Masking Emotions - Oshi No Ko

Chapter 5: A Friend's Day Over

Then, Kokoro awakes, to a voice all too familiar.

"Kokoro.. A boy wants to see you! His name is... Hajime?"

Her mother says, in a cheerful tone.

Kokoro sits up in bed, her eyes flickering open.

Her mother just said...

Hajime is here?

She looks outside the window, and sees him, standing outside her house. He seems... worried, and he's peering up at her window.

"Hajime's here?"

she asks her mother, feeling her heart start to pound in her chest.

Miu nods, smiling softly as she helps Kokoro get ready for the day, and to see Hajime.

"Yes, dear... That boy from kindergarten! He's here with his parents... What an unexpected play-date, huh? Hehehe!"

Miu giggled, as Kokoro got dressed.

Kokoro quickly dresses and rushes downstairs to meet him.

She opens the door, and looks at him with a smile.

"You... wanted to see me?" she asks, feeling a little bit of... awkwardness in the air.

Hajime seems... different, as he stares at her with a scared and nervous expression. He seems... different than he did last time she saw him.

"Uhm... I.. Wanted to give you.. S-Something... As a gift!"

He stutters, holding something behind his back.

Kokoro perks up -- a gift? From Hajime? That sounds... interesting.

"R... really?" she asks, smiling slightly. She can't help but feel a little bit confused by his behavior. He seems... scared? Nervous?

"What... what is it?"

"Can I.. come in first? Let's go to your room... I dunno if you'll like it!"

Says Hajime, a slight smile on his sweating face.

Kokoro nods, and steps aside to let him in.

"Yeah, sure... my room's right over here."

She leads him to her room. She notices the gift still hidden behind his back, and suddenly, she feels a bit of anxiety.

What could it be?

"Uhmm... HERE!"

Hajime quickly pulls his hand froms hi back.. It's a soccer ball and a flower!

"A.. soccer ball and a flower?" Kokoro asks, feeling a bit baffled as she looks at the gift.

Then, she sees the look on Hajime's face, and her heart skips a beat.

She can see how hard he tried, how much he wanted to get it right.

And in that moment, she knows he's... trying to impress her.

Her heart flutters a little bit.

"Woww... I.. I've never tried soccer... But thank you.. I love these gifts!"

Said Kokoro, as she grabbed the ball and held the flower.

"You... you like them?" Hajime asks with clear relief, his expression easing. He looks a little proud that she liked the gift he got for her.

Kokoro smiles back at him, her heart beating a little quicker than usual. She feels... appreciated. Her parents... would say things like this sometimes, but their words never really stuck. She always felt like... something was missing. Like they weren't being genuine.