What's Your Name? | MY LITTLE MONSTER - Kenji Yamaguchi

ONE

Hey there! I've started rewriting/revising my chapters. After I'm done, I'll rewatch the series cause I miss it lmao and try to update!

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It was a bright afternoon when Kenji made the decision to go buy some drinks from a nearby convenience store. Just as he had picked out what he wanted and headed over to the cashier, he spotted a girl nearby trying to reach the top shelf of a fridge. Just as he was about to turn and walk away, he saw her feeble attempts at jumping to get the drink she wanted and nearly tripping over herself.
He heaved a sigh and walked over to her, then appearing behind her he reached over the girl and grabbed the soda she wanted. The first thing he noticed was how tiny she was. When she turned around to face him, her blue eyes locked onto his, staring deeply.

He was frozen, still gripping the bottle at the top shelf, mesmerized by the girl, and she was as well by him. "U-Um..." she spoke quietly and looked up at his hand. "The drink..."

Kenji widened his eyes and quickly stepped away. "Oh, right," he mumbled and handed it to her.

"Thank you," she said and closed the fridge door. He watched as she walked over and payed for her drink. He watched as she ran to pay for her drink, then quickly out of the store. He felt something build up inside himself and he snapped out of his frozen trance, hurrying out the store himself. It was a busy day on a busy street and she had somehow already made it to the other side. "Hey!" he shouted loudly, causing many people to turn their attention to him—including the girl with the blue eyes. "What's your name?!"

She smiled and brought her hands to her mouth. When she began to shout her name, a bus passed along with many more cars. Kenji couldn't catch her name. And when the vehicles had passed, she was no longer in the same spot.

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It had been a week since he had seen the girl at the corner store, and during that time, sometimes he'd find himself thinking about her. What's wrong with me? he would always ask himself when her striking blue eyes appeared in his head. Am I sick?

It was a little after school when Kenji decided to take a walk to a public library nearby. It was late and when he got there with practically no one in sight. He headed over to the literature books and decided to flip through a few in case they would've been of interest, when he saw someone pass by the end of the aisle to the next.

The very familiar black haired girl was just in front of him. Kenji put the book back in and looked through the shelf that separated them. He saw her eyes peer down into the book she was holding, not noticing him staring at her. He pulled out a novel of his own from the shelf and turned around so that she didn't see him, and so he could feel less like a stalker.

The girl did, however, notice him when she looked through the shelf and saw his back. She giggled softly and put the book back in its place and moved over a bit so she wouldn't be in the same spot.

When Kenji turned around, he noticed she wasn't there so he did the same as before and peered over the books on the shelves into the next aisle. He saw she had moved over further and wasn't looking upwards, so he once again moved closer, pulled out another book, and turned around so his back was facing the shelf between them.

She saw him in front of her, yet again. Though this time she didn't move, instead she tiptoed out of the aisle, book in hand, and waltzed over to a table with couches around it. When she began reading she heard footsteps approaching and looked up. It was the blond boy. "Hi," she greeted with a small wave.

He nodded his head and sat at the couch in front of her. While the mystery girl was reading, Kenji occasionally look up from his story to her. "Hey," she started, "why do you keep staring?"

He looked at her, then covered his face with the book. "Was it that obvious..?"

"Just a lot," she chuckled and sat crosslegged on the couch.

"Sorry," he mumbled, feeling way out of character.

"What's the book?"

Grateful she changed the topic, he showed her the cover and she nodded.

"I read that one," she stated. "I know this one really good book I read. Want me to show you?"

"Uh, sure," he replied quickly without thinking.

She lead him to the literature books and showed him a story. "This one I really enjoyed. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki," she said and held it out, cover first, to him.

He took it from her and read the description for the book. The girl watched as his eyes scanned the page, and she walked back to the couch with a smile as Kenji followed. "Hey," he caught her attention after a moment or two, "thanks. It seems kinda cool." He motioned to the book.

"Mm!" she nodded gleefully and turned back to the book in her lap.

"Um, what's your name?" He asked her finally.

"Oh!" she clasped her hands together. "It's--"

"Onee-chan!" A voice called, making her stop what she was saying and turn around to the door. "Onee-chan, onee-chan! Pokko ran away again!" The little boy who looked to be 8 cried. "He won't love me!"

"Ranmaru, it's okay! We'll find him!" She smiled and grabbed her book, walking up to the child. "Where's mom?" She asked as Ranmaru hugged her leg.

"She's outside waiting." He said. "Can we go get him now?"

"Ya, I'll just check the book out, okay?"

The child nodded and watched with Kenji as she checked the book out.

Before she left, she turned to Kenji and waved a small goodbye, which he returned. When she had gone out of sight, Kenji sunk deep into the cushions with a groan. He missed his chance again. "I'm so dumb," he mumbled.

Why me?

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This chapter has been redone. Others have not.