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Ann passed by a playground whenever heading home. There had been one not too far away, one where kids tended to play in the early afternoon until it got dark. Then they had to head home or their parents might get worried. It was pretty common, wherever you go. That was easy to understand. After all, that was when they had to be home as well, before it got dark.
Thus it was always empty when the sun started to set and the sky became darker. It was not at its darkest point. In fact, the sun was still visible and thus the light shining down had been an orange tone. It gave them enough time to look around without seeming like some weirdo. Then again, would anyone even care if there had been someone to begin with?
All in all it was a regular playground – Swings, a slide, a sandbox and enough space for a stoney ground where children could scribble on and play all sorts of games. If looking a bit further there was even a small area with grass, a big tree standing on it, ready to be climbed on. Yeah, it was nothing special if one really thought about it. Just a regular playground, one looking similar to the one they had been visiting back in the day as well, when they were still a kid.
Bringing over all sorts of toys – From a ball to a jumping rope to small shovels to dig in the sand with. Sometimes they had even brought along chalk in different colors to scribble on the ground, either to prepare a field to play games like hopscotch or tic–tac–toe on or just try themself at drawing whatever came to mind. Either with different kids or alone…
Actually, it was mostly all by themself, even back then. Other kids would only play with them if they were lucky. The guys didn’t want to play with a girl because ‘girls have cooties’. As for the girls, they were scared to play with them, not wanting to hurt themself. So it usually left them with no choice whatsoever. But back then they didn’t think about it too much after all. As long as it was fun, nothing else mattered to them.
Ann didn’t know what came over them all of a sudden as these thoughts had crossed their mind. Their feet were moving on their own, entering the empty playground. Actually, even the emptiness was something the two playgrounds had in common. It felt lonely, a little cold. Maybe because no one was playing on it? Hmm… Maybe they could indulge in something for a little while. After all, it has been a while. And it could be fun to poke around in old memories, couldn’t it?
They were wandering around, step by step, taking in everything… Well, that was until they stopped at the stone ground, their gaze shooting down. What they saw was a pattern, plastered together by messily drawn rectangles. Sometimes the lines are just barely connected. And yet, the structure was all clear – Hopscotch, right? If they remembered it correctly.
The sight left them with a chuckle, only being reminded how they had drawn the shapes before. Needless to say, it was a mess. The first few tries they didn’t even get their point across, only having created a mess made out of rectangles in the end. In fact, they remembered one time where a boy had looked at them in utter confusion. He didn’t say a word, he was just baffled. He even pointed at the structure, leaving Ann themself to guess at first. Of course they explained it to him yet by now they know and do not doubt that he had not understood a word they said. In fact, he himself had spoken a language which had been alien to them back then. Now they at least understood it but back then… They were also confused. But hey, they managed to somehow communicate, didn’t they? In fact, they were playing together often. At least for as long as they were able to. It is fun to look back on yet had been even more fun back—
“Hey, what are you doing over there?” A voice had snapped them out of it however, though it had sounded different for a moment. That voice… Wait, the little boy! But it has been over ten years, hasn’t it!? So how—
Ah no, it was a dream state, at least until they turned around and came face–to–face with who it had been. And once they saw the taller figure in front of them it had hit them who this was. Then again, the assumption of it having been the little boy was not so wrong. In fact, it was him. It really was him just… Not a little boy anymore. Obviously not, otherwise it would have been weird, wouldn’t it? More than ten years passing and not growing up? Well, it would have been never heard of. And yet, they recognized him at this point. Of course they did.
“Ah, Izuzu, hello. Coincidence~” They said somewhat cheerfully. It was met with an eye roll.
“That doesn’t answer my question, does it?” He only added. “So annoying…”
They stood up by then, able to let out a chuckle. “Right right, sorry~” They said, though it was not really an apology to be completely honest. At least not quiet. “Just checking things.”
“Checking up on things you mean.” He threw a glare right at them as he put emphasis on the missing words.
“Ah— Yeha, right. Checking up on things.”
“Right… What for? You got any business here by yourself?”
“Not really. Just thought of passing by.” They responded. It was not even a lie, even if they had left one of the details out. Actually, something crossed their mind quickly as well, seeing Izumi right in front of them. Having thought back on the days where both were kids, playing all sorts of games together… And the hopscotch field right beneath their feet basically. Maybe they couldn’t resist the question. It never hurts to ask after all. “Say, remembering playing hopscotch?”
“Hopwha—” He was about to repeat yet he interrupted himself quickly there. “I mean yeah, I remember that. Why are you asking that all of a su—”
“Wanna play for a bit?”
Ann had asked this with no hesitation, even smiling for a moment. And yet, they saw his expression, eyes going a little wide. He was surprised to hear that and maybe for a moment he had no clue what to say. And yet, he responded to them, audible that he had been taken aback yet at the brink of scoffind all the same. “Play!? How old are you, five!? Besides, do you know how late it is!? You should head home already!”
“Come on, a bit? Please?” They asked, unfazed by the tone in his voice. Honestly, they were slowly getting used to it. Maybe a little too used to it… That was hard to ever imagine for them but here they were. “Not for long. A few rounds, for old time’s sake?”
He only looked at them, at first seeming unconvinced. He didn’t say a word, he didn’t have to. And yet he seemed to debate, judging from his expression. He was actually debating in his head, wasn’t he? Especially his expression somewhat shifting to a slightly more softer expression when having take a look at the expression of their own.
In the end he only let out a sigh. “Ok fine. Quit looking at me like that.” He finally responded, agreeing. “But only for a little while, alright?”
Hearing that made their gaze light up, smiling with a nod. “Yes! Just a few rounds!”
“And if anyone sees this you’re the one doing the explaining! I can’t be seen doing this…”
“Oh come on, no one’s spotting it Izuzu~”
“Easy for you to say… People don’t care if you’re around…”
“Not wanting to see people crying?” Ann asked, teasing for a moment. And it seemed to work, judging from the embarrassment written all over his face shortly after.
“Wha— Don’t act as if I’m still a crybaby!” He countered, though almost stuttering. “Why would I cry from a small scratch!? In fact, I’ll blame you for it if that happens! How about that!?”
“Yes yes, alright. Enough talk, play time~”
Yeah, back then things had been a little different… Or were they? Sure, they had grown up. They were no longer kids. They started to slowly turn into adults with their own goals, dreams and ambitions. They had other stuff to worry about than playing games together at this point. That is how things were and are going to be.
And yet, even with all of that in mind, maybe things weren’t that different? All they did was mature, right? Not as if they stopped being close at this rate, perhaps they were even closer than before by now. Or was it just some wishful thinking? That at least one thing in life has not changed so much…
Nah, whatever. That’s not important in the end. What’s more important is that both of them keep having fun like this together, being like this for as long as possible!