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Nagisa had been dreaming a lot. His repetitive days in the foster house, apart from the other children, left his mind to wander in his dreams.
Before waking up he’d dreamt of running. Atop a building or through a maze. Being powerful, sly, a thief dressed in black. Tearing through monsters with a blade in his hand. Yet, when he woke up in his bed, his dreams faded into foggy memories. He rubbed his eyes and yawned. Searching the messy bed for his beloved companion.
In the dream Lufei was his right-hand man. Fighting alongside him in the other world. But in this world he was nothing more than a stuffy. One of his wings fraying, his embroidered eyes slowly coming loose, the fabric dirtied and matted from love. Even still, the boy buried his face into the feather-tufts of his beloved toy.
The other kids had told him to get rid of the owl. He was almost eight years old. Too young to rely on a plushie every night. He should have been outside at the park playing soccer with the other kids. But he was more content playing pretend with his sidekick in his room.
Nagisa had been halfway through getting dressed when he heard something through the thin walls. Not the other kids, but the social worker. Talking with two voices he didn't recognize. The one who had brought him here. Hurriedly, he pulled down his shirt and tried to hear the conversation.
“-he’s a very sweet boy. We haven’t had any issues with his conduct, although he is very attached to his stuffed animal" the woman spoke “though, after what he had been through, I don’t blame him.”
One of the strangers spoke up “what happened, if you don’t mind us asking.”
“His parents abandoned him two years ago. Left him alone in the house for a whole month before his school noticed. He’s been a ward of the state ever since.”
He heard a knock at the door. Slowly pried open as the social worker peeked in.
“Nagisa? Someones here to meet you.”
Slowly parting open the door, Okumura Haru and Nijima Makoto were there on the other side.
“This is Haru-San and Makoto-San, they wanted to meet you, is that ok?”
The boy didn't have any comments. Just pulling Lufei closer to him, shifting his eyes towards the ground. After a long, painful silence, Haru decided to speak up.
“Who’s your little friend Nagisa?” Her voice was soft, almost whisper-quiet.
He held his tongue before responding “…Lufei, he’s my friend.”
Haru reached out a hand and shook his wing “hello mister Lufei.” She smiled “it’s so nice to meet you!”
Makoto took a seat nearby. Watching Haru and the boy interact. He wasn't loud and boisterous like the other children they had seen there. Nagisa held a deep sorrow, one Makoto had felt herself.
“Why are you here? Am I going somewhere else?”
Makoto nervously looked at Haru, but Okumura just laughed it off.
“We’re just here to volunteer, we wanted to meet all the kids” she smiled, trying to hide the white lie the best she could “do you want to play a game Nagisa-chan? Have you ever played cards?”
“I don’t like card games” he stood up, hugging Lufei closely “can we play outside?”
Haru nodded. Taking the boy by the hand with Makoto at her side. In the confines of the foster home, Nagisa was a frightened boy. Makoto could tell. But just taking him outside, playing with the boy and his beloved toy, showed a whole new side of him. He loved racing Makoto across the yard. Digging in the dirt and discovering little bits of trash and trinkets.
“What do you think Lufei? Is this treasure?” Nagisa held up a little coin, rusted and chipped.
In the boys mind, Lufei gave a response, causing Nagisa to smile at Makoto.
“He said yes!” Nagisa tucked the coin into a little pouch on the owls back “keep it safe bud, we can get some candy one day.”
That alone made the women want to burst into tears. But they kept their composure.
Nagisa could feel something with them. Like they genuinely cared for him. He remembered people like them in his dreams. Though, maybe it was his mind playing tricks again. He remembered a knight studded in armor, tearing through foes with her bare firsts. He remembered the hat of a musketeer, elegant yet powerful. These strangers seemed like splitting images of those heroes from his mind.
Sadly, their visit couldn't last forever. They waved goodbye to Nagisa and his owl companion. Waiting for the boy to go back into the house before Makoto turned to her wife.
“You think he’s the one?”
Haru was on the verge of tears “I-i think so. I don’t know something about him I just-“
“I know it’s ok” Makoto held her close “let’s not make anything official yet. We still need to finish the confirmation papers and get the room done-“
“I know honey” Haru leaned into her “it’ll be ok. Let’s just worry about Nagisa.”
“-And his little buddy” Makoto nudged her “it’s a two for one deal.”