So I've finally started rewriting this story again and this time I actually have a plot! (the audience cheers)
Seriously though, I'm sorry it took so long to get around to this, I had PKH2 and I'm still kind of slowly rewriting PKH as well and then I had my requests and I had to force myself to not act on other fanfic ideas I had because I needed to just finish this. I didn't really do a lot of writing during school last year either.
To be honest, updates for this are probably going to be really haphazard. I have school starting again in a week and it's going to be my final year so I really need to dedicate my all to it.
I'll try to write more for this in my spare time but please don't expect too much from me.
Other than actually having a plot planned now, not much should be too different from the original other than ages when they meet and stuff. That was actually one of the main reasons I chose to rewrite this, I thought it didn't really make sense for them to grow up and then suddenly meet everyone in a year.
Well anyway, here you go, the first chapter of New Beginnings or - as it is now called - The Colours Of Life. Which isn't really as deep and meaningful of a title as it might seem.
I don't own Angel Beats.
Chapter One: Blue Is The Colour Of Trust
His reddish hair hung over his face as he sat despondently; leaning forward so far on the swing that Hinata was surprised the boy didn't topple forwards onto the muddy ground below him. The playground was mostly deserted, it had recently been raining, so most of the other kids who frequented the area were currently still indoors.
The blue-haired boy glanced uncertainly over towards his mother before walking over to the swing set, "what's wrong?" he asked, kneeling down in an attempt to better see the other's face. The boy looked up in surprise; Hinata frowned slightly at the odd feeling of familiarity he experienced when their eyes met. Then the other boy glanced away and it was gone.
Hinata sat down on the swing set next to the red-head, glancing at him curiously whilst idly kicking his legs out at nothing. The boy thought for a moment, "you know, sometimes, if something's making you sad, it helps to talk about it with someone and stuff," he turned his attention forward, only to peek at the other boy out of the corner of his eyes.
With a sigh, he began to swing, the rusty chains squeaked in protest and Hinata wondered momentarily if it would break and he would fall, but he shrugged and figured he wouldn't be hurt too badly even if it were to happen.
"My name's Hinata, I know you didn't ask anything but that's what it is, Hideki Hinata, when I grow up I'm gonna be a baseball player, mum said that dad really liked baseball, she said that he got real sick when I was little, that he had to go away, but we'd see him again, and where he is right now he's really happy and stuff," he glanced at the other boy who was now peeking at him uncertainly, "do you miss him?"
Hinata started when the boy spoke, trying to hide his grin he shrugged carelessly, "not really, I don't actually remember him, but I do wish I had a dad sometimes," the red head nodded thoughtfully before looking back at the ground.
Hinata stilled, no longer attempting to swing; he sat in his seat, gazing forward at nothing as he waited to see if the other boy would speak again. Somehow, he knew he would.
And he was right.
"My name's… Otonashi, Yuzuru Otonashi," Hinata nodded, "well, do you maybe wanna talk about why you're sad, Oto?" The newly nicknamed looked up in surprise, "Oto?" he repeated dubiously, eyes narrowing in confusion. Hinata merely grinned and Otonashi frowned, kicking his legs and beginning to swing, "well… I guess it's fine if you want to call me that… Hina," Hinata whipped around to look at the boy who was smiling smugly, "that's a silly nickname!" he protested.
"So's Oto," the red head retorted before shrugging carelessly.
Hinata glared before starting to kick his legs angrily, swinging back and forward in time with the other boy for a little before exaggerating his movements in an attempt to go higher than the other.
Realising what he was doing, Otonashi returned the challenge, swinging higher on his seat. And soon, the two of them were laughing, insisting that they had gone higher than the other and teasing each other.
Finally Otonashi declared a tie and giggling dazedly they slowed to a gentle swing instead. Otonashi fell silent, looking forward and leaning on the chain.
Hinata was considering asking him again why he had been upset, but Otonashi spoke before he could, "its… stupid but… my mummy's having a baby and they said they wouldn't love me any less because of it, but what if they do? What if the baby's really cute and well-behaved and they decide they like it better than me? Or what if the baby doesn't like me? And am I going to have to give up my room for it? And… I don't know," he sighed, leaning back to look up at the overcast sky. Hinata remained silent, waiting for him to finish, "I'm just a little bit worried and all cus it's a baby and what do you do with a baby?" Otonashi looked at Hinata and he saw the confusion in the other's eyes and he shrugged, "according to mummy you dress them up and go on about how cute they are or something," Otonashi frowned, worrying at his lip, "is that all they do?" Hinata shrugged, "guess so."
"Well, that seems kinda silly, what's the point in getting a baby then?" Hinata shrugged, "dunno, adults are weird," Otonashi nodded in agreement, "but they're the ones who buy us treats," Hinata smiled, "and games," he added, Otonashi returned smile, "and games," he amended, "so they're not too bad."
"Well, it's nice to know we adults have some use then," the two boy looked up at the woman standing in front of them, there was a smile on her face, but more importantly, there was ice cream in her hands.
Hinata jumped off his swing, "mummy," he ran forward, "did you get me ice cream?" the woman nodded, smiling fondly at her son, "some for your little friend as well," Otonashi looked up in surprise as he was offered the frozen treat, "I didn't know what flavour you like, so I got you chocolate," Otonashi took the sweet mutely, glancing from his new friend to his new friend's mother and back. "Thank you," he mumbled finally, before shyly giving the woman a smile feeling more cheerful than before already.
Otonashi – with his child-like mind – wouldn't be able to tell you how long he played with Hinata. All he would say was that it 'wasn't long enough'.
In actuality, he played for around an hour before his mother turned up panicked, looking for him.
She hugged him with relief when she saw him, "don't run off like that," she scolded. Otonashi frowned apologetically, "sorry mummy, I was playing with Hina."
She turned to Hinata and his mother then, standing up to talk to the woman and thank her for taking care of her son, "I figured he would come here," she told him, "so I decided I should let him calm sown about it all, but when he didn't come back for so long I began to worry," she smiled self-consciously as Hinata's mother shook her head, "it's fine," she said dismissively, calmer now that her son's safety had been confirmed.
"Thank you for watching my son for me," she said and Hinata's mother smiled, "it was nothing."
Otonashi tugged at his mother's sleeve, looking up at her with big eyes, "we don't have to stop playing just yet, do we mummy?" She hesitated, glancing between the two boys who looked absolutely heartbroken at having to split up so soon.
She sighed, "I'm sorry, but we really should be getting home, Yuzuru, it's getting dark," at the two boys' depressed looks she smiled slightly, "but don't worry, how about me and your friend's mum exchange phone numbers? Then the two of you can play together whenever you want."
Otonashi and Hinata brightened considerably at the prospect, nodding their heads eagerly.
Before leaving with his mother Otonashi gave his new friend a hug. He had only known the boy for a little while, but for some reason, he felt really close to him, as though they understood each other and got along well naturally.
"Bye, Hina."
"Bye, Oto."
They grinned at each other and the nicknames they used before parting.
As Otonashi walked home, holding his mother's hand, he looked up at her with pleading eyes, "mummy? Can I play with Hina again tomorrow?"
His mother could only chuckle, relieved that her son was okay and that he was no longer upset over having a younger sibling.
But of course Otonashi wouldn't be upset.
After all, who cares about babies when you've got a new best friend to play with?
So there we go. First chapter up!
Let me know what you guys think and stuff, is it more believable than the original? Do you not like it as much? It's not a lot to go on I know, I'll try to get up another chapter before I start school but we'll have to wait and see.