Chapter Four: A Child's Innocence

The days went by surprisingly quickly for Hinata as she went to her school and then back to Shinra's apartment.

Occasionally, she would go to the library to read or just to draw in peace.

Hinata paused when she noticed an area of the town with a good landscape.

It was still daylight out so she had time to sketch.

She sat down before she got out her notebook.

Time flew by before she even realized it, not even hearing cars passing her by.

Hinata stopped to check her progress before she got rid of the extra shavings on the paper.

"Wow, that's impressive!"

"That takes real talent."

Hinata looked over her shoulder to see Erika and Walker watching her before she went back to work.

Then she paused.

Erika…and Walker…

She looked over again before she softly shrieked, dropping her notebook.

Erika giggled at how cute she was while Walker was apologetic.

"Sorry about that, Hinata. Didn't mean to scare you." He picked up the notebook before giving it to her.

"Honestly…" Kyohei walked over to them with someone behind him. "Are you okay, Hinata?"

She took the notebook from him, quietly murmuring "Thank you…" before looking up at Kyohei and the man behind him.

The man has medium-length brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a white collared shirt under a dark red vest, blue jeans, loafers, and shoes. He was also wearing a necklace.

Hinata slowly nodded. "Yes…"

"Dotachin! Hinata has talent! Real talent!" Erika grinned.

"Don't call me that!" He snapped at her before he looked over at him. "Can I see?"

"It's…not that good…" But she held the notebook out for him and his friend to see.

The man whistled. "Looks like you're seeing the real thing."

Kyohei gave her a smile. "Your parents must be proud."

She flinched at those words.

Proud? No… Her father would consider it…pointless.

"Father…doesn't know… I don't…live with him anymore…"

"Why not?" Erika asked.

"…I don't know. He…put me in someone else's care. B-But… He's really nice to me."

Kyohei looked at her carefully. "What's his name?"

"Huh?" She looked up at him.

"The one taking care of you. What's his name?"

"Um… Shinra Kishitani."

Kyohei's eyes widened. "Shinra?" Then he softly chuckled. "That's surprising…"

"Huh?" She looked at him in confusion.

"Don't you know how late it is, Hinata?" Walker asked.

Late? She looked over to see the sun almost set.

Oh, no…

"I-I didn't…" She stuttered.

Hinata didn't mean to lose track of time.

"It's okay." Kyohei assured her with a smile. "We'll take you back so you don't have to run back. You mind, Saburo?" He looked at his friend.

"Not at all." He smiled at her. "I'll get you back before it gets dark!"

"C'mon, Hinata!" Erika grabbed her hand. "You can sit between us! We'll show you all the best manga!"

"Yeah!" Walker agreed.

"Make sure it suits her age." Kyohei lectured.

"Okay, Dotachin!"

"Don't call me that!"

Hinata could barely keep up.

They were a bit strange…but they were nice.


"Hinata." Kyohei gently shook her shoulder. "We're here."

She slowly opened her eyes to see Kyohei.

"Good, you're awake. Do you want me to walk you up?"

She shook her head, rubbing her eyes. "I'll be fine… Thank you…"

"No problem. Before you go, here." He handed her a bag.

"What is it?" She looked at it tiredly.

"That manga you were looking at. You never bought it."

"You didn't have to…"

"Just take it." He waved her off.

"…Thank you." Hinata slightly smiled at him before she left the van and entered the building.

She opened the door before closing it behind her.

Erika and Walker could certainly talk…

Hinata took off her shoes before she wandered into the living room.

It seemed quiet and she could hear talking.

She wandered into a room that looked like an office before she noticed Shinra in it.

"…Shinra?"

He turned to her. "Oh, Hinata! You're back!" He looked over at his computer to check the time. "It's late."

"Sorry. I lost track of time…" She rubbed her eyes tiredly before she noticed the camera. "What were you doing?"

"Oh, just documenting." He turned his camera off before standing up. "So how was your day?"

She followed him to the living room, sitting at the table. "Okay…" Then she paused as she remembered something. "Shinra? Do you know someone named Kyohei?"

He paused for a moment before turning to her. "I do. But how do you know Kyohei?"

"I met him on my first day of school." She took out the book from the bag before looking through it. "I was in a bookstore when I met him and two of his friends…"

"I see." Shinra smiled to himself. "We went to the same high school. He's normal compared to the rest of my friends."

Hinata blinked at that.

His friends weren't…normal?

Hinata pressed her lips together, unsure. "I…met Kyohei and his friends again today. They gave me a ride… I didn't realize…"

Shinra seemed to know what she was trying to say. "It's fine, Hinata. What matters is that you're back."

Hinata puts her book down. "…Two of his friends…Erika and Walker…they called me something the other day and… I don't understand it."

"What did they call you?"

"A…" She flushed as she realized what she had to say. "A…c-cinnamon…roll…"

Shinra softly laughed. "Really? Well, they're not wrong."

Hinata blinked. "Huh?"

"Don't worry about it, Hinata." He looked like he had a innocent-like smile on his face. "It's probably best if you don't know."

Huh? But she really wanted to know…

"But Shinra…"

Shinra laughed. "Sorry, but my lips are sealed!"

"T-That's not fair!"

He only laughed.

Even he had to agree.


It's amusing how innocent Hinata can be. Lol

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.