Kalim possibly has a different definition of friendship than others, declaring that Sebek and Jamil are friends because they knows each other’s names and they chatted, despite how they otherwise knows nothing about one another.
※ Note: EN translated this as Kalim saying that he is friends with Sebek. While Kalim’s original line has no pronouns at all Jamil’s previous sentence establishes himself as the subject: Kalim is announcing that Sebek is friends with Jamil, not himself. Tumblr user umishiqu has a detailed write-up on the conditions that Kalim seems to have for his friendships, his interest in expanding Jamil’s social circle, the genie in the original movie and more. More here ->
When Kalim declares that he and Jamil are friends because they agreed “to treat each other as equals” Jamil says, “That has nothing to do with being friends,” and when he encourages Jamil to make friends from other schools at the NBC social Jamil responds, “I doubt one single social would be enough to form any meaningful friendships…” so it is possible that Jamil requires deeper connections than Kalim.
There is a fascinating pattern of other people using the word “school friend” in situations where Kalim uses just the word “friend”:
Kalim says that taking Malleus on a trip is a normal thing to do because he is just bringing his “friends” to his hometown, but when Malleus responds he specifies, “school friend.”
Jamil prepares a meal for Kalim to share with “school friends” during Beanfest, and when the day arrives Kalim misquotes Jamil outright, substituting in the word “friends” instead.
Despite how Cater corrects Kalim and says “acquaintance” during a conversation about people from his childhood, Kalim repeatedly uses the word “friend,” instead. He also refers to friends of Silver, Lilia, Cater and his tsum.
Kalim says that he is “close friends” with his own magic carpet and that he is friends with Leona, which Leona only ever acknowledges with sarcasm.
Wanting to bring “a big group” of friends to the Firelit Sky event, he invites Cater and Lilia.
Kalim also refers to himself as being friends with the prefect, Grim, Malleus, Trey, Cater, Rook and Silver.
During Playfulland he refers to Jack, Ortho, Jade, Floyd, and Ace as his friends, and mentions making friends with fish, Fellow and Gidel.
There is a running theme of Kalim referring to himself and Jamil as friends and Jamil repeatedly denying it, with Kalim even using the word “best friends” to describe their relationship, which he does with no one else.
The fake-Jamil in Kalim’s dream of Book 7 is constantly referring to Kalim as his best friend, and it is a significant moment in the story when Kalim acknowledges that Jamil’s concern for him does not come from friendship, but from the circumstances of their birth.
That’s right… Jamil’s always worried about me more than anyone else.
But…that’s because I’m his boss. Not because I’m his best friend.
Kalim tells the fake-Jamil that he is not the one he wants to be friends with, saying that he does want to be true friends with real-Jamil, possibly acknowledging that they are not yet friends and it is a future goal.
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 