"Ok let's go," Zazm got up and picked his bag up, he slowly started walking towards the stairs. Jahanox seeing him move also quickly got up and jumped down from his bear.
He picked up his bad from the bench and turned around to pat the beeeer, "Ok Bear, I would be back in a while so be a good boy and don't go anywhere."
The bear let out a growl as if agreeing with Nox, Jahanox was about to leave when Zazm's voice caught him off guard, "BEAR? DID YOU JUST CALLED HIM THAT?"
Jahanox tilted his head in confusion as he slowly walked towards the stairs, "He is bear what else am I supposed to call him?" He asked Zazm in a naive tone.
Zazm put a head on his head massaging his temples, "I told you to give him a proper name," Zazm put his hands in his pockets his voice was filled with frustration.
Nox got slightly mad at his remark and spoke in a mocking tone, "Hey, I suggested so many names and you said 'No' to all of them so I had to go with 'Bear'."
Zazm pointed his finger at the bear and spoke, "Mind reminding me the wonderful names you suggested?"
Nox stopped and put a hand on his chin thinking about the names he suggested, after a while he snapped his fingers and started speaking in an excited tone, "Well, I can name him Mustard, Fluff, Candy, Tom, Snape, drunkard."
Jahanox continued his list but stopped when he looked at his friend, Zazm stood there his mouth opened in disbelief he was so speechless he started walking towards a rock and crouched down near it.
Jahanox looked at Zazm in confusion as he saw him crouch next to a rock, "Zazm? Have you finally lost it?" Nox spoke in a teasing voice but Zazm didn't replied.
After a short while Zazm spoke looking at the rock, his tone was soft and smooth, "You see, Nox. This rock can suggest better names than you."
Jahanox raised a brow at his words, "You did all that to insult my naming sense? How about you suggest some yourself?"
Zazm shook his head, "I know I'm not good at naming things so I won't even try." He put his hands back in his pockets and started moving towards the stairs.
"Where are we going? Just open the portal man." Nova spoke in a loud voice since he was standing at a distance from Zazm.
Zazm looked behind and smiled, "Nah, let's walk today." After saying that he continued walking down the stairs.
Jahanox silently followed him from behind and both continued walking down extremely long staircase.
---
"Very well, Nox. I'll see ya after exams." Zazm spoke his same carefree attitude as he waved his left hand bidding Nox goodbye.
"Yeah, and don't forget you have to check my abilities after that." He shouted towards Zazm with a smile and waved him back, Zazm gave him a nod and they both continued walking their own seperate ways.
"Exams huh? How long has it been since I last saw them?" Zazm murmured somethings under his breath while he continued to walk, his carefree smile was now replaces my something nostalgic.
---
The day of exam was finally here, Jahanox got up and quickly got ready, he wore a full sleeved red shirt to hide his mark and a black pant, he quickly picked up his flash card and left the house.
He entered the school gate and straight up headed to the information board. He started looking for his class, during the final exams everyone was thrown in different classes.
He somehow managed to find his class in the crowd, where the worried murmurs of students covered the hall, everyone was worried for their exam, it was their last year and the result will determine what college will they get into.
But Jahanox wasn't worried he was over prepared like always he quickly started walking towards his which was on the 2nd floor of the 3rd building.
He carefreely walked through the balls to the 3rd building while looking at the important parts In his flash cards.
He was walking when he heard a voice from behind him, "Jahanox!" Jahanox turned around to find Rina running towards him. He stopped seeing her and spoke with a smile, "Yoo everything fine, Rina?"
Rina stopped and took a second to catch her breath before she finally spoke in an excited voice, "We are in the same class, didn't you see?"
Hearing this Jahanox let out a chuckle, "Ah sorry I might have missed that."
"Yeah, but make sure you help me out." Rina spoke and hit Jahanox on the shoulder. Jahanox let out a huff in a mocking tone, "Ofcourse as long as you can treat me to something good."
"Deal!" Rina exclaimed and they both started walking towards the exam hall building. They finally reached the 3rd school building which was the biggest out of 4.
"Wow! I haven't been here alot of Times but it's way bigger than ours" Rina spoke in an excited voice while quickly barging in.
Jahanox nodded and spoke, "Well this is for sports students and that's what our school's famous for."
"Yeah you're right but let's hurry up it's already 8:40, we only have 20 mins." Rina told Jahanox as he also followed her gaze to the clock. They both rushed through the stairs and reached their class.
And like always both of them didn't recognized a single face. Jahanox looked back at Rina and spoke in a reliefed voice, "I'm just happy I have someone I knew, my luck sucks so much I always end up alone."
Rina laughed at his remark and took a seat near the door and Jahanox sat Infront her. The teacher entered the class, a bald man wearing a suit, his demeanor collective and professional.
He started handing the exam sheets and the entire class felt silent. Everyone quicky took a look at the exam sheets ans got busy in solving the exams.
The days continued passing by everyday Jahanox would come to his class and would help Rina and she would treat him to something. The time began and soon the 3 week exam period was over.
Jahanox got up he stretched his arms and let out a sigh, "God, It's finally over."
Rina also smiled at his remark, "Yeah, it's finally over. It felt like forever. Let's go and see others."
Jahanox nodded and they both quickly went to find others, they were walking through the hall when their gaze fell on a stern girl and they both instantly recognized who she was.
"Oh look the president." Rina also followed Jahanox's gaze and found Emilia standing at a distance. She waved her hand calling her and she quickly ran towards them.
"Hey, you guys, I was just looking for you." Emilia, the class representative and the school's committee president spoke in an excited tone with a smile.
"How did you exams go?" Emilas asked Jahanox and Rina and they both smiled at the question.
Rina puffed her chest and replied with slight attitude, "Great and I even helped Nox alot." Jahanox laughed at her comment, "Sure you did." They all shared a laugh before Jahanox spoke.
"Well we can't stop here, we still have 2 more fishes to catch." Emilia and Rina nodded.
---
"Hey Leo....." Zazm looked on his side to find Leo laying down against a tree. His eyes were closed and it felt like he was asleep.
"Zazm, can you keep me at your place for a few days?" Leo asked Zazm in a serious tone while his eyes were still closed.
Zazm nodded and spoke in a soft tone, "But hey atleast we are in this together."
Leo opened his eyes and a tear fell down his eye, "Yes! We are fucked but atleast we are In this together."
Zazm put out his fists In-between them, "Apes together strong," Leo smiled with pain and bumped his fist with Zazm's.
"But how did someone mess up that bad?" Zazm looked at Leo with a genuinely curious expression.
Leo didn't matched his gaze and shot him back with a straight answer, "Atleast I didn't forgot to write my name like some idiot."
"Oh so I'm an idiot now?" Zazm questioned Leo in an angry and Leo nodded. Zazm got up in anger and frustration, "Fine, you wanna go?"
"What are you guys doing." Zazm looked at his side and found a hand resting on his shoulder, he turned around to find Rina, Nox snd Emilia standing there.
"Oh you guys." Zazm spoke in a soft voice and his carefree smile appeared back on his face. Rina saw that and raised a brow at Zazm, "You messed up the exam didn't you?"
Emilia and Nox also gave the two collective looks and Leo and Zazm avoided their gaze masterfully.
Zazm put his one hand on Nox's shoulder and other on Emilia's, "Ah, forget it we have to celebrate. Let's go we are having a party."
Leo also quickly got up, "Yeah let's go, I've heard there is this new buffet place that's great."
Jahanox nodded at the talk of food, "Well if the food's good then I'm in."
Rina also raised her hand, "Count me in aswell."Emilia also got ready and Zazm clapped his hands in excitement, "Great, let's go."
They all left the school campus and started walking towards the buffet place. During there walk they all laughed and talked about several things.
"Say, what are you all gonna do?" Emilia asked everyone and the question caused a momentarily silence among everyone. Zazm noticed it and picked up.
He spoke in a teasing tone, "What else? Prepare for college right?"
"Right" Jahanox agreed with him and the carefree atmosphere surrounded them again. Leo jokingly said, "You know, Zazm. I thought you would go forward in Capoeira."
Rina also nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I also thought that. I mean at your level you can beat professional fighters."
Zazm let out a small laugh as he thought to himself, 'I can simply close one eye and no one can touch me after that.'
"Well no it was simply for fun." He casually replied Leo as it was nothing special. "Oh look we're here."
They all looked forward and found a luxurious restaurant, they all exclaimed in shocked and walked in.
The recipientionist, a young woman in her early twenties, wore a perfect blue suit spoke with a soft smile in a soft tone. "Welcome, are you all students?"
They all nodded and she showed them the way to a different room, "We have special discounts for students make sure to check them."
"Thank you Miss." Zazm spoke as they all took a seat. Soon enough they placed their order and the food arrived.
The table was filled with every delicacy, from shrimps to sliders, from pizza to sandwiches. They all quickly jumped into the food and to their hearts content.
After finally eating everything they got up, paid the bill and walked outside. They were walking through the dark streets as wind blowed Infront of them.
Everyone silently walked and no one said a word, Zazm put his hands in his pocket and spoke while looking at the sky, "You know, its possibly the last time we will see each other. Who knows where we will all go after this."
Everyone looked at him with a hint of sadness in their eyes and everyone understood what he meant. Rina smiled and continued Zazm's words, "I'm happy, it was great while it lasted. Thank you for making school life great everyone."
Everyone was momentarily stunned at her confession but Jahanox also decided to join in and spoke with a huge smile, "Same I'm happy I didn't have to spend my highschool with the same boring guy."
Leo also jumped in the conclusion, "Yes, I like you all too thank you for being my friend."
Emilia pushed Leo to the side and spoke in a mocking tone, "Well I always had a lot of friends but I guess I would never forgive you." They all shared a laugh before finally bidding goodbyes and everyone went their separate ways.
---
Zazm slammed the door behind him, the familiar echo of emptiness greeting him. High school was officially over, a milestone he'd crossed alone, like every other. He tossed his backpack onto the couch, a sigh escaping his lips. It was just another night in his solitary existence.
Then he saw it. A crisp, white envelope propped against the chipped ceramic bowl on the kitchen counter. He recognized the neat, precise handwriting instantly.
His father. He ripped it open, his eyes scanning the elegant script. "Japan? Kyoto?" he muttered, a bitter laugh escaping him. "Of course. Why not?"
The letter detailed a request, a plea even, for him to come and meet them. His parents, always chasing some elusive business deal, some grand, fleeting opportunity, were now in Kyoto. They wanted to see him.
"After four years," Zazm scoffed, the word laced with venom. "After four years of radio silence, of empty rooms and microwaved dinners, they want to see me. They didn't even bother to call me for invite."
He imagined their faces, the carefully crafted smiles, the superficial concern.
"Sure," he said aloud, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "I'll come. I'll come and show them exactly what they've missed."
He crumpled the letter, the expensive paper crinkling in his fist. He wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing him hurt, of seeing the lonely child they'd abandoned.
He would go to Kyoto, but it wouldn't be a reunion. It would be a confrontation. A performance. A demonstration of the self-sufficient, hardened individual they had inadvertently created.
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