Chapter Text
"Hmm.. let's see.." Satoru carefully looked at each of her answers on her worksheet, flipping the pages as he hummed while nodding.
The six year old kid clutches the hem of her shirt, anxiously looking between her teacher and her work book.
"Uh huh," he pointed at one of her answers on the left page, bringing the book down at her level.
She looked down, her eyes went to the question his index finger was pointing at.
Mark brought 6769 knives in his school. He gave 3/5 of the knives to the principal. Then gave 1/4 of the remaining knives to his friend John. How many knives does Mark have left?
What the heck is even that question? This is fractions we're talking about, and this is supposed to be taught to 6th graders.
Not a kid that is barely a 2nd grader would know.
And who the hell is even Mark and why did he fucking brought 6769 knives at his damn school? The book could have said bananas, that would be more tolerable.
ⓐ. 2060
b. 2050.6
c. 2030.7
d. 2030.9
She looked at her answer, and looked back at him with a puzzed frown.
He just patted her hair and made her sit on a chair as he set the book down on the table.
"Your answer is letter a," he taps his pen on the book, "but the answer is letter c," he encircled the letter c.
"But knives cannot be split in half so it must be a whole number," she argued.
"Sometimes, math problems do that to confuse the one who answers." He lectured. "Don't focus on the object alone, look at the numbers, both of it matters."
"But numbers makes my head hurt," she whined as he hummed in amusement.
"I know, baby. You'll get use to it, m'kay?" He reassured her. "Also, whenever you don't know the answer, try answering letter c. That's usually the most common one."
"Really?"
"Yeah! But of course, don't answer c in all of the questions. Remember the elimination technique I taught you?"
She nodded.
"Good."
It has been two years since he became her teacher. It took him almost a year before she finally warmed up to him.
She still visits her parents from time to time together with him, of course. Despite having Satoru as her parental figure, she still misses her biological parents as a normal child would.
She would cry every now and then, and Satoru would have no choice but to give in on whatever she wants. Despite time, being his immortal enemy, he still manages to make everything work out.
Two months from now, she'll officially be a student of Kosei Academy. A little bit earlier than the supposedly 3 years of formal training.
She sighed as she plops her pencil down, making it fall between the slope of the book.
She sighed once again, banging head forehead up and down the table.
"Hey hey," Satoru went near her, his hands covering her forehead, preventing it from falling down the wooden table. "Don't do that."
She swats his hands away, making him frown at her actions. "I deserved that."
"Baby, no." He frowned more.
"I don't get any of these!"
"That's why I'm here," he sat down on the chair beside her. "You're not supposed to get all of it. We'll go over it one by one, okay?"
"I'm tired," she said, leaning her left cheek on the table as both arms followed. "I've been doing this for hours," the latter words came out as a murmur.
"Okay, let's take a break. Where does my baby wanna go to?"
"My mom."
".. Aside from that."
"There we go."
It was a sunny day. Kids of all ages can be seen playing at the park. A lot of shouting and laughter could be heard. Parents sat on the bench, checking at their child from time to time.
She clutched the hand that was holding her, the latter held it tighter in response as he looked down at her and crouched down at her level.
"We're at the park."
"I know that," she looked at him, the corners of her mouth turned upside down.
"Don't you want it here?"
"..."
"Come on, you have to make friends." He pinched her cheeks as she swats his hand away. "You need to learn how socialize with others. You're going to school in two months."
"I already have one."
"You do?" He tilts his head at her.
She nodded on pointed her finger at him.
"Aww, that's so nice of you," he squeezed both of her cheeks with his hands which made her whine as she tried to get it off of her. "But you still have to talk with others. Be friends with someone your age."
She shooked her head no.
"No?" He imitated the way she shook her head. "If you made a friend this day, I'll buy you an ice cream."
"..."
"Three scoops of vanilla cone ice cream with rainbow sprinkles on top."
"..'kay," she sighed defeatedly as he ruffled her hair.
"Good, now go." He gently pushed her back towards the playground. "I'll be right here, okay?"
He sat down on the bench as he looked at her who slowly walked on the field anxiously looking around. She was already half way there when she looked back at him.
He mouthed the words "You can do it." as he gave her a thumb's up. She just frowned in return and look ahead of her.
As an only child, she never got to have someone her age to play with her, but in her hometown, there were kids around her age. The only problem is that her parents won't let her interact with them. They've been playing the she's just a three year old card every now and then.
Well, whatever. It's not that she already gained consciousness back at that age, or did she?
She continued to walk ahead the centerbof the field. She saw a small rock and kicked it hard enough to make it flew. "Stupid sensei."
"Ouch!"
"What do I even need friends for."
"Oi!"
"It's not like it'll make me smarter."
"Hey you!"
"I'm just doing this for ice—" A gripped on her shoulder interrupted her self bickering. The force of the hand made her automatically turn around its owner.
"You lookin' for a fight?!" A boy, about three years older, shouted at her.
She furrowed her eye brows and took a step back, not saying any word.
"Hey," He stepped closer. "Answer me."
She stepped back again. What is his problem?
Satoru told her to make friends, seems like she's gonna have the opposite of a friend.
"Can't speak?" He mocked her, when he received no response, there was a slight change in his tone. "Are you mute or something?"
"..."
"You have hearing problems? Oh wait," he said as he told her "Are you deaf?" in a sign language. It just made her more confused at him.
"Still can't understand? Bear with it, I'm new to this. I just learned this last week," he made another sign language saying, "Are you one of those special kids?"
Needless to say, she got weirded out. All she was seeing was a boy making some unknown incantation spell hand signs that made her freak out as she slowly stepped back and ran away.
"Hey wait!" He stepped forward but then stopped when he realized she was none of her business, "what a weirdo.."
It made him mentally punch himself for wasting his energy, picking a fight with a person with disability.
"Satoru."
"Huh," he turned around at the owner of the voice. "Oh, Suguru. What took you so long?" He said as he grabbed the ice cream at the latter's hand.
"The line was too long," Suguru sat down at the bench near them as Satoru followed. "I almost didn't get any because of this one guy."
"What guy?" Satoru asked, lifting the cone near his mouth, licking the ice cream as he looked at him. The latter just looked at him in disgust. Too sweet.
"He ordered all of it. The vanilla ones."
"He what?!"
Suguru just rolled his eyes at him. "As if you wouldn't do the same."
"Fair enough, but why the hell would he buy all of those?" He said, drops of ice cream fell on his pants. "Whoops."
"Don't know. Maybe he's gonna treat his friends?"
"Or he's gonna eat all of those himself," he said, biting the cone of his half-eaten ice cream.
"He might actually be your doppel ganger."
"You believe in those?"
"Starting to right now," he looked at his friend who engulfed the remaining cone. "By the way, who was that?"
Satoru wiped his mouth with a towel. "Who's who?"
"The girl you were talking with earlier," he looked at her suspiciously.
He snorted, "Pft, the one who was this tall?" he laid his hands flat in the air, his palms facing forward as he lowered his hands about three feet in the air.
Suguru gave a breathy laugh, "Yeah, whatever. You're not that tall either."
Satoru rolled just rolled his eyes at his last remark. They're aleady tall for their age but yes, growth spurt will eventually find its way on them, definitely.
"I'm not talking to her, actually." He looked up, thinking deeply. "She's mute and can't speak, so I did sign language."
"Did she understand?"
"I think not, either I suck at it or she's dumb," he leaned his back on the bench, his legs spreading wide, "Probably the latter."
"Hey don't be rude," Suguru scolded him. "She's still young. Probably didn't have formal lessons for it."
"Maybe," he looked at him. "Sucks to have a low IQ."
"She's still young," Suguru argued.
"We are young. Doesn't justify it."
"You're 9, and takes advance courses."
"So do you."
"So does she? No."
"Why are you defending her?" Satoru looked at him displeased.
She puts both of her hands on her knees, panting heavily.
"That— that was— that was weird," she muttered in between her breathes.
She sat down on the empty bench, trying to catch up her breathe.
The last thing she ever want to see is a white-haired dude doing some Naruto hand signs.
"You okay?"
She looked at the owner of the voice.
"What happened? Did someone chase you?"
She stayed silent for a second before finally answering, "No.. I— I just uhm.."
"You just..?"
An idea popped out if her mind. If not now, then when? It's probably the right time to say the phrase she's been repeating non-stop on her head earlier.
"Uhm, do you wanna be.. friends?" She almost choked at the last word. She can't help but felt a huge wave of anxiousness at what she just said, but she'll do it for the sake of her beloved vanilla ice cream.
The girl in front of her just smiled. "Sure," she sat down near her as she handed her a water bottle, "Here, you seem dehydrated."
"Dehydrated?"
"You don't know what it means?"
She slowly shook her head no.
"It just means you don't have enough water in your body."
"Oh," she said, grabbing the bottle, drinking it up. "Yeah I think I know that. I just.. forgot," she laughed awkwardly.
All the terms and concepts have been mixing up on her brain lately. Everyday, she was encountering new sets of words from Satoru. According to him, she might not fully know their meaning instantly so, she must at least familiarize herself with it.
"Come, let's play tag with the others," she said as she holds her hand.
"O-okay.." She let her drag her to wherever they were going to. "Wait, what's your name?" She asked, as she was still being dragged away.
The girl looked at her as they ran, "Shoko, you can call me Shoko," she smiled at her. "And you?"
"Y/n." She smiled back.
Satoru payed the ice cream vendor in cash, "There."
"Uh.. Sir, you can't buy all of it," the vendor said, gesturing at the people who was falling in line behind him.
He payed no mind in looking back, "So?"
"It's strictly for 1-3 purchases only per person."
He raised his brows to the vendor. If only it were a female worker, then his looks alone might have worked. "Excuse me? I already payed. Cash payment," he slightly pulled his shades halfway through his nose, revealing a striking set of blue eyes, "keep the change."
Tipping in Japan was considered rude. Maybe with the exception if the vendor is a foreigner.. according to Satoru.
The vendor just gulped at the threatening aura he was feeling. "Y-yes sir."
Unbeknownst to Satoru, the vendor still kept and hide some of the packed ice cream cones deep inside the fridge. Good thing it was hidden from his sight.
"Here, sir," the vendor lifted one big plastic bag filled with ice cream.
"Oh, I forgot to tell. Keep it in the fridge, I'll get it later. I still have something to do." Satoru said, while looking at his wristwatch.
"R-right."
He went back to the bench he was sitting at. He sat down, still looking at his watch. He seemed to be in deep thought, what is he thinking?
"Ahhhhh gotchu!"
"Ahh!"
"No you don't."
"Haha no!"
"Bleghhh!!"
A bunch of laughter and giggles here and there could be heard not so far away. It made him look at the source of the sound.
Y/n.
A faint smile tugged at his mouth. It was indeed better seeing her as a kid living a normal happy life than seeing her as a cold lifeless corpse inside a coffin.
He shook his head, desperately removing the negative thoughts that were forming in his mind.
He should at least be thankful that he still got to see her. Though she might not be the Y/n in his current timeline, she is still her.
He knew that there were lines that he could never cross. She hadn't lived those memories yet, and hadn't become the person who knew every corner of his heart.
She was much younger, untouched by the future that he carried alone. Still, no matter how desperately his heart recognized her, he refused to let his feelings outweigh his principles.
His love for her was deep, but of course, he still have his morals. His love was strictly guided by his own sense of honor and boundaries.
After believing he had lost her forever, simply hearing her laugh again, seeing the way her eyes brightened, or watching her exist in front of him felt like a gift he never thought he'd receive twice.
Whether she remembered him or not didn't matter. He does not care whatever timeline she came from, he loves every version of her.
If fate had placed a different version of her before him, then he would cherish this one just as sincerely.
"Senseiiiii!!!"
A voice broke his focus. She ran up to him, panting heavily but with a big smile that shows her teeth.
"Did you have fun?" He beamed down at her, his hands reaching at the bag beside him. He opened the bag and pulled out her tumbler.
"Yeah! I also made a friend!" She said excitedly as he smiled, popping open the lid of her pink tumbler making the straw pop out. Leaning forward, he gently held it to her lips while she took a sip.
"I know you could do it," he made her hold the tumbler as he turned her around so her back was facing him, she continued to drink on it. "It wasn't so hard, was it?"
"Mmhm.. only a little."
Her response made him chuckle as he pulled out a white towel from the bag, he wiped the sweat from her back, after a few gentle strokes up and down, he patted the soft cloth flat against her back to catch the rest. "There.. we.." he wiped the remaining sweat from her forehead, "..go. All done."
"Oh wait I forgot one thing," he made her turn around again to face her back. He pulled out a baby powder, poured a handful amount on his hand before spreading it across her back. "Okay done," nuzzled his face on her neck which made her get tickled.
"S-stop that!" she giggled, trying to push his head away.
"You smell good now," he said, leaving her poor ticklish neck alone.
It made her frown, "Am I not earlier?"
"I'm just kidding, baby," he stood up as he slings her backpack on one side of his shoulder, gripping the strap with his right hand, while he hold her hand with the other "Let's go get you your ice cream."
"Yehey!"
They walk out of the park. She briefly turned around and caught a glimpse of a short brown-haired girl.
"Bye bye!" She waved a good bye at her, the latter doing the same.
"That your friend?" He looked at her line of sight, seeing a familiar figure. The only difference, was how young she is. Shoko.
"Yeah!" Her eyes crinkled from happiness as she looked up at him.
"I see," they continued walking ahead. "Did you made some other friends too?"
"No," she frowned a bit but then remembered something, "Oh!"
"Hmm?" He looked down at her, adjusting the bag that was hanging lowly on his shoulder.
"I don't think it's a friend though." She scratched her head, thinking. "He was a weird one."
"Weird or not, a friend is still a friend."
"He asked if I'm looking for a fight."
"..Oh?"
"And he thought I can't speak and hear."
"..." He subconsciously stopped on his tracks, making her stop too.
".. sensei?" She looks at him worriedly. He seems to be remembering something. "What's the matter?"
The man just turned around, squinted his eyes as he scanned the area looking for something, or rather, someone.
"Huh?" She tried to look at where he was looking at. "What are you looking at?" Unfortunately for her, she can't see whatever he was looking at.
"What was his name?"
"I don't know," she raised both of her shooulders. "I just ran away because he was doing some weird hand gestures!" She looked around before whispering, "I think he's one of the special kids you taught me about."
He pinched the bridge of his nose, laughing despite himself. "You think so?"
"Yeah, but I don't wanna be rude by asking him that."
"Of course you don't," he patted her head. "But do you at least remember what he looks like?"
"Uhm.." she hummed, the duo continued walking on their way. "He has a hair like an old man."
"..."
Needless to say, that sentence dealt a blow to his ego.
They continued their short journey until they reached the ice cream stall. The vendor audibly gulped when he saw a tall figure approaching him.
"I'm back," he went closer. "Where's our ice cream?"
"Here," the vendor extends his trembling arms that were holding the plastic bag. "T-thank you."
"Yeah, yeah," he immediately grabbed the plastic bag. "You're welcome."
"Alright," he grabbed her hand. "Let's go!"
He lead her to a nearby bench. The both of them settled down, a nice view of the sunset could be seen. Both enjoying the company of each other in silence as they indulge in their gluttonious practices.
"Sensei," the child looked up at him with curious eyes, mouth full of white stains, her small hands gripping tightly the cone of her vanilla ice cream as she licked the liquid melting down its side.
"Hmm?" he turned his head to the right and looked down at her. The mess that she was in made him chuckle before pulling out his handkerchief, sweeping away the stains that spread all across her face.
Satoru had never thought that she was this messy as a kid.
"Did you," she licked her ice cream first before continuing again, "come from the future?"
Satoru blinked.
Of all the questions he'd expected, that wasn't one of them.
They said that kids around this age often say things that they can't fully comprehend yet. They really had a way of asking impossible questions as though they were the simplest things in the world.
Despite this common knowledge, Satoru can't help but get himself caught off guard at her question.
He finished the last bite of his ice cream and dusted his palms together, brushing the crumbs from his hands.
He looked at her with a soft smile, "What made you think like that?"
Despite his soft smiles, she frowned at him as she lowered her gaze, tracing circles against the cone with her thumb.
That sight immediately made the man frown too.
"Hey," he called her, gently moving his hands up and down her hair, "what's with the frown?"
She swats his hands off her hair with a pout. "Because you always go away."
He can't blame her. He really does go away every so often because he has some errands to do, but Satoru never really mentioned to her what is it.
"You never want me to go with you!" She huffed, crossing her arms, making the half-eaten ice cream fell on the ground.
"Sweetheart, you know that kids are not allowed in there," he cooed at her. A little bit pleased with himself at the new endearment he just gave her.
"You never tell me where you work."
More like when he work.
"Is that why you think I'm from the future?"
"Hmph!"
Aww, how cute. Who knew that a little shit could throw a tantrum like this.
If this were any other kid, they'll definitely get a bump on their forehead.
"Alright," Rising from his seat, he bent down and scooped the child into his arms, "come here."
"No! I don't want you anymore!" The kid let out an indignant protest, wriggling relentlessly and pushing against his chest, but his grip remained firm.
"Hush now. We're going to the mall. I'm gonna buy whatever you want, okay?" he bribed her as he walked down the streets, carry her in his arms, rubbing her back in slow soothing circles.
The frantic wriggling slowly faded away. She slumped against his shoulder with a defeated sigh, apparently deciding that struggling any further wasn't worth the effort, especially after hearing the promised trip to the mall.
Now, who wouldn't say yes to that?
February 28, 1998
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY Y/N!"
She rubbed her eyes with both hands as she yawns, looking around her room that was filled with pink decorations.
Pop!
The sound of the confetti erupted as tiny bits of paper fell on her hair and on her bed.
"Good morning princesss, how was sleep?"
She bed she was sitting at rised up a bit the moment he sat down next to her.
"..Sensei? Why are you here?"
"Wha— Don't you want me here?!" He clutched his chest with both hands. So dramatic.
"You told me you'll be gone for a week."
"Well, surprise surprise, I'm here!" He grab a handful amount of confetti on her bed, throwing it up in the air, making it fall down on her hair once more.
"It's not even my birthday yet," she said as she brushed off the paper that fell on her.
"We can not not celebrate your birthday!" He scolded her. "Your real birthday might only come once in four years, but we still need to celebrate it!" He frantically said.
She ploped down her bed, walking away, leaving Satoru who sat on her bed.
"Hey! Where are you going?"
"Brush my teeth," she pointed her hand at the bathroom.
"Okay!"
A lot of memorization and practice tests had happened for the past month. She needs to get her mind ready. One more week left before she'll go to school.
She was excited but at the same time, she was nervous. It would be her first time, going to a school, and it was not just any school.
Satoru laid comfortably on the soft sheets of her bed. A bit too small for him, but still laid there like a starfish, occupying every space.
He stared at the ceiling for a bit before raising up his right hand above him. He turned his wrist and looked at his watch.
18 hours: 15 minutes: 12 seconds remaining
He plopped down his right arm back at her bed, hanging limplessly at the edge.
A closing of the door could be heard, he turned his head at the small figure approaching him. "You done?"
She nodded, standing infront of him as he pushed himself up her bed, now sitting on the edge of it.
"Look at what I bought you," he grabbed the gift bag at the bottom of her bed, and made her hold it.
She looked at it then looked back at him who was grinning, "Go on, open it."
She opened it, struggling a bit because of the stapler closing the gap.
"Here," he helped her open it, leaving a small gap he knew she could open.
She finally cracked it open and looked at what's inside. Her hands went inside and grabbed out whatever was inside.
It was a stuffed toy. Totoro.
She gasped excitedly, her feet tapping on the ground as she hugged it close to her.
Her obssession with unicorns quickly turned into a Totoro obsession, in such a short period of time. Blame Satoru for that, he made her watch My Neighbor Totoro.
"You like it?" His smiled softened as he leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, with his chin nestled in his palms as he watched her closely.
"Yeah!" She lunged at him, engulfing him in a hug. "Thank you." The latter words came out as a muffle as her face was squished on his chest, burrowing in it.
"Aww, you're welcome," he hugged her back. "Let's get you ready. We'll go to disneyland right now."
"W-what?! Really?!"
"Since when did I lie?"
"Alright," he stuffs the last snack on her backpack that was behind her, "And.." He zips the zipper close, "Done!" He turned her around to face him.
"Aww look at that you're so cute!" He said, pinching both of her cheeks, which made her swat his hands away as always. The latter just made a hurt expression as he rubbed the area where she hit him.
"You're so dramatic."
"I was hurt!"
A tiny hand slapped him on his face.
"Ouch!" He pinched her cheeks again. "You're being so naughty now, huh."
She just whined, trying to get his hands off of her. "Stop that."
"Alright," he stood up, straightening his back as he grabbed his car keys. "We better get going. We don't want you to be late on your first day of school, do we?"
He let her go out first as he followed. He turned on the the button of the key, unlocking the car.
"Up we go," he lifted her up and settled her down back at the rear seat, his hands grabbing the seatbelt, putting it around her.
He plopped down her backpack beside her as he went and sat down the driver's seat. "You okay there?" He looked at her through the car mirror as he adjusts it. The latter just nodded.
The car started. The cold air from the aircon starts to spread inside the car, as he started driving to their destination.
After their short celebration in Disneyland last week, Satoru left again for days. Only coming back one and a half day prior to her first day of school.
Even though Satoru had never missed any significant events in her life so far, she still can't help but sulked at him.
Everytime she asks him where he was always going, the only answer that he has been telling her was, "It's an important adult job, you'll get it when you're older, okay?"
That still didn't stop her for asking him about it, if anything, it just made her more and more curious.
"Sensei."
Satoru looked at her through the mirror, "Yeah, baby?"
"Where were you last time?"
He just sighed once again. She won't give up, won't she?
"Fine," his eyes darted back in the road. "I'm gonna tell you."
She quickly snapped her head back at the front. "Really?!"
"Yeah, when you're eighteen."
She just groaned in response.
"What if I don't get passed eighteen?" She perked up at him, seemingly trying to convince him. "You're gonna tell it to me now, righttttt?" He gave her the opposite look she was giving him.
"Don't say things like that," he frowned, his voice visibly scolding her. He seemed to be briefly distracted by his thoughts. "You'll live a long life, and I'll get to tell you where I have been going, you got that?" He raised his eyebrows at her.
She just gulped at his sudden change of tone, "'kay.."
The car took a final turn before entering campus ground.
The academy was so big that there were four buildings with eight levels each, dedicated as a parking lot for their students and staffs.
They went in the 5th level of the 3rd bulding, and parked his car in reverse.
"Ready on your first day?" He said as he pulled up the handle of parking brake before opening the door beside him.
He opened the door beside her, she still gave no response. "Nervous?" She looked at him with a frown. "Relax, it's gonna be okay," he lifted her up her seat and gently plopped her on the ground, grabbing her bag next as he closed the door.
Beep beep. He locked the car.
"Let's go," he grabbed her hand, the other one holding her bag as they stepped in a elevator. He pressed a button as it went down.
"This brings back memories."
"Huh?" She looked up at him.
"At the place where I went, there's elevators too. Hundreds of it!" He told her, a little bit dramatic. "I almost got lost, y'know?"
"..."
"And then there was this principal who always scolds me and guess what?" He didn't wait for her response. "My one and only bestfriend there was always defending him rather than me!"
"..."
"That's so unfair don't you think? They're always bullying me, but you won't do that to me too, right baby?"
Ding!
"Oh here we are."
"Where are we?" She looked around her.
"We're outside the building we just parked at."
"Uhm.. where is my classroom?"
Unfortunately for her, she didn't have the opportunity to get toured around the campus, unlike Satoru who knew every spot in the academy, inside and out.
"Oh I forgot to tell you, that's still about five kilometers away from here."
She think deeply, trying to remember what Satoru taught her.
A centimeter is as long as a pinky fingernail.
And a meter is like how long an arm is.
And a kilometer is like one long football
field.
Then six kilometers would be..
Oh goodness, no one would wanna walk that far. It's literally a death march.
"W-we're not going to walk all the way there.. right?"