06 I Want to Be with You Outside of School Too!
/06 I Want to Be with You Outside of School Too!
*Shaurya was a cheerful and kind boy.
/*Shaurya was a cheerful and kind boy.
He had many friends at school, and especially talked a lot with *Riku, who sat next to him.
/He had many friends at school, and especially talked a lot with *Riku, who sat next to him.
*Riku was energetic and funny, but a little selfish.
/*Riku was energetic and funny, but a little selfish.
“*Shaurya, help me color my drawing in art class today!”
/“*Shaurya, help me color my drawing in art class today!”
“Huh? But the teacher said we have to do it ourselves.”
/“Huh? But the teacher said we have to do it ourselves.”
“It’s fine! You’re good at coloring, so do it for me!”
/“It’s fine! You’re good at coloring, so do it for me!”
*Shaurya looked troubled, but still helped *Riku a little with his drawing.
/*Shaurya looked troubled, but still helped *Riku a little with his drawing.
This kind of thing happened many times.
/This kind of thing happened many times.
One day during lunch, *Riku said,
/One day during lunch, *Riku said,
“*Shaurya, trade your favorite dessert with me!”
/“*Shaurya, trade your favorite dessert with me!”
“Hmm, I was really looking forward to it today…”
/“Hmm, I was really looking forward to it today…”
“Come on, we’re friends, right? You can do that much for me!”
/“Come on, we’re friends, right? You can do that much for me!”
*Shaurya started to feel a bit uneasy.
/*Shaurya started to feel a bit uneasy.
He didn’t dislike *Riku, but lately, *Riku had been making unreasonable requests using the phrase “because we’re friends.”
/He didn’t dislike *Riku, but lately, *Riku had been making unreasonable requests using the phrase “because we’re friends.”
When he got home, *Shaurya talked to his dad.
/When he got home, *Shaurya talked to his dad.
“*Riku is a good friend at school, but he’s kind of selfish… Sometimes I wish I could sit somewhere else.”
/“*Riku is a good friend at school, but he’s kind of selfish… Sometimes I wish I could sit somewhere else.”
His dad listened quietly and then said,
/His dad listened quietly and then said,
“That’s an important feeling. But you know, kindness isn’t just about going along with someone. It’s also about caring for your own feelings and watching over the other person’s growth.”
/“That’s an important feeling. But you know, kindness isn’t just about going along with someone. It’s also about caring for your own feelings and watching over the other person’s growth.”
“But what should I do?” *Shaurya asked. His dad continued,
/“But what should I do?” *Shaurya asked. His dad continued,
“First, try telling *Riku how you feel. Saying ‘That’s a bit hard for me’ takes courage, but it’s important. It will help *Riku too.”
/“First, try telling *Riku how you feel. Saying ‘That’s a bit hard for me’ takes courage, but it’s important. It will help *Riku too.”
The next day at school, *Riku said again,
/The next day at school, *Riku said again,
“*Shaurya, do my cleaning today too. I played too many games yesterday and I’m tired.”
/“*Shaurya, do my cleaning today too. I played too many games yesterday and I’m tired.”
*Shaurya took a deep breath and said,
/*Shaurya took a deep breath and said,
“*Riku, I have my own cleaning to do, and helping every time is a bit much. Let’s each do our own part.”
/“*Riku, I have my own cleaning to do, and helping every time is a bit much. Let’s each do our own part.”
*Riku looked surprised, then pouted and said,
/*Riku looked surprised, then pouted and said,
“What? That’s cold…”
/“What? That’s cold…”
That day, things felt a little awkward.
/That day, things felt a little awkward.
But *Shaurya remembered his dad’s words.
/But *Shaurya remembered his dad’s words.
A few days later, *Riku spoke to *Shaurya.
/A few days later, *Riku spoke to *Shaurya.
“Sorry about the other day. I might have been a bit selfish. When I did the cleaning myself, it was surprisingly fun.”
/“Sorry about the other day. I might have been a bit selfish. When I did the cleaning myself, it was surprisingly fun.”
*Shaurya smiled and said,
/*Shaurya smiled and said,
“Really? I want to stay friends with you. I hope we can play together outside of school too.”
/“Really? I want to stay friends with you. I hope we can play together outside of school too.”
*Riku nodded happily.
/*Riku nodded happily.
“Then come over to my house this Saturday! We can play games and go outside too!”
/“Then come over to my house this Saturday! We can play games and go outside too!”
From that day, their relationship began to change little by little.
/From that day, their relationship began to change little by little.
*Riku started doing things on his own, and *Shaurya learned to express his feelings.
/*Riku started doing things on his own, and *Shaurya learned to express his feelings.
Kindness isn’t just about being nice.
/Kindness isn’t just about being nice.
It’s about caring for others while also valuing your own feelings.
/It’s about caring for others while also valuing your own feelings.
And believing in the other person’s growth and watching over them.
/And believing in the other person’s growth and watching over them.
*Shaurya felt that as he laughed together with *Riku.
/*Shaurya felt that as he laughed together with *Riku.
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
Q1. Which of the following did *Riku ask *Shaurya to do?
/Q1. Which of the following did *Riku ask *Shaurya to do?
A. Change seats during lunch
/A. Change seats during lunch
B. Do his cleaning for him
/B. Do his cleaning for him
C. Do all his homework
/C. Do all his homework
Q2. From whose words did *Shaurya learn about kindness?
/Q2. From whose words did *Shaurya learn about kindness?
A. His homeroom teacher
/A. His homeroom teacher
B. His mother
/B. His mother
C. His father
/C. His father
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
If a friend asks you something that makes you feel, “That’s a bit hard,” what would you say?
/If a friend asks you something that makes you feel, “That’s a bit hard,” what would you say?
If *Riku hadn’t shown any growth, how do you think their relationship would have turned out?
/If *Riku hadn’t shown any growth, how do you think their relationship would have turned out?
