"Hey, what's your name? I'm Kusoki Kaichi." A girl with caramel brown hair that looked like it had dark chocolate highlights when the sun hit it just right, smiled at the boy in front of her.
"Tezuka Kunimitsu." Said boy responded, his honey brown hair shifting as he turned to the girl.
"Want to play together?" Kaichi held out her hand, her light green shirt rustling and the sleeve moving up a bit as she did so.
"Ah." Kunimitsu responded, blinking twice before taking her hand.
Not too far from them sat Kusoki Aiko and Tezuka Ayana, mothers of the two children. Aiko turned with a smile and a sigh to her friend.
"They look like they'll be good friends, ne Ayana? I've never seen Kaichi refuse a friend before, but this has to be the quickest she's stepped up to someone." The woman with hair the color of bittersweet coffee on rainy days rested a hand on her cheek.
"And Kunimitsu is always so shy, even though his physical appearance says otherwise. I'm glad he's coming out of his shell and making a new friend." Ayana beamed at the two kids who were now running around in a game of tag. Kunimitsu being 'it' was having troubles catching up to the quick-paced and fleet footed Kaichi whom made it all the harder by climbing up slides and jumping in crazy patterns upon the sandbox.
The two proud mothers began moving onto other topics, recipes that never failed to impress at big parties, how they got their children to listen, what was the best way to control their silly husband, etc. etc.
"Okaa-san! Look, I made a new friend!" Kaichi ran over to them, her bangs stuck to her forehead with sweat and her eyes shining brightly.
Aiko smiled warmly at her daughter. "Yes, that's very nice Kaichi. Now remember your manners and say hello to Ayana-san." Kaichi quickly bowed to the other woman.
"Okaa-san, a weird girl came up to me and I think we're friends now." Kunimitsu told his mother, still right next to the other mother-child duo.
The two moms laughed quietly at the way the young boy phrased it. The 'weird girl' blinked before realizing what he meant. She tilted her head to the side, shoulders rising in a hunch as her lips pouted.
"That wasn't very nice Kunimitsu." Ayana chided gently.
Kunimitsu shook his head. "But Otou-san said that's it alright to be different and weird. So it's actually a com-pli-mint." He struggled a bit with the last word.
"'Compliment', Kunimitsu. But it's probably for the best not to describe someone like that unless you're really good friends." Ayana exchanged glances with Aiko, both of them smiling at this new development.
"Oh, then it's okay because she said we were friends, right… Kusoki-chan?" Kunimitsu winced a bit as he said her name, hoping he got it right. He didn't want to offend her after all.
"Hai! And you can just call me Kaichi or a nickname Mitsu-kun!" Kaichi smiled brightly and side-hugged 'Mitsu'.
"Aww, now run along and remember to play nice you two." Ayana cooed before shooing them away.
"The beginnings of a wonderful friendship." Aiko stated proudly, patting her chest where her heart would be.
"Agreed." Stated Ayana, who was watching her son, almost missing the small smile on his lips as Kaichi placed a flower crown on his head. "And maybe something more someday."
The two women fell into laughter and jokes about the future, that would actually turn out to hit them harder then they could imagine, and sooner than they hoped.
I giggled as I placed the ring of daisies upon my new friend's head. His lips turned up, and for the first time ever, I got to see him smile. It was a nice smile, it had just the right curve to it and showed his kindness. I hoped I could see that smile a lot more.
Taking his hand, I pulled him over to the grassy part of the park with the trees and picnic tables. I lay down underneath a big oak tree, the branches and sunlight and shdaows dancing above me.
"Come on Mitsu-kun, let's take a break." I closed my eyes as I spoke softly into the sweet-scented wind.
"Ah." Was all I heard from my right side before the grass shifted next to me and a warm hand slipped into mine.
The sun was shimmering in the sky above us and the grass was tickling our exposed wrists and hands and ankles, when I realized, this is how all the great stories start; with a beautiful friendship.
But first…
"Ne, Mitsu-kun, how old are you?"
"I'm 7, what about you Kaichi-chan?"
"Eh?! I'm only 6! No fair!"
"... It's only one year Kaichi-chan."
"... You'll still be my friend?"
"Ah," His grip on my hand tightened slightly. "Of course.
"There's something about childhood friends that you just can't replace." -Lisa Whelchel