Childhood Period: Childhood Friend

Upon turning on the water tap, I began to scrub the white hair stained with paint from hands.

-Close your eyes, please.

-Yes...

As I lather soap in my hands, I generate foam that begins to fall on her hair.

-"She obeyed me after cleaning her face that needed washing." Tell me if it hurts the way I wash you.

-Yes...

Her voice sounded subdued as I rubbed the foam into her hair.

-"Himejima Saeko, she is the main heroine in the game, being the girlfriend of the protagonist." Now I'll remove the soap.

-...Yes...

Very docile, she let herself be guided towards the water as I washed her long hair, revealing its silver color.

-Do those kids always bother you?

-...Yes...

After turning off the water tap, I took out my small towel to prevent the water from dripping on her face.

-"It's strange; in the story, it mentions that they met in the third year, and because they were very shy, they quickly formed a friendship. But at this moment, it hasn't been half a year in kindergarten yet." It will remain wet; it's better to go to a teacher for...

-Tell me something, child.

-How do you know my name?

As she spoke, the girl turned towards me, her blue eyes fixed on me, while I had my hands on both sides of her head, holding the towel.

-"Oops, I spoke aloud." Well...

-Yes?

Being so close, I looked away nervously.

-I heard it, yes, I heard it from the kids.

-You're lying...

-I'm not lying.

-Those... kids... call me old lady... garden dwarf... hobbit... no one calls me by my name.

-And the teacher?

-She calls me Himejima.

Her eyes seemed to fill with tears, and her lips were twisted, showing her disgust.

-"Oh, I didn't know that; I think I don't remember many details. I must be more careful with that."

-Answer me, child. Who are you, and how do you know my...

-Your brooch.

My hands moved her face away, which was approaching me each moment.

-We write our names on our brooches; I see you do the same, and the calligraphy is very good.

The girl lowered her face, searching on her shirt for a brooch stained with paint that was hanging.

-My name is Kijima Kaito.

-With a gesture, I pointed to my shirt with my brooch.

-Oh... thank you... Kijima-san.

-Come on, don't be so formal with me; just call me Kai, like all my friends.

The girl turned to look at me, her eyes wide open.

-...But... we just met today.

-Yes, and I already like you. Come and play with us.

Saeko, with both hands, grabbed the lower part of her uniform.

-I'm weird, that's what they always say. I look very old, and my face looks very small.

-You know, don't think too much and come with me. We're playing, and we're going for a snack, will you join us?.

The girl stretched out her hand trembling towards me.

-I trust you; I... want... to take that step.

When she uttered those words, for a moment, my sight and mind went blank.

-"I didn't expect to hear that phrase again."

-I already knew; it's much worse...

Saeko began to lower her hand as her eyes filled with tears, lowering her head.

-Tha...

Taking her hand before lowering it, I held it with both of my hands.

-I didn't expect such a lovely person to accept my invitation so quickly.

-Huh?

-"I must be more careful; I almost left her crying."

As I interlocked her fingers with mine, I started walking, pulling her a little.

-I'll introduce you to everyone, so we must hurry. I don't want to eat sweet and sour pork today.

-Yes.

Saeko began to smile as she wiped away tears with her uniform sleeve. She started taking steps behind me.

-"Even if I didn't know you, I would say it's very cruel treatment. We should have met in the third year, but something changed."

-Kaito-kun, don't you mind if I walk beside you?

-"And it will get worse in the future; developers have no mercy, especially on such an innocent girl." Of course.

As we started walking, a boy emerged from the bushes.

-Kai-kai, are you a hero?

-No, and you just revealed yourself, even if the game continues, I won that extra portion of milk.

-Ohhh, but this doesn't count.

As she started to giggle, Saeko, beside me, began to approach my shoulder.

-You're as soft as a teddy bear.

-"I should have studied more about this video game subculture; I can't understand how they find pleasure in hurting a girl like this just to give her that ending."

**************

POV Saeko

- "There are many things I don't understand since I entered school, and this is one of them."

- Kai-kai, I want to negotiate.

- A deal is a deal; you shouldn't break your promises.

The blue-haired boy began to pout while tightly holding Kaito's hand and pulling me closer to his shoulder.

- Himejima-san, help me.

- I think you shouldn't be so harsh Kaito-kun.

- No, Saeko, he must be responsible like any good man.

Although Kaito looked like a teddy bear, he was like a knight giving orders to his subordinate; his voice was firm, and he didn't let go of my hand, even as we walked. His grip wasn't very strong.

- "Since I entered this school, I've felt very out of place; I'm just a black spot that exists for insults."

- "I'm very different, no matter where I am: a hospital, my home, and now my school, but now..."

- Saeko, if you're thinking there's no place for you, you can take mine; I'll talk to the teacher.

- Ehh?

- There go Kai-Kai's favors; he's always ready to help anyone.

Hiding my face on Kaito's shoulder, we kept walking.

- "This is weird, I'm scared, dad... mom... I don't know why..."

Trembling, I reflexively hugged his arm.

- "This is weird, no..."

Trembling, my breath began to feel heavy. I felt a hand on my head playing with my hair, warm fingers that were slowly...

- Alright, calm down, I'm here, or maybe I'm scary?

- No, Kai-kai, what you give is laughter.

- You'll be...

Kaito didn't release his hands from where they were before, still holding my hand and caressing his head.

- "What am I saying? He said to accompany him; I'm foolish." Hey, Kaito-kun.

- Yes, sorry, I scared you by being impulsive; maybe you don't like sharing utensils.

- "It's easier to say that I don't have a place at the school table." It's not that, but I don't...

- Hey-

Another girl's voice interrupted my quieter voice.

- Don't just stand here; they've already started serving snacks.

- Won't you ask if we won?

- I think it's obvious that Kai won; he gets a double portion of curry according to the bet.

- I want her to eat my extra portion; is that okay?

Looking up, I saw Kaito very serious talking to the other girl.

- No problem because it's for you, but it will get cold if you wait here.

- Then, other races; whoever arrives first wins the milk.

- Hey, not...

- 1...2...go.

The blue-haired boy ran off, leaving us behind.

- Wait, well, it's not time to think; it's time to run, Saeko.

- Uhmm?

Kaito held my hand tighter to run after him, watching his back from behind; I followed his pace.

- "Mom, dad, I still don't understand many things, but I think men's backs are very big."

- "Although I've only read and heard about fantasy all my life, I think something is true now."

With interrupted breath, I reached Kaito on the other side of the courtyard, which looked very calm.

- And I won again.

- That's cheating, Kai-Kai.

- "Friends exist."