Interrupted studying

"Wow, there is nothing like that in Cyprus. Things move a lot slower,some days all I did was walk along the streets wasting my time looking at the old frescoes and mosaics. Mother would be so mad when I was late for dinner." Nekolis replied. He listened to the British boy's explanation and shook his head. "No, not at all. It makes you happy right? So its not boring."

He fiddled with his pen and thought. "At home its always full of life, Mom, Dad, brother, sometimes Nana and Pop Pop, cousins are always visiting. Some nights we'd play football out in the courtyard or in the summer we'd go to the beach and catch cuttlefish. Dad would grill it and we'd have it for dinner." he sighed, thinking of all the noogies and headlocks he received. He could almost smell the charcoal of the grill and the tingle of the warm sun on his face.

"Ah, sorry. I rambled. Mr. Kiku, what do you like to do?"

Kiku blinked. "Me? I..."

What should he tell them? He spent most of his time alone, reading or online.

"I also like tea and reading," he told them after a pause. "And I play video games."

It sounded so pathetic out loud.

Arthur nodded and listened to Nekolis. His family seemed big and warm. Nothing really like his family. Sure it was big, but they were fighting a lot.

He turned to Kiku. "What kind of games do you play?" he asked him shyly. He sometimes played games as well. But most of the time he was reading.

Kiku blinked at Arthur's question. What kind of games?

"Well...Fantasy RPGs...and strategy games...and...etto..." a light blush covered his face "...some other stuff."

...Perhaps he should have just left it at the first two. Why did he feel the need to continue? With any luck, his new friends would just accept what he said and not ask much more.

Nekolis didn't have much to add on this subject. He was never one for video games. In fact, he never really played them until he came to this school. He stayed quiet for this exchange, wondering if he could possibly say anything.

"Wow, Mr. Kiku. That sounds cool. You must be an expert."What games do you play Mr. Arthur?"

Arthur scooted a bit nervously. "Ah I don't really play that much, but I play games like Final Fantasy and Pokémon." he said a bit fidgetting. "Oh and kingdomhearts that as well." He turned to nekolis. "And you? Do you play any games?"

Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts. He had heard of those at least. Played them, not really. He thought about his answer carefully when he was asked. Almost as he was lost in thought.

"Oh! Me? I am not too familiar with video games, but I do like Mario and Zelda." he stammered. He shrunk a bit in his chair. He was nervous about what they would think. "I mostly play football and go bike riding along the beach. Sorry. I am not very exciting."

Kiku nodded. He was glad they hadn't questioned him further. That was a relief.

"I know all of those games," he told them. He paused and then added, "I'm not exciting either, don't worry."

Arthur nodded. "I-I'm not exciting as well either, but as long you enjoy the things you do, i-it's fine right?" he said smiling a bit to his two friends.

Nekolis nodded, smiling at bit. "I agree. Sitting here, talking with you, has been really great. I'm having a nice time."

"I agree as well," Kiku told them and nodded. "As long as you enjoy what you do, then it's fine."

He looked between them. "And I have enjoyed our time here also."

Arthur smiled and nodded also. "I had a good time here as well." What started as a bother, did end up like something nice. He had made two nice friends. He couldn't help but to smile now.

Nekolis laughed softly. He had come to study and come away with friends. "Maybe next time, we can play video games? I'd like to try them out."

Kiku paused. "Well...if you really want to...I don't know how many I have that are for multiple players, though..." He thought for a moment. "I suppose with some we could take turns?"

He looked between them.

"It wouldn't be here, though. It would have to be in someone's dorm, I guess...?" He trailed off, uncertain.

Arthur nodded smiling. "We could do that. I-it sounds fun." he said thinking about it for a bit. He was probably not as good as Kiku but it'd be fun to play together with him and Nekolis.

"W-well I wouldn't mind." he said a bit shyly and looked at Nekolis.

"It does. M-maybe we can do it after classes on Friday? We can get some food and play. Um......my dorm is empty most afternoons.....we could play there? Unless you'd be more comfortable somewhere else?"

He glanced at the others, unsure of his words. He smiled genuinely, maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

"That sounds perfect," Kiku replied.

He was glad that Nekolis had offered his dorm. Not that he would have a problem with people coming into his...but if they were there for games, then they might look through his, and some of them might be embarrassing...so this way he could bring what he liked instead.

"What do you think, Arthur-san?" he asked.

Arthur nodded. "I agree with you Kiku, sounds like a nice idea." he said smiling. He was finally going to do something fun on a friday. Most classmates and others went out but Arthur always was stuck in his dorm room reading or something the like.

He actually had plans, he had plans with friends. This was all too much. He felt his chest tighten slightly and he took a deep breath. "Its going to be a nice time. At least I think it will be. What time should we meet?"

"Time?" Kiku thought about it. "Did you want to do it right after class, in the afternoon? Or after supper? ...Maybe we could eat together, and then go down to Nekolis-san's dorm?"

After having said as much, he blushed a bit and promptly shut his mouth.

"Or...whatever you think is fine..."

Arthur thought about the time too, but before he could answer Kiku was already talking. Though he shut his mouth in embarassment. Arthur nodded and smiled. "I think it'd be nice to first eat together, right? i-if it's okay." he said a bit shyly.

"After class sounds good. T-the courtyard? Then we can get some food and go......to.....my room" he stammered. "I know a good place.....the sandwiches are..."

He looked at his hands and squirmed. Was he saying too much?

"Meet in the courtyard sounds fine," Kiku told Nekolis. "And so does the rest, if it's also okay with Arthur-san."

Kiku couldn't think of anything better anyway. It was always easier to go with the flow than to make decisions. As pathetic as that may seem.

Arthur nodded. "Sounds good." Arthur honestly didn't mind when or where, he was just all too happy he was going to do something with his friends. Not just friends of friends but really his friends. His friends wanted to do something with him. That'd made him happy.

Nekolis smiled again. "Great. Dimitri, the owner is really nice, he makes really good club sandwiches." he blushed

"Sorry, I rambled." He was on cloud nine, he was actually making plans.