Kriss, Michael, and Leo had been inseparable since the first day of high school. Even in their second year as 8th graders at their Catholic school, their friendship had stood the test of time, growing stronger with each passing day. To the outside world, Kriss was the quiet, reserved one—too quiet for his own good, some might say. But his close friends knew better. When Kriss was with them, he was anything but silent. In fact, he was a talker. He could talk your ear off if you let him.
Kriss's bag, a battered old thing that seemed to defy the laws of physics, was legendary. No matter how many snacks he stuffed inside, there was always room for more. Whether it was candy, chips, cookies, or even a forgotten sandwich, if you were ever hungry, Kriss had a snack for you. It had earned him the nickname "Doraemon" among his friends, though not because of any special gadgets or futuristic technology, but because of his ever-present, snack-filled bag. "Got a snack?" was a frequent question at the school, especially when Kriss's friends were around.
But Kriss wasn't just known for his snacks—he was also one of the most active members of the school's extracurriculars. He led the dance club with effortless grace, easily memorizing choreography and turning it into something breathtaking. He played multiple instruments with passion, and despite being a self-claimed "non-athlete," he was always chosen for support roles in team sports. It was like the universe itself decided that Kriss would always be the backbone of any team. In gaming, even if the computer chose his character, it was always the support character. He didn't mind—it felt like he was born to help others succeed. But it was in his quiet moments, when he was around his friends, that Kriss truly let his guard down.
His two best friends were Michael and Leo. Michael, tall and with a quiet intensity about him, was the campus crush. Not just because of his height—standing at a towering 5'11"—but because of his remarkable intelligence. He was always among the top students in his class, especially excelling in math. Though he was a bit reserved and a bit mysterious to those who didn't know him well, his classmates couldn't help but admire him for his calm confidence. He didn't chase popularity—it followed him naturally.
Leo was something else entirely. The tiniest of the trio at 5'2", he wore glasses and had an air of indifference about him that could easily be mistaken for laziness. But those who knew Leo well understood that his laziness was simply a cover for him being genius. While he appeared to be disinterested in most things, Leo was a prodigy when it came to video games. He didn't have to try hard to be good—he was just naturally exceptional. In fact, he had won countless local tournaments with his pro-level strategies, even if his team was made up of beginners. As long as they listened to him and followed his directions, victory was practically guaranteed. When Leo spoke, people listened—whether it was in the middle of a strategy meeting or a heated game of Street Fighter.
Despite their differences, the three of them balanced each other perfectly. They had been through thick and thin, and their friendship was something that couldn't be broken by anything—not even the strange and inexplicable events that were about to unfold.