The hallway was filled with the lunch period clamor and chaos. Friends chatting beside their lockers and others walking passed. But Mia sat on the bottom two steps of the stairs leading to the second level in silence. No one dared to approach him as he rested his cheek in his left wrist, looking at his right hand. ‘How do I tell Nohan… he’ll probably laugh it off and think I’m joking… I don’t wanna leave and he knows that… but he’s also good at telling when I’m not doing too great-’ Mia looks up to see Rue looking at him, bending down to look eye level.

“What’s up, Kat? You seem distracted?” Mia gulps and smirks, looking away. ‘Knew it,’ Mia exhales as Rue sits down.

“...not really…” Rue raises an eyebrow. ‘I haven’t seen him like this since that girl he had a crush on transferred schools..’

“What’s wrong, you know you can tell me, right?” Mia nods.

“Yeah I know… just… don’t overreact” Rue paused.

“Oh, did something happen to your Dad? Heart problems again?” Mia shook his head.

“No, the AWA finally sent a letter yesterday… and you know how it goes… once they contact you… you can’t say no” Rue’s eyes widen and his heart momentarily stops.

“So… you’re… leaving… me?” Mia looks down sorrowfully.

“Hey, uh-” Mia quickly looks up as someone stands in front of them. His dark purple hair covering his left eye. His right eye was a bright hazel green. He stood 6 foot 2. Mia gulps.

“D-Do… you need something?” the man perks a bit and calmly smirks.

“Y-yeah... Actually… I just transferred here… the name’s Ryuuji Hakao… and I don’t really recognize names to faces yet… any idea where… uh… Rue Achlys might be?” Mia perks a bit.

“Oh, he’s sitting right beside me actually” Mia and Ryuuji turn to look at Rue who looks back at them, his eyes seemingly emotionless, but still with a glint of the lights reflecting.

“What?” Ryuuji gulps a bit.

“Oh-... uh, yeah-... Miss. Whillingford needs you” Rue nods and stands, walking away silently. Ryuuji turns to Mia.

“What’s wrong with him?” Mia shrugs and turns to Ryuuji.

“Well… either way, my name’s Mia Ikati, nice to meet you Ryuuji” Ryuuji pauses and smirks while shaking Mia’s hand.

He quickly repositioned his plate on his arm and snuck a french fry into his mouth before walking up to the table. Ryuuji looked over and waved with a smirk.

“Mia, hey! What’s taken you so long??” Mia plops down across from Ryuuji and Rue who was sitting beside him. No one else daring to sit beside the school labelled ‘Monster trio table’

“Well, I can’t help that I ain’t good at Math tests, Ryu” Ryuuji pauses a bit, nervously laughing.

“Oh- Yeah… probably shoulda guessed that!” Mia bites into the cold school sandwich. Ryuuji chuckling.

“You might not be the best at academics, but you could probably knock down everyone in this school in a one on one” Rue looks up at Ryuuji.

“But he doesn’t like fighting, remember?” Ryuuji’s breath hitches and he looks away muttering.

“Hey, Kat” Mia looks over to Rue who spins a fork in between his fingers, his gray eyes locking onto Mia without any emotion to barely any at all.

“We WILL miss you…” Mia’s eyes widen as Ryuuji looks over, gasping. Ryuuji quickly shakes his head.

“I think what he’s TRYING to say is-” Rue interrupted.

“No… everything I say is true… We-no… I will miss you” Mia puts his half-eaten sandwich down and exhales.

“Look… I know it’s sad that I'll be leaving… but in truth… it was always inevitable… no matter what I did, it wouldn’t change the fact that i’d be leaving for Japan to join the AWA… even if I don’t exactly wanna be an Agent” Rue’s shoulder relaxes a bit as Ryuuji slowly drinks from his milk container as Mia continues.

“My dad has some money I can borrow… why don’t we go out to eat before I leave?” Ryuuji cries fake tears.

“You’re such an amazing friend, Mia!” Rue looks down at his plate and calmly smiles.

“I’d like that… Kat”