Chapter Text
Four years, four years had passed since that accident on the stairs. And although one might expect an atmosphere of sadness, that was not the case. It was a perfect afternoon, one of those that almost forces those inside the tree house to sleep. The atmosphere was cozy, and the light filtering softly through the boards and leaves did not help to stay awake.
The only one who hadn't yet succumbed to sleep was Cris, a blue-haired girl who loved swimming and had returned to Faraway Town a year ago. During that time, she had gotten to know the boy who was now sleeping beside her: Sunny.
He was a sweet boy. At that moment, he was feeling much better, although he had previously suffered sudden mood swings, during which he seemed to disconnect from the world as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder. However, those crises no longer occurred.
Sunny had told them everything: from what happened at the concert to his suicide attempt, the reason why he now had a glass eye. It was difficult to take in. Even so, he decided to trust them; they weren't just friends, and the affection they had for each other was proof of that.
Every word, every trace of pain and sadness, was something that none of them would ever forget.
At that moment, Cris's gaze slid over the boy's sleeping face. A soft smile appeared on her face when she saw him, and she couldn't help but rub her cheek against his. Unconsciously, Sunny returned the gesture, and that small movement was enough for her to keep watching his adorable expressions.
He had a warmth that was difficult to explain, something that brought everyone together.
It was something no one had expected. Eventually, Cris decided to introduce Mincy to Sunny, and for her it was the right decision. Somehow, Mincy gave the impression that she would get along better with the black-haired boy, and that's how it turned out. The blue-haired girl was proud of that, although the most unexpected thing happened when Sunny brought another girl into the group.
It was Charlene: a girl who used to wear baggy clothes and whose tall stature stood out at first glance. At first impression, she could be intimidating, especially because of her quiet nature, very similar to Sunny's. That had been difficult for her, as others used to tease her precisely because of that. It was then that, unexpectedly, Sunny introduced her after meeting her in the park.
At the end of the day, Charlene was just another girl, sweet and kind at heart.
Somehow, they had all ended up there, gathered at Sunny's tree house, which over the years had become their refuge and meeting place. It was hard to imagine anything separating them, either emotionally or physically. The closeness they shared felt natural, almost necessary.
The scene said it all.
Mincy slept peacefully on Sunny's lap, her body relaxed as soft breaths escaped her lips, in time with the slight rise and fall of her chest. Next to him was Charlene, big and warm, sitting beside him, her fingers intertwined with his and her head resting gently on his, as if that contact were the safest place in the world.
Cris was in his other arm. She wasn't as tall as Charlene, but that meant she could get closer, gently rubbing her cheek against Sunny's face, savoring the calm she conveyed, her clear, smooth skin, almost like porcelain.
Her heart beat slowly. His touch and scent enveloped her completely... With each passing second, her body relaxed even more, and, intoxicated by what they shared, she couldn't help but let her eyes close little by little and, like the others, drift off into the world of dreams.
A soft sound coming from a handheld that was being used in the tree house and, at the same time, the constant scratching of a pencil on paper marked the passage of time. There was no other sound apart from the soft rustling of the leaves and the singing of the birds.
Charlene and Sunny were playing, while Mincy was still lying on the black-haired boy's lap with her sketchbook and pencil in hand.
The game they were playing was simple, but each round was random and unique; it was a turn-based dungeon game. With each battle, they would pass the handheld device to another player. Now it was Sunny's turn to finish.
Holding the console in his hands, he felt a snack about to touch his lips, and before it did, he opened his mouth and gently swallowed it, being careful not to touch the girl's fingers. His eyes sparkled at the delicious taste, and Sunny gave the girl a brief glance. Her hair partially hid her eyes, but a slight smile and blush were noticeable.
“Thank you, Lene,” said the black-haired boy, tilting his head back to look at her.
It was a little nickname, one that Sunny only used with her. It sounded nice, and he thought it suited her. At first Charlene felt a little shy, but over time, every time he said it, her heart would flutter without her being able to help it.
Chalene, pleased, gave him another one. It was his favorite flavor, so the black-haired boy happily closed his eyes and savored the next one. She couldn't take her eyes off him. His features were beautiful, and when he concentrated, he also had a pretty expression. Over time, she became closer and closer to the boy, wanting to pamper him more and more.
“You managed to beat him,” she murmured, her voice soft, almost maternal.
“Thanks to you,” Sunny replied calmly. They both shared the same character, so he genuinely believed that one's victory preceded the other's.
Charlene let out a slight giggle, but it was more out of joy. She wasn't much into video games until she met Sunny…
Perhaps her brothers played, but they did so at too intense a pace, always competing. She limited herself to watching from the sidelines, not daring to take control. With him it was different: he taught her slowly, without pressure. She thought it would be too difficult for him, but before she knew it, she was having fun with him. Until then, she had never imagined how much fun playing video games could be.
“Here,” he said in a soft but heavy whisper.
He took her slender fingers with a white handkerchief and wiped them clean, gentle and unhurried. She narrowed her eyes, her smile curving without her noticing. He cared for her too.
Although everyone was generally very affectionate, these little details always made her heart race. After cleaning her fingers, Sunny handed the console back to Charlene, as it was now her turn.
“Thank you...” She murmured, but before focusing on the laptop, she stroked the boy's soft hair.
Her hair, soft beneath her fingers, had a calming effect that enveloped her as well.
Returning her attention to the game, she continued on the adventure. They were now at a very advanced stage, so she had to be very careful in battles, as character losses were permanent.
“You've become very good,” Sunny pointed out, seeing the decisions she was making.
She briefly looked away from the screen and, stroking the strands of hair on her face, asked.
“... You think so?” She knew the weight behind Sunny's words; he didn't beat around the bush.
“Yes,” he affirmed as he reflected for a moment, “it's clear how much you appreciate the characters.”
Here, every loss was final; there were no comebacks or returns. This was something Sunny admired about Charlene; in his opinion, it reflected who she was as a person.
The girl couldn't deny that. “I feel bad abandoning them.”
“I know,” said the black-haired boy. He couldn't abandon them so easily either, even when the situation demanded it. “It's a bit tougher than the previous games…”
“But, I'm glad you liked them so much.” A warm smile spread across Sunny's face.
She was moved by that gesture. What the girl felt was an emotion that was difficult to explain; she was the one who was enjoying all of it, every gesture he made toward her, the games he chose for her, how he accompanied her, how they had fun. And yet, there was Sunny, smiling at her like that, when she was the one who felt grateful.
Charlene shook her head, disagreeing with what he was saying.
“It's thanks to you... Thank you for showing them to me.”
Getting those words out of her chest was difficult, but in the sweetness of the moment, the girl couldn't help but let them slip out.
“I'll gladly play whatever you say,” Charlene said with a charming smile.
Sunny's heart skipped a beat.
Charlene was very pretty, even when her bangs slightly covered her eyes, although he would have liked to see them better. Since he had met her, he had noticed small changes in her. She still wore loose-fitting clothes, but now she also allowed herself to wear skirts and dresses, something she had initially rejected.
Convincing her hadn't been easy, but seeing her like this, he knew it had been worth it.
Eventually, they looked away, and Charlene tried to relax her heart into the game.
Sunny let out a soft sigh.
This time he looked down at his lap, where Mincy was resting. But what he didn't expect was to meet the girl's lost gaze. She looked away and quickly turned a page in her sketchbook. She did it so fast that Sunny didn't get to see the drawing.
“Hello,” said Sunny with a suspicious and somewhat incredulous look.
“H-Hallo” Mincy replied quietly, not daring to look at him.
Mincy thought, for a moment, about hiding, wriggling away, and running off... But she was too comfortable in Sunny's lap to even try.
Previously, she had stolen glances at the boy. But when she saw his smile, she found herself captivated by the beautiful sight. She was so enthralled that she could only let the creativity in her head flow onto the canvas.
“How's the drawing coming along?” he asks with genuine curiosity.
Mincy hesitated for a few seconds before turning her sketchbook toward him. She stared intently at her sketchbook, making sure everything was in place and that there was nothing strange... Just as a nervous person would do with their internet history.
“U-Um... it's just something simple,” murmured the girl with glasses.
Sunny watched her closely.
Mincy had also changed since he had met her. Before, she had been more shy and withdrawn, especially when it came to her drawings, but now she seemed more confident. In both senses, both with him and in her own passion.
The drawing was simple, yes, but it lacked nothing. An imposing tree, as if taken from a fantasy world, stood surrounded by nature that seemed to embrace it…
But it wasn't just what could be seen; there were certain feelings that it conveyed to him.
“It's very pretty,” Sunny pointed out. “I like how the lines feel.”
He stood there watching it for another second, as if searching for the right words.
“I think that gives me the same vibe as now,” He say, wanders among his thoughts.
Mincy's shyness disappeared with that last sentence from the black-haired man, and her eyes lit up. “I'm glad you think so!”
She looked down at the sketchbook, hugging it a little. Sunny couldn't help but enjoy the girl's joy, watching her wiggle her little legs with delight. “I couldn't get the feeling out of my head, and I wanted to try something more sentimental.”
But Mincy became self-conscious again, yet her chest instantly felt lighter upon hearing Sunny's words. It was always nice to hear what he had to say.
“T-Thank you...” she purred, this time exchanging glances.
There was nothing to thank him for, but then Sunny tilted her head slightly, with that same gentle smile as before, but more mischievous or playful, “And the other one?”
Mincy tensed up, and with panic she thought, “W-was he referring to the other drawing?”
“A-another...? N-no, there isn't another,” She looked away, but her nervous eyes were still exposed.
Sunny's hand rose slightly, gently brushing one of her locks.
“Hmm... is that so?” Sunny asked, with a feigned doubt that sounded too sweet to fool anyone, “I could swear you turned the page too quickly.”
Mincy shook her head, clutching the sketchbook to her chest.
Sometimes he acted like that. Sunny didn't usually bother others, but over time Mincy had discovered that when he felt comfortable, he could be a little mischievous. A gentle mischief that contrasted with how sweet he normally was... and that tickled her chest, even while he teased her. But it wasn't teasing as such, it was more like he was provoking her.
Over time, this made her feel invaded by this form in her most lascivious dreams. But it wasn't just in her dreams, it was also in her drawings.
“It was nothing...” said the girl, growing weaker and weaker, she could only shake her head.
Sunny didn't insist with words. She continued stroking his hair, but this time more carefully. Her fingers slid through the soft strands, separating them gently, and at times extending a little further, brushing his scalp... With a delicacy that made her dizzy.
“Mhah...~ ♡” the girl let out, almost like a sigh, but filled with pleasure.
Sunny kept up the same pace, continuing with those sweet, slow caresses. Little by little, Mincy seemed more relaxed; she no longer clutched the sketchbook to her chest, and her eyes remained half-closed.
She looked like a very adorable little animal.
Until, finally, she gave in with a soft little grumble, more like surrender than complaint, “...Fine ♡”
While Mincy opened the sketchbook and slowly leafed through it, Sunny continued to enjoy the feel of his fingers running through her hair. He hadn't really expected her to like such affectionate gestures so much, given her shy nature... but he wasn't going to complain.
Her hair was soft and fluffy, or at least that's how it felt. It was pleasant to run your fingers through it. Added to that was the sweet, subtle scent of her shampoo, which made it even more seductive to stay there. But as Sunny pondered this, she eventually saw what Mincy had drawn... That was him.
“Oh...” she let slip from his lips, stopping his caresses.
Mincy, on the other hand, let out a pitiful sound. Was it because of the drawing? Or because he stopped petting her? No one knew for sure.
“...” Silence…
“Stare” Sunny said foolishly.
“Don't mess with me,” Mincy whimpered, almost wishing the earth would swallow her up, but the effects of his caresses still lingered.
“Is this really a sketch?” the black-haired boy asked sincerely.
It was a portrait of Sunny smiling, but it was more than that. There was something difficult to explain, mainly because he was the one involved in the drawing. Mincy didn't respond; instead, she simply nodded with gentle, almost sweet gestures.
“It look incredible,” replied Sunny, once again running his fingers through Mincy's hair. “Honestly... it's hard to believe it's me.”
“Ehehe,” she smiled, melting again under his touch, “Of course it's you ♡”
The girl couldn't help but shake her head almost to the rhythm of the black-haired boy's hands.
“But something is missing here,” Sunny said seriously.
“Something?” the girl asked in a tender tone.
She looked up at Mincy when she heard that, and curiously sought the black-haired boy's eyes.
He just nodded and, with a gesture of his hands, let him know to lend him the sketchbook and pencil.
The girl was now very curious. She didn't know what he meant, but she wanted to see what he was up to... So she took the pencil next to her and handed it to him along with her sketchbook. With a few quick movements, Sunny got to work, resting the sketchbook on his arm and beginning to sketch on the page with his hand.
Obviously Mincy couldn't see anything from below, she was more intrigued with each passing minute, until with one last stroke, the pencil stopped making sounds.
“I finish.. it's not as good as your drawing,” Sunny said.
The sketchbook no longer hid his face; a slight blush seemed to appear on the boy's face.
“But here it is,” added the black-haired man, handing him the sketchbook along with the pencil.
Now it was Mincy holding the sketchbook, her fingers resting on each end of the pages.
But she was frozen... She didn't react immediately, while Sunny watched her silently.
“Oh...” said the girl, just as Sunny had reacted a few moments ago.
A little below Sunny's face that she had drawn, Mincy was also there, smiling broadly, repeating the same gesture with her hands, perfectly synchronized.
“Ohhh...” she repeated, her eyes sparkling.
It wasn't just the drawing.
It was the way they were together.
Mincy had drawn Sunny many times, even herself alongside her, in scenes she never showed anyone. They were small, private ideas that only existed in her sketchbook and in her head.
But now... he made it feel real in a different way... as if that little world she only allowed herself to imagine had, for a moment, been shared.
That squeezed his chest in a gentle, warm way.
Before she knew it, the girl dropped the sketchbook, the soft sound of the carpet muffling the entire impact, and at that moment she took Sunny's hand and rubbed it against her own cheek.
“I love it...” Mincy purred.
Sunny barely opened his eyes, though he couldn't help lingering in that sweet moment. With his free hand, he continued tracing small shapes in Mincy's adorable hair, absentmindedly tangling a few curls between his fingers.
They stayed like that for a few moments, enjoying the closeness.
Until Sunny had a slight premonition.
“Mincy,” he called softly.
“Mm?” she said, relaxed and intoxicated by his caresses.
“I think Cris is going to wake up,” I point to Sunny with my thumb, “Could you pour her some water from the bottle?”
Mincy tilted her head slightly.
“How do you know she's going to wake up?”
Sunny shrugged, raising his hands slightly. She didn't have a clear reason. Maybe it was the way she breathed... or maybe he just felt that way.
“Well, I guess it doesn't matter,” she said with a soft smile, carefully sitting up and getting off his lap.
It didn't bother her at all. She liked to help...
Besides, Sunny couldn't do this by himself because he was spoiling her.
As she approached, she took the bottle; it was cold. She noticed it as soon as she wrapped her fingers around the plastic, and swinging her hand, she let the water slide into the glass.
“Here you go,” Mincy said as she handed Sunny the glass.
She rested her head on the boy's lap after saying that, as if she were waiting for something.
“Thank you, Mincy,” Sunny replied.
His fingers returned to his head, this time with a lighter, almost distracted gesture.
“You're welcome,” she murmured, closing her eyes slightly, letting herself be carried away by the gesture.
When Sunny stopped resting his hand on Mincy's head, they both calmly looked at Cris. Charlene was still focused on her laptop, but she couldn't help feeling curious.
And as the cold drops from the glass surrounded Sunny's fingers... Cris's eyelids fluttered, and a soft yawn escaped her lips.
“Oh, she really woke up,” Mincy breathed.
A few seconds passed and Cris said nothing at all; she was still a little dazed. But then a small smile formed on her face, and with an almost routine movement, she leaned over and planted a sweet kiss on the boy's cheek, moving closer to him.
“Good afternoon,” she murmured cheerfully, still sleepy.
The boy's cheeks flushed slightly, but welcoming him, he handed him the cold glass, “afternoon.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile, and took a sip. “I think I could swim a marathon.”
“It shows, you're already kissing Sunny,” Mincy said with a fake pout, and Charlene nodded in agreement.
“Really?” Cris said with a playful giggle, “You guys seemed to be having fun while I was asleep.”
“I-I don't know what you're talking about,” Mincy said with a nervous smile.
Charlene, meanwhile, continued playing the video game discreetly.
“Hmm, I don't know,” Cris said with a smile as she wrapped her arms around the black-haired boy.
The swimmer almost looked like a little kitten wrapped up in her owner. Sunny said nothing, she could feel Cris's soft body, and how her affection flooded her, “But putting that aside...”
“Are you really not going to be able to come to the pool tomorrow?” Cris asked, somewhat curious.
Mincy sighed and lay down again on the pillow in Sunny's lap.
“I really can’t go,” she said, sounding exhausted. “My mother insisted on showing me her real estate stuff. She wants me to really think about what I’m going to study.”
“... It must be hard,” Charlene sympathized, somewhat sorry for her, “And I can't either, my family's plans are still in place.”
They knew what she meant. Charlene's family was somewhat complicated, especially with the number of siblings she had.
“You're going to miss out on seeing Sunny learn to swim then,” She said with a little pout.
The truth was that it was something that made them both curious, and for his part, Sunny was embarrassed by how they talked about it. After all, he was 16 years old and still couldn't swim... But he had his reasons for not knowing how.
“We'll take care of the photographs,” murmured Charlene, clasping her hands together, almost as if praying.
“Did you hear that?” Mincy added, tapping her feet excitedly.
“Don't I have a say here?” Sunny asked, raising her hand.
“Nope, you don't!” Cris replied, swaying with a giggle before throwing herself on top of him, leaning carelessly. Not wanting to be left behind, the other girls joined in as laughter and muffled protests escaped from the room.