Work Text:
It all happened quickly yet slowly at the same time.
Goro’s hands were gripping a bulky phone as he stared into a tub that held a lifeless body within its red waters. The phone that faltered underneath his ear screamed with a woman’s voice and lights flashing from behind the bathroom’s tiny window illuminated the dark room.
He couldn’t hear anything other than the blood rushing to his ears and muffled voices who belonged to unfamiliar men who pushed him aside to reach his dead mother in the tub.
Then suddenly, he was in the air and his head was pushed against an unfamiliar chest of a woman who then sat him on his couch and crouched in front of him.
“Hello,” she started softly. “What’s your name?”
Goro could not rip his eyes apart from the men flooding his bathroom. The woman in front of him leaned so she was now blocking his vision.
“Hey…tell me what your name is,” she repeated, voice firm yet gentle.
Goro swallowed the lump in his throat and finally met her gaze. “Why did she do it?”
The woman didn’t answer.
Next thing he knew, he was being taken away.
-
With a stick in his hand, Goro was walking away from the orphanage he was staying at. Thankfully, it was near the park he loved to play in. The grass was always plush and green, the trees were great and tall, and the swings there were always available which was always a plus.
Speaking of the park…Goro’s mind wandered to his best friend Akira. A boy he had met around two years ago, before his mother died. His mother liked Akira and Akira liked his mother and him. He hadn’t seen Akira in a year. When his mother died, Goro couldn’t bring himself to leave his bed and leave the orphanage.
But today was different. It felt different, he didn’t remember why but he felt like leaving the orphanage, yearning for sun against his skin and wind in his hair. He needed a break, he needed to get away from screeching children and judging stares.
He eventually arrived at the park. It was the afternoon on a Thursday. Summer. The sun was hot yet it felt good against his pale skin. The swings, he noticed, were empty. The park itself was hardly bare. There were happy families here and there, making a pit in Goro’s stomach known and ache.
He tightened his grip on his long stick which he pretended was a sword that fought for justice and righteousness and continued walking until he reached the great tree that he always sat under with Akira.
It was bigger than he remembered it. The leaves were greener and the bark was browner and rougher. With a sigh, he sat down and plucked at the grass. His eyes began to water and ache. Unpleasant memories of his mother flashed in his head as he twirled a blade of grass around his finger and ripped it from the soil.
“Goro?” A tiny voice uttered from beside him.
Goro’s heart suddenly jump started. He looked up.
”Akira?” Goro cried, voice trembling and watery.
“You’re here,” Akira said, voice gentle as if Goro was a scared stray animal.
“Yeah. I thought you had forgotten about me. I’m sorry, Akira…I-“
Arms were wrapped around his shoulders. Akira’s body heat seeped into his bones and warm him from the inside out. Akira’s own body shuddered as he cried against Goro’s shoulder.
“I waited here every day for you. Your last birthday I waited with food and cake just in case you showed up,” Akira sobbed. “You’re finally here.”
Akira removed his arms and sat crisscrossed in front of Goro’s knees. Goro finally looked at him. It’s been a year. Akira had been waiting for him for a year. Akira had grown since then. Now Akira was eight, his cheeks still had the same baby fat but he was a bit taller. Goro was still taller, though.
Akira smiled, toothy and bright. He was missing a tooth like any other kid ever. Goro was missing some as well.
“Happy birthday!”
Then his world stopped.
What?
”Birthday?” Goro questioned, dumbly.
Akira nodded, “yes. Don’t you remember? It’s your birthday today.”
So that’s why today felt different.
“Oh. I guess it is…”
Akira frowned. “Goro…what happened to you? Please be honest with me.”
Goro swallowed thickly. His tongue felt two sizes too large in his mouth and his stomach lurched violently. Akira seemed to read the room since his eyes softened and he reached out to grab Goro’s hands. Akira had always been touchy. Goro’s mother said his love language was physical touch and Goro never doubted it.
Through ugly crying and salty tears and embarrassing hiccups, Goro told him everything. From his mother, to the orphanage, to his own feelings. And Akira, like always, listened quietly.
Akira pulled him for another hug then squeezed his shoulders.
“Well then…let’s celebrate your birthday. I’m glad you’re here Goro. Your mom is watching you and I’m sure she’d want you to celebrate today.”
Akira lugged the picnic basket he brought closer to them. He opened it and took out a party hat. It was silly in its pink color and confetti design. Akira put it on Goro’s head with a giggle then took out foods from the basket.
They ate and spoke as they did so, catching up on everything that had happened in their year apart. Goro had finally realized how much he missed having a true friend by his side. Akira’s presence was a breath of fresh air, this realization made warm affection bloom in his chest.
“You know, Akira, I’m really glad you’re here with me today. I missed you,” Goro said suddenly as Akira was taking a huge bite out of his fruit sandwich. Goro looked down at his own sandwich to avoid making eye contact. His own cheeks hurt from grinning.
Akira chewed and swallowed quickly to reply, “Same here, Goro.”
”Chew your food! I don’t want you to choke, especially on my birthday!” Goro laughed as Akira took yet another bite. Akira laughed around the food in his mouth and did what he was told.
Goro shook his head in disbelief and finished his sandwich. Akira followed soon after then reached into the basket again.
”Close your eyes,” he said. Goro rolled his eyes with a grin but did as he was told.
He brought out a cupcake, red velvet, with high quality frosting since Akira’s family was able to afford such a thing. He placed a candle on the top and lit it with a match.
“Open them.”
Goro’s eyes were greeted with the sight of the cupcake. His eyes watered yet again. He sure was crying a lot today. Akira was also wearing a party hat to match Goro.
Akira smiled and began to sing him happy birthday.
The world stopped around them. This moment of time belonged to them only. Goro forgot all his grief and hurt during this fragment of time. He felt relaxed and whole.
When the song ended, he blew out the candle.
Here’s to being nine.
“Okay, okay, close your eyes again,” Akira giggled.
“Spending half my birthday with eyes closed here,” Goro joked with a laugh.
“I know! I’m sorry! You know I love giving surprises, but I promise it’s worth it.”
There was rustling then a weight on his lap.
“Okay! Open!”
There was a present on his lap. Akira. Sweet Akira who waited a year for him and brought food for his birthday, also had gotten him a present.
He looked at Akira, unsure if he should open it.
“It’s for you, dummy. Open it. From me to you,” he said, reading Goro like an open book as always.
Goro tore through the Featherman themed wrapping paper, revealing the toy he had once begged his mother for under. A plastic ray gun. A hero’s tool, no less. His mother had promised to gift it to him for his birthday, but unfortunately that never happened.
“Akira…are you serious?” He asked, breathless.
Akira only nodded.
Placing the toy aside, he pounced on his best friend, knocking them both to the grass. Akira hugged him tightly as if he was afraid Goro would slip through his fingers again. And Goro…he held onto Akira like he was his lifeline.
“Thank you so much, Akira.”
Akira gripped at his shirt and cried into his shoulder. “You deserve it so much, Goro.”
Goro then plopped beside Akira so that they were now laying side by side gazing up at the sky covered by green leaves of their great tree. Their party hats were still on, of course, and the cupcake laid forgotten next to his present.
“Promise me you’ll meet me here everyday?” Akira asked, begged even.
“Of course,” Goro promised.
In true Akira fashion, he held his pinky up to officiate the promise. Goro playfully scoffed and wrapped his pinky around Akira’s.
“Set in stone and written in the universe now. If you break it, I will personally come to your orphanage and drag you out of it,” Akira said as he tightened his grip around Goro’s pinky until it hurt.
“Ow! Ow! Relax!”
Akira smiled and sat up, “Hmph! Okay, it’s settled then.”
Goro watched him from his spot on the grass. The sun filtering through the leaves illuminated the space behind Akira, making him look more angelic than he is. He smiled warmly. He really was glad to have someone like that to call his best friend.
Akira smiled down at him then stood up and offered his hand to pull Goro up from the ground. Goro gladly took his hand and was yanked up. He stumbled slightly but Akira steadied him.
“Let’s go play on the swings before someone else gets to them!” Akira said then grabbed Goro by his hand and led him to the swings.
They swung until they reached the sky. Goro felt free as the ground beneath him appeared smaller and the clouds above him seemed closer. He felt at ease as the wind caressed his hair and as Akira’s childish giggles reached his ears.
He truly felt at peace.