Chapter Text
Ken Takakura was a odd child. Smart, quiet, and kind if given the chance to show it, but odd. His mother and father worked a great deal, leaving the little one all alone more than often. He didn't mind too much though. They always swung by during their lunches, checking in on him every free chance they had. Sure, they were fairly absent, but Ken never doubted he was loved. Something he became certain of after his father learned of his fascination with space.
It all started with spotting an occult magazine in a convince store. Mr. Takaura thought it would be entertaining to his little boy. So along with his lunch and some of Ken's favorite snacks, he bought up the magazine and brought it home to the boy, who's big eyes shined from behind his thick frames.
While his parents were delighted and indulgent with the random, albeit far-fetched, bits of trivia that he had read from the book, his classmates didn't share in his enthusiasm.
Ken was used to being generally ignored. He was quiet, kept to himself, did his work, and over all struggled to make friends. The teachers brushed it off as him being a shy child. It's not uncommon at his age. When he started bringing his magazine to school is when it escalated from being ignored, to being harassed.
"You read that junk? What a weirdo!"
"My daddy says everything in those books are just a bunch of phony pictures!"
"Of course you believe in aliens, I bet you're one too! Is that why you don't talk? Can't speak earthling?"
Ken was a good boy. Despite how much it bothered him, even hurt, he knew that fighting back would be wrong. His parents already worked so much. He couldn't start a scene at school and bother them with it. So he put up with it. The mocking, the constant peppering with crumpled up paper balls. All of it.
Who'd wanna be friends with these kids anyway?
All of that changed with one mishap that went too far.
Little Ken was just walking down the stairs from his classroom to head to lunch. Around this time most everyone was done eating and gone off else where. He preferred to eat alone. He was just a few steps short from the bottom when a bully of his thought it'd be funny seeing him fall down them rather than walk.
The mocking laughter stopped once they noticed the blood.
Ken hated that his parents had to drop everything to come and get him and find out what happened. Why was their little boy's nose broken? Why is he bruised up? What kind of school lets a child get bullied to this extent? Deep down, Ken blamed himself. He was grateful to them though. Despite how lonely he could feel, he didn't doubt they loved him.
It's why they pulled him out of that school. It's why they moved, deciding to commute to work. It's why they put him in a new grade school where he could get a fresh start with no bullies. It did come with the big downside of now only ever seeing his parents in the mornings and the evenings, but that's okay. They promised to call when they could to speak to him and promised to keep bringing him treats and new magazines. They loved him. It's why they did all of this.
He could bare the loneliness for them.
"Have a good day, Ken. We'll miss you."
"You have everything, right? Be sure to tell us how today went."
"Remember to be good boy, okay Ken?"
"And remember to stand up to bullies, okay? You're our strong boy, Ken."
Ken silently repeated his parent's words as he strolled down the dirt path to his new school. Going from the city to a more rural area was a big change for him. He could hear the sounds of nature much more clearly, the air was a lot fresher and sweeter, and the sight of all the rice paddy fields really fascinated him. He wonders if that means the rice his mama cooks would be extra tasty, with them being so close. His papa even promised to go star gazing with him! With them being farther from the city, they were able to see the night sky better! Ken allowed himself a small, hopeful smile. Maybe moving down here wouldn't be so bad.
Ken was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of mocking laughter. The noise made his body stiffen and his smile to drop, trying to hide his happy thoughts as if the source of the mockery could somehow read his mind and decided he needed to be reminded of where he stood in life. Ken silently braced himself, anticipating a shove, toss of a paper ball, or pointed mockery. To his surprise, however, the sounds didn't really get any closer. He turned about to find the source, before settling his sights on a group of boys following and mocking a girl.
She walked with her right arm up, her hand rested on the top of her head pointing upward. Her gaze stayed ahead, seemingly ignoring the boys. Ken saw it though. He knows that look. It was the first time in his very young life he saw someone else with that look.
Loneliness.
Loneliness and pain.
What those kids were during hurt, and despite it, she carried on. Ken knew how that felt all too well. The feeling stirred up conflict in the boy. On one hand, he was scared of the boys. If they're bullying her, they'll bully him too, right? Trying to stand up to them would just start his misery all over again. On the other, however, was the deep, painful sympathy he felt for the girl. Seeing the other kids hold their hands over their head like her, but with the added trait of pointing and laughing, made it clear why she was being teased. Ken didn't see why that warranted bullying. Like how he never understood why enjoying his occult stuff got him bullied. It wasn't fair. Why were they being so mean? Why did they have to be so mean?
The more Ken thought, the more….angry? He felt. He wasn't used to that. He never really felt such indignation before. Maybe because it was someone else for a change, but Ken found a courage he never knew he had.
"Remember to stand up to bullies, okay? You're our strong boy, Ken."
He was strong. He'll be strong.
Momo Ayase was used to this. The boys had started their bullying a while ago, and while at first it bothered her, the thought of her grandmother's upset and worried face over hearing that she stopped doing her ritual bothered her more. She knew that her granny just wanted her to stay safe when she couldn't be with her. So Momo stood strong. These boys were just dumb bullies anyway. They were nothing like her best friend! He'd never tease her like this! Jiji was the best-
Momo felt her heart sink into her stomach as she heard Jiji's laughter, the boy running past and laughing at her along with all the other boys. Momo stared as they all continued to laugh, something she used to be able to brush off. Something that never hurt like this before. But seeing him, who she thought, was her best friend mocking her with them, left her in a state she didn't know how to describe. At first, she didn't know how to feel. It started off as shocked. Then it slipped into confusion. She grimaced as she felt it slip into pain. The other boys ended up being ignored, her gaze settling on Jiji. He was still laughing, happily dancing about as he joined in her mockery. She wanted to be angry. Annoyed like she would be with the other boys. It made it easier to brush all these nasty feelings off. But the more she stared at Jiji, the more this new, hallow feeling settled in her chest.
She had never felt so alone.
With hesitation, she began to pull her hand down.
She found herself stunned into stopping again, however.
The boys stopped laughing, staring at her surprised. Momo turned her head to her side, just as surprised. Next to her, was a boy she had never seen before. He had taken her free hand, squeezing it tight, while with his other hand mimicked her ritual pose.
He didn't mock her though. Wasn't laughing.
He smiled. Smiled with a kindness in his eyes she has never seen from a boy her age before. They stood in silence for the longest several seconds of her life before the boy turned his gaze forward. "C'mon. We'll be late." He began walking, hand still up, pulling Momo gently along. She didn't fail to notice the look on the stunned boy's faces. It honestly filled a part of her with a deep satisfaction. What satisfied her even more, however, was the look of shame on her "best friend's" face as they walked by, spurred on by a surprisingly strong scowl from her rescuer.
Once inside the school proper, Momo put her hand down, taking notice of how the boy did as well only after she did. "…Um. Thank you." Momo gently pulled her hand away, looking down at her shoes. No one's ever stood up for her before. It was a funny feeling. Not bad, but foreign. She noticed that the boy seemed just as bashful. "Y-yeah, sure. I um…I know what it's like. I didn't want you to feel lonely." Momo brought her gaze up fully now, her eyes shimmering softly in appreciation.
"Thanks….My name is Momo Ayase. Whats yours?"
The boy bashfully adjusted his glasses before answering.
"Oh. It's Ken. Ken Takakura."
Momo stared at him in complete disbelief. Ken Takakura? Like that cool guy in her grandma's movies that she's been into seeing lately? Momo gasped, lighting up, leaning into Ken's personal bubble. "No way!! Like from the movies?! That's so cool!" Ken stared at her wide eyed, his face flushing deeply from how close she got so suddenly. "I-I guess? I didn't know there was a movie with a guy named Ken too…" Momo took both of Ken's hands, ignoring the surprised squeak it pulled from the boy. "Oh you HAVE to see them! They're so good! Oh! I know! How about, after school, you come over and we watch them together?" Ken stared, his heart pounding from just how fast this was all going. "W-wait? Really? Y-you want me to come over?" Ken managed to stutter out. Momo nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! We can watch a Ken Takakura movie, have snacks, and play!! My granny makes the best food!"
As everything Momo was saying settled in, Ken's eyes widened, shimmering with a joy he hadn't felt, well, since he could remember. "Y-yeah! Yeah okay!"
Momo jumped with joy, giving the boy a hug. "Great! I'll meet you here after school, okay?!" With that, she jumped away, waving him off as she dashed to her class. "Bye Ken!!"
"B-Bye, Momo!"
Ken stood there, his turn to be stun locked. He felt a warmth fill his chest, spreading up to his cheeks as his lips spread into a wide smile.
Ken Takakura had made his first friend. Her name was Momo Ayase. And she was amazing.
Momo ran up to her classroom, hopping into her seat after setting her book bag up appropriately. Normally, she dread the school day. She hated having to put up with giggles and mocking stares. But today? Nothing could ruin her mood.
She stared off, day dreaming the whole class. What would they play? Which movie would he want to watch? What are his favorite snacks? Do they both like the same snacks?
Momo kicked her feet excitedly, giggling, grinning ear to ear all the while.
Momo Ayase had just made a new best friend. His name was Ken Takakura. And he was amazing.