Happiness is a curious thing. It usually starts with just a meeting.
"Are you sure, Shibu-kun?" asked Fujishiro Seiji, a boy of six. Shibusawa Katsurou, age seven, was about to enter the mansion of the mean and cruel Kosuke Nowaki. They had heard rumours about the man, that he ate children who were bad and that he was highly territorial. However, they couldn't afford to be faint-hearted. If they lost this ball to that man like they did last week, Fujishiro would never hear the end of it. At the very least, as the older one, he should take care of it.
"I found an entrance the other day," he stated, a confident smile on his face. "It's small enough for one to fit in there, but someone has to keep watch."
"Th – then I'll do it!"
"No, it's way too risky. You did it last time and got caught by the owner and barely escaped. I'll go. Just keep a watch out for the owner's car."
Shibusawa turned his way and began to run. He had to get there fast, as they didn't know when he was returning. The sun was beginning to set for them and he knew that there was a lot more at stake than just a ball and a lecture. His life also might be at stake and he didn't want to lose it, not just yet. At the corner, he turned and looked for the vines growing onto the wall. Once he found that side, he knew the entrance was near, buried underneath tree branches. The hole, worn from weather and nature, was gaping open, its size big enough for him to crawl underneath.
His hands and knees covered with mud and dirt, he quietly got up and searched from left to right. The backyard is fairly small, but even so, someone did live here, and he'd rather not get caught and eaten. It was really lucky for him that lawn care was obviously not on the owner's mind or he'd been caught by now. Still, the high grass was also hindering his search for his friend's ball and he needed to move out fast.
"Ronde-chan, wait up!" someone called out. A little girl's voice, but even so he hid, or at least that was the plan. At that moment, the soccer ball, slightly worn and muddy rolled in front of him. He reached his hand out for it in the covers of the bushes, but instead of grabbing it, he grabbed a small hand instead.
"….Who –?"