ARUANI: Against The Odds

♥ childhood promise ♥

Young armin and annie flashback.

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A Young annie mercilessly stepped on the grasshopper, she isn't sure why she does this... but she found a habit out of it or maybe it was because she just naturally disliked them.

She poured all her repressed feelings about being pressured to get high grades to every single step that crushed the bug.

Hey what are you doing?

She looked over at the kid she's never seen around town before.

None of your business....annie coldly replied.

Why did you kill it? The boy kept on asking as if ignoring her statement from earlier.

Annie just ignored the annoying boy beside her and kept on minding her own business.

Did you know that grasshopper you just killed is a
Schistocerca americana ,or an American bird grasshopper. The blonde boy said while staring at the squashed pieces.

Okay....? Annie gave the kid a weird look.

who was this strange smart kid that just drops a dead insect's scientific name? Annie curiously looked at the blonde boy who was examining the dead bug with a pitiful stare as he felt sorry for it.

I don't like bugs....so I kill them...I mean they are pests aren't they? Annie answers the question he had from earlier.

if you don't like something...do you really have to kill it? why not just let it be? let it live its short existence in peace...? His blue eyes stared into her soul.

Annie didn't know what to reply, but the question this boy gave did make her question herself and doubt her own morality making her realize the fault in how she views some things in life.

This boy was annoying but interesting at the same time, he was annoying in a good way... He knew too much for his age but she found that it made him unique from the kids she's met.

I guess..... I'll leave them alone from now on.. But let me ask you this. Aren't they just pests? Annie asked referring to the insects.

Well... Some are but they have use too! They benefit our world in ways we don't see because they are small but they have a big impact in improving nature. Like bees... They pollinate flowers or mosquitoes who we consider pests but are important to some other living animals since they are prey.

Here he picked up a flower from the ground and gave it to her.

What's this for...?

Well... You can try attracting some butterflies with that! My mother does that... She carries a pretty basket of flowers and bees and butterflies follow her around its fun! Maybe then you'll appreciate bugs a bit. He grinned.

Annie doesn't know what made her smile at the gesture but she shyly accepted the flower holding it carefully as if it was her most prized possession.

Uh... So what's your name? I realized I talked to much and never really bothered to ask your name. He scratched the back of his neck.

Annie. She replied still staring at the flower.

Cute name. I'm Armin.

Can.. We uh.. Be friends...? Annie asked him nervously.

Huh? I thought we were already..But yes sure! I'll call you nienie from now on. Armin gives her a gentle smile.

Nie nie? She asked in confusion.

Ah you see friends give each other nicknames! You can call me min min if you want my mom gave me that nickname hehe.. Armin offers her.

S-sure.. Min min.... She felt her face heat up when saying the nickname feeling her stomach have knots in them.

Well I'll see you tomorrow nie nie! I got to go! He waves but Annie held his wrist before he could leave.

Promise you'll come back.....? She averted her eyes from his startled ones.

Alright I promise, Armin held up his pinky finger and connected it with Annie's own pinky.

Promise! They said in unison.

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