The Squirrel and The Tree (Nako x Male Reader)

Chapter 3

 Nako POV

"Nako-chin~ Wake up," Yongrae whispers in my ear.

"Huh, w-where are we?" I yawn before rubbing my eyes. As soon as my eyes adjusted its focus, I realized that we had arrived in our neighborhood.

More specifically, in front of my house.

"We're here~" He cooed. "By the way~ How's your leg? Does it still hurt?"

"Not anymore," I answered, getting off his back. "Thanks a lot, Ki-chan."

"No worries~" He smiled with his eyes closed, making me giggle.

He knocked on the door a few times before it swung open almost immediately.

"Oi, Yabuki Nako! Where have you been?! We've been worried sick since it's already past 6 pm, young lady-" My mom paused from her scolding barrage when she noticed Yongrae standing next to me.

"Hi Ms. Yabuki~" He greeted her. "I'm sorry that we arrived home late~ She was with me the entire time so you don't have to worry~"

And just like that, my mom went from full scolding mode to calm and collected.

"Oh my, if it isn't Yongrae! That's quite alright, young man, as long as you are the one who's accompanying her," My mom hit him playfully as they shared a small laugh. They talked for a short while before Yongrae had to go home.

My mom escorted me inside as I removed my shoes and placed them on the rack.

"You should've told us you were with Yongrae," She ruffled my hair.

"Hehe, sorry about that," I apologized and removed my backpack.

"Ah, it's okay. Now go on and change, dinner's about to be ready."

"Hai!"

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"Eh? Yongrae was here a few moments ago?" My dad looked at my mom with wide eyes. "Aw man, I wish you told me, I would've loved to catch up with him!"

"By the way, how was the orientation, Nako-chan?" He turned his attention to me.

"The orientation itself was boring," I sighed dramatically. "We basically just stood there for half an hour."

"Well, that's orientations for you, always boring," He said, earning him a light slap in the arm from my mom. "Ow~"

"Anyways, I heard that it's mandatory to be in a club in your school," My mom was the one who asked this time. "Have you and Yongrae joined any clubs yet?"

"Yep!" I nodded. "Well, honestly, I just picked a club where activities would be very chill."

"Oh, wow, what 's that club you joined?" My dad asked curiously.

"Gaming club, hehe."

"Naniiii?!" My dad almost stood up from his seat. "Schools finally allow that? Back in our days, Gaming clubs weren't taken seriously!"

He leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.

"I guess times are changing... Ahhhh, I envy you, Nako-chan," My dad whined as my mom started to scold him like a child.

I giggled at the little scene my parents were creating in front of me. Every day is just so lively whenever we're all together like this.

Soon, I finally finished eating and excused myself from the table to retreat to my room and do my nightly routine.

After doing everything, I quickly unlocked my phone and dialed Yongrae's number, now all I have to do is wait for him to answer.

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3rd person POV

The small girl sat on the edge of her bed, swinging her legs in a quick motion as she waited for her best friend to answer her call, the sound of her phone was the only one filling up her room's silence.

"Come on, pick up," She muttered under her breath as she laid down and huffed.

After what felt like hours, she finally heard something else other than her phone ringing.

"Hello, Nako-chin~"

"Ki-chan, you big meanie! I thought you weren't going to answer!"

"Sorry~ my mom made me do the dishes."

"It's fine, as long as you answer my calls."

"I'll always answer your calls, Nako-chin~"

Her smile grew wide as soon as he said that. She couldn't help but squeal a little and do some small flutter kicks on her bed. Every night is always like this for the two best friends ever since both of them got their very first cell phones.

If "We're literally inseparable" were people, these two would be the perfect example.

"Open your camera, Ki-chan, I wanna see you!"

"You first~"

"Let's just do it at the same time, okay? 1 2 3!"

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The two of them continued to talk on the phone for hours and wouldn't end the call even though both of them were feeling very drowsy.

"Your eyes are failing to stay open, Nako-chin~ You should go ahead and sleep."

"Noooo!" Nako whined as she tried to open her heavy eyelids. "I still... wanna talk to..."

She began closing her eyes again, her voice trailing off.

"...you..." She sighed before finally entering dreamland.

Yongrae let out a soft chuckle as he adored her facial features from his screen. Her cute little sounds whenever she exhaled made his heart flutter.

Before ending the call, he tried to whisper something but for some reason, he couldn't. It's as if there was something holding his tongue back from saying anything.

'No, now's not the perfect time to tell her,'  He scratched his nape. 'Maybe next time.'  

He sighed to calm himself and whispered to her a "good night" instead.

Nako smiled a little shortly after those words escaped his lips before he finally ended the call and called it a night.

~~~~~