Nothing Better

A/N: Please read and review! EDITED.

Prologue-

"Try smiling," he told her. A smile was plastered on his face, as if permanent.

The sun slowly began to set behind him with a soft orange glow, and the girl looked at boy looming over her strangely for a second. "Excuse me?" she asked, somewhat baffled. She looked him over. He wore the same school uniform as her, but she couldn't decipher who it was. He was pretty good looking, so the girls wouldn't have just left him alone…but she had never seen him around. Maybe he was in a different class?

He flashed a grin at her, letting her thoughts run back into her head. "I heard it helps," he explained cheerily.

"With what?" she asked as she tilted her head in genuine curiosity. She rocked the swing she was on slightly, embedding her feet into the sand under her.

He shrugged. "Just life in general, I guess." The corner of his lips rose just a bit higher and Yuuko looked at the boy in alarm at the resemblance of a predatory shark.

"Ha, she replied, her mouth curving just a bit. "You're interesting," she deadpanned. The girl bit her lips to prevent them from curling up completely, which she felt was an act that would appease the eccentric boy. "Who are you?"

"A passerby," he replied cryptically. He winked at her and stretched out his hand towards her. "I'm Fuji. I know you're in my school, judging by your uniform, but I've never seen you around."

Blinking as she tried to comprehend the situation, she took his hand and shook it as soon as her senses returned. "I'm Yuuko. Oh, I've never seen you around in Seigaku either…"

"So," Fuji began, sitting beside her on the unoccupied swing aside her, "what's the matter, Yuuko-san?"

"Huh?" she asked, dumbfounded. "Wait, what? You're actually planning on playing therapist for this random, depressed-looking person on a park swing?" Yuuko waved her hands around dramatically, as if in a play.

"Well," Fuji said, looking at her and continuing to smile with his eyes closed, "you look around my age, I have time, and you look like some happiness would do you well. Can't I help?"

"I'd be a bother, wouldn't I?" she asked with a pout. "I wouldn't want you to miss something because of me…" Yuuko murmured, somewhat deflated as she looked at her feet.

"Of course not," Fuji stated, his eyes still closed. She wondered if he ever opened his eyes in public. "I wouldn't have approached you if I had no time, right?"

"Well…" She paused as she thought. "That's true."

He smiled.

"Then tell me what's bothering you," he coaxed. "It's not good to keep things bottled in."

She stared at him. "But…" she stated, frowning at his tenacity, "I don't know you."

Fuji looked at her with a pout. "Isn't that what makes it easier to vent?" he asked.

Yuuko sighed. "I don't trust complete strangers, Fuji-san."

"Maa…then does that mean you won't tell me?"

She nodded.

"I really don't believe you. And I think I'd be wasting your time…" she repeated. She stood up from the swing, smiling at Fuji.

"Thank you for the company!"

She scampered off the sandbox as the sky began to take on a dark-purple hue, bowing politely to him once she reached concrete. "It was really nice of you to try to play therapist, Fuji-san. Hopefully, we can become friends!"

For a long time, Fuji looked at the girl's retreating back in silence as the streetlights turned on and the playground became completely empty.

"Yuuko…huh? What an interesting girl."

Teehee, I tried to make it a bit longer and better. How is it?