Sunday night before the first day of school always gave you jitters, but this time around it was going to be different.

You'd been stewing about it all summer, but this was officially your final moment as a freshman.

Sure, you'd made a lot of friends at the beginning of freshman year, but most of the friend group dispersed in May right before the end of the school year, leaving you, Sabito, and Makomo to fend for yourselves in a group of three.

Your group used to be much larger. In fact, you and your friends were the envy of most of the school; on top of being ranked as one of the most attractive students yourself, Sabito and Makomo had made themselves a reputation of being some of the most well-liked people at the school.

You laid back onto your bed, reminiscing.

Initially, the group was broken up due to some drama.

You didn't really know what happened since you weren't there at the time of the event, but you vividly remember getting a text from Makomo telling you to come to the hospital quick, and that Sabito had alcohol poisoning and a broken leg.

Next thing you knew, you were staying overnight and praying for his recovery.

Thankfully, of course, Sabito made it out alive, but he had a lot to say about the events which lead up to his near-death experience.

Apparently, it took place at a party hosted by Ume, to which you weren't even invited to begin with.

Based on Sabito's account, your former friend, Genya Shinazugawa, was holding a chugging contest and dared Sabito to go up against him.

Sabito agreed and when Genya lost to him, he pushed Sabito off the balcony.

After that, he fell unconscious. Some said they thought he was dead.

Such a disaster it was, that it split the friend group right down the middle.

There were people who blamed Genya, people who blamed Sabito, and even some who blamed Ume for having alcohol at a party with freshmen.

No matter whose fault it was, you hated them all at some point. Even Sabito, for joining that stupid challenge, even Makomo, for not telling you that they went.

Regardless, though, your reputation was shattered along with Sabito's. It wasn't fair, but there's nothing you can do about it now. All the three of you have now is each other.

Ah! Speak of the devil

You raise your phone up into the air, holding it firmly with two hands, and open a text message from Sabito.
You're surprised--the head trauma that Sabito suffered over the summer made him into a different person.

Promptly, the doctors advised that he stay away from technology for at least a few months. It's only been four and he's back on his phone?

Sabito🙄: Miss me? <3

You snickered at his contact name and photo. You recalled the very day you set it--He saw how you named your other contacts weird things, so he demanded that you make his name normal as an exception.
Reluctantly, you did so but made sure you take an off-guard photo of him and put the rolling eyes emoji after his name to spite him.

You: DUDEE you got your phone back?? Hell yeah I missed you

Sabito🙄: Yeah, just for tonight. Dad's gonna take it back soon :/

You: BOOOOOOO 🤮👿

Sabito🙄: IK. But anywaysss we're sophomores now 🤢 EWWW

You: LMFAO yeah, I don't wanna go back. I literally BEGGED my mom to take me out of school after all that drama

Sabito🙄: I get it, me neither. But hey, at least I'm gonna be there, and Makomo too

You: awwww! Don't push yourself too much, I know it's probably hard. You know, with your mental state and all.

Sabito🙄: No worries! The doctors said I can go to school and even start skating again if I want to. We should all go straight to the abandoned buildings after school tomorrow and hang like we used to.

Like we used to... You smile. You barely noticed a single tear welling up in your eye at the memory

You: I'd love that. Text Makomo and tell her too, okay?

Sabito🙄: Ofc ofc. Okay, I'm gonna text her and then go to bed.

You: sweet dreams dork 😘

Sabito🙄: STFU WEIRDO goodnight 😒🖤

You turn your phone off and set it face down on your chest, staring up at the ceiling. This feeling's overriding your senses; you don't know what it is, but you want to cry.

All because of one unlucky night, your highschool life is never going to be the same.

Sabito's injured and trying to heal, Makomo's been radio silent since she's on punishment, and you're an emotional wreck with nobody to lean on.

You may have spent your summer visiting them and resting, but that wasn't enough to rid you of the fear that something could go wrong again.

I will never, ever let harm come to them again.

You tensed

And so what if people hate me now? That just means they've hated me all along. Fuck them anyways.

You turn over in your bed and squeeze your eyes shut

Or maybe everyone's forgotten...that's probably my best bet to hope for.