You always saw the children. Every time your parents took you past the Sun Garden orphanage on the way home from kindergarten, you saw all of them running around, playing and arguing. Well, all except a certain red-haired boy who would sit on the swing and stare at the ground.
You asked your parents why the children weren’t with their parents, but when they tried to explain that the children didn’t have parents, you didn’t understand them. So, with the common, “You’ll understand when you’re older,” they dismissed the question.
One year later, you knew what it felt like to be alone, after your parents died in sinking ship.
“Hitomiko-nee, Haruya and Fuusuke are fighting in the playground again.”
“Thank you, (f/n).” Hitomiko-nee patted your head before running off to break up the fight. The two boys didn’t get along when they were younger, and the entire ‘Aliea Academy’ thing did little to help.
You are (l/n) (f/n), an orphan in the Sun Garden Orphanage. You didn’t take part in the ‘Aliea Academy’ project as you absolutely refused to hurt others. You, along with a few others who, for many reasons, didn’t join Aliea Academy, were treated like an outcast by those who did join Aliea Academy.
The only student of Aliea academy that did treat you nicely was Kiyama Hiroto, the red-haired boy on the swing. Although you would never say it aloud, you had slowly fallen in love with him.
“Hey, (f/n)-chan!” You whirled around to face a smiling Reina. When she was Ulvida, she scared you. But now that you’ve gotten to know her better, she’s really friendly.
“Yes, Reina?”
“Do you want to go out for a picnic?”
“A… Picnic?”
“Yeah! With Hiroto, Ryuuji, Haruya, Fuusuke and Osamu!”
“Are you sure I should join you guys?” You were slightly hesitant to join them, as it seemed like a picnic for the captains of Aliea Academy.
“Nonsense! C’mon, please?”
After a long silence, you finally agreed.
“Do you want the tomato sauce, (f/n)-chan?” Hiroto gave you one of his charming smiles.
“S-Sure, Hiroto-san!”
You were having a lot of fun at the picnic. Reina had packed sandwiches to eat. The seven of you were sitting on a picnic mat in the park eating. Well, at least you, Hiroto, Reina and Osamu were. Midorikawa was quietly reading a book while Haruya and Fuusuke were half-eating, half-bickering. The only thing stopping them from punching each other was that Hitomiko-nee threatened to ban them from every gaming platform in the orphanage. Who knew the two of them liked Pokémon so much?
Once you guys were done eating, Reina suggested a walk in the forest. And so, the seven of you walked into the forest.
Along the walk, you walked next Hiroto in silence. Finally Hiroto decided to break the awkward silence.
“So how is everyone treating you, (f/n)-chan?”
“Fine. Reina’s really nice. Hitomiko-nee is kind to me. So is everyone else. Well, everyone except Haruya and Fuusuke. They’re mad that I always report them.”
Hiroto chuckled. “That’s to be expected. Pokémon to them is like books to Ryuuji.”
“I never would have guessed that Burn and Gazel would be that into a video game.”
The smile slid off Hiroto’s face. “I’m sorry, (f/n)-chan.”
You were confused. “Why are you apologising?”
“During the Aliea Academy fiasco, everyone treated you like dirt. For not being as blind as us.”
“It’s okay, Hiroto-san. You were just following Father’s instructions.”
“But…”
You smiled at him. “Calm down, Hiroto-san. Let’s not talk about those times, okay?”
Hiroto blinked, shocked, but returned the smile. “Okay, (f/n)-chan.”
‘There’s a meadow over there,’ you remembered suddenly. Without telling anyone, you turned and headed off towards the meadow. It was stupid of you not to tell Reina, but you were so used to being by yourself while the other children trained for Aliea Academy.
Since you and Hiroto were at the back of the group, only Hiroto realised that you were walking off. “(f/n)-chan?” As Hiroto didn’t want to disturb Reina and Osamu who were quite engrossed in their conversation, nor did he want to interrupt Ryuuji while he was reading a book. Hiroto shuddered at the memory. The worst thing anyone could do was interrupt Ryuuji while he was reading. He was scarier than Haruya and Fuusuke combined! Speaking of Haruya and Fuusuke, the two of them were still bickering, so Hiroto went after you by himself.
When he finally caught up to you, you were standing in the meadow with a flower in your hand. You were shaking slightly.
“(F/n)-chan?” You jumped slightly when Hiroto placed a hand on your shoulder. You hastily rubbed your eyes to clear the tears.
“Y-Yes, H-Hiroto-san?”
Hiroto was shocked.
“Are… Are you crying, (f/n)-chan?” Hiroto asked softly.
You couldn’t help it. You burst into tears.
“I-I’m s-sorry, Hiroto-san, b-but it’s j-just… M-My parents u-used to t-take me h-here…”
Before their death, your parents always took you to the meadow in the forest. Although
you thought you had moved on from their death, this meadow just brought back many memories.
“(F/n)…” Without warning, Hiroto hugged you.
“H-Hiroto-san?”
“It’s okay, (f/n). It’s okay.”
“… Thank you, Hiroto-san.”
The red-haired boy released you and smiled. “Just Hiroto.”
“O-Okay, Hiroto.”
“Hiroto! (F/n)!” You both turned towards Reina and Osamu shouting your names.
“Are you okay? Do you know how frightened we were when you guys disappeared?”
You left Hiroto to appease Osamu while you looked at Reina. She was the only other person excluding Hiroto who knew about the reason why this meadow affected you so much. She just gave you a reassuring smile.
“Anyways, let’s go back.” Reina slowly calmed Osamu down, stopped Ryuuji from walking into a tree and prevented Haruya and Fuusuke from getting their game consoles banned.
“Let’s go, (f/n)-chan.” Hiroto grabbed your hand and the two of you followed the group back to the orphanage, hand-in-hand.