Chapter Text
Shidou met Sae when he was 7 all because of chance.
His beta second grade teacher, Ms. Sato thankfully decided not to arrange them in alphabetical order like her roster but allowed them to pick their own seats.
Shidou was one of the first few in the class. He made his way to the table furthest away from the teacher and in a little corner giving him what he liked to think of a birds eye’s view of the whole classroom.
There were four seats, a perfect square. His tiny little hands pulled out a chair before sitting where he waited patiently.
He smiled big at the other kids and even waved, Shidou was known for being friendly. Constantly coddled by his Mama who liked showing him off to family and her few friends. He enjoyed the attention, even if grandma pinched his cheeks a little too hard.
One by one, occasionally by two the classroom filled but still nobody sat next to Shidou. Oh well, he could recognize maybe half of the other students from last year and none of them were cool enough to keep of with him.
He kicked his feet under his desk. His feet too short to reach the ground, but if he scooted up and pointed his toes it would be able brush against the carpet underneath.
By the time the classroom was almost full, all the other seats were taken and he was still left alone. He didn’t like the look Ms. Sato gave him when she realized.
”Would you like me to move you closer to the others?” She asked gently, kneeling so she could meet his eyes.
He shook his head, “No, it’s okay!”
Shidou didn’t need anyone to feel sorry for him. He may not look it but he’s a big kid, he doesn’t mind being alone.
The beta gave him a smile that didn’t really reach her eyes, it reminded him of Mama whenever he asked why he wasn’t able to buy new toys or have extra eggs for breakfast.
Two weeks had passed, and Shidou concluded school wasn’t fun. He was forced to sit quietly until recess. He actually used to like lunch before realizing it was the same thing—just a change in scenery.
Recess was where he could be wild. Where he can show off by being the fastest in the class and have other girls try to come up to him to hold his hand after winning a race. He didn’t get why but he especially liked the softness of this girl Kyomi’s small and slightly sweaty hands.
Recess was where he could chase and climb on the monkey bars before dropping abruptly, though he did always get scolded.
He would scare girls, play tag, climb the gates that separated the school from the road, and get in trouble.
Recess was fun.
He didn’t like when it ended though. When the kids would be gathered and stand in a straight line in front of their respective teachers and be led back into the classrooms.
He always frowned at that.
One day, at the beginning of class Ms. Sato opened the door for a little boy with redish hair and teal eyes.
“Class, we have a new student!” She smiled, whispering to him before nudging him forward a bit.
”My name is Sae Itoshi.”
A beat.
Several.
Shidou blinked, the kids stared, and Ms. Sato smiled—although a little awkward now.
”Is there anything else you’d like to share? Maybe hobbies or—“
”No.”
And that was that.
She cleared her throat, and told this Sae where to sit. Surprise surprise, the only seat that was open was the one next to Shidou.
They didn’t talk at first, Sae didn’t even look at him even though Shidou was blatantly staring.
Shidou eventually gave up though, thinking Sae was another boring kid. He kind of wished he had a friend in class and not just at recess when playing tag.
Speaking of recess, it came quickly. He grinned big, running to the field expecting to do what he always did.
”Shidou! Race me, race me!” It was Akira, they had already raced yesterday and he beat him by a long shot. “I’ll beat you this time!” Akira exclaimed.
Shidou rolled his eyes but agreed nonetheless, already thinking about stealing his girlfriend—Aoi after winning.
Aoi was a loud girl with brown hair always put up into two pigtails, Shidou thought she was cute enough. Prettier than Kyomi who stopped holding his hand and started to play house with someone else.
The race was over quickly, he pumped his little arms and legs beating Akira with a large gap.
“Shidou how are you so fast?” Aoi asked, giggling softly.
”Because i’m cool, duh?”
“Akira’s just slow! Slowpoke Aki!” A classmate teased, poking at Akira’s face which was bright red in embarrassment.
”Shut up! I’m not slow!”
Shidou laughed and by the end of recess Aoi’s hand was slotted with his.
When they were about to walk into the classroom, Sae nudged his shoulder. He didn’t know what to expect, now that he’s thinking about it Sae didn’t come play with the others at recess… He was at the edge of the field with a soccer ball instead.
”Why do you entertain those lukewarm kids.”
”Lukewarm?” Shidou’s eyebrows furrowed. Whatever that means, and why did Sae refer to them as kids—he’s one too!
”Yes. You’re fast. Play soccer with me tomorrow.”
Back in class, Shidou could not keep quiet. His leg kept bouncing and he kept tapping on his desk.
”How do you know how to play soccer?” Shidou asked.
”I‘m on a team.” Sae responded
”Are you professional?”
”Im 7.”
”I don’t know how to play!”
”I’ll teach you..?”
”Do you think i’ll be good?”
”You have to be. If you aren’t we can’t be friends.”
When Shidou went home he was beaming, he greeted his mom with a bigger smile than usual and gave her a big hug by wrapping his little arms around her waist.
”Mama! I made a new friend!” He exclaimed before jumping around her.
She laughed at her son’s excitement, and ruffled his blonde hair. “That’s amazing sweetie, what’s his name?”
He then went on to talk to her about everything he knew about him, which wasn’t much but whatever.
Shidou was 7 when he met Rin.
It’s been a few months and Shidou can confidently say school is fun, but only because of Sae.
Ms. Sato started smiling at the both of them, probably happy because he made a friend.
He stopped playing with the others at recess to their disappointment but Shidou didn’t care. Sae was the coolest person ever!
He liked playing soccer with him more than anything, and if not soccer then talking to him in general.
Shidou liked that he didn’t make fun of his hyperactive behavior despite him being very calm, but he’s learned that Sae’s actually hilarious. He laughs at everything, even if it’s not exactly shown on his face.
Whenever it’s just the two of them he’d huff a laugh or snort when someone fell or tried using a big word in the wrong sense. Very rarely he’d actually laugh out loud at Shidou’s jokes which made him feel all warm and fuzzy. He liked making Sae laugh.
Sae was his first and only actual friend and he was sure it was the same for him too.
So he was quickly disappointed when he went to Sae’s house for the first time and saw Rin.
Rin was a stupid, clingy, spitty four year old who wouldn’t stop bothering Sae. Every second he’d scream Nii-chan like it was the only word he knew and whine whenever Shidou tried talking to Sae.
He thought Sae would be like him, annoyed—but he kept enabling it! Shidou was frustrated. He wanted to play soccer, he wanted to be in Sae’s room, he wanted to talk to Sae alone!
His little hands were clenched into fists when watching Sae wipe Rin’s stupid drool from his stupid mouth for the umpteenth time which was very, very disgusting!
Shidou was an only child, it was only him and his mom really. He didn’t understand little brothers, or why Sae just kept looking at Rin with such fondness. It pissed him off, how was he supposed to be Sae’s only friend if Rin got their first?