Chapter Text
The next seven days of Ken Takakura's life had to be the best he's ever had.
Well, had so far. He was still a little thing, and had many years ahead of him, and as long as Momo Ayase was in them? There were sure to be many more wonderful days.
But for now, in this small period of time, this week was easily the best.
Everyday after school he got to run off with Momo to her home where they'd play, do their schoolwork, share snacks, and just about anything else they could think of before Ken's mother came to pick him up and take him home. He even got to sleep over one night! That one had to be Ken's favorite out of his favorites.
They got to sleep in the sitting room, sharing a futon as they secretly stayed up way too late playing video games until they passed out. The only thing that possibly topped it was getting to walk to school with Momo that morning, and then walking back home with her again in the evening.
For the first time in Ken's little life, he felt like he belonged. His sweet little heart swollen full with love and joy for his new friend and his new life. A feeling he held onto as he walked down to said friend's home on a bright, warm, sunny weekend morning. As the torii gate came into view there was a skip to his step and a smile wide on his face. He just knew today was gonna be another wonderful day with Momo.
"MOMOOOO! C'MON!!! JUST COME OUT ALREADY!!"
"NO!! GO AWAY YOU BUTT NUGGET!!"
…Okay Ken clearly thought that way too soon.
Ken stopped short of the torii's entrance, hiding behind it's pillar and the accompanying stone fencing. As he took a peek from his hiding place, Ken finally got to see the source of the commotion.
Momo was leaning out her bedroom window, yelling down at a familiar red haired boy who seemed to be desperately yelling back.
"C'mon, Momo! I just wanna play like we used to!!"
"You mean like we used to BEFORE you decided to be a jerk?!"
Jiji deflated, huffing out defensively.
"But-!"
"BUT NOTHING! GO KICK ROCKS!"
With that, Momo slammed her window shut, disappearing behind her vibrant pink bedroom curtains. Jiji didn't seem to really get the hint though. He stood there for a while, continuing to shout out for Momo until her grandmother finally stepped out with a sigh.
"Look, Jiji…I know you feel bad about what you did, but Momo is still upset. She isn't gonna come out and play with you until she feels better about it."
Ken watched as Jiji hung his head, whimpering. "…I didn't mean anything by it…"
Seiko sighed, petting the boy on the head. "Momo still got her feelings hurt. You need to give her time and space."
"Can't you tell her to come out and play with me…?"
"No can do, kiddo. Momo should want to play with you on her own, not because someone told her to."
Jiji deflated further, honestly looking like he was on the brink of tears. "…okay."
"Head on home, hon. Maybe you'll have better luck next time."
Jiji nodded, turning away from the elder Ayase, dragging his feet as he sulked away from the temple home.
Ken was so entranced by the whole spectacle that he failed to register that Jiji was walking right towards him until he picked his head up and found himself locking eyes with the red head. Almost instantly, Jiji's mood switched, going from defeated to shockingly energetic and wide-eyed.
"YOU!!!"
Ken squealed, jumping back in surprise as Jiji suddenly shouted at and rushed him. Poor Ken was so startled that he stumbled over his feet and ended up landing on his bottom with a squeak. Before he could try and scramble up off the dirt path, Jiji was looming over him, eyes still wide.
"You! Momo will listen to you, right?!"
Ken stared up at Jiji, his own eyes wide now. "…I-I-I guess?"
"If you went to her house, she'll let you in or even come out and play with you, right?!"
Ken couldn't help the soft smile that grew across his cheeks. "…Y-yeah…we're best friends."
"So YOU can talk to her for me!!"
"…W-wait what?"
Jiji leaned down and took a hold of the other boy's hands, pulling Ken up to his feet. "You can go talk to her for me! Tell her to be friends with me again!"
Jiji was beaming, eyes shimmering with hope and excitement, while Ken was just dumbfounded. He stood stun-locked for several seconds before huffing, pulling his hands away from the other boy's.
"A-and why would I do that? You were mean to her! Bullied her like those other j-jerks!"
Jiji flinched away from Ken's words like they burned, looking away from his angry gaze even if his face was more akin to a pouting frog than an actual serious scowl.
"I wasn't bullying her…I was just teasing…"
"Well she didn't like it! It hurt her feelings! I-I don't know if you ever been teased or bullied like that before but…but it SUCKS! And it feels terrible a-and lonely! Why would she want to be friends with someone like that?!"
Jiji finally met Ken's gaze, and for the first time the weight of his actions seem to be hitting him…cause as he looked Ken in the eyes, he looked…hurt. Holding back tears. Like he's hurting just talking about it.
"…People bully you like that?"
Ken sniffled, nodding before looking away and wiping his tears away before they could fall. "…Yeah. Except for Momo…She's the only one who's never bullied me and the only one who's ever stood up for me."
Jiji stared at Ken, taking in just how sad and hurt he looked. He did that. To Momo.
His best friend.
"…Can you tell her I want to say sorry, at least?"
Ken turned his gaze back to the other boy, surprised. Out of everyone who's ever teased him, bullied him, mocked him…not a single one wanted or even tried to say sorry. Yet here stood Jiji, looking drowned with guilt, and wanting to say sorry. Ken stood silently for several seconds before responding.
"…Do you mean it?"
Jiji simply nodded.
"…Okay."
"REALLY?!"
"BUT! I can't make Momo come out and play with you still…or want to be friends. But I will tell her you want to say sorry." Because she deserved it.
Jiji nodded, a smile still on his face. "Thanks."
He honestly looked so thankful…Ken suddenly didn't feel so off put by him. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all? Only time could tell, and right now? Ken had a MUCH larger task ahead of him.
Ken stood before the front door of the Ayase temple home. Where's before he was excited to come and ring it's doorbell, excited to spend time with his best friend, now there was a bit of a pit in his stomach.
The young boy turned his gaze down the torii gate, where Jiji took Ken's previous place and hid. He watched Ken with bated breath, clearly just as anxious about the potential outcome of their plan.
Well, his plan. Jiji's plan that is.
Ken just wanted to get Momo the apology she deserved.
Although…He'd be lying if he didn't say that the thought of maybe making another friend excited him…But one thing at a time!!
Right now, his biggest hurdle stood before him.
With a deep breath in and a deep breath out, Ken reached for the home's doorbell, pressing the button firmly. He stood and waited with clasped hands, politely waiting for the door to be answered like his mama and papa taught him. After a moment of waiting, the familiar face of Seiko Ayase greeted him.
"Well well. Look who's here again." Seiko said with a teasing tilt of her head. Ken smiled bashfully, always happy to be greeted by the older woman. Ken bowed before returning her greeting.
"Hello, Miss Ayase."
Before further words could be exchanged, a familiar and irritated voice called down from the top of the staircase.
"IF THAT'S JIJI AGAIN TELL HIM TO-!"
"It's Ken, Momo!"
Almost instantly, the sound of her bedroom door being flung open and was followed by the sound of rapid footsteps which was just as quickly followed by Momo's appearance and mad dash down the stairs.
"KEN!"
Momo was so happy to see him. Her voice carrying her usual happy giggle when she greeted him for the first time that day. Oh, how it made Ken's heart swell so full he felt like he could explode.
"Momo!!"
Ken's arms opened up to accept the incoming tackle, returning Momo's embrace with a grunt from the force. Seiko tsked, scolding Momo.
"Jeez, kid! Don't try to take the poor boy out!"
"Oh he's FINE! Right Ken?"
Momo smiled brightly, looking at Ken expectantly. The boy just nodded, deciding not to bring up how she knocked the air clean out his lungs with that launch right into his chest. After another short but no less firm squeeze, Momo let him go.
"So what'cha wanna do today?! We can play Aliens and Spaceships again! Or we can watch that new Ken movie I was telling you about! The baseball one?! I mean, Mister Ken ISN'T the star, which is dumb, but-"
"A-actually, I was wondering if you wanted to play outside?"
Ken looked away as he asked, guilty over not being upfront about why and basically surprising Momo with what he was about to do.
"Oh! Yeah sure, of course lets go!"
"Oh, not asking your grandma first?"
Momo groaned, quickly fussing at her grandmother for a bit before putting her shoes on. As that went on, Ken stepped on back outside, staring off toward the torii gate.
Jiji was still there, waiting as he was before. His face was first one of worry, and then surprise as Momo ran out to join Ken. She happily held the boy's hand, pulling him off towards the dirt path in-front of her home.
Right towards Jiji's hiding spot.
"So I was thinking, maybe we can go by that creek and see if we can find some tadpoles! Or maybe we-!"
Momo's excitement was very suddenly cut short, her mood souring at the sudden appearance of her EX-best friend waiting for them on the dirt path. Momo growled, stomping her foot in irritation. "What are YOU doing here?! I told ya already, go kick rocks! Me and Ken are gonna go play and with don't want any jerks with us!"
"Um…actually, Momo?"
Momo pulled her scowling gaze away from Jiji, and turned a confused one towards Ken.
"Uh…Jiji wants to tell you something?"
The girl looked between the two boys, bewildered at first before pulling her hand away from Ken's.
"EEEH?! What?! No way!! Did he trick you, Ken?! There is NO WAY you're actually trying to get me to talk to him!"
Ken whimpered, suddenly unsure what to do with himself now that Momo's genuine anger was aimed towards him. He almost wanted to backtrack, try and brush it off and go off and play with her like she wanted. But then Ken tossed a glance towards Jiji.
He looked…so, so sad. Like all of this was punching him right in the gut. Like seeing Momo hate him was the worst feeling in the world.
Ken stared for just a second longer before taking another deep breath and looking back to Momo, meeting her gaze head on. "Please, Momo. It's something you need to hear. I wouldn't bring you out here if he was gonna be mean again."
Momo faltered, her anger quickly fading. Ken kept his gaze firm and steady. Looking the most confident she's possibly seen him so far.
"Please, trust me, Momo."
Ken honestly almost looked…cool.
Momo turned away with a huff, crossing her arms as she glared down at Jiji and then off into the paddy fields. "Fine. Well? Go on then. What do you need to tell me so bad you made Ken trick me out here?"
Jiji looked to Momo, then to Ken. The boy gave him a soft smile, trying to reassure him. Jiji breathed in, then out.
"…Momo? I'm so SO sorry!"
Jiji practically shouted his apology, bending so sharply at the hip he almost looked like a perfect right angle.
"I never should have teased you like that. I didn't want to hurt your feelings o-or make you feel bad or anything! I-I just…Well, wanted to tease you! I-I mean we teased each other before…"
Momo huffed. "That was different! That was playing! YOU teased me like all those other boys had been! Like I TOLD you I hated! How it hurt!"
Jiji looked up, catching a glimpse of Momo's face. She still scowled away from him, glaring into the adjacent paddy field like she wanted it to boil and evaporate from her gaze alone. Jiji didn't miss the misty shine to her eyes though.
"…I…I know. And I'm so so sorry. I don't know why I did but…" Jiji stared off, trying to hide his darkening cheeks. Momo didn't notice, but Ken picked up on it. What was it about teasing Momo that made him so embarrassed?
"…But I promise I'll NEVER do it again! Okay? I just want my friend back…please?"
Momo finally looked away from the paddy field, deciding that it's received enough of her ire and deciding that Jiji needed a good serving of it. Whatever scowl she had disappeared when she saw him though.
Jiji's face was red and scrunched up, his eyes swimming in tears. He even looked like he was fighting back hiccups.
Momo has NEVER seen Jiji look like this before. She didn't even think he knew HOW to cry!
He really did mean it…
After several agonizing seconds, Momo sighed.
"Okay okay…I guess I forgive you. Now stop, you look like you're gonna explode."
Jiji chuckled a bit, trying to wipe away his tears and quickly accumulating snot.
"I-I'm sorry! I-I was sad and now I'm happy!!"
Momo couldn't help her laugh. "You're a mess!"
Jiji smiled, embarrassed as all heck for crying in front of Momo like this, but just glad she's laughing and smiling with him again. From the corner of his vision, he saw a hand reach out, offering a small pack of tissues.
"H-here. I always carry a pack when I go out…"
Jiji gingerly took the pack of tissues, and looked back up towards the boy who helped make all of this happened.
Ken offered a soft, understanding smile. "Mama said it's okay to cry. It's good for you. S-so I always keep some with me just in-case…ya know?"
Jiji stared, his tears falling fatter and heavier. Soon he sniffled and sobbed, throwing his arms around the bespectacled boy so suddenly all Ken could get out was a squeak before Jiji started blubbering on him.
"FANK YOOOUUU!!! A-AH'D NEVER BE FWEINDS WITH MOMO AGAIN WIF OUT JOOOO!!"
All Ken could do was awkwardly hug him back, patting his back in an attempt to soothe him. "I-I'm just glad I could help…Momo's my best friend…I don't want her being upset if I could help it."
Momo blushed, huffing a bit in her own second hand embarrassment. There were too many emotions flying around! All this gross feeling stuff made her wanna gag! Boys were so emotional!
In the end, however, she joined in on the hug. "Yeah, well, as long as you promise to stop being a butt, then yeah, we can be friends again…on ONE condition."
Jiji pulled away, looking to Momo with determination in his eyes.
"A-anything Momo! What is it?"
Momo wrapped her arm around Ken's, squeezing it tight.
"You have to be KEN'S friend too! Got it? He's my bestie so you have to get along with him!"
Ken and Jiji looked at each other, stunned by Momo's sudden declaration. Ken quickly stuttered, trying to talk it down. "N-no really i-it's okay y-you don't-"
"Well duh! We're already friends!"
Ken stopped, looking to Jiji in shock.
The boy had already gone through the tissue packet, wiping his face clean and then shoving the used wad into one of his short's pockets.
"He helped me out and made us friends again! And if he's your friend then he's mine too!! And he's super nice! Of course I wanna be friends!"
Momo nodded, clearly pleased by Jiji's response. "Good! Now, c'mon! I SUPPOSED you've earned the right to go tadpole hunting with us."
Jiji whooped, happily joining the two as they walked down the path to Momo's favorite near-by creek.
As they walked, Ken found himself overwhelmed.
Not in a bad way. Just in a way that was hard to explain.
No one had ever said that about him before. Momo, sure. His parents and Miss Seiko said he was nice too.
But every other boy he met always made fun of him. Said he was boring or weird and quickly brushed off every attempt he tried at friendship. But Jiji said he was nice. That he wanted to be Ken's friend.
And Momo said she'd only be friends with Jiji again if they were ALL friends.
Ken felt his throat tighten and his eyes sting.
How weird. He was so happy. So happy it almost hurt. But is "happy" the right word?
He knows he wasn't upset, no.
Ken knew what upset was. What hurt and fear was. This was different. It was a lot like happiness but heavy. It tugged and squeezed at his heart until tears poured out. Made his throat tight like when he wanted to sob, but he somehow knew that if he did he'd be laughing too.
It wasn't until he was sniffling constantly did Momo notice. Even Jiji stopped and turned back.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah, what's wrong bud?"
As Momo and Jiji checked in on Ken, their voices so obviously filled with concern, the boy just felt the squeeze around his heart even tighter, and ended up crying even harder. Yet he was smiling!! This is so crazy!
Despite his tears, Ken assured them with a smile. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. I…I think I'm just…happy?"
Momo and Jiji looked confused for a second before giggling.
"You're so silly, Ken! But I get it. You're okay."
"Yeah! I was just crying for the same reason! You're good!"
They picked up the pace again, continuing their walk towards the creek. Only this time Jiji slowed down, keeping pace on the other-side of Ken.
"When we get to the creek, we can both clean up!"
Jiji took Ken's other hand, giving the other boy a beaming grin.
"Yeah! Just don't go scaring all the tadpoles."
Momo squeezed on the hand she was already holding, her arm swinging with Ken's now.
As they walked and talked, Ken's heart kept getting squeezed and although they slowed, his tears continued to flow. All the while, as he looked between Momo and Jiji as they went on about all the games they'll teach him that they could all play together, he couldn't help but think of one thing.
He should start carrying more tissues.