Zombie Land Saga: A distant threat | AU

Prologue Part 2/2 | Concerned Mind

As time passes by, the parents of the little child were starting to be more absent to take care of him, so they used to constantly leave him with Sakura, who not only became basically his babysitter but also became the little boy's best friend in a long time.

Charles had begun to trust her a bit more and started to be more playful with her as well as his puppy Henry. They've been playing lots of games, hanging outside together mostly at the park, or watch some TV, all of this for weeks now.

Despite all the good time they were having together, something was a bit off for Charles, who was starting to notice through the months a tense atmosphere at times. He couldn't tell what is that feeling he was sensing, until he realises that Sakura was starting to be less enthusiatic and feel less fun when playing with the kid and everytime he turned to her, she just limited to smile at his friend and tell him everything is fine to make him feel better.

Of course the child was starting to get a bit worried, not about himself nor Henry, but about the girl who is clearly hiding something from him, especially because everytime she smiled at him, Charles would notice that was not the smile that made him feel secure and a warm aura through her. It was a more worried-type of smile, a smile that seemed forced, a smile that seemed fake.

"I just hope she's okay..."

Karatsu City, Saga, Japan; march 2008

One day like another, our little Charles was waking up from his deep dream, making his daily routine as he gets ready to start the day. He finishes his breakfast and prepares his tricycle for a ride in his yard, taking Henry with him as they play together, with the puppy making the kid fall from his tricycle and getting on top of the young boy and rolling over him as if he was in his bed.

Once Charles and Henry go back inside the house, the parents call for the child as he goes to the living room where they were, he's already guessing what they're gonna tell him, already excited to visit his friend once again.

Mom: Honey, can you come here for second?

Charles: What is it mom?

Dad: Listen son, we'll be out again as you might already know.

Charles: Oh, right.

Dad: But this time we won't take you to Sakura's place.

Charles: What? Why?? :c

Mom: Because she will be coming here this time.

The boy's eyes start to shine brightly once he hears that.

Charles: REALLY?!? YAY!!! And when is she coming?

Dad: We'll have to pick her up when we leave and bring her here.

Mom: That'll be in 10 minutes, right?

Dad: I'm not sure, let me just check the time......Oh shoot! We have to be there in 5 minutes. We should leave now.

Mom: Oh dear! Sorry Charley, we have to go. Sakura will be here in no time, just be patient my teddy bear.

Charles: Okay mom!

Henry: *Bark*

The parents then go to the car and leave the house as fast as they could, leaving Charles and Henry alone until his friend arrives. He's clearly excited to see her again, but he gets worried at the same time about her, he wouldn't like to see her sad or something else and then trying to fake a smile just to make him calm over and over again. This time the boy will have to build courage and ask her if she's truly alright. He wants to see her being happy, not pretending to be so but feeling true happiness, to see a genuine smile coming from her face. That is the only way to make him feel better around his friend, feeling that warm, protective aura once again.