Next Day…
Leaf was still asleep when the door creaked open.
Softemerged, they, adjusting, they, they, they, theyeps.
"Leaf… wake up. You're going to be late."
No response.
She stepped closer.
"Leaf."
A pause.
"…It's already 9:30. You only have ten minutes."
His eyes snapped open.
For a second, confusion.
Then—
"No—no!"
He rushed out of bed, nearly slipping as he ran to the bathroom. Water splashed, hurried movements echoing through the small space.
Minutes later, he came out, still fixing his shirt.
"Eat your breakfast first."
"I'll be late."
His voice was quick, almost automatic.
They stepped outside together.
The morning air was cool.
"Mom, hurry up… we're going to be late."
"I'm walking as fast as I can."
Ten minutes passed.
The school gate came into vMr.
Still—
Late.
She stopped.
"Go on."
Leaf nodded, a small, quiet smile forming as he turned and walked inside.
She watched him.
Just for a moment.
Then turned away.
But as she walked—
Something in her expression broke.
"I don't understand…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"How is my Leaf still able to smile like that…?"
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"After everything…"
A pause.
"I hate him for being Delta…"
The words trembled.
Then—
"…No."
Her breath shook.
"I hate myself… for giving him this pain."
Silence.
"…I'm sorry, Leaf."
At that moment, another boy rushed past her toward the school.
Late.
Just like him.
Her eyes followed for a second.
"…Looks like he's late too."
A faint, broken smile.
"…Just like my Leaf."
Inside the Classroom
Leaf stood outside the door.
"…Sir, may I come in?"
The teacher turned slowly.
His expression hardened.
"Oh, look, class."
A few students straightened.
"Today, I'll show you something interesting."
His finger pointed.
"See him?"
A pause.
"Mr. Leaf."
Light laughter.
"No… not just a loser."
The teacher's voice sharpened.
"The biggest one."
"A zero."
The laughter grew.
Not loud.
But enough.
Leaf lowered his head slightly.
…Again.
The words didn't hit the same level anymore.
They didn't cut.
Didn't sting.
They just—
Stayed.
Like something carved long ago.
Permanent.
Unchanging.
His fingers tightened slowly.
If I react… they win.
So—
He smiled.
"You stand outside."
"…Okay, sir."
"For two periods."
"…Okay, sir."
Outside the Classroom
Silence.
The corridor stretched empty.
From inside—
Faint laughter.
Echoing.
Leaf leaned against the wall.
His eyes burned slightly.
Don't cry.
He looked up.
Ceiling.
Still.
Unmoving.
It's just another day.
Another insult.
Another punishment.
Another reminder.
"…I'm fine."
The words left his lips quietly.
But even he didn't believe them.
Inside the Classroom
Voices whispered.
"He's so shameless."
"Just like Sir said."
"An idiot."
Moon sat silently.
Her eyes moved—
Slowly—
Toward the door.
Leaf.
Standing there.
Alone.
Again.
Her fingers tightened.
Yesterday…
"I said the same thing."
"Loser."
At that time—
It felt normal.
Everyone said it.
So she said it too.
But now…
Something felt wrong.
She remembered his face.
Not angry.
Not broken.
Just—
Smiling.
Why does he smile like that? …?
Her chest felt tight.
If it were me…
I would have cried.
But he didn't.
He just stood there—
Like he was used to it.
Her gaze lowered.
…How many times has this happened to him?
The whispers grew louder.
"He deserves it."
Something snapped.
"…Stop."
The class turned.
"Oh? Since when do you care?"
Moon didn't answer.
Because she didn't know.
Her eyes returned to the door.
…Why does he feel different?
The teacher clapped his hands lightly.
"Enough."
A pause.
"Today, we have a new student."
Murmurs spread.
"His name is White Phi."
"From C-Phi."
"Our responsibility is to welcome him properly."
"Yes, sir!"
Outside
White rolled forward on his skateboard, slowing as he approached the classroom.
Then—
He stopped.
Leaf.
Standing outside.
"Leaf?"
He stepped closer.
"What happened?"
"I'm just late."
A pause.
"…You're here?"
White smiled.
"What do you think?"
"My father will be here for some time. So I'll be studying here too."
He looked at the door.
Then back at Leaf.
"Don't worry."
"I'll talk to the teacher."
"No, White—"
Too late.
He had already stepped inside.
Inside the Classroom
"Sir, may we come in?"
The teacher turned.
A smile appeared.
"Yes, White."
A pause.
"But why did you say we?"
White gestured behind him.
"My friend is with me."
Sile nce.
Heavy.
"…Friend?"
"Leaf?"
Leaf's eyes widened slightly.
…Friend?
The word echoed.
For a moment—
Everything paused.
Did he really say that …?
His chest tightened.
Not pain.
Something else.
Something unfamiliar.
Something warm.
Don't believe it too quickly…
But still—
A part of him wanted to.
The teacher's expression darkened.
"White… you have a bright future."
A step forward.
"Don't associate with someone like him."
"He's a loser."
"A zero."
White didn't react.
Didn't argue.
Didn't raise his voice.
"If he doesn't come in…"
A pause.
"…then I won't either."
Silence.
"And I'll report this."
Calm.
Sharp.
"You called him a zero."
A slight tilt of his head.
"But even mathematics isn't complete without zero."
The room froze.
The teacher stiffened.
A long second passed.
"…Fine."
A breath.
"Leaf… come in."
White turned.
A small smile.
"Come on."
Classroom — Later
"Students…"
The teacher wrote on the board.
"D stands for democracy."
"Many royals and chiefs carry 'D' in their names.a "
At the back—
White leaned slightly.
"Sounds more like decoration."
Leaf's gaze stayed forward.
"Meaning depends on how people use it."
Moon watched them.
Quietly.
Yesterday's words still lingered.
Recess
Under a tree.
Leaves above shifted gently with the wind.
Leaf and White sat in silence.
Moon approached.
Slower than usual.
"…Leaf."
A pause.
"About yesterday…"
"…I'm sorry."
White glanced at Leaf.
A faint grin.
"So… someone important finally shows up?"
A small pause.
"Stop."
Leaf turned to her.
Calm.
Steady.
"I already forgave you."
A breath.
"You don't need to carry it anymore."
Moon exhaled softly.
"…Thank you."
She sat down.
Silence followed.
But not heavy.
Not uncomfortable.
Just—
Quiet.
Moon looked around.
"So… why here?"
White stretched slightly.
"I thought he had a reason."
Leaf tilted his head slightly.
"I thought you did."
Moon frowned.
"So neither of you knows?"
A small smirk.
"Looks like we agreed on nothing."
A faint breath left her lips.
"…Then let's call it coincidence."
She shook her head.
But there was a trace of a smile.
"You two are unbelievable."
Above them—
Dry leaves fell.
Carried by the wind.
Before spring, leaves always fall…
And when spring comes—
Like a newborn bird—
The tree grows its leaves again.
Pure.
Untouched.
Like a creation shaped by something greater than time.
Days Passed…
Quietly.
Softly.
Almost unnoticed.
But something had changed.
For the first time—
Leaf wasn't alone.
White.
Moon.
Not just names anymore.
Something real.
Something is growing.
January 27th
His mother stood at the door.
"Leaf…"
A pause.
"Tomorrow is your birthday."
"So what?"
"You're not excited?"
"…I am."
A small silence.
"But I don't feel anything."
She stepped closer.
"There's a surprise."
Leaf looked up.
"…Your father is coming back."
Everything—
Stopped.
"And I arranged a party."
A soft smile.
"You can invite your friends."
"…White and Moon."
A spark.
Small.
But real.
"…Really?"
"Yes."
He stood.
"I'll go invite them."
Forest
Moon wasn't home.
So—
Leaf went to the forest.
White was already there.
Sitting.
Still.
Too still.
Something felt wrong.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
Just sitting.
Leaf didn't move immediately.
He watched.
Listened.
The wind was calm.
But—
White's breathing wasn't.
Too fast.
Too uneven.
Leaf stepped closer.
"Tomorrow is my birthday."
"So?"
"You're coming."
"…I'll come."
Leaf sat beside him.
Silence.
But this silence—
It was different.
"…White."
No response.
"…What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
That word again.
Nothing.
Slowly—
Leaf reached out.
His hand touched White's arm.
Cold.
Not normal.
Not from the wind.
Empty.
His eyes narrowed.
Why is his body this cold? …?
His breathing…
Something's wrong.
"That's not the truth."
Silence.
"The one you're hiding."
A pause.
"If you see me as your friend…"
"…then tell me."
Another pause.
"…If not…"
"…I'll understand."
White's hand tightened.
"…Leaf…"
His voice felt distant.
"…It's not simple."
"Then say it."
Silence stretched.
The wind passed again.
Heavier this time.
"…Leaf…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…I…"
"…I don't think I can."
Then—
Everything shifted.
Leaf's vision—
Collapsed.
Not darkness.
Something deeper.
Endless.
No ground.
No sky.
Only—
Silence.
Then—
A presence.
Far ahead—
A massive figure.
Unclear.
Unreachable.
Watching.
In front of it—
Another form.
Smaller.
Human-like.
Glowing.
Golden.
Its light—
Too intense.
Its eyes—
Black.
Empty.
"LEAF."
The voice didn't echo.
It existed everywhere.
"…Who—"
"Don't ask."
Sharp.
Absolute.
"Forget me."
A pause.
"Listen."
The air grew heavy.
"I know your past."
"I know how they see you."
"I know the weight you carry."
Leaf's chest tightened.
"But understand this—"
The light intensified.
"Not all pain is destruction."
A pause.
"Some of it is preparation."
Silence.
"You were not broken."
"You were shaped."
The words settled deep.
"Shine."
"But not like the sun others see."
"Shine in a way only darkness can understand."
A pause.
"Because true light…"
"…is not born in comfort."
The air trembled.
"A star of hope…"
"…exists where pain refuses to die."
"And now—"
"…it begins with you."
Leaf couldn't move.
But he listened.
Every word—
Carved.
"Stand."
"Move."
"Take what was denied to you."
A pause.
Each word is slower.
"Hearts."
"Truth."
"Clarity."
"Will."
"Humanity."
Silence.
"…and the strength to protect a smile."
Leaf forced his voice.
"…Who are you?"
The entity—
Smiled.
A blue wave surged forward.
Cold.
Soft.
Endless.
Then—
Darkness.
Return
"Leaf…"
A distant voice.
"Wake up."
"Open your eyes."
Light returned.
Blurred—
Then clear.
White.
Holding him.
Concern visible.
"What happened to you?"
Leaf sat up slowly.
Breathing unevenly.
"…I saw him."
"Who?"
It "…Him."
White frowned.
"Explain."
A pause.
"…This isn't the first time."
"…Last year."
"…Before my birthday."
"I saw the same thing."
His voice lowered.
"I told people."
"They didn't believe me."
"They called me a monster."
Silence.
"Kids avoided me."
"…Some didn't."
A pause.
"They hurt me."
White's expression hardened.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Leaf looked down.
"…I thought…"
"…you would be afraid too."
A moment.
"No."
White stepped closer.
"You're my friend."
That was enough.
Leaf's vision blurred.
Not pain.
Something softer.
He stepped forward—
And hugged him.
"…Thank you."
White didn't move away.
"Don't cry."
A quiet breath.
"…You're not alone."
The wind passed gently.
Leaves shifted above.
And somewhere—
Between silence and sound—
The truth settled.
When someone stands beside you—
Even the deepest pain begins to loosen its hold.
Because friendship…
It is not just a bond.
It is something rare.
Something pure.
Something theeeat even suffering cannot erase.
Friendship…
is one of the most beautiful and strongest creations of the Almighty.