Chapter Text
A young Yu Narukami was roaming around the streets of Port Island. Like a typical afternoon, his parents weren’t home, so he decided to get out of the house. His parents often didn’t arrive home until late at night, sometimes not until morning.
They felt bad, and knew he was responsible enough, so they gave him a certain degree of freedom not expected for someone his age. During the day he could travel the streets near their house, and at night he could walk to the next street over at most. A place he enjoyed going to specifically was a park that hardly anyone ever visited, close enough for him to reach at night. It was quiet there, away from the noise you would expect to find in the city.
On this particular night, he spotted something out of the ordinary. There was someone sitting at his usual spot, reading a book. It appeared to be a girl around his age, perhaps younger. She had a hat he hasn’t seen anything like before, and under it she had an even more unique hair color.
Her hair is different, like mine… he thought. His hair had always been something he was overly aware of. Some older folk thought he dyed it, and some of them insulted his parents because of it, saying they’re doing a bad job if they let their son dye his hair at such a young age. He didn’t like that, his parents weren’t as present as an ordinary families, but they did their best. Kids his age were just intrigued by it, innocently enough, but it got overwhelming at times.
Her similarly unusual hair led the boy to try and make conversation. “I haven’t seen you here before. What’s your name?” The girl was startled for a second, not knowing someone else was there.
“I’m Naoto, Naoto Shirogane,” she said after processing the question.
“I’m Yu Narukami. I come here cause it’s away from the noise, and my parents usually don’t get back until late.” Yu wasn’t typically this talkative with people, especially someone he had just met, but something about Naoto had him interested. It could be her unusual hair, or the fact that she comes to the same place as he does to read, he wasn’t really sure.
“My parents are away a lot too. I come here because I enjoy the quiet, and it’s a fun park to play in with my grandpa sometimes. I go during the day most of the time, I guess that’s why we haven’t met before.” Naoto also found herself being more talkative than usual. The boy seemed to be similar to herself so far, maybe that was why.
“What do you usually do when you come here Narukami-kun?” Naoto found the boy intriguing, she wanted to learn more about him and possibly befriend him.
“I usually read a book or go on the swings, or I try and play something by myself. I’ve taken a nap here a couple times too.”
Naoto giggled at the fact that he’s napped at the park. She put a bookmark between the pages she was on and put the book in a bag she had with her. “I haven’t tried that before. You said you play by yourself, do you wanna try playing together?” The more she learned about him, the more she wanted to know. Talking to him was fun.
“I’m kinda tired since it’s late, I’d rather talk with you more if that’s ok.” Yu sat down next to her, allowing himself to get comfortable.
“Ok, that sounds fun too!”
Soon, the children would lose themselves in conversation, talking about what their home was like or their swing seat of choice. Yu liked the one furthest to the right, while Naoto liked the one in the middle.
“What kind of books do you read Narukami-kun?” Already finding the conversation jumping from topic to topic, Naoto wanted to learn as much as she could in case they didn’t meet again.
“I don’t really have one kind of book I read, I usually just grab what I think looks good. The stuff I read is a little ahead of what someone else my age would though. What about you? Also, you can call me Yu, I think we can be good friends.”
Naoto smiled hearing he thought they can be friends too. “I agree, and in that case you can call me Naoto. The books I read are usually detective novels made for people a little older, my family comes from a line of detectives so we have a lot of those.”
“That’s cool! I’ve read some mystery stuff too, the stories are interesting. Are you gonna be a detective like the rest of your family?”
“Yeah, I want to be one. My parents and my grandpa are all detectives, and I want to be like them. What about you?”
“I dunno. I’m not really sure what my parents do, they travel a lot and I don’t really ask about work when I talk to them. When they’re home, I usually tell them what’s been happening then we play a game or watch a movie. I’ll find out what I want to be one day. I don’t need to think about it now, we’re still just kids.”
“I suppose you’re right.” The two sat comfortably for a moment, feeling like they finally found someone they could truly be friends with. Yu had friends, sure, but he wasn’t particularly close to any of them. Depending on the person, he’d have to change what he says or talks about, not truly feeling like himself. But for the past hour or so, he had found someone he could simply talk with. He could be himself with Naoto, and he wanted to become closer.
“We’re friends now, right Yu?” He was a little surprised by the sudden question, but knew the answer he’d give anyways.
“Sure we are. I like talking with you.”
“Then friends we are.” They both smiled at each other.
“You know Naoto, you talk pretty maturely for someone our age. Not that it’s a bad thing though,” Yu said.
“I suppose you’re right. I read a lot of books, so I’m good with words. You don’t really talk like anyone our age I’ve met either though, you talk the same way I do.”
“Yeah, that’s true. Teachers usually assign me as the leader for group activities because of it.”
They talked a while longer, this time about school. They found they went to the same school, which made the fact that they had never come across each other before even stranger.
Unbeknownst to them, the girls grandfather had arrived. “Naoto, I’m here! It’s getting late and your parents will be home soon!” Hearing no response, he walked closer to the playground. Maybe Naoto had fallen asleep, he thought. Upon getting closer, he heard Naoto’s voice, accompanied by someone else’s. They sounded young, maybe Naoto had made a friend. “Naoto, I called your name. Could you not hear me because you’re so intrigued with this new friend of yours?”
Naoto and Yu were surprised over his sudden arrival; Both letting out a light yelp, much to her grandfathers amusement. “Sorry grandpa! I was talking with my friend. Yu, this is my grandpa.”
Her grandfather looked friendly, but at the same time slightly intimidating. He wasn’t particularly tall, but it was something in his eyes. The look wasn’t directed at Yu and it was something of a habit from the old man, but he didn’t know that. “Hello sir, I’m Yu Narukami. I’m Naoto’s new friend.”
“Calling me sir? I like you already! You two should continue to be friends. Anyways Naoto, we have to get going, your parents are coming home tonight.”
“Alright grandpa, I’m coming. Bye Yu, we should do this again soon. Let’s try and find each other at school tomorrow.”
“That sounds good! See you soon.”