Chapter Text
“Mommy, mommy! Daddy is out with Shii-chan today, right? Can we go to the park today, just me and you?!” Shizuku tugged on her mother’s sleeve eagerly, receiving a couple of chuckles from her. It was lonely in their house as Shiho was more and more with her father than with her.
“In a little bit. It’s cold, so while I finish this, you need to change into something warmer. You can’t catch a cold.” Mrs Hinomori rubbed her arm where Shizuku rapidly tugged, which had gone slightly pink. Shizuku gave her a sheepish smile.
“Okay, mommy! I will!”
Without a second thought, Shizuku sped up her stairs as fast as her little legs could take her, rushing into her shared room with Shiho to find her coat and boots. “Hmph! It’s only autumn, and I have to wear winter clothes..!” She complained to herself, muttering slightly. She didn’t like wearing anything heavy or bulky, which was what her coat was!
Shizuku slid her fluffy turquoise coat over her white dress, and shoved her matching boots onto each foot, although it took much more effort compared to her coat. “Hrrrngh! I might ask Daddy to take me shopping for a size up.. these are so small..!”
“Shizuku, are you ready? I’m downstairs.”
“Oh! Coming, mommy!”
Shizuku sped right back down the stairs, her boots clinking in a rhythmic pattern. Her mother warned her not to go too fast down, after an embarrassing incident when she was a toddler, but she was simply too excited to cater. Today might be the day she makes a friend!
Shizuku and her mother left their house at around 4:30pm, the bright sun slowly creeping into their direct eye sight. Shizuku winced at this, trying to manoeuvre her bangs to cover her eyes.
They pulsed an awkward silence between them that Shizuku craved to fill. Her echoing footsteps as she avoided the cracks on the sidewalks was the only noticeable noise aside from her mother’s heels clicking alongside her.
So, she filled it.
“..Mommy? Why don’t I have any friends? I want to make friends. I love Shii-chan.. but I feel so lonely when she isn’t with me.” Shizuku shoved her hands into her pockets, fidgeting with the seams inside nervously. It had always been a daunting question.
She had tried to make friends, she really did. Maybe it was because she was clingy? At least that was what Shiho had told her once. Maybe she was a bit too much of an airhead, like her mother tells her sometimes?
“Oh- I’m.. not too sure, honey. It’s still light out, maybe you’ll meet a kid your age. You won’t be alone forever, I promise. Let’s hurry on and find someone then, Shizuku. How does that sound?” Mrs Hinomori fumbled with her words slightly, taken aback from Shizuku’s blunt question.
“Okay mommy! I’m looking forward to it~” Shizuku’s bright smile gleamed in the ever glowing sunlight.
“Oh, oh! There it is, mommy! I see it! Can I go ahead of you, pleeease?” Shizuku’s eyes pleaded, pouting slightly while pointing in-front of them, revealing Shibuya Park. Her mother had strictly told her to keep ahold of her hand, after an incident where toddler Shizuku got lost in a very big mall.
“You know the rules, Shizuku. Stay with me. It’ll only be an extra minute.” Mrs Hinomori clasped her hand around Shizuku’s tighter, forcing a stern expression.
“Awh..!”
…
Shizuku hadn’t expected the park to be so.. empty. The cicadas had basically chirped their own apologies to her as Shizuku stared in pure disbelief. She didn’t want to waste their night out, after all, her mother had a busy work schedule, and it wasn’t all the time they could go out together like this, so Shizuku decided to cope and went to go on the swings with a smile forced on her face.
“I’m sorry honey.. I really thought there would be kids this time around..” Mrs Hinomori crouched down to Shizukus level, whom had begun rocking back and forth slowly while on the swing. “I’ll be right over there, okay? Call me if you need anything, or if you want to go home.”
“Okay..”
So there Shizuku was, watching the sun go down, except alone. She eventually picked back up her pace, trying to make view of the happiness of the situation. It was peaceful and quiet, with only the sound of the swing creaking underneath her making the loudest noise. She loved the winds breeze flowing through her hair, some of it getting plastered onto her face, creating a couple yelps. “I can’t see, mommy! I can’t s- Nevermind..!”
But those were only the best parts. She wanted to connect with people and make a friend. But nobody came.. she wondered if Shii-chan would be her only friend, ever. That would be a boring life. She slowed down, squeezing her legs together to eventually come to a stop, planning to ask her mother to leave, until, she felt a prominent push against her back, sending her back into the air unexpectedly.
“Mommy?! You scared m-“ Shizuku gasped, trying to turn around while not falling off, to be met with someone who wasn’t her mother.
“Huh..? O-oh! Do you want to be my friend?” That was a recurring phrase in Shizuku’s social life. She spots someone her age, and immediately asks to befriend them. Much to her dismay, none of them accepted. Shizuku wondered if this girl would be the same, whom was pink haired with a fang pushed out of her bottom lip.
Her appearance nearly entirely paralleled Shizuku’s. She had short, pink hair twirled into pigtails while Shizuku let her long blue hair roam loose. Instead of a fang, Shizuku had a mole in a similar placement. The girl was short for her presumed age, while Shizuku was quite tall for hers. The girls voice was a bit deeper and nasally, while Shizuku’s was high and airy. Not to mention their opposing clothing styles.
“Eh? Friends? We just met! Come on, come on. I wanna keep pushing you!” The girl responded, giggling to herself. “I love the swings, but you’re on them, so you can have 3 more minutes, and then we switch.”
“Shizuku?! Who’s that?- Oh.. I see.” Mrs Hinomori responded to her daughter’s yell, but softened as she saw a girl Shizuku’s age come into frame.
…
“Hehehe! Higher!” Shizuku squealed, her legs flinging upwards with the girls pushing growing more and more intense. Too intense, actually, for the girl to hear Shizuku ask her to stop.
Shizuku accidentally slipped off, falling feet and wrist first into the sand. “Eep!” She yelped, tugging at her left wrist, which had gone a worrying pink nearly immediately. Her eyes teared up around the edges
“Ah! I’m so, so, so, so, sorry..! I didn’t mean to! I’ll get your mom!” The girl flinched, immediately running to try and find Mrs Hinomori. “Where is she.. where is she.. I’m going to be in so much trouble..!”
“There you are! U-um.. excuse me, are you that girls mother..?”
“Yes, why..? Are you Shizuku’s friend?”
“Shizuku? That’s her name..? Well.. I accidentally pushed her off.. I didn’t mean to! I promise! Please help me! Her wrist looks a bit weird..!” The girl pointed towards Shizuku’s direction, whom was sniffling and rubbing her eyes with her good hand.
“You’re not in trouble just yet. Let me see.”
“She’s this way. I’ll help! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I didn’t hear her!” The girl winced, rushing over to Shizuku. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you..”
“I-it’s okay. I was being loud.. did you still want to be my friend..?” Shizuku sniffed, smiling slightly, letting her mother investigate her right wrist, which was a much deeper shade of pink now.
“I-“ The girl was cut off before she could respond.
“I think it’s twisted. As long as it isn’t fractured, I suppose. We’ll just go home, okay, Shizuku..?” Mrs Hinomori sighed, rubbing Shizuku’s wrist tenderly, before turning to the girl. “What’s your name? I can call your mother if you like. It’s too late for you to be out alone..”
“Airi. Airi Momoi. My mom knows where I am. I’ll be okay..” Airi responded, taking a hint of pride in using her full name. “S-Shizuku..? Can we meet up tomorrow.. well, if your wrist is okay, of course..!” Airis cheeks flushed as she picked at her finger cuticles.
“Oh! Mommy? Can I? Please! Airi-san is almost- almost my friend, mommy!”
“Only if your wrist’s swelling goes down. Airi, bring your mother next time, okay?” Mrs Hinomori tugged Shizuku’s left hand, using her spare to wave her farewells to Airi.
“Oh, I will..! Bye, Shizuku..” Airi waved, before a distant voice could be faintly recalled by both Mrs Hinomori and Shizuku..
As Shizuku and Mrs Hinomori walked off, 2 boys around the age of 9 came into view, and could barely be heard by Shizuku. “Found you, ‘Airi-san~’ Gosh, please. Who talks like that?” One boy snickered, mimicking Shizuku.
“You can pick on me, but don’t bring Shizuku into this..!” Airi grumbled, turning away from the two of them.
“Ah, I get it, you’re in love with her. You’re protecting her like this and everything. I bet poor little Shizuku can’t even hear you through that thick skull she has, so what’s the point?” The other snorted. “And thinking we’re picking on you, too. These are all jokes, Airi. Can’t you take a joke? Jeez..”
“What?! No! How did you even hear that and think that’s what I meant?! We aren’t even friends! Just because I helped her doesn’t mean I love her or anything..!” Airi snapped.
By this stage of Airi and the boys argument, Shizuku had gestured to her mother to stop as she stared directly at Airi. They weren’t in Airi’s direct line of sight, but they could still hear everything clearly going on.
“You helped her because you purposely pushed her off. I saw that, and I’m glad you’re fighting kids your age this time, you’re finally learning.” The other snickered to his friend, not missing a beat.
“Hmph! That was an accident! Didn’t you see? An aspiring idol wouldn’t push someone like that! Airi scoffed, puffing out her cheeks.
“Yeah, yeah, all that idol stuff. You know you will never truly be one, right? Just give up and spare yourself the trouble.” His friend responded, laughing to himself.
“I will be! Just you see! I’m gonna be the best idol in the entire world! Just you wait..!”
“Shizuku, honey, let’s carry on now.” Mrs Hinomori motioned, clearly getting uncomfortable by the obviois bullying going on.
“Oh, okay.. I’m coming.” Shizuku followed her mother’s lead, whispering an apology to Airi under her breath.
The rest of their argument couldn’t be heard from Shizuku, no matter how hard she tried. She looked back one last time to spot a glimpse of Airi’s upset face, nearly in tears, before her mother pushed her along.
“I hope Airi-san is okay. Those boys seem really mean.” Shizuku murmured.
♡
The clock ticked towards 4:30pm, as Shizuku waited in eager anticipation. This was the time she assumed Airi wanted, as that’s when Shizuku had gotten there. No, maybe when Airi got there, at maybe.. 4:45pm? Shizuku wasn’t too sure. She just had to wait patiently, or else she would be bouncing off of the walls.
“Mommy! I’m going to make my first friend today, I just know it! Airi-san might call me Shizuku-chan, and I can call her Airi-chan, like friends do!” Shizuku giggled, getting more excited by the minute.
“Staring at that clock isn’t going to make time go faster. First of all, is your wrist alright now I put on the brace?” Mrs Hinomori took a peek under Shizuku’s wrist brace, to look at her injured wrist, which had healed quite nicely, the swelling going down substantially, although Shizuku still winced slightly to the touch.
“..And, some people might not like to use honorifics. I noticed Airi didn’t use -san or -chan on you, so don’t get your hopes up, okay..? That won’t change the fact that you’re friends or not, though. It’s a matter of preference.”
“Well, what else should I do then, Mommy? My hearts beating so fast, I might explode..!” Shizuku giggled, fidgeting with her coats fluffy hem. “Look, the times changed..! 4:25pm! Can we go now?”
“Alright, alright.. Just remember, don’t get upset if she isn’t there. She doesn’t seem like the type to keep you waiting, but you never know, okay?” Mrs Hinomori stepped out of the door, immediately getting out of the way to avoid a bouncing-off-the-walls Shizuku.
…
The walk matched the previous one, except instead of Shizuku looking solemn, she seemed quite excited. Shizuku knew she was about to make a friend, her first friend, she just knew it!
“Airi-san, I’m coming..! Teehee. Maybe I can call her Airi-chan already..?” Shizuku begun switching -san and -chan honorifics on Airi, which received displeasure from her mother, yet she didn’t fight it. Only with a sigh.
“Oh, mommy! There it is! The park! Can I pleeeease go in front? I’ll be so good! I promise!” Shizuku begged, trying to search for a pink haired girl.
“You know what happened last time I let you go without me.” Mrs Hinomori sternly told her. Right, she got lost and it took her mother and father.. and police.. 3 hours to find her. Maybe not, but it’s so close! She tried one more time…
“I can just barely see some pink hair, too! I’ll be fine.” Shizuku lied. She just had to go there and maybe her lie would become the truth. Simple!
“Fine.. just be careful and don’t trip.” Although Mrs Hinomori didn’t explicitly state yes or no, Shizuku took it as approval and immediately ran past her mother.
Although Shizuku wasn’t the best with directions, she managed to find her way. After all, there was only one major turn towards the left until they were met with the park.
“Airi-san..? Airi-san! It’s me, Shizuku! I’m waiting for you..!” Shizuku called out, cupping her hands over her mouth to mimic a megaphone.
“Shizuku?! You’re here! I’m sorry, I didn’t get a proper time to meet..” Airi showed herself, whom was hiding behind a tree, for some odd reason Shizuku couldn’t decipher.
“It’s okay! You’re here! That’s all that matters..! Do you want to be my friend, Airi-san..?” Shizuku clasped her hands together, nearly on her knees towards Airi. Airi shared a nervous look, glancing away from Shizuku.
“Ah, u-um.. there’s my mom! Where’s your mom Shizuku..? So they can meet up and stuff.. Wasn’t that the plan..?” Airi hesitantly replied, switching the topic hastily while fidgeting with the ends of her pigtails. “Right there, on the bench, see?! She’s waving at you!”
Airis presumable mother was indeed waving at Shizuku. She gave a small wave back.
“My mommy should be coming soon, but do you want to be friends now, Airi-san..?” Shizuku switched the topic back to what it was originally was before Airi had changed it.
“Shizuku..? Shizuku! Oh, she’s here, good.. Airi, can you show me where your mother is?” Mrs Hinomori caught up to Shizuku, her heels giving her a sudden stop against the sand. “Ah, I should’ve worn sneakers..”
Airi pointed towards her left, until Mrs Hinomori had spotted Mrs Momoi, who gave her a small wave.
“I’m Mrs Hinomori, you are..?” Mrs Hinomori gave Mrs Momoi a deep bow, which Mrs Momoi returned, standing up.
“I’m Mrs Momoi, Airi’s mother. Airi’s been telling me all about your daughter ever since they met. Good things about her, too.” Mrs Momoi chucked.
“Same for us, ehehe. Shizuku’s been really excited, she thinks Airi will be her first friend, how cute is that..”
“Aww. I think Shizuku will be Airi’s first, aswell.. You know, I’ve been worrying about their social abilities. I know they’re still young, but.. who isn’t going to worry? Airi’s nearly turning 7, and her older sister had a full circle of friends at around 5 years old.”
“Shizuku just turned 7 a month ago. I’m glad they’re basically same age..” Mrs Hinomori remarked, though the rest of their conversation muffled out against Shizuku’s ears as she attempted every single piece of equipment on the playground. From monkey bars to rock walls, all that was left was the slide.
“Airi-san.. I’m actually very scared of slides. I tried one once, and i went so fast, and landed into a puddle..!” Shizuku called out, facing towards Airi, whom was hanging off of the monkey bars. She immediately leaped down, and offered to help Shizuku.
“Do you want me to go down first? It hasn’t rained in ages, and if it’s too fast, I can simply catch you!” Airi traversed the play set much faster than Shizuku had a minute ago. Even without Shizuku answering her question (and statement), she slid down with ease, which calmed Shizuku down slightly. Airi wasn’t hurt at all, and seemed excited.
“I’m right here, okay..? Even though you’re taller than me, I’ll catch you no matter what..!” Airi muttered the part about height under her breath, barely audible for Shizuku. She dramatically spread her arms out wide, gesturing for Shizuku to slide. “You’ve got this, Shizuku!”
“Eep..!” Shizuku braced for impact as she slid down, her muscles tensed for pain that never ended up coming. Slowly, she opened her eyes to find herself on sand, with Airi beaming up at her.
“You did it!” Airi exclaimed, pulling Shizuku back up. “That wasn’t so bad, was it? Do you wanna try again without me there?”
“It wasn’t that bad, you’re right, Airi-san..! I’ll try it again, and again, and again..!” Shizuku giggled, spinning in place, letting her dress flow around her.
“..Eh? She hadn’t told me about that.. Airi! Come here for a second, please!” Mrs Momoi called out, her arms crossed.
“Oh. Shizuku stay here, okay?” Airi sighed, then calling out to her mother that she was coming, jogging over. Shizuku didn’t ’stay there’, though. She planned to hide behind a tree, and possibly listen in.
“..Okay, listen! I didn’t mean to push Shizuku off! I didn’t hear her ask to stop, and she let go of the chains while I pushed her up higher on the swingset, I forgot..!” Airi blubbered, immediately telling her side of the story before her mother even thought of the chance to speak.
“Not about that. Who are those boys? Mrs Hinomori, Shizuku’s mother, saw you talk with them as they walked out of the park, coming out as soon as every adult was out of sight..?” Mrs Momoi sternly asked, with a hint of tenderness. “You can tell me anything, you know that.”
“Err..” Airi begun.
“If you’re being bullied, we can help. Hey, hold on, ..are they the reason why you haven’t been wanting to go to school? Airi, you can tell us. Please tell us” Mrs Momoi added on, glancing over to Mrs Hinomori.
“It’s okay. I’m handling it all by myself.” Airi muttered under her breath, intriguing Shizuku to move over closer. After all, if Airi was going to be this quiet, she may aswell be asking her to come! Even though Shizuku swore she was visible, Airi seemingly hadn’t reacted to her at all. To her knowledge, at-least.
“Hm? Can you speak up, please..?” Mrs Hinomori crouched to Airi’s level to look friendlier, though Airi’s cheeks flushed red.
“I’m handling it myself, jeez..! It’s none of your business! Just go away!” Airi yelled, and then proceeded to clasp her hands over her mouth, seemingly regretting her words, and running away into bushes, before vanishing entirely.
“Airi?! Get back here!” Mrs Momoi called out, trying to retrace her daughter’s steps to no avail. “She must’ve been around here a lot. She.. she went by so fast. I haven’t been here much at all, really. I’ve been busy with her sisters. She seemed mature.”
“You’re saying she’s been alone?! She told me you were with her yesterday!” Mrs Hinomoris eyes widened. “You know what, it’s okay. No point reminiscing over the past..”
“First of all, where’s Shizuku?” Mrs Hinomori pondered, walking over towards the playset, where she had last saw her. But, to her surprise and soon horror, Shizuku was nowhere to be found.
“Shizuku?! No, no, no..! She’s bad with directions! I can’t loose her! Last time I lost her, we spent hours looking! Shoot! How could I lose sight of her?!”
♡
Around 1 hour later..
“Airi-san..? It’s me, Shizuku..! I mean no harm! I want to be your friend, if you still want to be mine.. please come out, Airi-san.” Shizuku cupped her hands around her mouth as she ventured across a nearby alleyway, calling out to Airi pleadingly.
She had been looking for Airi for around an hour now. Although she wasn’t far away from the park, it had taken her a while of accidental loops around the block to find her way into a tricky alleyway which looked more like a maze every second she laid foot inside. And now she was sure she was going in circles in the alleyway, too!
“I’m sorry my mommy was nosy. I know it’s not our business, but the boys seemed so mean, and-“ Shizuku began her typical routine of apologies to presumably nobody. She always thought, just incase, until a voice was barely audible. Her ears perked up excitedly.
“Shut up.” Airi murmured.
“Airi-san?! Where are you?! It’s me, Shizuku..!” Shizuku gasped, immediately introducing herself again in a fit of surprise.
“I know it’s you. I’m here.” Airi exhaled, sitting up from a corner Shizuku had walked past around 3 times by now. “What do you want? I told you to go away.” Airi rubbed her face with her sleeve, revealing wet marks Shizuku presumed Airi didn’t want her to see. She averted her gaze to Airi’s flushed face instead.
“Oh! I, uh.. wanted to apologise, Airi-san.. for being nosy, for my mommy, for everyone. If you don’t want to be my friend, that’s okay, too! I wouldn’t blame you, I still need work if I made you so sad.” Shizuku bowed her head.
“Just shush! It’s not you, it’s me! I want to be your friend, so, so badly..! But I can’t!” Airi sniffled, dropping her head.
“Wait, you do?! But why can’t you be my friend, then..?” Shizuku eagerly called out, slightly too loudly, before dropping to a more serious, fitting tone quietly.
“Well, what if they pick on you too?! If you saw what happened, I’m sure you know what they’re like! I’m handling it, but I don’t know if you can! They’re rude, you know!” Airi begun listing off reasons, while Shizuku found comebacks just as fast.
“I’ll be fine, Airi-san. I can protect you from them. Not the other way around. I can do this. Just trust me and be my friend!” She remarked, pointing her thumb to her chest proudly.
“..What if I’m too mean? I just told you to shut up, that’s mean, right?” Airi lifted her head slightly.
“Stop making excuses..! That’s okay with me Airi! Sometimes I’m a bit mean and that’s normal!” Shizuku miffed.
“What if I get into fights and accidentally hurt you? That’s a bad friend right there.. and-“ Airi was getting desperate trying to rack off reasons, and accidentally let a presumable secret slip.
“I’ll bring my bandaids and if either of us get hurt I’ll help make us! It’s okay! Wait, does your mommy know you get into fights, then?”
“Eh?! Don’t tell her that, actually..! Wait, wait..! But what if I-“ Airi cut in.
“I don’t care what reason you have for me, for us not to be friends! You’re Momoi Airi and human! You have traits others don’t! That’s why I want to be friends with you and nobody else, for you are Airi Momoi! That’s what makes you, you! So be my friend while being yourself!” Shizuku urged, a hint of anger in her voice. She hadn’t thought a single second of what to say, all of her inner words spilling out all at once.
“..Wow, you have a stern voice when you get so worked up, ahaha!” Airi lightened the mood, but Shizuku dropped it again.
“Focus and answer my question, Airi-san!” Shizuku stomped her foot.
“I.. will. I will be your friend-“ Airi began.
“Really?!” Shizuku exclaimed.
“-For one week! And see how it goes! I’m not risking anything..!” Airi huffed.
“Better than no friend at all! Wait, does that mean I can call you Airi-chan?” Shizuku jumped up and down, pulling her hands into Airi’s, a big smile spreading across her cheeks.
“Well.. okay, sure!” Airi hesitated slightly, but eventually agreed.
“And you call me Shizuku-chan?! Come on, say it! Pleeeeease..!” Shizuku begged, clasping her hands together.
“Shizuku…….. -c-ch-cha…augh! Sorry, I can’t..!” Airi stuttered, resting her head in her hands as her cheeks flushed.
“Awh.. it’s okay, Airi-chan~ hehe.” Shizuku emphasised the -chan part gleefully, lifting Airi’s chin up and using her finger to make her smile slightly, which managed to work.
“You’re never gonna get over that, are you?” Airi sighed, a proper grin of her own peeking towards the corners.
“I’m not planning on it, Airi-chan~ ehehe, It’s so fun saying it!” Shizuku smiled, rubbing Airi’s shoulder tenderly.
“Ah! Oh my gosh, you’re here, Shizuku..! Thank gosh, and with Airi too? Mrs Momoi?! Yes, over here! They’re here! Both of them, yes!” Mrs Hinomori breathed a sigh of relief, crouching down and pulling Shizuku and Airi both into a fierce hug.
“Seriously?! I told you we should’ve started looking here..!” Mrs Momoi grumbled, pulling her skirt up slightly to avoid dragging as she ran towards the designated area.
“What did I say about running off, Shizuku?! I was so worried! Last time you left me, we had to file a missing child report! Don’t you dare forget that!” Mrs Hinomori went straight to the subject, giving her daughter a small kiss on her forehead, pushing her bangs out of her face while doing so.
“Wait, really?! Where did you even try to go?!” Airi exclaimed, a hint of confusion on her face.
“To find Shii-chan.. but then, I got a little sidetracked, and then got lost..! Mommy’s never let me out of her sight since, until now! When I found you!”
“Oh? Who’s Shii?” Airi perked up.
“My amazing, adorable, cute younger sister~ Her actual name is Shiho, but I just really like calling her Shii-chan.” Shizuku cooed, giggling slightly. “Ah, Airi-chan, is that your mom over there..?”
“Seems to be-“
“Airi? Airi! There you are! Gosh, why did you do that..! We can talk about this later, okay?” Mrs Momoi ran in, placing her hands onto her hips, imitating a powerful stance before dropping to her knees and hugging the girls tenderly.
“Sorry, mom.. stop squeezing me- augh! I’ve been hugged so many times today, I’m shocked a rib hasn’t cracked- ow, ow..!” Airi wheezed, trying to push back against her mother’s firm grasp.
“Nope, never! Look, I won’t touch on it too much but, those boys, it’s okay, Airi.” Mrs Momoi ruffled the top of Airi’s hair, twirling her ahoge and letting it droop afterwards.
“..Thank you, mom.”