"you know." Masaki started. I looked up at him, "it's not right..the way they treat you. Why don't you stand up to them? I'll even help you. Together, we can win against them." He finished. I looked away again.

"It's not that easy." I said.

"We can make it that easy! They shouldn't treat you like that Kazuki. They shouldn't!"

"It's none of your business!" I screamed and ran off to my house. Opening the door, mom and Sammy were about to go to the store for something. I ran past them, but mom stopped me.

"Kazuki, is something wrong." She said. I looked back at her, but then looked down.

"No. Nothing." I said and walked up the stairs and went into my room. Masaki ended up coming up to my room a couple minutes after me. I looked at the door. "How did you end up here? Mom and Sammy left so the door should be locked."

"I caught them right before they left. They let me in. Look, Kazuki, I'm sorry. I was out of line saying stuff like that to you." Masaki said.

I nodded, "yea, you were. You don't know anything about me Masaki, so you really shouldn't get involved. People at school will hate you if you do get involved with someone like me."

"What do you mean, 'someone like me?'" He replied. "People have no right to tease you or bully you for being you. You have done nothing wrong Kazuki."

"How do you know that for sure? You've known me since yesterday." I said.

"Look, I just do! I know. You were the one."

"The one?"

"That saved me that one day." He said. Saved him? I don't remember anything like that. "When I was drowning. It was about 5 years ago so I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't remember, but I remember it like it was yesterday. These mean kids pushed me into the pool knowing full well that I don't know how to swim. Someone was walking past the fence while I was drowning, and he climbed the fence and jumped into the pool to rescue me. I couldn't believe that there was someone out there who would save a stranger. That's why..I know you're not a bad person Kazuki!"

I remembered now. I was heading home from practicing basketball in the court because I used to enjoy playing basketball, when I saw a kid downing. "Wait! That was you I saved that day?" He nodded. No wonder he wants to help me with those bullies. He wants to pay me back for saving him that day.