This day was like no other.
Today was January 1. The start of a New year, the time when the Earth’s revolution around the Sun has made a complete circle, in this two-dimensional universe.
And the start of everything fresh and new. The times when winter retreats and spring comes in its stead. As expected, you have been hiding from chaos, aka. ‘Main characters’.
Those protagonists in which the world revolves around them and them only, side characters are only a running gag and background characters are just there to fill up space, just as usual. In your years of living, you have never approached a main character. These protagonists are easy to identify, bright coloured hair enough to burn your corneas, personality with many layers as much as an onion, and their aura… or, some sort of vibe, which was unexplainable really.
They had some kind of energy among them, you can easily pick them out amongst a crowd type of energy. Their personality always attracted others, no matter what. That was the selling point.
Back from home, when you left the complex, you felt a weird, uneasy feeling inside your stomach, a subtle foreshadowing. It was nothing like that sense of dread you felt in your stomach whenever you made a mistake and ought to be punished, nor was it the feeling of loneliness that would attach to your skin like a second shadow, plaguing you with its existence like a parasite.
It was more of a gut feeling, an instinctive response, something that warns you. In so many years, you had never expected to finally feel this peculiar emotion.There was no reason for these main characters to interact with you, ever since your control over the events of what your daily life should be like was shattered.
Saiki was a special case; you only learned of his name after hearing Teruhashi say it. He seemed to be the same as you in a different sense, but quite different. It was like you were separate from different points of reality; it was whether you met him now, or you never did, it was confusing.
Saiki also had the same appearance as the cat you had met a few weeks ago on that fateful stormy night. You could vividly recall the same stygian skies downpour with rain, and the cat shielded underneath your umbrella for protection from the rain.
Ever since then, you had avoided Saiki, and he seemed fine with the results of your behaviour. But even you know, you cannot avoid him forever; at some point in your life, you will have to confront him.…But not today!
You were forcibly dragged outside your house against your own will. You couldn't see over the tops of people’s heads, if anything, you only saw hues of tinted blacks, browns and dark blondes, further solidifying your theory of only main characters having bright or neon colours hair. If only people could see through your lenses and not act like everything is okay.
…This was the time of the year when you would prefer to laze around your house instead of going outside and spending time outside with your family, you would rather spend holidays in solitude and sleeping. Not taking pictures of the shrine, which is far away from the crowd.
Your mother insisted that it would be a bonding experience. Your sibling begrudgingly came along with you, but you don't know where they went now. They just kind of disappeared. Like in every chapter of this story, they're not very important in the plot. You envy their NPC-ness.
Bonding experience where? You would just awkwardly pose whenever she took a picture of you. An unflattering background and an unflattering person.
You just hoped she didn't put your face on the internet (but you were completely sure she shared your baby pictures everywhere).
You caught Saiki praying in the corner of your eye, to be honest with yourself. You would have never guessed Saiki was the superstitious type.
Best avoid him.…“Oh.” You said with an absolute neutral expression.
How did you get here? You happened to pass by Saiki and his parents, who you swore wasn't there before in the area.
Saiki didn't notice your presence. A shiver ran down his spine, although he suppressed it. Unknown to you, you unfortunately stole Kaidou’s cool entrance and spotlight; if you had known, you would have fled the scene immediately.
‘Oh wow’ was the only thing you could say when you met Saiki and his parents; you had never expected his parents to be such… normal people. How did they end up with a son like that?
“Hey, Saiki.”You said in a very nonchalant voice, almost monotonous with a poker face, but internally, you were panicking about the way you talked.“So uh.. How are you doing?” You shrugged, so far now, your dialogue wasn’t that bad or cringeworthy, and you weren't stuttering. “Just happened to pass by coincidentally.”
You weren't lying when you said that happened. Saiki didn't respond to your small talk, you sweat dropped. You sweated more when a pleased aura enveloped his parents. “Hi, I'm Kusuo’s father, Kuniharu.” They both grinned happily, like discovering an adorable kitten and being able to keep it.
“And I'm his mother. You seem like a sweet child! Thank you for taking care of our little Ku!” She shook your hand aggressively. Both of them were happy to see you.
“Huh?- Uh, you're welcome?” She still shook your hand. You weren’t expecting them to be very average parents who looked out for their kids, especially paired with an abnormal child.
Kusuo had an inbuilt instinct of you were judging him in your mind, despite you being immune to him.
“Hi, Ma'am-, and Sir. Nice to meet you, I'm-” You mentioned your name briefly, wait, huh? What's even your name? Now is not the time to have an existential crisis in front of Saiki's parents. God has His specific laws for this world.
“Oh, hi, Kusuo’s friend!” Well, she didn't end up using your name either way; they didn't notice you didn't say your name. “I guess, I'm Kusuo’s... best friend?” You could feel him giving you a side glance. To say you were his friend felt incorrect. You happened to be introvert buddies who both wished to stay away from each other but were forced by the laws of the universe to coexist.
‘I'm being forced to interact with this person again, at least their social skills are much better than before when they were forced to sit with Kaidou and Nendou at lunch. No,,,.. they and Nendou are not my friends.’
You tuned out his parents' banter. “Who would've thought Kusuo was able to make two real friends!” You searched for any hint of sarcasm in his voice, but there was none. You found the thought of Saiki's parent insulting their child so sincerely funny.
“No, honey, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“My greatest wish was for Kuu to make many friends this year! Don't you see?The year’s barely started and it's already been granted! ”
God, you better grant my wish as quickly as this sweet lady's wish.
Their banter faded into the background again. along with the endless chatter in this place.
(should I make a taglist????, does anyone want updates on this fic anywya,,,, also I'm planning on making a Ninjago fic too)
