It was the week of exams.
The hot summer had officially begun, and the halls of the school were filled with students with books, class notes, and new exam cards.
Every student carried an exam card telling him or her which examination room was assigned.
Sylvian's classroom number was 12 AC.
Akiel's number was 12 DE, where he would be taking exams with Julia.
Several subjects had to be studied during that week: English, Korean, math, German, art, history, geography, computer science, among others.
Quiet as it may be, the atmosphere was anything but quiet.
Students had been studying for hours.
After spending hours reading, Sylvian decided that it was time to go outside.
He went out and breathed the fresh air.
"Finally…"
He stretched and looked at the quiet area around the school.
At that point, he noticed something.
A little cat was sitting a little way off.
The cat's eyes locked onto him.
Sylvian met the cat's eyes.
"...What are you staring at me for?"
The cat closed and opened its eyes.
Sylvian bent a little.
"You're adorable."
The cat moved its head.
Sylvian narrowed his vision.
"...Hold on."
The cat's expression triggered a small memory.
That calm countenance.
Those sharp eyes.
The expression that suggested that the creature was able to judge the person based on their actions.
Sylvian's lips curled up.
"Unbelievable."
He kept looking at the cat.
"...You look a bit like Akiel."
Sylvian covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.
"Alright, this is somewhat frightening."
He grabbed his cell phone and snapped a photo of the cat.
That's when it hit him.
A tiny plush keychain.
In white and blonde.
It needed to be cute enough to put on his backpack.
Or, maybe, something that secretly looked like an irritating person.
Sylvian smiled to himself.
"Maybe I will buy one."
He stood up and took one last look at the cat.
"Don't tell anyone."
The cat blinked.
"Especially that guy."
Elsewhere on the city's outskirts—
Akiel was just done checking over his notes and was busy looking through his phone for a while.
Then, his eyes caught sight of little hamster keychain displayed on a store's website.
He stopped for a moment.
Then, he looked at the beloved hamster housed in its cage.
His new friend whose purpose was to give him emotional support.
Looking back at the keychain.
"…They resemble each other."
The hamster in its cage started moving.
Akiel looked at it for a moment then added quietly.
"Do you agree?"
It was clear that the hamster did not respond.
With a sigh, Akiel returned to his phone.
So, what's so bad about getting a little hamster keychain?
The idea of having something small and cute connected with his new friend seemed interesting to him.
Friendship is something that eluded them.
In no way were they friends.
Arguments plagued their collaboration.
They would annoy one another.
They made a habit out of turning insignificant issues into big ones.
Nevertheless...
they always found traces of each other's presence in the most unexpected places.
And neither of them was about to confess to it..