"You're late."
Arin stopped outside the auditorium.
Kyle Alexander stood by the window, his schoolbag hanging from one shoulder. His tie was crooked, his hair was a mess, and he wore the same impatient expression Arin remembered from a thousand ordinary school mornings.
For a moment, Arin couldn't speak.
He had spent ten years remembering this boy.
Ten years regretting the day their friendship fell apart.
And now Kyle was standing right in front of him, complaining about seven minutes.
"Sorry," Arin said.
Kyle stared at him.
"Wait. What?"
"I'm sorry I'm late."
Kyle took a cautious step backwards.
"Who are you, and what have you done with Arin Vale?"
Arin laughed despite himself.
"Very funny."
"No, seriously. You usually have at least three excuses ready."
"I decided to try something different."
"Should I call a doctor?"
"You're impossible."
"And yet, you're still my best friend."
The words struck Arin harder than Kyle could have imagined.
Still my best friend.
In his first life, he had lost that privilege through cowardice and silence. He had let Kyle face a problem alone because he was too frightened to tell the truth.
This time, he wouldn't repeat that mistake.
Kyle held out a folder.
"Anyway, look at this. The school is holding the academic competition next week. We should enter."
Arin looked at the announcement.
He remembered what happened in the original timeline. He remembered the competition, the results, and the choices that had made him believe he wasn't capable of anything worthwhile.
But he also remembered something else.
Kyle had stood beside him even when Arin didn't deserve it.
"All right," Arin said. "Let's enter."
Kyle grinned.
"That's more like it."
As they walked towards the auditorium, Arin made himself a promise.
He wouldn't use this second chance merely to become more successful than everyone else.
He would become someone Kyle could trust.
And this time, when the moment came to stand beside his best friend, Arin would not walk away.
From here onward, the original relationship and plot are restored. The name is Kyle Alexander, and he is Arin's best friend from the beginning.