Chapter Text
The rubber ball you had picked from a yard bounced violently off the wall. It left a dent where it careened, but was aimed well enough that it always came back. How long could you do this?
The metal cuff on your arm zinged as the ball hit it.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5-
BAM.
Curses. The door behind you flew open and you heard steps enter behind you. Couldn’t the woman leave you in peace?
“Nari.”
1, 2, 3-
“Nari. Don’t be that way.”
“Get bent.”
1, 2-
A figure stepped in front of you, intercepting your next throw. She leaned down, giving you a firm flick with her finger. Your head flew back, hitting the floor.
“FUUUUUUC-”
“Is that any way to talk to your master?” You stared up with as much petulance an eight-year-old could muster.
“You are not my-” What promised to be an excellent moment to really let loose was lost as she leaned over, that ever-present grin almost making you want to be happy. Except she always managed to fumble her words.
“Come on, don’t be such a stick in the mud!”
Man, what did you do in a past life to have a guardian like this? Nothing. Just the bad luck of your brother marrying this crazy woman. The untimely death of your parents had left you homeless, and they took you in. Then your brother died and you just wanted to be mad.
Shouldn’t she be?
“Nana, drop it.” You meant it. You were far older than your age, that was sure. She was the child.
“Nari Shimura, you drop the act! Just because I got a new student doesn’t mean I don’t have time for you-” She hit the uncomfortable crux of the problem. You narrowed your eyes. A new person, a new boy student.
What were you to her? To a woman willing to abandon her own son in the face of heroism, you were just a straddler. Too old to abandon, to young to let go from your last relative in this world of villains.
Why couldn’t she act sad, just for once?
You rolled away as she patted your shoulder. Her voice never wavered, never betrayed her turmoil.
“Ah, are you jealous over Toshi?” She said.
“ No. ” You were, but that wasn’t the bigger problem. The problems were things that eight-year-olds didn’t have words to describe, and so they were trivialized.
“You know, he wants to be friends. Wants to meet you.” You shook your head. You didn’t want this new guy. You didn’t want her to abandon you.
“He can jump in a barrel of gasoline.”
“Ah, c’mon. You’ll make him feel bad!”
“NO!”
"How bout a smile? Just a little one?"
"NOOOOOOOO!"
You could be such a cruel kid.