Title: Sweet potatoes in autumn
Author: Kitska
Character(s)|Pairing(s): Tokiya, Otoya Tokiya+Otoya
Rating: PG
Warnings: cute little bubbies
Summary: Tokiya's first encounter with children his age was an energetic little boy with a bright smile and a quaver note plushie.
Author's Notes: A lot of liberties for their childhood were taken for this fic, so I will apologise in advance if anyone doesn't agree with my headcanon for them. Otoya's and Tokiya's childhoods are pretty much unknown except from what's in the games, so I'm mostly fleshing it out from there.

Another month, another new and unfamiliar place. At 5 years, Tokiya didn't understand why his mother had to constantly move around and bring him along with her. He was perfectly fine living on his own, with his tutor-babysitter for company, but in his young mind he supposed it was just his mother's way of keeping a close watch on him, especially with his father absent for so long.

They stayed in a small rented apartment, not as grand as what Tokiya's used to, but he's in no position to complain. He didn't venture out during the first two weeks of their stay, content with staying indoors because the weather was turning cold. It was at the end of the third week that his tutor encouraged him to at least step outside for some fresh air, which he did, albeit reluctantly.

Bundled up in warm clothes and holding hands with his tutor, Tokiya tugged his indigo scarf tighter around himself as they walked around the neighbourhood. They bought hot and steaming sweet potatoes from a open stand when Tokiya mumbled about being cold, and went to a nearby playground when his tutor received an urgent call from his mother.

The phone call ended with the tutor sighing, and he asked Tokiya to stay put in the playground while he attend to business. Tokiya wondered why he wasn't sent back to the apartment, but he didn't get to ask as his tutor ran off before he could even open his mouth. Alone with a bag of steaming sweet potatoes, the young boy sat on an empty bench, nibbling gingerly on a piece.

"Hi, are you new?"

Tokiya glanced up, blinking owlishly as a boy around his age appeared in front of him, hugging what seems to be a plushie in the shape of a music note. Tokiya frowned a little afterwards, hiding behind his scarf. Should he talk to the boy? His mother and tutor always told him not to talk to strangers, but a kid his age shouldn't be a problem, right?

"… Uh, hi…"

"I've never seen you before!"

"… I just moved here."

The boy grinned and held out a hand. "Otoya. What's your name?"

He looked at the offered hand, hesitating before reaching out to shake it, his own hand warm from holding the sweet potatoes. "Tokiya."

The boy, Otoya, smiled, then leaned in closer when he smelled something delicious. "Uwah, are those sweet potatoes? Can I have one?"

"Uhm, sure…"

Otoya placed the plushie down between him and Tokiya before reaching into the bag for a wrapped piece, tearing apart the foil and skin gingerly. It was still pretty hot, and he giggled as he blew on the treat.

"I live there!" Otoya told Tokiya, pointing to an old-looking building close by. "It's an orpamage!"

"Orpamage?"

"Un! My uncle said I'm here because I have no mama and papa."

"Why?"

Otoya kept quiet and looked pretty sad at the question, and Tokiya felt bad for asking him about it. He was about to say something else when the other boy sneezed twice, wiping his nose with a sleeve afterwards and staring sullenly at the half-eaten sweet potato in his hands.

"I think I got germs on it, Tokiya…"

Tokiya smiled a little, reaching into his bag for another. "You can have a new one. I have lots."

"But isn't it for your family?"

"It's okay. Mother doesn't like them because she says it makes her fat, and Sugata-san bought too many, so I can share."

"Uwah, Tokiya's so nice! Thanks!"

The two boys sat together and ate in silence, with the occasional sniffling from Otoya. Tokiya frowned a little, unwrapping his scarf from his neck and pushing it towards the smaller boy.

"Here. Take it. You're all sniffly and that's bad because it means you're getting sick. Sugata-san says that it's bad being cold and sick at the same time."

Ruby eyes widened in surprise at the gesture, and Otoya hesitated before taking the scarf and putting it around his neck. "Uhm, thanks…" he mumbled with a sheepish yet gracious smile on his lips.

"Otoya-kun! Where are you?"

The two boys immediately looked up when they heard someone call for Otoya, and the redhead gasped before hopping off the bench.

"I havta go, Tokiya~ I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Otoya took off before Tokiya could say goodbye, the indigo scarf still wrapped around his neck. Tokiya watched him leave, hand outstretched, then sighed and slumped back on the bench. His tutor came back a few minutes later apologising to the boy, but Tokiya tuned him out, clutching onto the music note plushie and staring hopefully at the orphanage.

The next day, Tokiya dragged his tutor out, much to the latter's surprise. The plushie was tucked snugly in his jacket, and he cradled a new bag of sweet potatoes in his arm.

They stopped at the orphanage, and Tokiya quietly asked his tutor to request for a boy named Otoya. Surprised, but never questioning, the tutor did so, and for a short while, Tokiya was left standing by the counter while the tutor talked to the head of the orphanage.

"Is there a boy named Otoya? My young master wishes to speak to him."

"I'm sorry, but Otoya-kun was recently adopted. He moved out just this morning."

"I see."

Tokiya didn't understand what she meant by 'adopted', but he knew 'moved out' meant that he won't ever see Otoya again. Frowning, he ran back to the playground, ignoring his tutor's shouts, and sat down at the same bench he was at yesterday, holding back angry tears.

"Otoya you liar…"