Threats of Fate

The children had now explored the school and taken a tour, during which Mrs. Wirsing explained that they would study on different floors as they advanced to higher grades. After the tour, there was a break where the children shared breakfast together. Many parents had brought food, and the shared meal helped the children get to know one another better.

After breakfast, the children went to the playground. The playground, situated in the center of the building, was large and beautifully designed, with climbing towers, sandboxes, a grassy area, and play equipment. Each floor had its own playground so the children could easily reach their break areas.

Akio immediately ran toward the climbing towers he had seen from afar, with Auron following close behind.

Akio: "What's that?"

Auron: "It's for climbing. Are you brave enough?"

Akio: "I can do anything!"

But the climbing tower was harder to scale than Akio had expected. Auron didn't do much better. Then Lirien and Sophie joined them.

Lirien: "Can't make it, huh?"

Both boys felt challenged and tried even harder.

Akio: "I can do it! I'm like a monkey!"

Auron: "I'll do it better than you!"

Lirien grinned at Sophie.

Lirien: "See? It's so easy to make them do what I want."

Sophie: "It's amazing how you do that."

Lirien: "Why are you so nice?"

Sophie: "I'm always like this."

Lirien: "No, you're not."

Akio, still hanging from the climbing tower: "Yeah, you're so sassy!"Sophie: "Don't talk to me like that!"

Auron climbed down to defend Sophie.

Auron: "Leave Sophie alone!"

Sophie: "I didn't ask for your help."

Auron didn't understand why Sophie was suddenly upset with him—he was only trying to help.

Auron: "That's exactly why people talk to you like that."

Lirien: "He's right."

Sophie: "What do you mean?"

Auron: "You shouldn't act like this."

Akio, climbing back down: "Is she wrong?"

Sophie: "I'm not wrong!"

Lirien: "And she can't even listen."

Auron: "You're really mean, Sophie!"

Sophie: "You're all mean to me!"

Akio: "What does 'mean' mean?"

Lirien: "What Sophie's doing is mean."

Akio: "Oh, I see!"

Sophie: "That's not true!"

Auron: "But Lirien is even meaner."

Lirien: "Why am I mean now?"

Auron: "You said Sophie doesn't listen!"

Lirien: "I'm just telling the truth!"

Akio, confused: "Is everyone mean?"

Everyone except Akio: "No!"

Akio: "Is Auron mean?"

Auron: "No, I'm nice."

Sophie: "Lirien, say sorry!"

Lirien: "Fine, sorry. Now you, Auron!"

Auron: "I didn't do anything wrong."

The argument went back and forth until Lirien and Auron started to walk away. Suddenly, Akio shouted:

Akio: "STOP! Stay here!"

Everyone turned around, surprised.

Akio: "We're friends and a group. We can't just walk away!"

The others didn't understand why Akio was so attached to the group—they barely knew each other. But then Akio began to cry.

Auron: "Why are you crying now?"

Akio: "I don't want to lose my friends!"

Lirien: "Okay, we'll stay. Stop crying."

Sophie: "I don't want you to cry either."

Akio gradually stopped crying, and the mood in the group improved again. The children laughed when Auron called Akio a crybaby, and the tension eased.

Lirien and Auron started walking toward the classroom while Sophie and Akio stayed behind for a moment.

Sophie: "Thank you, Akio. I think I understand now what friends are."

Akio: "What's that?"

Sophie: "I didn't want you to cry or leave. I don't want to be alone."

Akio: "Me neither."

Sophie: "Shall we go now?"

Akio: "Okay. Thank you for being my friend."

Sophie, laughing softly: "That sounds silly, but thank you."

The two walked back into the school building together, ready for their first lesson to begin.