Shiori Novella One-shots

Smile Lessons

A somber day lingers in the air, filled with rainclouds and cloudy skies, setting the stage for a gloomy atmosphere. Catching sight of your frowning expression, a mysterious girl appears in your vision, her finger in her mouth as if trying to convey something. "You smile like this, see?" she says, attempting to brighten the dreary day.

~~~~~

You look up briefly to glance at the girl, before looking back down at the dirt of the park ground. You gesture with your hands to shoo her away, like you would a dog. You can't bring yourself to care enough about anything.

"Hey! I'm not a dog! Don't shoo me like one!" the girl stomps. "Why are you out here anyway?" she gestures around the two of you, as a cool wind blows through the surrounding trees in the park. "Don't you know it's going to rain soon?"

You just sigh in response. Looking up at her, you see she has her finger in her mouth, pulling it up and out a little, to mime smiling.

"I know. I just don't care anymore," you mutter just loud enough for her to hear.

The girl watches you for a moment, before nodding, and sitting down beside you.

"Alright, well, I'll just sit here, then," she says, plopping down beside you.

"I sat here to be alone," you glare at her.

"Well, then, we'll be alone together. We don't have to talk, but I feel like just sitting here," she grins at you, knowing she has a point. "Or are you going to tell me where I can and can't sit? Do you own this park bench?" her grin widens into a more toothy smile.

"I think you know I don't..." you sigh deeply.

"So...." she starts, hesitantly, her grin fading into an expression of concern.

"... What?"

"Can I ask what's going on? Why do you look so sad?" she asks.

You can tell she genuinely wants to know, that she's genuinely concerned. For you, someone she's never even met. But... why? What does she want?

"You know, I don't want anything. But as a person, everyone deserves a chance to be happy... Maybe it'll help to talk about what's bothering you?" she continues.

Thinking for a moment, you realize that she might be right. You're not sure how to continue at this point, anyway. But... you just met her, it'd be weird to trauma dump on someone you don't even know... right?

"I... I don't know... We don't know each other, so trauma dumping... It feels like it'd be weird," you respond after a time.

"Well, that's exactly why it could help, because we don't know each other!" she says, softly, encouragingly, while leaning forward.

You think for a moment before making up your mind and sigh, for what seems to be the umpteenth time.

"I guess you're right..."

"Yep! I am!" she smiles brightly.

"Well, I guess it all started a week ago..."

You go on to tell her about everything that's happened the past week. How you suddenly collapsed, unconscious, in the street on your way to work, and woke up in the hospital. How the doctors told you that, without treatment, you would die soon, that you had cancer. How you can't afford the treatment, so you are trying to come to terms with your own mortality, even though you're not even 30 yet. You know that there are kids that get cancer too, so you know that it isn't as bad as it could be, as sad as it could be, but you can't help yourself.

As you talk, you notice that the girl is watching you attentively, and seems to be sympathetic, and understanding your inner conflict. You can't help but smile a little as she nods, her black and white hair bobbing a little in the wind. She smiles a little sadly as you continue.

"I ended up quitting my job, since I can't afford the treatment, so I might as well live it up, but... I can't bring myself to be happy enough to do anything... I don't even have anyone to do anything with...." you finish, the disappointment in yourself obvious in your voice.

The girl nods, before putting a finger to her chin, looking up at the clouds darkening above the two of you. You let your head fall back down, not sure what to say at this point.

"I understand why you feel that way... Well, I do have some ideas... I think you just need someone to give you an extra push," she says, turning to look at you.

Before you can respond, you feel her soft arms wrap around you, as she places a hand on the back of your head bringing it to her shoulder, and using the other to gently rub your back.

"I know we don't know each other yet, but would you let me give you that extra push?" she asks, a little hesitantly. She seems to know she's taking a big chance on a stranger, but she can't just let you be.

Hearing her, you feel a gentle warmth spread throughout you, replacing the cold emptiness you'd felt before.

"I... I'd like that, but... are you sure? We don't know each other at all..."

"I am. And you know what? First step is introductions!" she smiles, happy you said yes. "My name is Shiori, Shiori Novella. Let's have as much fun as we can, alright?"

You just smile a little, and nod.

"Alright. My name is *****... Let's have fun. What's first?" you ask, wondering what adventures you'll go on with this mysterious girl.