How exactly does one go about making friends? It isn't a question that people think about or have good answers to.

For example when I tried to think about how I became friends with people in my old world. I had no idea how it happened, it just sort of did. Of course, I couldn't rely on things just happening for me now.

So there I was. Grey sitting down at the desk next to mine and I was at a complete loss for words.

My immediate thought was that I should just follow the script.

Two problems.

One: I don't remember exactly what the main character said or did, only that he annoyed Grey into it.

Two: I really didn't want to go around acting like some dense idiot.

“Hello,” I said. Feeling instantly awkward.

“Hello,” he repeated back.

I didn't have a chance to say anything more as the teacher started the first lesson.

I racked my brain trying to come up with a subject of conversation but was hitting nothing but blanks. Damn it.

Ok relax I'll figure something out. I repeated in my mind.

Before I knew it the bell rang and it was lunchtime.

“Wanna have lunch together?” The result of hours of carefully calculated thought came out of my mouth.

Grey looked at me, “Sure, I guess.”

Listen It was better than nothing. But sadly it was all I had. A master at social interaction I was not.

I got up, pulled out my lunch box and we both exited the classroom.

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Grey carefully studied the classmate who had asked him to lunch.

The boy's attire was already raising red flags.

The two moved to the stairs, then headed up towards the roof.

Grey judged that by the way, everyone hurriedly scrambled out of their path. That his lunch companion wasn’t to be taken lightly.

Definitely someone high up.

But what could he want with me? There's no possible way that they could have figured out who I am.

Maybe some sort of hazing ceremony. Or forced induction into their gang?

Grey felt like he could handle that.

When they stepped out onto the roof Grey paused. The place was deserted.

He had assumed that just like many of the dozens of other schools he had been to, that the roof would be a popular hangout spot.

Clearly gang-related. He confirmed to himself.

"So, what's all this about?" Grey asked, subtly shifting into a combat stance.

Grey watched the complex facial expression the other boy was going through. Guilt, resignation, confusion. He couldn't tell for sure.

"Well, honestly I …. just wanted to become friends."

Grey blinked.

"Ok, so what's really going on?" Grey asked menace creeping into his voice.

The other boy said nothing. He looked conflicted?

"You're trying to get me to join the gang I presume?" Grey asked, peering around the rooftop as if he had missed something.

The boy muttered something that Gray couldn't make out.

"Look, I'm gonna be honest here. I'm the head of the school gang."

The king.

Grey thought he was dealing with the duke or the ace at best, why was the king talking to him? They have to have some information on me.

Grey hadn't heard about black diamond having a spy network or anything similar. They just had some tough fighters.

"And I honestly just want to be friends."

Does he honestly think that I would buy that?

The boy hesitated again before he continued. "Because I know the future."

What? Gray was honestly shocked. What kind of lie is that supposed to be?

"I can see you don't believe me. Ha, honestly who would. But I can offer some proof."

Grey was at a loss. This was obviously some ploy but he simply couldn't figure out what the motive or goal behind it was. Does he want me to think that he's a madman?

Rather than continue conversing with the seemingly insane king of black diamond, if indeed this person was the king. Grey decided to take his chances and leave.

"Look, in a few weeks, a robed figure is going to show up and give you a card. That card is going to grant you supernatural abilities-"

Grey didn't hear the rest as the door to the roof slammed closed.

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I slapped myself lightly. What was I thinking? Oh yeah, I'll just invite him to lunch and suddenly he's super suspicious. Of course, he'd notice people's weird behavior around me and start connecting the dots.

His character is supposed to be smart and perceptive. Telling him that I know the future. Of course, he wouldn't believe that.

"Agh."

I took a few deep breaths and promptly continued debating with myself.

Telling him about the future is all that I have. Even if I told him some other lie, wouldn't me acting or giving advice about stuff I shouldn't and couldn't possibly know set him off anyway?

Honesty seemed like the best option.

Or, well the closest thing to honesty. Telling someone you know the future is already crazy. Telling them you're from another world and in that other world their reality is a Japanese comic. Yep, that's completely nuts.

But what's done is done. It all felt so sloppy. Surely I could have revealed things better.

I sat down on the smooth and gently sloping concrete floor. The roof was a perfectly peaceful spot that also gave a great view of the city with its towering skyscrapers reaching up towards the sky.

I opened my lunchbox and just stared down at my lunch. The old man had to be a chef or something.

The food tasted even better than it looked. In my old world, I had to make my own lunch which usually meant some poorly slapped-together sandwich. Needless to say, this was way better.

After finishing my lunch I enjoyed the fresh air for a few more minutes before I decided to return to class and waited for the break period to end.

Grey didn't so much as look in my direction as class started up again. Hopefully, I could convince him to still work with me. And if all else failed he'd have to believe me once the bestower showed up. Couldn't get more solid proof than a strange entity handing you superpowers.

If he didn't think something was up after that. Then I wasn't sure what I could or would do.

The final bell rang and school ended for the day. I stayed in my seat for a little while longer thinking about how exactly I was going to address the gang.

The classroom emptied quickly. I took my time rising up and packing everything into my bag.

Dozens of students were lined up at the northwestern corner of the school and with all of them bowing as soon as they saw me it wasn't hard to guess that this was the meeting place.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

One boy ran up towards me.

“I told everyone I could sir," the same boy from this morning said.

It took me a few seconds to recognize him.

“Right. Good job.”

I walked forward and stood in the center of the crowd. I didn't consider myself a shy person but with so many people watching me I felt incredibly uncomfortable.

“Now listen up everybody. I've been hands-off for a long time but that ends today.”

My gaze swept across the throng. Seeing no dissent I continued.

“First there will be no more raids on any other territories.”

Some mutters broke out at this. I quickly continued.

“Second, I will be given a report on everyone's activities, every day.”

Looks of confusion met the second order. I kept going.

“Finally meetings like this will be held every Wednesday. Now are there any questions?”

“King, sir, me and a couple of pals of mine were planning on attacking some yellow hearts this afternoon,” a tall bulky boy said.

“Absolutely not. No attacking any other schools.”

“What about the green clubs?” Someone asked from the back.

“No schools means none of them.”

“Does that mean the red spades too?” another boy said.

What the hell didn’t these guys understand about no schools?

“No. You will not attack any school.

If anyone breaks this rule there will be consequences," I said, trying to channel the grave.

“What if they enter our turf, boss?”

“Then it's completely fine.” I had come to the realization that trying to keep them completely under control was likely not going to work. But limiting them probably would give me a few less things to deal with. A man could hope.

The boy who asked the question grinned and cracked his knuckles.

I inwardly frowned at the display but continued on. “Anything else?” I said looking over the assembly.

I waited a few seconds but no one else spoke.

“Good then, everyone is dismissed,” I said finally.

I slowly walked away. I felt like running but would a gang leader run away from a meeting? I didn't think so. I had to project the image of a strong leader after all.

Damn, the main character had it easy. Every time he interacted with a large number of the gang he just lucked into being intimidating.

Shouldn't I be getting some of that luck? I got the world bending over backwards to give me fan service but not anything else?

Was the main character's luck depended on him being an idiot? That's mostly how I remember him lucking into things.

Perhaps it was worth a try? I shook my head.

Tomoe was waiting for me at the school gate.

“What took you so long?” She asked as I approached.

“I had to talk to the school gang,” I said simply.

She raised an eyebrow.

Tomoe was smart, I think. She was at least smarter than the main character, which now that I thought about it wasn't saying much. But still. After the whole gang thing was explained to her in the manga she understood it.

“Yea, I…. accidentally became the school's king.”

Tomoe paused, then asked in blatant disbelief, “How does someone ‘accidentally’ become the leader of a gang?”

“Well, I couldn't back down from a challenge and that sort of led me to. Beating up everyone until I reached the top of the pecking order.”

“You're joking right?”

I wanted to say yes and then never bring up the conversation again.

When Tomoe found out in the manga she gave the main character a few smacks.

I didn't want to get hit. But better now than later. Also since I was the one telling her maybe she wouldn't lash out?

“No, I'm being completely serious. And not only am I the king of black diamond, you're technically …. the queen.”

I didn't actually know why Tomoe was considered the queen. It wasn't something that was explained in the manga. Did she go around beating up everyone like the main character did? Was that what earned you the queen position? It was very unclear.

Tomoe looked away thinking. I braced myself for incoming violence.

“You said this was an accident? How long have you known?” Her expression changed to a murderous one. Instead of waiting for my answer, her fist flashed out.

But before her attack could land on me.

Something else hit me instead.

It felt like a bullet train had run into me at full speed.

I was launched backward from the school gate into a nearby wall.

Into. Accurately described the action but it lacked detail. See I didn't just hit the wall and bounce off. Oh, no. I went halfway through the wall.

If this world didn't have wacky physics I'd be dead. Although I suppose that if the world had normal physics I wouldn't have been blasted into a wall by a kick in the first place.

I looked up at my assailant from my place on the floor. It was Jason.

He shouted something at me but I quickly lost consciousness.

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When I woke up I found myself in a doctor's office, both of my arms wrapped heavily in bandages along with the rest of my midsection.

“What happened ?” I asked, blinking at my surroundings. White walls and floor.

A desk in the center of the room. The place smelled like bleach and hand sanitizer. I was laid down on one of the two patient beds.

“Oh, so now you wake up?” Tomoe said, crossing her arms.

“What?”

“Hmmph, some guy attacked you. I can't believe you let your guard down like that.”

“....W-” I decided to cut off my response.

“How did I get here?” I asked instead.

“You didn't get up after you were hit so .… I brought you here. The doctor said you broke a few bones.”

“Shouldn't I be in, Like, a hospital or something?”

“What! Don't be a baby, you'll be fine.”

I shook my head causing a spike of pain to shoot through me.

Tomoe walked up to me and I felt a second spike shoot through me. This one was fear.

I closed my eyes. But rather than some attack, I felt her hand slip behind my back bracing me as she helped me rise to my feet.

“Thanks,” I said.

Tomoe turned away from me. “It's nothing,” she said quickly.

“Oh, good to see you awake. A fast healer then,” A chubby balding man with thick round glasses dressed in a white lab coat said as he walked into the room.

I assumed he was the doctor but he looked more like a cartoon version of a mad scientist.

He headed over to a large cabinet in the corner of the room, unlocked it, and started rummaging through it.

“Delia,” He called out.

A nurse walked into the room.

I immediately identified her as one but. Honestly, her choice of outfit was off-putting; it was more akin to a risky Halloween costume rather than something any real professional would wear.

“Yes, doc?”

“Has the latest Tsukumo pharmaceutics delivery not arrived?”

“Oh, let me go see.”

The nurse soon returned carrying a large box. I should have been able to guess that it was time for more fanservice with the amount of time I had been in this world and all so by the fact that I had seen my fair share of the garbage by consuming Japanese media.

It happened after she was just a few steps into the room.

The box got the better of her tipping out of her arms. The nurse tried to rectify her mistake.

But it was not to be.

She fell over, atop the box.

The pose she landed in, combined with her revealing outfit.

Well, the scene was a little more than ecchi.

I resigned myself to getting hit by Tomoe but it seemed as though this situation was too much for even her.

No one said anything and the nurse quickly righted herself.

“Sorry about that," she said, adjusting her clothes.

Not that it would help as some parts of it had torn.

I shut my eyes in case Tomoe had snapped out of her shock and wanted to attack me for further staring.

In fact, I kept my eyes shut until we exited the office. Better that, than receiving any more damage in my current state.

The doctor had given me some pills, told me to rest up, and that I'd be fine by morning, which I wanted to question but decided not to.

We walked out of the clinic.

My whole body felt stiff and my balance nearly sent me crashing multiple times but Tomoe helped keep me steady.

“Do you know what the guy who attacked me wanted?”

“He was challenging you for your position,” Tomoe answered.

She took a step forward then turned and glared at me. “I'm still mad about that, you know.”

“Yeah, I didn't mean for any of it to happen.”

“How long have you been the leader then?”

“A year or two I think. I didn't know about it until last week.”

Tomoe seemed somewhat disappointed by the news. I didn't know why. Strange.

“You only found out that you were the king last week?”

“Yes.”

“How does that work?” She asked.

“Well, I-” How exactly was I supposed to answer this? I obviously couldn't tell the truth.

“It .… came to me in a vision.”

“What?”

“Yes, I've been receiving visions lately. They've given me newfound understanding,” I said sagely.

“Really?” She asked, looking at me skeptically.

“Yes.”

Tomoe didn't say anything else and we walked in silence.

“Is your grandfather going to be home tonight ?” She asked when we were two blocks away from my house.

“No, he left me a note telling me he was going to be gone for a few days.”

“I can stay with you till dinner time.”

“What? Why?”

She looked at my arms. I followed her gaze.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, I could help you out .… if you want?”

I felt conflicted.

“Thanks,” I said finally.

And that's how Tomoe ended up spoon-feeding me.