"Like hell she'd marry a shrimp like you!"

'Seriously, I feel like...' [Y/n] trails as she clearly looked done while her expression turns dark, a shadow casting on the upper part of her face while her friends simply watches on the side.

'I'm a toy that's being fought over by children.'

Takemichi's face turns pale. "Ahh, is another fight gonna break? But it hasn't even been that long since the last one..." He starts to grumble with his shoulders slumping down as he heaved the next.

"I can't believe they'd still have the energy to do so...where are they even getting that extra energy?"

"From [Y/n]." Kakucho simply replied, a grin accompanying his words as Mitsuya laughs at the other boy's response without even denying it.

"Who the hell are you callin' a shrimp?" Mikey rasped which made for Izana to instantly reply with a...

"Who else? Of course you, shrimp." And seeing the blonde boy irk only made the corner of Izana's mouth curl up, showing a mocking smile and look.

Mikey's gaze drifted to the group that wast watching their comical scene since he heard a couple of people snort from their side due to Izana's insult but before he could say a retort to anyone, [Y/n] broke free from the hug or tug and pull thing with them and walked away which made them go silent.

They watch her stop in front of Keisuke. He has a hand covering the lower part of his face and his shoulders were trembling lightly due to trying his best to hold back the laugh that's wanting to burst out.

Chifuyu seems to be doing the same from beside him. He's even trying his hardest to look serious as his lips was formed in a thin line.

[Y/n] laughed a little before taking a breath and opening her mouth. "The fight's over so you're back in Toman again, Keisuke." She chuckled when she saw how the raven haired's body turned stiffed while staring at her.

With an endearing grin now plastered on her face, she turned on her heel to face a certain blonde that wasn't standing too far away from her.

"Isn't that right, Mikey?"

The boy in question stared at Keisuke first then as a second or two passed by, his lips curled upwards, a bright smile now showing on his face.

"Obviously!" Mikey's response almost made the tears that built in Baji's eyes to escape while Chifuyu could only beam a smile at the wonderful news along with his piss — faux blonde haired partner.

"Heck yeah!" Peh was the first to cheer loudly, his arm now slung over Baji's shoulder while their fellow Toman friends also has a smile plastered on their faces, too.

"Nice to have ya back, Baji!" Nahoya states through his infamous grin.

"Welcome back." Souya congratulates him as well, his usual angry expression present like just like his nickname.

'I'm still not sure if he's just putting an act...or is genuine.'

Keisuke soon went to Kisaki and apologized for hitting him during their battle earlier since Mikey and the others urged him do so.

'But it's better to be sure.'

The boy with glasses gave only responded with a curt nod of his head then walked away to go to where [Y/n] is. Baji pondered for a moment if he's been forgiven but half or completely not.

Then he internally made a comment about the other boy's behavior. 'Rude, bitch.' Bronze orbs and sharp eyes trailed to where Tetta stood.

'So just in case, I'll continue to keep an eye out since I'm still suspicious of him.'

As everyone continued on with their walk and own conversations that made the group lively, specially due to their carefree like laughs and bright smiles, Haruchiyo was the only one who's quiet since he chooses to.

His eyes and attention was only focused to one person, that's why.

'Seeing her smile like this...'

By the way how his gaze that was soft only looked at her and her eyes which was sparkling and filled with joy while looking blissful, it seems like the sight made the pinkette start to reminisce about a certain time during his childhood days.

'Reminds me of the time of how she first looked like.'

The seven year old Haruchiyo watches along with his younger sister Senju as both the young Keisuke and Mikey pulls out a girl with [h/l] [h/c] from the lake.

Earlier, there were all just playing in the water because of the hot weather because of the season summer, but not too long, the boy with black hair among the group of four kids spotted a little girl under the water.

It made him feel goosebumps all over his body that he immediately raised his head and informed the others about what he saw which leads to the current situation now.

"Is she...dead?" Senju asked with teary eyes while hiding behind her brother's back as her shoulders trembled.

'When we all first met [Y/n], the first thing we all noticed was...'

And before anyone could answer her scary question, they hear a voice that was unfamiliar for all of them to hear.

"Ah, as I thought. I'm back again..." They all heard her mutter with a sigh since it was audible enough for them to hear, and confusing too.

"You alright?" Keisuke asked after he wrung the water out of his clothes while the [h/c] little girl opened her eyes and stood up then faced them.

'...How her eyes looked really sad.'

"I'm sorry." Her sudden apology caught them off guard. It made them glance at one another and exchange confused looks, wondering if at least one of them has any idea on what or why the unknown girl is apologizing for.

"It's nice to...see you all again." She whispered so quietly that no one heard her but with the how the girl looked at them with woeful eyes now made them wonder once more on what exactly she said.

"You guys saved me, right?"

Their thoughts came to a halt when they hear a question come from her.

"Yeah." Mikey replied to her question since his friends was still in a trance about her previous statement while he's indifferent like always.

He raised a brow when she felt her gaze that was gentle and still so sad looked at him first then to his friends the next.

'And how she's weird.'

"You're all so cute." They watch as the odd girl suddenly let out a soft laughter which wasn't too loud and just the right amount of volume as they each give her weird looks for the sudden compliment.

Senju's mouth was formed in an 'o'. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she decides to finally take a peak at the laughing girl.

"Her voice and laugh sounds pretty..." she mumbled, a crescent like smile now adorning her face. "Not to mention her, too."

Even though those things were only meant for the little Senju to hear and know, her older brother still heard them since it almost made him let out a scoff.

He stared at the [h/c] girl, thinking something along the lines, 'How can someone who almost drowned and die be so calm?' With a visible frown on his face.

"As thanks..." she trailed off, her lips curling up to show another smile. One that's at least a little bigger and wider compared to the one she showed earlier.

"I'll treat you all to whatever you like, so same time like right now...let's meet up tomorrow at the playground near here." She finally continued with a genuine smile that was tender and sweet – full of loving affection that it couldn't help but make the four kids she's talking to get extremely confused.

"Then, I'll see you all tomorrow!"

Without even waiting for at least one of them to reply, the little girl turned on her heel and ran away leaving the four kids speechless, dazed and utterly confused about the peculiar girl they saved.

Even though they all shared the same thought about finding her odd, the young children couldn't still help but have their curiosity towards her increase since the way she talked and how she looked at them earlier was enough to do so, especially for the little Mikey since she felt so mysterious.

Which leads for their meeting the very next day.

'It was during this time that there'd only be two emotions we'd see on [Y/n].'

"Ah, that's right...I always forget to introduce myself whenever I get back." The girl sheepishly mumbled to herself before the corners of her lips tugged upwards.

'Happiness and just sadness.'

"My name's [Y/n]. It's nice..to meet you all again. I hope we get along...like always." She says through a smile that reached and crinkled her eyes while the four kids that stood in front of her wondered about the last part she said since it was something she whispered and will always be known by no one but herself...

'And I noticed that if we aren't with her, she'd be void of any emotion.'

"[Y/n]'s really pretty when smiling, right?!" Senju exclaimed through a beaming smile and sparkling eyes while heading towards their usual hangout place which is the playground with her older brother walking beside her.

"But it's a shame that always doesn't last too long...why does she always look so sad?" She lets out a sigh the next when she couldn't think of a valid reason for her friend to always look so melancholic.

"Haru-nii, d'ya have any ideas?" She asked with a light tug of her brother's shirt but doesn't get any answers, just silence which made her hum and look at Haruchiyo, both halting in their footsteps.

"Haru-nii..?" Senju soon realizes that they're finally in front of the playground but her older brother just stood still on the same spot while seemingly staring at something — someone.

Now they were both looking at that person, a girl that's sitting on the swing as they hear her hum a gentle melody.

It was a lovely tune, like her as the young boy noted. She looked so peaceful and beautiful under the rays of the light of the bright sun.

The girl he's staring at just looked so enchanting that he almost blurted it out loud of how pretty she is as he felt completely mesmerized by her beauty, but the only that bothered him...

Was the empty look, and how icy her gaze were.

'And she's like a lifeless doll at times.'

He doesn't even acknowledge the scowl that appeared on his face while he, along with his younger sister strode their way towards her.

The young [Y/n]'s lips stretched from ear to ear when she saw the cute Akashi young siblings now in front of her. She showed them a dazzling smile which captivated Haruchiyo once more.

Unbeknownst to himself, the scowl on his face went away as he could only stare – now in a daze.

"Oh, you're here!" They heard her say in a bubbly tone. "I knew I came early but it's only because I was excited and missed you guys. Mikey and Baji will probably be here soon."

Her smile turned bigger and brighter that it made Haruchiyo stare and not know what to do or say as he only felt his face heating up.

'At first, I was only curious about her, especially the reason behind those sad eyes...but slowly, it changed and became a genuine feeling of wanting to be her friend.'

Manjiro's gazed fixated on a certain young girl with indecipherable look in his dark eyes after he blurted out a question. The kind that he and his friends badly wanted to ask.

"Because I'm a selfish and bad person."

All eyes came to their peculiar friend and they see her close her eyes to feel the passing gentle breeze, looking all serene under the orange sky.

'And maybe it's because we were too young...'

Senju was about to disagree with her replied but when she felt [Y/n]'s hand pet her head, stroking it like how she usually does, gentle and warm, she closed her mouth as she felt her heart ache after seeing the wretched look on her friend's face.

"I broke a promise that I made to my friends." she took a deep breath and held it in for a few seconds before releasing it slowly.

"It was a kind of promise that I swore to not only myself but to them over and over, that no matter how many times or how hard it is..." she paused for a second then continued on.

She finally opened her eyes again and stared at a distance, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

Her eyes that was gentle and sparkling with happiness and affection a while ago now turned cold and empty, completely void of any emotion as she looked lifeless again.

'We couldn't completely understand what she meant or who...or which friend she's exactly talking about.'

"But I and that promise which they have no clue of because I got tired...of ." she let out a bitter chuckle, a glint of hatred they spotted in her dull eyes. A new emotion that they saw.

"And not only did I do that, I also pushed them all away...even the times when they needed me the most." Seeing such immense sadness in those eyes of their friend's eyes, they felt their heart clench at the sight.

'But somehow...it felt like she's talking about us.'

"And despite knowing that bad things will happen to them, I still chose to turn a blind eye to their sufferings...because I focused to work on my own happiness instead."

The day of their hang out ended after they hugged their [h/c] friend tightly for a minute or so, hoping to comfort her like how she does to them.

'To us, [Y/n] is someone who's kind, caring, brave, sweet, independent despite being the same age as us...thoughtful, mysterious, and strange.'

"There, all patched up." [Y/n] sighed while applying a band aid on Haruchiyo's bruised cheek because he got into a fight with someone.

'Though despite being a strange person, she's someone who can make you feel warm, feel all fuzzy inside, comforting, and safe.'

"Does it hurt, Haru?" She asked, the concern on her [e/c] being visible which made Haruchiyo feel those weird but pleasant feeling inside him.

"No..." He muttered his reply a red hue coats his cheeks and feel a little warm.

[Y/n] chuckled and raised her hand to put it on top of his head. "That's right." He heard her say whilst feeling the warm and gentle touch of her hand petting his head.

"Haru's a strong boy."

The said boy felt his heart flutter before beating hard and fast as he suddenly found it hard to breathe. He starts to wonder about the things [Y/n] has been doing to his poor heart...

"[Y/n], let's play!" Mikey pops up from behind the girl, his arms wrapped above her shoulders and almost touching her neck as he slightly leaned her along with the chair towards him.

...And also the things she's making him feel.

"Ah, I lose!" Senju huffed while Keisuke, who also had a bandage or two on his face looked all smug about his victory – which is the second for today as the first one was from a fight back at the playground earlier.

"Alright, it's my turn." Mikey states, his arms going back to his side as he shows a beaming smile. "After I defeat Baji, we'll play. Okay, [n/n]?"

"[n/n]?" The girl repeats which her blonde friend replied with a nod of his head.

"Yep! I'm going to start calling you that now. You don't like it?" He chirped as he and [Y/n] were completely unaware of a pair of green eyes staring at them with a certain emotion glinting in his eyes.

"It's cute." She replied with a crescent like smile that reached her eyes. It made him feel the same thing his friend felt. "If that nickname makes you happy, then why not? Whatever you call me doesn't really matter to me, as long as it can make you smile, go ahead."

She turns her head to look at Senju, Keisuke, then to Haruchiyo, her smile that disappeared for a few seconds now back on her face.

"This applies to all of you. Whatever makes you happy and smile so beautifully..." she trailed, her eyes now sparkling with genuine affection along with her tender smile. "It makes me ten times happier."

It became silent among the group. The only thing that's exempted was the music coming from the television, specifically from the game.

"Geez." Keisuke was the first to break the silent, the tip of his ears red as he averted eye contact. "Why're you being so cheesy all of a sudden..?"

"I-I feel the same about you, [Y/n]!" Senju almost yelled, her cheeks completely red like his friends while they also agree with her words without hesitation.

They hear a wholehearted laugh come from their [h/c] friend. This was the first time they've seen her laugh loud and so much...not that it was anything bad since it made them smile.

"Alright! I'm all pumped up!" Shouted Mikey as he snatches the controller away from Senju's hands after walking towards her. "Get ready to lose this time, Edward!"

"Ha! I may lose to you in training at the Dojo but not in this game!" Fought Keisuke, now smashing the buttons aggressively on the controller like his opponent. "Bring it on, Mikey!"

"Do you kids want something to drink or eat?" [Y/n]'s mother asked with a bright smile on her face from the kitchen, glad that her daughter has such lively friends.

'But not matter how much I spend time with her, I'd get reminded of how suspicious she is at times.'

"Before we leave, should we play one last game and make a bet?" Asked the [h/c] girl with a faint smirk on her face as she, Senju, Mikey, Keisuke, and Haruchiyo all stood inside the arcade.

"Why a bet all of sudden?" Keisuke asked, his head slightly tilted to the side with curiosity in his eyes like the others.

"Because I'm bored." Blankly replied [Y/n], a playful but lazy smirk now showing on her face.

"Alright. What kind of bet?" Mikey's question made her hum and ponder about it which wasn't too serious or long since it seemed like their friend already had something in her mind since from the start.

'Because of that knowing look she'd give and how she acts...as if she knows about things beforehand.'

"Would I be able to get a bear in that claw machine or not?" She finally answered, a smile that reached her eyes showing the next as she adds. "The loser or losers of this bet has to treat the winner or winners an ice cream."

"Nope!" Mikey was the first to reply as he looked confident with his answer while Keisuke follows with a laugh.