The bell rang. School's out-

Hello weekend~

I wear a smile while waving goodbye to my departing classmates.

"How odd..."

The one who said that

was the one sitting a  l   l

the way in the back.

In contrast to my position in the front.

"...For once, you aren't wearing a fake smile"

That was Derrick. The one who was cooped up in the library by himself. I was currently trying to become friends with him. He's a very... interesting lad. I put on a smile of amusement.

"It's normal to smile when parting with friends," I said.
"Define 'friend'"
"Somebody you know that will help you when you help them."
"Isn't that just an acquaintance of benefit?"

My other classmates gave mixed responses of sighs and shrugs.

"That's Derrick for you."

"Yup. Always acting like a smart person."

I decide to ignore the little talk going on around me.

"By the way, Derrick." I look into his eyes with another one of my smiles.

"...

...

What?" he asked.

"Join us for some fun after school."
I maintain my smile while reaching out to him.

Perhaps, now that I think of it, this was where it all started.

All of it.