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The sound of pencils writing and people inputting numbers into their calculators filled the room. Arin was speeding through the exam. He internally cheered with every question he completed. He had always been particularly gifted in mathematics–and in moments like these–he found joy in filling his page with work and equations. It took everything in him not to look at the boy next to him–a serpentine named Frak–not because he wanted to cheat, but because he wanted to see how his best friend was doing on the exam. Just days before the exam, Frak went over to Arin’s house and started rambling about his stresses for it. It took hours of comfort and hugs and compliments before he finally started to calm down.
Frak was the closest person ever to Arin (outside of his parents, of course). They never stopped talking during lunch. During class, they always found themselves staring into the other’s eyes, trying to make each other laugh. After school, Frak would walk home with Arin to pretend to be a ninja with him. Frak would always spend as much time as he could at Arin’s house. Whenever he was over, the laughter and talking from Arin’s room would never end. It was hard for either of them to spend any time without the other.
Soon, Arin would leave his seat to turn in the test. Much to his dismay, he immediately turned around and left. It pained him not to at least peek at Frak, but last year, a kid hung around for a few minutes after the exam, and they failed him immediately.
Arin was extremely giddy, his heart pounding in excitement. His mind races through the future opportunities this gave him. Math frequently had this effect on him. Truth be told, he used to despise the topic. But eventually, he warmed up to it. It wasn’t exactly easy, though. Back when he thought math was all just about adding and subtracting and rote memorization… he would find himself falling asleep during math class.
Then one day, he went to the library, and somehow found himself engrossed in some math textbook–he remembers the name clearly–”Dyer’s Guide to Pre-Algebra for Newcomers & Dummies.” The name piqued his interest the moment he walked by the aisle. Milton Dyer was the creator of Prime Empire. Prime Empire was a video game that almost caused mass destruction, but the ninja ended up saving the day. Arin tells his parents about the story all the time–the ninja went into the game, and stopped Unagami… Even though the ninja stopped it and Prime Empire is supposedly safe nowadays, Arin still had second thoughts about walking into an arcade with one of its cabinets…
After the Prime Empire situation, Milton Dyer decided to shift his focus to education, of all things. He began teaching and writing books about various STEM courses.
When Arin flipped to the first page, he nearly passed out from confusion. Nowadays, he would laugh about his fascination with such a simple topic, but for eight year old Arin’s brain, seeing anything beyond basic arithmetic was like a new language.
Yet something drew Arin to the book. He came back the next day with a notebook and pencil, and started studying for a topic he hadn’t ever heard about. He was proud to say he was advanced at school for his age, reading and doing math at about a fifth grade level, but something even as simple as Pre-Algebra felt like opening a new world.
Over the next couple of months, he slowly read through the textbooks, and he weirdly enjoyed every last bit of it.
A few days after he became a fourth grader, he got to the functions unit.
Arin felt drawn to them, for a strange reason. Over the next year or so, as he skipped through and dug deeper into the concept in other books, he realized why. In a way, functions modeled life. The shape of different graphs represented all parts of it. The way you grow, the valleys and turning points–the inconsistencies, and more importantly, how life didn’t usually grow linearly.
By fifth grade, he had been going through the books with his best friend Frak, and they both had a newfound appreciation for math. They studied everything together.
Today, they were sixth graders (or–about to be). They had just finished their math placement exam, and even with Frak’s stress, they were more excited than they’d ever been in their lives.
When Frak walked out, however, he looked as if he was about to collapse. He was shaking uncontrollably.
“W-Woah! Frak, are you okay?” Arin rushes to his side, grabbing his arm.
“Yeah– Yeah! It’s just– y’know, stress…” Frak looks back at the test room, a worried look on his face.
“Awh, c’mon Frak! You did great. I know it.” Arin gives his arm a tight squeeze. “And even if you somehow didn’t pass, you’re already so ahead!”
“I-I know, it’s just… I-I’m–” Frak trails off. He looks down at Arin’s hand, and there’s a small pang in his heart. He sighs, trying to shake off his overwhelming feelings. “...Can you believe we’re sixth graders now?” He says quickly, trying to change the subject.
“I know!” Arin says cheerfully. “I’m real excited… have you seen how big the middle school section of the academy is? There’s so many classrooms, and we can actually sit where we want at lunch…” He goes on and on, a big smile on his face.
Frak forces a smile. He knows he has to tell Arin eventually. If he was actually brave, he would’ve told him days ago, and he wouldn’t have ended up wasting any space by taking the exam. But Arin would’ve realized it immediately if he did. He couldn’t have that. It would break him.
“Ohmygosh! Frak! I just had an idea! We should bake a pie at my house to celebrate!” Arin pulls Frak closer in a side-hug.
“O-oh, Y-Yeah! That’s a great idea!” Frak’s voice seems to get back on track. “Let’s do that!”
Frak follows him as they begin their walk towards Arin’s home. Frak had taught Arin how to bake pies when they were only in third grade, though it took a while for Arin’s parents to warm up to the idea of having two third graders handling an ocean.
“Man, can you imagine the pie-making perks you’d get from being a ninja! They get to see all the realms and different lands, and they can collect all the berries and fruits…” Arin exclaims. It’s been his dream to one day travel around the world, and make pies with ingredients from everywhere.
“I know, right!” Frak says back enthusiastically, matching his excitement. “One day we’ll be just like them… like… like Pie Ninja! We could start our own team and we’d all bake pies and pastries and host parties and have our own big baking monastery!” The two laugh loudly at the idea.
“How do you think you did on that test, Frak? I think I did pretty good!” Arin says proudly, looking at Frak for any hints of fear.
“I… I think I did good too! It wasn’t that bad, to be honest…” Frak smiles back, though his secret was still trying to force its way out of his mouth.
“I know you did well, Frak! You’re better than me at math!” Arin hypes Frak up enthusiastically.
“Oh come on, you know that’s not true!” Frak denies, though his smile widens.
“Agh, I’m so glad you’re as much of a nerd for this type of stuff as well… I’m real glad I have you with me, Frak…”
“I-I– uh– I’m glad I have you too, Arin!” The hint of nervousness in Frak’s voice is undeniable, but Frak speaks up before Arin can question him. “I didn’t even know there were people as big of a fan of the ninja in this neighborhood before I met you, dude… then you got me into all that math stuff, and, man–I liked math before–but… I guess learning it with you made it… even better?”
A faint blush appears on Arin’s face, but he tries to hide it. “I-I… thanks… it– that… that means a lot to me.” He looks at Frak, slightly shocked.
Frak curses himself internally for that. Why would he say that?! Now things are going to be even more difficult.
Soon, they approach Arin’s house. As always, Frak savors the small bit of time where Arin’s parents hug the two of them, but this time, he lingers in the embrace just a moment longer than normal–though it’s barely noticeable.
Arin and Frak get out the materials for their pie. The flour, sugar, tapioca, strawberries… the pie baking dishes, the mixers… even in times as stressful as this, Frak still found peace in making pie with his best friend. They were silent while they helped each other bake the pie as always. Pie-baking really felt like an art, as silly as it sounds. They couldn’t afford to focus on anything else, even if that thing was the one they cherished more than anyone in the world.
The two grab the large peel together, their hands cupped around the others as they slide the pie into the oven. They felt it was good practice for building teamwork, as well as the pie supposedly benefiting from being made with extra love.
The duo sat down on the couch. They began to continue their conversation from before, but hints of worry from Frak continued to peek out, and it became too much for Arin to keep going without addressing it.
“Frak… are– are you doing okay?” Arin asks, genuine worry in his voice.
“Arin! I– uhm– of course I am!” He says nervously. He knows he needs to tell him soon– no. Today. There’s not much time left.
“...are you sure? You can tell me anything, promise.” He places a hand on Frak’s, giving it a tight squeeze.
“I’m– I’m sure.” Frak quickly says, but the worry in his voice betrays his words.
Suddenly, Arin’s dad walks into the living room. “Frak?” He says, causing both Arin and Frak to look up at him. “Your dad says you need to see him at home… he says the Explorer’s Club are ready for something?”
Shit. “O-Oh, okay…” Frak looks at Arin apologetically. He begins to rush out, but Arin’s voice calling out stops him.
“W-Wait, Frak!” Arin calls out. He steps up from the couch, opening up his arms and inviting him to a hug.
Frak looks at him reluctantly, but ultimately, he embraces him. They stay in their position for a couple seconds, before they pull away.
“Cya tomorrow, Frak. I hope you feel better soon.” Arin says, a worried smile on his face.
Frak nods, and turns around. But he stops again. He knows he should tell him now. He sighs, a shaky breath leaving his mouth. “Uh, Mr.Nived? Could I have a bit of extra time with Arin… I’ll tell you when I’m about to leave, I just need a minute or two.”
Arin’s dad nods. Frak turns to Arin as he leaves. “Look– Arin. There’s something I really need to tell you.” The guilt on Frak’s face is glaring.
“Anything.” Arin says.
“I-I… I’ve been stressed lately– and it wasn’t because of the exam…” Frak starts, holding back a couple tears. Arin looks confused, but lets him go on. “...I-I’m– I…” There’s a long moment of silence.
“I’m moving out. And I’m gonna be really far, and I won’t be able to hang out. My dad has this stupid work thing with the Explorer’s Club and we’re always moving around and I don’t know if I’ll ever see you again.” Frak says, the words leaving his mouth faster than lightning. He closes his eyes, unable to hold back his tears anymore.
When he opens them, he sees Arin looking at him, confused.
“...W-What?” Arin says, his mouth hanging open for a moment. “F-Frak, I-I–” He trails off. “...why didn’t you tell me?” He asks, a betrayed tone in his voice.
“I-I just… I didn’t want to hurt you. We’re best friends… I love you so much, Arin– I didn’t want to see you hurt…” Frak says, already regretting his decision.
“So you kept the news from me? What would happen after you left? Was I meant to just go on forever wondering why my best friend suddenly just got up and left?” Arin snaps, his voice breaking. He looks down instantly. There’s a look of regret.
“A-Arin, I’m really sorry, I swear–”
Frak is cut off by a tight hug, along with a few sobs. “F-Frak…” He starts quietly. “I… I-I’m really mad at you, okay?” He continues, his voice breaking and lowering slightly as he tries his best to hold in the tears threatening to pour down his face. “T-That phone call… are you leaving right now?”
Frak nods, a pained look on his face.
Arin can’t seem to get any more words out. Slowly, he pulls away. “...Come with me. I-I want to give you something before you leave.” He says, his shaky breathing threatening to let more tears fall.
They walk back to the kitchen. Arin uses the peel to pull the pie out of the oven. He finds a box, carefully placing it in. He hands it to him.
Frak stares at the box of strawberry pie in his hand. “Arin… thank you… I-I…” He wants so badly to say more, but he can’t. The guilt was still eating at him. He wanted to stay longer. To keep talking to Arin, but he knew he had to leave.
He began to make his way to the doorway. As his hand was twisting the doorknob, he turned back to Arin.
“I love you.”
He waits there for a moment for a response, but Arin seems too heartbroken to say anything.
Frak leaves the house, feeling devastated.
-
Sora calls out to Arin. “--rin! ...Arin?! Hello?!” She shakes him. “Arin, there are students wanting to ask you questions!”
“R-Right, sorry.” Arin snaps out of it. He looks away from the math classroom with a group of around thirty kids silently taking an exam.
Him and the other ninja stopped another mergequake–one that happened to form right around the newly rebuilt academy he used to attend. They went in to make sure everyone was safe, which they were–but now they were sidetracked with signing autographs, answering questions, and taking pictures.
This wouldn’t have been a big deal if it were at any other school but this one, but the one where Arin grew up in? The one where he talked to Frak every single day…
He wasn’t in the mood to answer questions anymore. His mind was on Frak. What would he think about Arin now? What would he think about the fact that he was a ninja now?
There’s a sharp pang in his heart as he thinks about their final moments together. He barely manages to keep his composure as he notices Wyldfyre pestering him to go talk to the students.
Arin sighs. He knows Frak was gone from his life now. If there was any chance of running into him again, it was gone now that The Merge had made the possibilities of where he could be endless.
Still, Frak’s words repeat over and over in his head. Those three words, that he regrets never responding to.
“I love you too, Frak.” Arin says quietly, looking down as he rushes to the other ninja to join them in talking.