[Alex's POV - A few weeks after the move]

I stand outside the door to the judo club, staring at the paper glued to it with clear tape. It simply says "Open House Day." The club itself is inside a large sports center, and I followed a long, blank hallway to get here.

I could still turn back.

Maybe I should turn back.

Johnny’s words echo in my head. "Aren't you afraid? What if no one wants to be your friend?" I shake off the thought and take a deep breath. It’s just an Open House Day. No big deal. Just go in, see what it’s like, and maybe meet someone cool. Easy.

Pushing open the door, I step inside. The first thing I notice is how quiet it is. The large tatami mats are spread out in the center of the dojo, but no one is actually practicing judo. A few younger kids giggle as they try on oversized gis, tugging at the sleeves and spinning around as if they were wearing superhero capes. Their parents stand nearby, chatting idly with one another. Off to the side, a handful of older adults glance around uncertainly, waiting for someone to come talk to them.

There’s no structure to anything. No welcoming instructor. No demonstration. Just scattered people and a table covered in flyers near the entrance.

Sitting behind that table is a boy my age, slouched in his chair with his chin resting in his hand. His expression makes it clear he doesn’t want to be here. He taps his fingers against the surface, not even pretending to be interested in the Open House Day. No one approaches him.

I shift on my feet, hesitating. The whole place feels... off. Like they just threw this together at the last minute. I scan the room again, hoping for something—anything—that might make this feel worth it.

Nothing.

I exhale sharply through my nose. This was a mistake.

I don’t even bother taking a flyer. Without a word, I turn around and step back outside, letting the door close behind me with a quiet thud.

Well. That was a disaster.

I tug at my sleeve, sighing and feeling thoroughly disappointed. I was really looking forward to getting some exercise, but I guess I won't be. Maybe I should’ve just gone to the park again. At least trees don’t ignore you.

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[Alex's POV]

It is a gray summer day today. Yet it's not cold. I can walk around in my T-shirt and not feel chilled, but the thick pack of clouds up above promise a downpour. I checked my weather app earlier, and it shouldn't rain for another six hours, so I'm out in the park again, exploring.

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I might have fallen in love at first sight with the big oak tree near the duck pond, but you never know what other treasures might be hidden in this park.

I already climbed two other trees, but they weren't as fun to climb as I'd hoped. They both left their mark on my clothes. I'm really glad that I chose an old shirt and pants to go out today. My clothes are full of green streaks and dirty smudges, my pants even ripped a little when they'd caught on a cracked branch, and I'm sure my hair is full of leaves and twigs.

I pause beneath a towering chestnut tree, tilting my head back to study its thick, knotted branches. The bark is rough and deeply grooved, with patches of moss clinging to its surface. Large, jagged leaves rustle faintly in the breeze, their edges browned from the summer heat. I'm about to reach out towards the lowest branch to test its sturdiness when someone suddenly materializes beside me.

"Hi there! I'm Hanna! What are you doing?"

I jump in surprise. Turning my head, I find a girl standing next to me. She's at least a head shorter than me and with how close she is standing next to me, I accidentally look right into the dip of her blouse where lace peeks out from her bra. Her chocolate-brown eyes look up at me with amusement, a mischievous glint dancing in them. Her auburn curls spilling over her shoulders, a tiny bow clipped to the side of her head. She's smiling like she knows something I don’t.

She mimics my posture, staring up into the tree as if she’s just as invested in its climbability as I am. I hesitate before answering, suddenly hyper-aware of how dirty I must look. My T-shirt sticks to my sweat-covered back, and my hands are grimy.

"I'm exploring the park in search of good potential trees to climb," I say, stepping around the trunk to put some space between us.

"Wow! You climb trees? Nobody does that these days!" she chirps, bouncing on her toes. In two quick steps, she’s at my side again.

A giggle from nearby catches my attention. I glance toward the sound and see two other girls standing a few steps away. One is tall and skinny, the other short and plump. They don’t introduce themselves, but the way they’re watching makes it obvious they’re part of whatever Hanna’s doing.

I don’t like where this is going. Something about Hanna's grin and the way her friends are whispering behind their hands, sets me on edge.

"Do you mind?" I ask as I gently push Hanna an arm's length away from me. "I can't climb if you stand this close to me."

"O, sorry," she says neutrally, but actually stays put. I stare at her a second longer, wondering what such a young girl could possibly be up to, but decide it doesn't really matter as long as she keeps a reasonable distance and turn my attention back to the tree. This time, I do reach up to the lowest branch, but before I can tug on it, I feel two little hands slide along the sides of my stomach, fingers pressing deliberately against my skin. I jump away startled, yanking my T-shirt back down, my pulse spiking with discomfort.

Hanna just giggles, her cheeks turning pink. "Oh! Sorry," she says, not sounding sorry at all. "Ticklish, huh? I’ll keep that in mind."

A shiver runs down my spine, and not from the cooling air. I glance at her friends—Tweedledee and Tweedledum, I decide—who are barely suppressing their laughter.

I shoot her a look, sharp and cold, before turning on my heel and walking away without another word.

I walk away with my head held high, but my hands are clenched into fists. I'll have to take care to avoid those girls.

I now understand Johny's question better than ever, although I hate that I do: "Aren't you afraid?"