Takumi opened his eyes, as he saw Ryan with a bucket of water. It felt like deja vu, but this time Ryan was in front of Ukato.

"Ukato, Watch out!!" Takumi quickly shouted.

Ukato opened his eyes and looked around.

"H- Huh- !?" Ukato said, as he followed up with almost a heart attack, he quickly jumped back and dodged the water by luck, but he ended up falling out of his bed.

"Oh- Oh..." Ryan mumbled.

"Why don't you just wake us up without water!" Takumi shouted with no bad intention.

"Ehh.. I guess that's a bad habit of mine… hehe..." Ryan replied, trying to laugh it off.

"Don't worry, just get in your school uniforms and come meet me in the dining hall- ?!" Just as Ryan was talking the door got slammed open by Anne.

"Ryan come quick, a new kid arrived!" Anne quickly said, as she ran back downstairs.

"Quick, put on your clothes and come with me." Ryan said, the boys quickly put on their clothes and ran with Ryan downstairs, outside and in front of the gate.

They noticed this kid, who was smiling.

"And your name is?" Anne asked the kid.

"Ehh, My name is Kuruka Zukaka." The kid said, happily.

"Kuruka, my name is Anne and those are Ryan, Takumi and Ukato." Anne replied.

"It's nice to meet you." Anne followed up.

"Yeah, you all too, thank you for having me here." Kuruka replied, bowing down.

"So? What do I do for repaying everything I did here?" Kuruka asked.

"Repaying? There is no need of repay, you are here free to stay, of course." Ryan replied.

Takumi and Ukato were both confused, this kid doesn't look like he has any problems at all.

"So? Why are the children in school uniforms?" Kuruka asked, as they slowly walked into the mansion.

"They have school to attend, you can attend tomorrow too- "

"Tomorrow? I want to attend right now." Kuruka interrupted Ryan.

"Why wait? I want to be as useful as possible." Kuruka followed up.

What a weirdo… Takumi thought, as he poked Ukato. Ukato turned.

"Let's go to the classroom, let him be." Takumi said, as they both walked into the classroom.

Time passed until suddenly the door opened up, Kuruka walked out of the room.

"Hello everyone! I am the new child who will from now on attend to this classroom!" Kuruka said happily.

Takumi let out a sigh of boredom, he knows this kid is a burden, as he heard whispers from close to him and Ukato.

"Should we prank him?"

"Yeah, let's tackle him..."

Takumi heard those whispers, but Kuruka didn't. He ignored it, because it would be too boresome. Time passed by as it was break time, he and Ukato sat next each other and started to just look around. Takumi noticed Kuruka being tackled, as his clothing got dirty.

"Watch where you are going, kid." The person who tackled him said.

Kuruka stood up. "Oh, if it's an accident, it's fine I guess..." Kuruka said, smiling.

Takumi was in shock. How? Wasn't he pissed at all? Takumi thought.

Takumi let out a sigh. More time passed by, as school ended. They all ate at the dining table and Takumi noticed once again Kuruka being picked on. This time the same kid threw his food over Kuruka's clothes.

"W- Whoops… It was an accident." The kid said, as the others laughed.

"O- Oh… It's fine..." Kuruka replied.

Takumi ignored it, and ate his food. Once again time passed by, as he opened the door to his and Ukato's room. His eyes widened up as he saw a 3rd bed next to his.

"W- WHAT?!" Takumi shouted.

Kuruka walked up the stairs and saw him stare.

"Oh so that's why there are more beds there." Kuruka said.

"Ah, whatever…" Kuruka followed up, smiling.

Takumi let out a sigh. They all changed their clothes and went to sleep.

Takumi woke up mid-night as he had to go to the toilet, he went downstairs, did his job, and went back up. When he stood in front of the door, he heard sobbing and whispers. His eyes widened up. Ukato was normally sleeping, but Kuruka was crying. Takumi slowly walked closer to him, to hear what he was saying.

"Why… Why is it me who has to be unlucky..." Kuruka was whispering.

Takumi's eyes widened up…

- - - - -

Kuruka opened the front door of his house.

"I am home!" Kuruka shouted.

He took out his shoes and walked inside, only to see the thing he sees daily. His father was laying on the couch with a bottle of beer in his hand, and his mother was smoking outside.

"Good evening, father." Kuruka said, smiling.

"Yeah, sure..." His father replied cold.

Kuruka ignored it and walked upstairs. Everyday he had to do the same, smile… Smile until no one would notice the real feelings he had, deep inside. Kuruka laid on his bed and could hear his father and mother shout again, he covered his ears with his pillow.

"Why… Why are my parents like this…" Kuruka mumbled…

- - - - -

Takumi laid back on his bed and thought about it. Has he been hiding every smile? He ignored it, but not forgot it. He went to sleep and woke up, as he noticed Ryan throwing water over Kuruka. Ukato was already smiling. Kuruka woke up on with a shocked face. Ryan was laughing.

"Good morning, kiddo, time to change up and go to school." Ryan said, as he walked out with the bucket.

Takumi looked at Kuruka, Kuruka was struggling really hard with smiling, that Takumi instantly noticed it.

"All right! New day, new me! Time to go to school!" Kuruka said, jumping out of his half-wet bed.

They all changed into their school uniforms. Time. once again, passed by. Takumi let out a sigh and sat down next to Ukato on break time. He looked at Kuruka, as he saw the same kid from yesterday tackle him down. The kid was laughing. Kuruka laughed with him.

"Takumi? Is something wrong?" Ukato asked. Takumi stood up, walking to the kid.

The kid turned to him and before he knew it-

Takumi punched him in his face, making him fall over.

"Enough!" Takumi shouted.

Kuruka's eyes widened up.

"Leave Kuruka alone, got it!" Takumi shouted again.

The kid stood up, frustrated.

"And why would I do that?" The kid replied, as he pulled up his sleeve.

Ukato stood next to Takumi and Kuruka. "Because it's three on one, you can't win this." Ukato replied.

The kid's eyes widened up. "You.. I will make you pay… Got it?" The kid said, as he walked off. Takumi turned to Kuruka.

"Are you all right?" Takumi asked, as he reached out his hand.

Kuruka grabbed his hand, pulled himself up, but didn't let go.

"Kuruka? Is there something?" Takumi asked.

Kuruka looked up, as tears poured out of his eyes.

"No… Nothing…" Kuruka mumbled.

This time he was smiling, the smile was hearthwarming for Takumi and Ukato. Takumi quickly noticed the difference between the smiles yesterday and his smile now.

"... Once again… Nice to meet you two..." Kuruka followed up, greeting them once again.

"Yeah, This time for real!" Takumi said, as both their eyes lightened up.

Ryan and Anne looked from a distance as they smiled.

Takumi instantly noticed another bond adding to the one he had with Ukato…

* * *