Dexter got ready for school on a dry, unusually cool morning.
He packed his bag and sat at the table for breakfast.
"Are you sure you want to go today?"
His mother asked with a slight frown, creasing her face.
"You should let it rest for a few days,"
She said, her voice thick with concern.
Dexter smirked a little, drew a slow breath and offered his compromise.
"It's all fine, I'll walk slow so it won't get worse. Kensei will come with me, so it's no problem."
"Then fine— but be extra careful…"
His mother added in a strict tone, masking her concern.
Silas noticed Dexter's upbeat mood— a rare sight— and smiled faintly.
"Think something good happened, Mom?"
He asked quietly.
His mother standing beside him, smiling all the same.
"Maybe… it feels like he's changed. I used to be so worried, but now… I guess it was nothing serious to fear."
His mother answered in a voice just as low.
Both, son and mother sat down for breakfast, in silence. The quiet amplifying their relief.
Outside, the morning air carried a soft chill.
Dexter and Kensei left earlier than usual due to Dexter's injury.
The school was just three blocks away, and they usually met at the crossroad to Kensei's block but today Kensei came all the way to Dexter's house to accompany him.
Kensei kept his pace slow while Dexter limped along.
"The way you limp… kinda reminds me of Master Rei."
Kensei said, as they continued walking.
Dexter looked at Kensei.
His face tilted.
"What do you even mean by that?"
Dexter scoffed and broke into a faint laughter.
When he glanced again, Kensei was not laughing.
His face was serious.
Dexter straightened a little, "… Something wrong?"
"It's nothing. When I said that you reminded me of Master, I meant how you carry yourself, even when you're hurting. It doesn't matter what is thrown at you, you always push through. I think, that's admirable",
Kensei said, forcing a silly laugh at the end.
Rei's words echoed in Dexter's head.
He finally grasped the difference between "pushing through" and "still able to".
"That's where you're wrong, I don't push through. It's because I am still able to, that I am going to school today, otherwise I wouldn't have come. I bet it is the same for Master Rei",
Dexter replied, clenching his fists.
In a voice just loud enough that people walking nearby took notice of them.
"Okay, Okay! I get it already, just calm down",
Kensei suggested, his face flushed.
Before Kensei could say more, a familiar voice called from behind them.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
Kensei and Dexter turned their heads.
It was Vanessa,
One hand up in the air… waving,
The other holding her satchel.
"I thought I wouldn't catch up, but it was surprisingly easy. You two are walking slower than usual",
As soon as she finished her sentence,
Dexter's foot caught her attention, wrapped in a crepe bandage.
Her expression softened,
"… You really came to school like that? Will it be okay?"
Dexter tried to shrug it off.
"It's nothing… besides Ken insisted on playing bodyguard today."
"Yeah! That's right. I was the one wh—waiit— what'd you just say?"
Both Ken and Vanessa froze with the same wide-eyed expression.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
Dexter asked, brows furrowed in confusion.
Ken's excitement exploded, "Say that again— Please!".
"Say what? That you insisted on playing bodyguard today?".
Dexter repeated, his frown deepening.
"Ken… Huh? … hmm…"
Vanessa muttered in a low voice, puffing her cheeks ever so slightly as she sulked.
"Huh?! Ken?! I really called you that?"
Dexter burst out again, his cheeks red.
"It's okay, I prefer that name anyway."
Ken grinned as he patted Dexter's shoulder.
"Then… I guess I'll call you Ken from now on."
A faint smile tugged Dexter's lips as he said it.
"By the way, why'd you leave for school so early today?"
Dexter asked Vanessa.
Vanessa slowed down for a moment,
then quickened her pace as Dexter neared her.
"… Huh?"
Dexter blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in her behavior.
Ken knew the reason.
He immediately stepped into action to smoothen things out.
He leaned on Dexter's shoulder and whispered in his ear.
"Why don't you try calling her by her nickname?"
"A nickname? Wait— She had one?!"
Dexter's face emanated nothing but shock.
Ken facepalmed.
"You are the only one who still calls her Vanessa…. She insisted on being called Nessa, on the day she was made class rep. Maybe you were left out of it. Anyways, just give it a try."
Ken nudged Dexter's elbow as he persuaded Dexter to call her that.
"Okay, okay! I get it, stop pushing me already",
Dexter took a light breath and continued in a low voice
"Okay here goes…".
"…Nessa— Wait!" Dexter called out to her.
Vanessa slowed down for a bit and waited for them.
As Dexter and Ken approached her.
Dexter remarked.
"Ok… this still doesn't feel right, guess I'll keep calling you Vanessa."
Her shoulders twitched ever so slightly.
Vanessa froze, then suddenly sped up— almost sprinting.
Ken noticed her ears turning red.
He grinned and turned to Dexter.
"You really know how to upset her."
"That wasn't my intention at all", Dexter muttered quickly.
"It just… didn't feel right calling her anything else."
Ken noticed Dexter's stiffened shoulders and felt the weight of Dexter dragging his feet.
His grin transitioned into a faint smile.
"Let's leave it. Calling her a nickname would just feel weird now."
Ken said as he anchored Dexter.
They could still see Vanessa far ahead, practically sprinting.
The three kept that silent distance between them all the way to school.