Finding a Fit

Time One: Balloons

Taiga didn't have friends.

Ok, no that was a lie. He's had friends before. But he didn't have friends friends. Not like that.

Back when he was growing up, people knew who he was. Taiga Akatora, the try-hard redhead with two moms and four younger quadruplets siblings who were known for causing chaos. With his intimidating sharp canines and his infamous short temper, he really wasn't the ideal candidate for a friend.

It wasn't like he pushed people away. To be frank, he was just another guy. He played video games, he procrastinated, he liked to go out and eat junk food. He wasn't any different. But no matter how hard he tried, his connections with people just wouldn't click. Sure, they invited him to parties and laughed at his jokes, but Taiga couldn't feel the closeness you were supposed to see when you made friends. He didn't have that one person he could lean on when he was down, and he didn't have any inside jokes he could share.

He never liked to admit it, but sometimes, Taiga felt really lonely.

Mama always said that he'd find his own group of people when the time was right, and if he stayed true to who he was then he'd know when he belonged. And in some sense she and Momma were right. He met Kieran and with him he had so many happy moments in his life. It only got better when he went to Camp Buddy. People enjoyed his company and people genuinely wanted him around. At last, he finally thought he had found his people.

But unfortunately, like all other things, Taiga had to mess it up.

That year was a wreck for him. He had his first heartbreak, he was framed for something he didn't do and was shunned from buddy society. Once again, he was alone.

Well, not completely at least. There was still Lee and Eduard, who had decided to stay by his side despite all things. But in his hatred and anger, he took his only friends for granted, forcing them into submission and servitude. He was the king, Lee and Eduard merely subjects. It wasn't a friendship. It was a damn monarchy.

And Taiga hated it.

In spite of that fact, he continued in his ways, his anger only getting worse when the two new campers came along and stole everyone's hearts. Taiga had never been so envious. Him, who struggled to make friends all his life only to be outshone by some suck-up frog boy. What on earth did he have that he didn't? It wasn't fair.

He did a lot of messed up shit that summer. He didn't like to talk about it. But the one thing he would always think back on was the persistence of Keitaro Nagame and his friends. How no matter how much he snapped or how he retaliated, they still forgave him for what he did. He never understood it. Even when he was crying like a fool on the pier under the stars, Keitaro looked him in the eye and forgave him. Even after terrorising them all summer, Hiro, Yoichi, Natsumi and Hunter helped him repair the journal. They looked past his asshole exterior and they saw him for him and wanted to be his friend. Taiga had never seen such kindness from people outside his family.

But like all good things, camp quickly came to an end. Hugs were given, goodbyes were exchanged, and happy faces were seen throughout. He remembered wishing the others campers farewell, with Keitaro placing a hand on his shoulder before boarding the bus.

"I'm really glad we got to spend the last bit of summer with you, Taiga!"

Taiga grinned shyly.

"Thanks for being a good friend, Keitaro. I'm glad we could end this summer on a good note."

"Keitaro c'mon! The bus is boarding!"

Keitaro took a step back. "Oh I gotta go! Take care Taiga!"