TRTM Secret Santa

Natsuki had only just reached the height where he could kick himself on the swings with relative ease. Whilst he began to push himself and build the momentum with his legs, his sister could barely stand without the aid of their mother’s hands. Natsuki watched as Sakura tried to walk to the sand box which was taking too long but his mother did not seem to mind. She was making progress at least.

"Well, Yuki, what shall we play first?" Out of curiosity, Natsuki looked towards the stranger’s voice. An old woman was crouched to a young boy, whom he assumed was her grandchild. Other families at the park was familiar but the boy had the most peculiar hair he had ever seen: red. He had never seen such colour on any person’s head, except for a presenter, on TV, but his mother had chuckled saying it was not her real hair. But, the child’s hair looked as real as Natsuki’s black hair.

Whilst Natsuki kept his legs pushing and pulling against the wind, the old woman was still encouraging the boy to try the various mini-attractions in the park. However, the redhead seemed hesitant to leave his smiling grandmother’s side. Natsuki watched as the woman pointed to the slide, the sandbox, the merry-go-round asking for the boy’s opinion but the boy was reluctant to move from his spot. Natsuki wondered if it was the general fear of the park and if so why would she bring him to the park, in the first place.

Not too soon after the boy shook his head at the merry-go-round, the old woman pointed straight at Natsuki. Hot blood washed over him and his legs stopped swinging, in a fright of pressure that the two were staring at him. He let out his breath with a relief once that woman had asked, “What about the swings?”

Natsuki smiled a little in hope that the boy with bright hair would join him. Remembering his mother’s words that a smile went a long way, Natsuki did his best to do so, turning the corners of mouth upwards. Both his mother and father had said he had a nice smile but in the outside world their words held no ground, not when he made eye contact with the red head. The boy’s face contorted into a horrific face of disgust; it was so unlike the smile of his grandmother. Betrayed by a boy he had no affiliations with still wounded his small self; Natsuki made it a point to not want him beside him as he gripped the chains and kicked off the ground as hard as he could. He did not look in their direction but went back to watching his sister now patting (quite harshly) at a small mound of sand. As Sakura played with the sand, Natsuki could not think of how he must not have looked welcoming. Was he that unpleasant? Had he not shown the right kind of smile? Those thoughts had already been answered: by the grimace plastered on the unfamiliar boy’s face.

Thinking he had done something wrong he did not expect to see the two walk towards them (unless they came to warn him of his attitude).

"Excuse me young man," Natsuki looked up fearing the worst but was met with the softest smile he had seen. "You would not mind if Yuki plays on the swings too."

Natsuki frowned at the boy still pulling the awful face; he would have rejected if the smile on the old woman’s face was not so warm. “I guess so,” He shrugged and looked away from the boy.

Turning away from him and looking at her grandchild, Yuki, “Will you be alright on the swings?”

There was silence but Natsuki could see a slow hesitant nod from Yuki in his peripheral vision. The woman did not leave but made sure her grandson was comfortable when he sat on the swings. Once they were both satisfied she ruffled his hair and went to a nearby bench. Natsuki had half-expected that his hair would change colour but it stayed its beautiful red.

Just over a minute had passed without the two boys interacting. But Natsuki was becoming bothered by the creases and wrinkles on such young skin. He had to speak up in defence of himself, “Um… you know if you don’t like me you don’t have to play.”

Yuki snapped his head to make eye contact with him. His eyes had widened showing more white than brown. It was long enough for Natsuki to see the confliction. He half-expected Yuki to wave a denial but his mouth was clenched tightly that he bared his teeth (although there was the odd missing tooth). Clenched teeth alone he may have taken it as a threat but the confliction and frown in his eyes said otherwise.

"Do you not mind?" Natsuki asked.

He waited for a verbal reply but received a rigid shake of the head. Natsuki could not help but laugh at the strange boy. His actions were not bad in fact, despite the twisted face he wore the boy was mild.

"Shall we see who can go the highest?" Natsuki offered.

Yuki nodded. His face had relaxed slightly and he began to look more like a young child with smooth skin. The bright red hair that had contrasted his creased features began to highlight the little glints and freckles that made him pretty.

After the count of three, they both pushed themselves on the swings, swinging their legs trying to reach a height higher than the other. Yuki could feel he was being pulled from the water surrounding him and the boy beside him was beginning to sound clearer in his ears than the muffles of acceptance. Yuki glanced to the boy beside him taking in the cool black hair and black frames that would have made Yuki look silly.

Just as Yuki caught the glint in Natsuki’s glasses, he turned to him both of them making eye contact. For the first time he did not look away nor drown in the water; the water could not reach him on the swings and the smile on the black haired boy’s face. He was having a lot of fun.

They both were.

——-

"Natsuki, why do you always look at Yuki?" Haru grinned.

One little shuffle, from Haru, forced Natsuki to switch his gaze from the red-head screaming “Eno-shima-don!” to the blond alien. Natsuki sighed; Haru could be awfully perceptive of people’s actions even if he could not interpret the pragmatics. “I do not always look at him.”

"Really?" Haru cocked his head. "I was sure you did."

Being honest, I’m still kinda shock of how everyone accepted Urara so quickly, taking the fact that he was the cause of the dance disaster in the town. But I guess that after Haru’s visit everyone just got used to having special classmates, and if I may say, very special friends. It’s been a week since they arrive to Earth and both of them (including Koko) have been staying with me and Grandma. Having them at the house has been exhausting, mostly ‘cause Urara is not use to live like a human yet (Not that Koko and Haru do) so it’s been hard for him to get used to live like an human being. Besides that, I’m glad to have them here; they make the house feel more like home.

Anyway, today after school Urara joined me and Haru to the beach, it’s been a long time since the last fishing trip we had together, I can’t help but feel excited to have Haru at my side again and spend our time as we used too, and I guess he feels the same way, but it is easier for him to show it “You’ll see how amazing is Yuki at this, he is the best fisherman I have known” he said to the shy alien by his side, but it sounded like he was talking to everyone down the street and like he was having a conversation with himself since Urara just nodded while playing with his hair. I need to accept that I have missed this, even Haru’s (not so) annoying voice.

But I can’t stop thinking that what he was saying was not true, has he had forgotten that everything we both know about fishing is thanks to Natsuki? So even f we were already in the bay, I start doubting if I am doing the right thing. I know it would not be the same without Natsuki or Akira, I have accepted that by the time they both left, but now I have Haru and Urara by my side, and so it would be a lot easier from now on. “We are finally here! Now it’s time to start” I said to them, and as I do I notice Urara was fidgeting away from us. “Is there any problem Urara?” Haru asked him, and he just shook his head. He was nervous, maybe because we are not that close or just by the anxiety of trying something new, but I could tell he was not very comfortable now. I know how that feels; it used to be something I could relate, a feeling that was always in my chest, but now I barely feel on some situations. But, what made that change?

“Let’s go Yuki! There’s no time to lose” Haru said taking me and Urara by the arms towards the ocean. And that’s how I knew, along with many memories that passed to my head, similar to what was happening there. It was because of them, because of Haru, Natsuki and Akira. I have changed and it was because of my friends.

I mean, I have notice how different is my personality compared by how I was until the last year and how I been more comfortable to be myself around others, but I need to accept that sometimes it is harder than others. But if it wasn’t of my friends it would have stayed the same, and that is why I am so thankful towards them. They helped me to learn how to laugh and enjoy what I love. And that is one of the reasons I feel the necessity to share this gift, and I knew with who I should do it: “Come on Urara! I’ll teach you how to fish, because I don’t think Haru would be a good example” “That’s not true! I’m an expert at this” Haru replied while he was throwing his fishing rod on the sea, but it landed on a rock. “See Urara” Haru just complained and said he needs more practice and asked Urara if he wanted to try “I-I guess I could give it a try”.