Chapter Text
Aoi sat on Teru's bed, cleaning up her tears tracks and holding on to her flowery skirt, which wasn’t comfy but mom always insisted she should dress up nice to play with her fiance.
(She doesn’t like playing with Teru, Teru never plays nice.)
“It’s not that bad.” Teru sat by her side, dipping the mattress and showing her a band aid with a chibi stegosaurus on it. “You’ll be fine. It won't even scar!”
He put it on the tip of her nose, being a bit rough. It didn’t make her feel better.
Aoi rubbed her band aid and gave him a teary eyed glare, waiting for an apology. She got nothing.
Of course she got nothing, Teru isn’t Akane, he isn’t her real friend. He said she is his first friend but he sure doesn’t treat her as one. He doesn’t really care. Teru may have seemed genuinely panicked when their playtime was interrupted by him throwing a ball directly on her face, but any hint of worry for her wellbeing disappeared after he carefully checked her face.
“It’s just a scratch, you aren’t even bleeding.” He had dismissed, poking her aching nose and having the gall to smirk “Stop being a baby about it Akane-chan.”
She was so angry and humiliated that she almost slapped his face, see how he likes it! But mom really wanted them to get along and she didn’t want Teru to tattle on her, and the situation was too much, so she cried harder and ran away. The fear of being a dissapointment if he got back alone must have kicked in, cause Teru’s followed her and told her to stop making a show. He had grabbed her hand, surprisingly gentle, and slowly tugged her to his room, telling her that his mom got him a super special dino band aid, and that it will make her be fine.
“You have dinos on you now!" Teru said "Don't you feel better?"
No.
"...You really don’t like fun, do you?” Teru pouted at her persistent glare, regreting that he gave her something he likes.
“I do. You don’t.” Aoi denies. “You never play my games.”
“That’s your game's fault.” Teru declared “They are boooring.”
Aoi clenched her little fists, resenting that.
Her games aren’t boring, there is nothing wrong with having tea time with her plushies or not wanting to go super fast on the swings, Teru is just annoying and rude and like to show off how cool he is when she doesn’t care how high he can jump or how fast he can throw a ball.
“You’re just mad I am better than you~~” Teru bragged, blushing in satisfaction “You never won any of our games~”
“I won the memory game.” She mumbled, losing her temper now that they are away from the adults “You cheated.”
“Did not!” Teru sang declared, eyes crinkled with mischief “Akane-chan can’t even remember that, no wonder she loooost.”
Aoi's face went blank, crossing her arms and looking away. She will not argue with this brat, let him talk with himself since he loves his own voice so much.
Teru hummed his little victory song for a moment, but got bored by her lack of reaction, his smile turning into a pout “Akane-chan, talk to me.”
No.
“Akane-chan” He poked her arms “Come on,” He poked her again “Please?” Another poke “I’m sorry.”
“You’re not.” She huffed, refusing to look at his dumb face.
“I aaaam.” He whined, thinking for a moment and lighting up “We should go on an ice cream date! It will cheer you up!!”
Aoi huffed “You just want an excuse to ask for ice cream money.”
“So?” Teru kept smiling, “You get the ice cream too."
Aoi groaned, when she had sweets with Akane she felt like her company was as important as the sweets itself but Teru is so rude.
It hit her that she doesn’t want to be here. She wants to be alone in her room or play with Akane, who she trusts to gently push her on the swings and act nice even when the adults aren’t looking.
She wants a raspberry pie. Not ice cream.
“Come on!” Teru jumped out of bed, grabbing her hand “Let’s get ice cream!”
“No” She snatched her hand out of his “I don’t want to eat ice cream with you.”
“We need to! We love each other, remember?” He put a finger on his mouth “We need to fool the grown ups. Show them everything is okay.”
…That’s true. But she is tired of going everywhere Teru wants, their deal only serving to play everything Teru wants.
“Bakery.” Aoi said, looking him in the eye “Let’s grab one of their sweets for our date.”
“Bakery?” Teru made a displeased face, “Is so hot, I want ice cream not pastry sweets-” Teru shut up when Aoi grabbed his sleeve and dragged him closer.
“I want pastry sweets.” She said firmly, holding on tight to his stupid fancy shirt “We had cream last time, and I was the one hurt.” She rubbed her nose and narrowed her eyes “So take me to the cake shop or I’m telling mom you’re being mean!”
Teru eyes widened.
“Ok ok!” Teru panicked “Bakery.”
Good.
Aoi raised her head, taking a deep breath and trying to think about her raspberry pie instead of Teru dumb face. Slowly she was able to form a small smile “Mom! We want to go to the bakery!”
Teru briefly pouted, but by the time they got downstairs he was smiling too “Yeah!”
.
Mom took them to the bakery, smiling a little as she watched Aoi and Teru hold hands and smile at each other, promising her they made up.
(Mom hasn't smiled in so long.)
When they reached the bakery mom gave the kids money and sat on another table to give their date some privacy, which Aoi was glad, not wanting to be scrutinized.
“I haven’t been here before” Teru said, looking around “What is good?”
“The raspberry pie.”
“Hum” He said, the amused twinkle in his eyes silently telling her ‘That’s lame’
‘You’re lame’ Aoi thought, but kept her smile, not sure if mom was sneaking glances their way.
“I want a slice of the cream and strawberry cake.” Teru said, being a gentleman and adding “Akane-chan wants the raspberry pie.”
.
Once they sat down, their little legs swinging, to short to reach the ground, Aoi said “I am making a rule.”
“Rule?” Teru asked.
“We take turns deciding the dates,” Aoi said, “It’s only fair.”
Teru didn’t like that, but he isn’t as much of a brat as he looks, his quiet staring broken by a nod “Okay.”
It was the bare minimum, but Aoi felt better knowing she can decide some of their hangouts instead of putting on a smile and being dragged along to whenever Teru declares will be their next date.