Shun walked down the path above the river looking for something to do. It's not that he was bored, but he didn't feel like talking to anyone or have anyone ask what was wrong. Ever since the Gospel incident people either regarded him with fear or contempt of some kind. Really the only person who just treated him as a normal person was the one he had hurt most, Netto Hikari. Still it was nice to just be by himself with no one asking him what was wrong or what he was planning to do next as if he was plotting world domination that very second.
He continued to walk along the bank until he came across a slender purple haired girl sitting on the edge of the river while looking out into nothing. He glanced at her then continued to walk along the bank deciding to mind his own business. "Friend!" a voice cheered loudly.
The girl looked up, rather startled and glanced down at her PET, "Friend?" she asked.
"Behind you," the little voice said and the girl spun around to look at a pale grey haired boy staring right at her. She turned a bright crimson and Shun took a step back, wondering if she recognized him.
"Good evening," she said in a soft voice.
"G-good evening," Shun answered. "I'm sorry to bother you," he said with a laugh while rubbing the back of his head. "I'll just keep going."
"What's your name?" the girl asked, and Shun wondered if she had heard him. He sighed and looked at the ground, she was sure to recognize him then.
"My name is Shun," he muttered.
The girl gave him a small smile and nodded politely, "My name is Shuuko," she said softly.
"You… don't know who I am?" Shun asked.
Shuuko shook her head, "No, should I?"
Shun's curiosity got the better of him and he slid down the embankment to get within a normal conversation distance to Shuuko. "Well… no…" Shun said slowly.
Shuuko grinned at him, "Where are you from? I've never seen you here before," she asked.
Shun winced, it's not like he could tell her he just got out of jail. "I'm… from out of town and I'm here for a little while. Do you come here often?" he asked in a desperate attempt to change the subject.
"Yes," Shuuko said while turning to gaze at the river, "I like watching the current, it's so peaceful."
Shun looked out at the river and saw small swirls of water where he guessed the current was. They both stood and sat there for several minutes just staring at the river; Shun concluded that Shuuko was right it was very peaceful, and relaxing. Finally Shun sat down and hugged his knees to his chest to get a better view of the river.
"Friend!" the small childish voice cheered again.
Shun and Shuuko both jumped, the long stretch of silence being interrupted. "Who is that?" Shun asked.
Shuuko grinned and pulled out an aqua colored PET and opened the touch screen where a small blue navi with something like a fishbowl around his head stood there with a silly three year old grin on his face. "His name is Aquaman," she said.
"Is he your navi?" Shun asked.
Shuuko nodded, "Yes, he is. He helps me at my part time job," she explained.
"Oh," Shun said and looked back at the river. Aquaman looked from Shun to Shuuko and grinned again. "The river is very nice," Shun said finally.
Shuuko gave him a goofy grin, "I know, isn't it?" she asked.
They both looked at one another then looked away quickly while blushing. 'What a stupid thing to say,' Shun thought.
Shuuko sighed and stood up, "Well, I need to get going home to make dinner for my brothers," she said in an almost disappointed voice.
"Oh, right," Shun said as he stood up too, "I should get going as well."
Shuuko smiled, "Will you come again tomorrow?" she asked hopefully.
Shun nodded, "Sure! I'll be here tomorrow, I promise."
Shuuko smiled at him and started to walk down the bank, "All right, see you tomorrow," she said.
Shun waved, "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye bye!" Aquaman said loudly.
"Bye," Shun yelled back and he watched as Shuuko's form disappeared in the twilight.
Finally things seemed to go right for Shun, maybe they would get even better as time went on, who knew?