment."
Kenjiro let out a long sigh. "Haaaah…"
Tatsuki tilted her head. "Say, have you guys ever played Battletoads together? There's a co-op mode, you know."
Kenjiro shrugged. "Nope, we never did."
Ichigo shot him a deadpan look. "Dude… we literally did. At my house."
Kenjiro frowned. "Huh? When?"
Ichigo sighed. "You seriously don't remember? It was two years ago. Not that I blame you. We played once—and I swore never to play it with you again."
Flashback - Two Years Ago
Ichigo crashed and burned in the infamous Battletoads speeder bike level.
Ichigo groaned. "This game is way too hard. No wonder you're losing your mind. You should probably just quit now for your own sanity."
Kenjiro's eye twitched. "YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK SO BAD! WHY DID YOU DIE SO EARLY?!"
Ichigo blinked. "Dude, chill. It's just a game."
Kenjiro pointed dramatically at him. "YOUR ANCESTORS MUST BE ASHAMED OF YOU! THEY'RE PROBABLY LAUGHING AT YOU RIGHT NOW!"
Present
Kenjiro scratched his head. "Did I… really say that?"
Ichigo nodded. "YES. YOU. DID."
Tatsuki burst out laughing. "That's gold! I never knew about this. You sure you don't want to keep it a secret?"
Kenjiro shrugged. "Nah, I've got bigger secrets than that."
Tatsuki smirked. "Oh? And what might those be?" Ichigo looked curious too.
Kenjiro smirked back. "Why should I tell you? It's a secret for a reason."
Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "It's embarrassing, isn't it?"
Kenjiro shrugged. "Think whatever you want. I'm taking this secret to my grave."
Tatsuki sighed. "Alright, fine. Anyway, class is about to start. It was fun talking to you guys."
Ichigo nodded. "Yeah, same."
Kenjiro grinned. "Me too."
With that, they headed to class, and the school day went on as usual. Time continued moving forward.