Zenatori felt a chill run down his spine.

"The outside?" he muttered.

He cleared his throat and spoke.

"Didn't the Founders create the barriers to shield us from the Shibatsu? Why would we leave?"

"Think about it, Zen! Has anyone even attempted to leave?"

"There's a good reason for that. The outside is likely swarmed with Shibatsu."

"Have you ever seen an actual Shibatsu...?"

"Just because we haven't seen it doesn't mean it hasn't happened. Even then, what is the actual plan?" 

"We'll go outside and explore some things people were never meant to see. Ever since I was a kid I've always wanted to see the greater beyond. It could be a completely new world!"

"What if we do see a Shibatsu?"

"That's when we turn tail and run!"

"That might be the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say."

"I'm going," Kuzaki uttered.

Zenatori stood up and slid the box across the table.

"I'm not hungry anymore."

He slipped his hands in his pockets and sighed. 

"If you change your mind," Kuzaki said. "Meet me at the convenience store across the street tonight! It'll be at 8:30!"

After a while, the last bell finally rang, and school ended. 

"Well, well, well," a voice called.

Zenatori felt a wave of despair roll over him, and he already recognized the voice. It was Kuzaki.
"Look what the cat dragged in," he sneered.
"Can you please save your corny lines for someone else?"
"So have you made up your mind?"
"I'm going home-"
"Wrong answer!" he said, cutting Zenatori off.  "Just come over to my house. You know you want to."

"No."

"Aw, why not!"
"Quite frankly, I just don't feel like it."
"Well dang, how about we-"

"Sakatoro!"

Before he could react, Nagasawa ran to Zenatori, wrapping her arms around him from behind, lightly pressing herself against his back.
"You two seemed to have gotten closer," Kuzaki said with a deadpan stare. 

"What's that supposed to mean," he said.

"You know what? I'll just leave you two alone," Kuzaki said monotonically, walking away.

Nagasawa retracted from zenatori and stood beside him. She glanced at him for a moment, softly smiling.
"I thought you two were doing something after school?"

"I did too."

"Ehh?" she said. "What do you mean?"

"Anyway," Zenatori said clearing his throat. "How about we walk home together?"
"That sounds awesome!"

"These calm walks truly make my day. I wonder why Nagasawa treats me the same still even after everything that happened."

The cool air left a calm feeling as it blew through Zenatori's hair. The afternoon skies began to finally fade into the evening, and Zenatori could witness the beautiful sunset of Kyoto in its truest form.

"Hey Sakatoro," Nagasawa said. "Mind if I come over?"

"That depends on if my mom is here."

The two finally made it to the neighborhood. They soon reached a small one-story house that had very minimal features to note. 

Zenatori walked in front of Nagasawa, pulling a house key from his pocket. As he walked up the porch, he momentarily stopped. 
"I'll check if she's here," he said.

The key rattled in the lock for a moment, and Zenatori entered the house. After some time passed, a sudden creak sounded, and the door opened.

"She isn't here," Zenatori said.

The two entered and Zenatori took his shoes off. 

"I'm going to sleep. Make yourself at home."

"Aren't you going to eat dinner?" 

"Nah, I'm tired."

"Hey! Stop right there!"

Zenatori stopped.

"What?"

"You're that tall and you're skipping dinner? Actually, how tall are you?!"

"Huh? I'm only 179 cm."

"That's tall! It's a miracle you grew that big and you live like this." 

She set her bag down and took her shoes off.

"How about I make dinner?"

"Why-"

"Just let me do this, Sakatoro."

Zenatori groaned.

"Ahh... Whatever."

He went to the room across from the kitchen and flopped onto the couch.

"What have you eaten today?"

"Hmm..." Zenatori said. "Nothing really."

"This is absurd! This has to stop, Sakatoro.

"What are you, my mom?"

Nagasawa went to the kitchen and looked through the cabinets.

"Just as I expected. There's nearly nothing here."

She went back to her bag and unzipped it. As she looked through her bag, Zenatori stared at ceiling.

"The outside," he thought. "What if I went with Kuzaki to the outside. Would we die? Would a Shibatsu tear us limb from limb. Or would we discover something greater? I suppose it matters little..."

Some time passed and as the sunlight vanished, the room darkened. 

Zenatori yawned.

"Huh...? What's that smell?"

"Eat up!" Nagasawa said with a smile. She then handed him a pair of chopsticks.

Inside the bowl were pieces of cut onion topped by a fluffy layer of egg on top of it.

He raised a piece of onion and chicken to his lips and lightly blew.

"Well, here goes nothing."

He then took a bite. 

His mind went blank.

He then regained his senses and saw himself in a school hall.

"So your name is... Sakatoro Zenatori?" a girl said. "That name is so cool!"

She followed Zenatori as he walked through the halls. Her long, vivid brown hair and her nice brown eyes almost made it hard for him to speak. 

Regardless, he smiled back at her.

"Yeah!" Zenatori said. "What's your name?"

"I'm Hanakuro Nagasawa. Nice to meet you, Zenatori!"

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you call me out here after class?"

"I just wanted to be friends with you!"

The boy couldn't help but to chuckle.

"Of course! I'd love to be friends!"

"So," she said. "Why does your hair look like that?"

"Huh?"

"Why is there a white part?"

His of black hair was flawlessly split down the middle, and a white discoloration streaked down the front.

"Trust me, you aren't the first to ask me that. I guess I was just born like that."

The two laughed together and talked for some time longer.

Since my 2nd year of middle school. It only went downhill from there.

"I'm not surprised anymore," the teacher said.

Zenatori stood idle awaiting the announcement. Everyone glanced at him from their desks.

"Sakatoro Zenatori," the teacher said with a chuckle. "With another perfect score."

The class erupted in cheers.

"He did it again!" some said.

Zenatori smiled and kicked back in his seat.

It was merely a bubble. It was destined to pop. The more I expanded this bubble, the greater its fallout...

I got arrogant.

"Mama!" Zenatori said with a bright smile. "Look!"

He waved a paper in front of her face. Her grey dull eyes contrasted with her deep raven long hair.

She glanced at the paper and saw the bright red 100 written across the top.

"That's nice, Sakatoro," she said.

She handed him the paper back and walked into another room.

"We're having ramen tonight," her voice faded away.

"Sakatoro?" a voice mumbled.

Zenatori blinked and he was back in his kitchen.

The steam from the eggs rose and he could feel the warm bowl. The room was nearly silent.

"O-oh! Sorry," Zenatori said.

"So," Nagasawa said. "How does it taste?"

"It's good."

"Whoa, are you okay?"

"What?" he said as his eyes glistened. He quickly wiped it away. 

"Wow, my food was so good it made you tear up?"

"My eyes just watered a bit. It's fine."

"What…?" Nagasawa said. "That’s it?!"

"Hey, Nagasawa," he said. "Are you disappointed I didn't make any friends today?"

"What? Do you genuinely think you were going to make friends instantly?"

"Oh," he said. He took another mouthful from the bowl.

Nagasawa stood up.

"Shoot!" she said, checking the stove. "It's 7:40! I told my parents I was coming home early!"

She quickly ran toward the door and picked up her bag. 

"I'll see you tomorrow, Sakatoro!" she said, slipping her shoes on.

The door shut. The house was quiet.

Zenatori looked at the wall and before he knew it, the bowl was empty.

"I guess I was hungrier than I thought."

He got up and walked to the sink. He placed the bowl under the faucet and let the water run over the porcelain.

"Why do I keep thinking about the outside? Kuzaki has gotten that nonsense in my head now."

He turned off the water and stared at the bowl.

The water in the bowl violently swayed, but after some time it became still.

Zenatori finally went to his room and lay in his bed. He checked a clock on his dresser.

"8:09," it read.

He closed his eyes.

"That's right, her first name is Hanakuro. Hanakuro Nagasawa. I've known her for three years and I can't even call her by her first name. This is a different kind of cowardice."

"Do I truly want to change?"

His eyes had finally opened.

He grabbed a jacket from his closet and threw on some black sweatpants.

"I'll change. I'll finally do it. I'll go…"

He ran to the front door and put on his shoes.

"I'll go beyond the barrier."