He finally looked up from his work. He's finished quite a lot in just a few hours and decided that it's about time he took a break.

"Hey, Miko―" He stopped himself when he found no one behind him. Then, his eyes landed on the clock.

17:31.

She probably just left. He knew Kimiko was a very strict person when it came to time. She leaves at the same time every single day, even before she started coming to his house every weekend.

He decided to go downstairs and see if there were any snacks he could grab. He vaguely remembers his mom coming in earlier to inform the two about cookies with icing. Reaching the bottom of the steps, he was about to head into the living room, when he heard three voices deep in conversation.

"I hope you wouldn't mind waiting just a few more minutes. I made quite a lot of these, and I don't think Kyousuke can finish them all on his own." He heard his mother say.

"Don't worry. If I'm late, they know I'll have a good reason."

"Cookies count as a good reason?" Came his father's voice.

"Of course! Aunty's cookies are the best!"

"I'm flattered."

He spotted his mother setting down three mugs on the coffee table. He guessed she and Kimiko were having tea while his father had coffee. He supposed now's a good of a time as any to be joining them―

"So, how was Kyousuke today?"

... or not.

He made his way to the door frame and sat down without making a sound, continuing his eavesdropping.

The girl sighed. "It's still the same as last time... He's studying really hard, just like he said he would."

"I see..." His mother also gave a sigh. "I'm sorry, Kimiko. You come all this way every week to see him, and yet..."

"Don't worry about it! I'm the one who chose to come here. I know I'll probably get the same result next week, and the week after that, but I just... can't help but hope. Kyousuke still loves soccer, after all."

"Ever since his brother was sent to the hospital, his grades skyrocketed." His father stated. "He hasn't gotten anything less than a 90 in all subjects. Of course, we're proud of him and at this rate, he could get scouted in scholarships later, but... Why does that matter if he's doing this while sacrificing his own happiness? This isn't something an eight-year-old should have to bear. Especially on his own like this..."

"'On his own'?" Kimiko repeated. "You mean none of his school friends know?"

There was a short pause.

Then, "He never told you?" His mother asked gently.

"Tell me what?"

"Kyousuke doesn't have friends at school..."

"..."

"So, he really didn't..." Another sigh. "Kyousuke's not very good at making friends. The other kids found him... strange."

"..."

"He's always loved soccer, you know this. But he isn't very good at it." His father continued. "Kids who didn't like soccer avoided him, while those who do made fun of him. Yuuichi has been the only person he could truly open up to and have fun with."

"... So that's why they're always playing together every weekend instead of hanging out with friends in their age?"

"Yes. Well, Yuuichi didn't have the same problem. He has friends at school and he does occasionally stop by his friends' houses on the way home, but he always keeps his weekends free to keep Kyousuke company."

"But now that he's in the hospital, he can't do much for Kyou..."

"We, too, had been trying our best to be there for Kyousuke, but... He's rather stubborn about handling it on his own." His mother stated. "Perhaps it's because we both have jobs, and he didn't want to trouble us anymore, but... Well, he's our son. We can't help but worry for him. That's why, we really want to thank you, Kimiko."

"Me?"

"Kyousuke's been much, much happier since you became friends. Not only do you share the same love for soccer, but you're also teaching him to play. And now, even though he's not going to the park anymore, you're still taking the trouble to come and visit him. It's reassuring for us to know he has someone who cares about him just as much as we do."

She gave an awkward laugh. "It's no big deal, really... I mean... I don't have any friends of my own either, so..."

"Oh?"

"My family is rather overprotective of me, see... I'm being homeschooled, and even then, my teacher is another relative. I don't get to go outside much, even in my own town. Actually, I'd say I spend more time outside when I'm here than when I'm back home."

His father gave a surprised hum. "My, that's not a way for a child to live."

"Ahaha... It can't be helped. Lots of bad things happened to my relatives when they were younger, so they're all just worried for my safety. But I never thought Kyousuke would be in a similar spot, just for different reasons..."

"Do your parents work out of town a lot too?" His mother asked.

"They do. Most of the time, they even go abroad. I have my brother to keep me company at home, but after meeting Kyou and Yuu-san, I just started looking forward to coming here more. I mean, it doesn't bother me that I'm adopted, but... I guess... being more than ten years younger than everyone you knew... started getting a little lonely."

"That is quite the gap..."

"Mm. That's why I'll keep coming over every weekend. It's not just for Kyousuke, but for me too."

"Kimiko..."

"It kind of hurts that he doesn't ever say anything unless he needs help with homework now... but I promise I'll always be there for Kyousuke, whenever and wherever he needs me! So, don't worry! If he didn't have any friends before, then I'll be the first and the best friend he'll ever have!"

His mother chuckled. "I think you already are."

"Ahahahaha..."

Ding!

"And those are the cookies! Come, Kimiko. I'll box them so you can bring them home."

"Thank you!"

In just a couple of minutes, he heard a mix of 'goodbye's and 'see you next week's, tiny footsteps fading, and the door closing. He figured he should just head upstairs again. His cookie craving was gone anyway.

But he couldn't move.

There was something burning on his cheeks, and he kept hearing strange noises. "W-What...?" His lips pressed together in an instant. Only when he heard his own voice crack did he realize, the one making those strange noises, was him.

He was crying.

But... But I'm... fine...

"Kyousuke?!"

His parents were suddenly beside him, asking what sounded like a million questions at once. But none of it registered in his ears.

"It's no big deal, really... I mean... I don't have any friends of my own either, so..."

"It doesn't bother me that I'm adopted, but... I guess... being more than ten years younger than everyone you knew... started getting a little lonely."

"It kind of hurts that he doesn't ever say anything unless he needs help with homework now..."

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm really, really sorry..." He kept muttering apologies to no one.

Meanwhile, his parents exchanged relieved glances when they realized he wasn't physically injured. And it only took another second to figure out he was most likely listening to their conversation with Kimiko from the start.

His father lifted him up and brought him to the living room, his mother following them with a tray in her hands.

"Aunty's cookies are the best!"

He suddenly wanted those cookies again.

~~~~~

A week later...

"Oh? Kyousuke, you're heading out?"

He gave a small nod. "Kimiko's birthday was just a few days ago... It wouldn't be right if she stays in my room the whole time."

"I see. Well, have fun, then."

"Mm. Be back later, mom."

Leaving the house, he clung to his duffle bag tightly the whole walk to the park. The moment he got there, he set it down on a bench and exhaled slowly. His hands were stiff when he pulled out the soccer ball. He had just cleaned the dust off of it the night before, but he wasn't sure if he could even kick it properly after so long.

He didn't have to wait long for his friend to arrive. As he expected, a bright smile appeared on her face the second she laid eyes on him. He couldn't help his own smile forming.

Within the span of a few minutes, she had convinced him to play again, his passion for soccer reignited, now burning brighter than ever before.

"If he didn't have any friends before, then I'll be the first and the best friend he'll ever have!"

For the first time in a long while, he felt truly happy.

And I'll be yours.