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Junko watched the window carefully, eyeing the movers as they went back and forth to and from the house delivering and dropping off boxes and furniture. She hadn’t sat still like this in years, always doing something , whether that be running laps around the house, terrorising the people at the park, or scouring around for bugs, Junko always had something. Today, she was watching people move into the house next door. Junko couldn’t catch a glance at the people who moved in, only the workers moving stuff in.
Peering a little out the window more, Junko saw an older and fatter looking man talking to one of the movers. He had pitch black hair and some scruff on his face, the man seemed to be talking excitedly to the mover who returned the man’s enthusiasm.
She took this opportunity to go out her front door, making sure to grab her ball to make it look like she had just gotten the idea to play outside.
Junko skidded to a stop near the fence, watching the workers before hurrying off to the back of the house where she’d likely break another window. Her parents would yell and scream at her, but Junko could always get out of it, they couldn’t stay mad at her forever.
Kicking the ball to the other end of the yard, Junko climbed onto the fence and looked into the new neighbours backyard. There weren’t any people on that end of the house or outside.
Puffing out her cheek, Junko resumed kicking the ball at her house and the fence. Time dragged on and Junko had hurried inside to get her chalk supplies, deciding kicking the ball at the house and waiting for the sound of shattering glass was too boring.
The movers had already left, and Junko couldn’t catch a glimpse of anyone inside the house. Not even the fat man with a five o’clock shadow, who was probably the owner, moved past the windows! Junko resorted to just drawing on the sidewalk, and messing up her dress with chalk dust and tearing it against the concrete.
Her parents showed up when the sun was setting, eating dinner and hurrying off to bed. Junko opened her window, catching a glimpse of light from across her room. Opening her window Junko tilted her head, watching as a shadow moved around the room.
She didn’t have anything to throw.
‘Gotta collect rocks down by the stream…’
Closing her curtain, Junko laid in bed, letting a dreamless sleep take her away.
“My name is Saiahra Chikatarou!” The man smiled brightly as Junko’s family.
She squinted at him, imagining the man being the embodiment of the sun, it was disgusting.
“This is my wife, Marumi and our nephew Shuichi.”
Junko looked down at the mention of Shuichi. The boy was small, much shorter then Junko and Mukuro and just barely peeking from behind Mr. Saihara’s leg. Once he made eye contact with Junko, he moved to fully conceal himself behind his uncle.
Her family was let in with tea and conversation. Junko had come with her parents, looking around the barren house, and picking out boxes that still needed to be unloaded.
“Unpacking has been a nightmare .” Mrs. Sahara rubbed her shoulders, slight bags under her eyes.
“I can help!” Junko practically shouted.
“Junko!” Her mother chided her.
“What?” She looked at her mom, a little miffed at her.
“That’s a wonderful sentiment Miss Junko,” Mr. Saihara laughed. “But, it wouldn’t be right to have you-”
“But I like helping!” Junko looked at the man, giving her best pleading eyes. “I won’t break anything, and if I do, I’ll pay for it with my own money!”
She needed something different in her life, something new that didn’t result in police officers and parents yelling at her. Maybe this could be where she turns a new leaf, maybe this family is where Junko can finally prove that she’s not a complete dunce and mess!
“The help would be nice.” Shuichi muttered, picking at a chip on his cup.
“Are you two okay with that?” Mrs. Saihara looked at Junko’s parents with a little worry. “I don’t want to just keep your daughter over for hours on end without your knowledge.”
Junko looked at her parents, biting the softest part inside her cheek, tasting faint iron on her tongue. Her parents shared a concerned look, before both giving in and nodding. Junko mentally fist-bumped the air, she won, once again!
“Thank you for your help Miss Junko,” Mrs. Saihara chimed and clapped her hands together.
“No problem! It was nice to help out.” Junko gave the women a toothy smile, graciously accepting the raspberry lemonade that Mrs. Saihara made.
“Where’s Shuichi?” Junko looked around the kitchen, not finding the younger boy around.
“Likely in his room,” Mrs. Saihara sighed, looking near the stairwell worried.
Junko tilted her head, it was probably a touchy subject, she needed to play her cards right.
“Does he spend a lot of time in the house?” Junko asked, feigning innocence.
“Unfortunately,” Mrs. Saihara drank from her glass. “He’s had a rough two years, so it’s difficult to get him out sometimes.”
Junko hummed, drinking from her cup and thinking. From helping with the move, Junko learned that Shuichi was across from her window. Not quite a shut-in, but definitely someone who has some sort of bad experience with outside.
“Can I ask you a small favour?”
“Sure!” Junko smiled at Mrs. Saihara.
“If you could, maybe you could get Shuichi out of the house every so often.” Mrs. Saihara paused.
“You don’t have to do it, seems very silly to make you do so. But, your energy could possibly get him out of his shell. Get him to make some friends and not be so afraid.”
She stared at the woman. Junko didn’t have any friends, Mukuro didn’t count, her own sister didn’t even like her. Now, Junko was presented with the opportunity to have a friend, but at a superficial level. Junko didn’t like superficiality, it didn’t make her feel good, real authentic things only caught her attention. But…
“I’ll try my best!” Junko smiled and saluted to Mrs. Saihara, who giggled at Junko.
“Thank you.”
She nodded and finished her drink, deciding to head home and plan for the weekend.
“Tree… Climbing…?” Shuichi tilted his head at Junko’s crude drawing, a little sceptical at her idea.
“I had to come up with something that didn’t involve other people,” Junko huffed and folded the piece of paper. “It’s not far anyway, just up the hill behind our houses.”
Shuichi looked at her, his hair covering most of his face, leaving very few times Junko actually saw his eyes. He nodded, and looked at the ground while picking his nails.
“Well then!” Junko clapped her hands, watching as Shuichi jumped at the sound. “Daylight’s getting wasted, let’s go!”
Before Shuichi could second guess Junko grabbed his wrist and led him to his backyard. From there she hoisted him up over the fence and then herself, opting to get down and help Shuichi from his perch. The walk was fine, a few trees dotted around the covered the two kids in shade and away from the blistering sun.
Junko took the lead, occasionally looking behind her to make sure that Shuichi didn’t bail on her and tried to go running back to the fence. Surprisingly, Shuichi stayed, trailing behind but following Junko. He was looking around the area, turning his head at any and all noises that happened to come from around them.
It was a surprisingly difficult hike up to where Junko planned to climb, she had to stop and offer Shuichi water on three occasions, but he held his own pretty well. The forest grew thicker in foliage and the trees grew closer together until shade with few dapples of sunlight poked through.
They managed to get to the tree, it was a tall one, not tall enough to where if you fell you died. Junko knew from experience, breaking her arm after climbing just about half-way up.
Junko turned to Shuichi, making him jump a little. “I’m going first, just follow my path and you’ll be fine.” With that said, Junko made her ascent up the tree, looking down as Shuichi hesitantly followed.
The bark scraped against Junko’s palms, rubbing the first later off her skin and pushing against to form blisters. Junko paused every few branches and waited for Shuichi to catch up a little. As they got up further, the branches grew thinner and the light grew brighter. Situating herself on a branch, Junko held onto the trunk of the tree and watched Shuichi trek up the last few branches.
“Look.” Junko said once he was close enough.
She moved a few branches and leaves out of the way, letting the sun grace both of them as it began to slowly set on the horizon. Junko heard Shuichi inhale sharply, and gasp a little, she couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled through her chest and out her mouth.
It was one of the few sights she enjoyed, one that was rare to witness. The sun was painting the sky in vibrant oranges, yellows, and pinks, as it pulled down curtains of light and dark blues with a million stars on them. Wisps of clouds pulled around the sky, dusting it in more emotion than any one person could imagine.
A sickening crack and a scream broke Junko from her happy thoughts. Quickly she moved down the tree, hearing a loud thud and sickening crack.
‘Shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit-’
Junko landed a few feet away from Shuichi, he was on his back, looking dazed out of his mind. Wincing, Junko sat him up and moved him to sit against the tree. His head slumped a few times before managing to stay up a little.
“Shuichi? Oh, fuck this is bad.” Junko looked down at his leg bent slightly out of shape.
‘I’m so fucked…’
Shaking her head, Junko reached down and picked Shuichi up. He hissed when she joseled him a little and his broken leg under her arm, standing up Junko made her way back to the house. Shuichi hadn’t cried or really done anything, she expected him to scream at her or something . But, he was just silent .
Junko made it back to the houses, fitting between the fences and hearing their parents talking. It was a lot of screaming, crying and explaining. Junko apologised profusely, trying to make up for breaking Shuichi’s leg. Mr. and Mrs. Saihara was quick to get Shuichi into their car and off to the hospital.
She was yelled at by her mother for two hours that night. Junko felt extreme guilt, it made her shake and her vision blurred and her ears ring. She hadn’t meant for Shuichi to fall and break his leg, it wasn’t meant to happen, and it was her fault. Enoshima- fucking -Junko had fucked up her only chance at making herself not look like a complete mess and dunce.
In her room Junko worked on a massive apology letter, deciding to make some food for Shuichi. He was in the hospital for the entire of the next day, giving Junko enough time to rig up a small line and hook to their rooms where she could deliver notes and food to him whenever she wanted. It was likely going to be a one-time use and Junko was extra so it worked out.
Once watching carefully and knowing that Shuichi was home, bearing crutches and a pretty neutral look. Junko put her plan into action!
Right before she went to bed, hooking up the basket, Junko carefully sent it over to Shuichi’s window. As soon as she heard it thunk against his glass, Junko drew her curtains and pulled the covers over her head, too many thoughts ran through her head as she laid there, tossing and turning.
Sleep came eventually, but it was long.
Dear Junko,
I got your basket last night, and it was really thoughtful! I’ve had a lot of time to think about everything that happened, and frankly I don’t blame you for what happened to my leg, it was my own fault for standing on such a thin branch. Sorry I couldn’t give this to you in person, I have a concussion, but I hope this makes up for it. Unfortunately, I don’t know what you like so if you hate it just send it back over to me and I’ll give you something else!!
I hope we can still hang out, maybe not go tree climbing next time :]
Sincerely, Shuichi
Junko opened the box. It was a small taxidermy bird, she didn’t recognize it, but it was a pretty light brown colour with a few dark spots over its wings. She was touched by this small little bird, while she didn’t mind dead animals, her parents never let her keep them around. So, now she had one, and it wasn’t going to rot away!
Looking around her room, Junko placed the bird on her bedside table, proudly looking at it before moving to the many papers on her floor.
She had more ideas to plan on what she and Shuichi were going to do!