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(Name) tapped her pencil against the clean, white page of her sketchbook and observed the giraffe behind the iron bars.
"Hmm." She began to sketch out the body shape of the long-necked creature, not noticing a boy sit down next to her.
"Hi there! I like your drawing!" He said happily, and (Name) drew back, startled by his sudden interaction with her.
"O-oh, thanks." She set down the pencil, looking at the white-haired boy curiously. He had on red hair clips and polka-dotted suspenders that made him look a bit strange, but she supposed that they could add to his appeal.
"I like giraffes. They're my favourite animal." He dangled his feet from the wooden bench, a carefree gesture. "What about you?"
She smiled at him, liking his friendly demeanour. "Me? I like giraffes as well."
"Ooh! We're similar~ So, what's your name?"
(Name) watched him kick a small pebble away before responding to his question. "I'm (Name) (Last Name)."
"I'm Juuzou Suzuya!"
"Well, nice to meet you, Juuzou." She held her hand out to him and he stared at it before hesitantly placing it in hers.
(Name) gave it a small shake before pulling her own hand back, only to find Juuzou still holding on to it tightly.
"Your hand is really warm." He mumbled, and she blushed, using her other hand to cover her mouth. "And soft.."
"U-um.. Juuzou?" The (Hair-Colour)-haired said softly and he let go, placing his hands on the bench beside him.
"I like you, (First Name)!" He grinned, his crimson eyes sparkling. He pushed himself off the bench and bounced on his heels, smiling brightly.
"Let's hang out again sometime!" He skipped away, and she saw him talking to a tall, brown haired man from afar.
"Shinohara, I met a really nice girl today!" (Name) overheard him saying, and smiled to herself.
━━━━━━━━━━━
(Name) sniffled as she stood in front of her father's gravestone.
He had been killed by a ghoul when out on a investigation, and (Name) came to visit his grave nearly every week. Her (Hair Colour) locks rustled in the evening breeze as she gently placed a few flowers on the marble.
"Hey! (Name)! What's wrong?" She heard the familiar white-haired boy call out her name and looked up, tears still dripping down her cheeks.
"My father was killed by a ghoul.. I—I miss him..."
"Death happens." Juuzou said bluntly, and her head snapped up.
"People die and life goes on. Doesn't it?" He continued, putting a pale finger to his stitched lips.
"Juuzou, do you know how it feels?" (Name) snapped, and her vision went blurry for a moment. "What would you do if I died?"
"Would you even care?" She swiped at her teary eyes, unable to stop the barrage of words that spilled from her lips. "I don't understand you sometimes."
Feeling even worse than before; (Name) turned around to leave the cemetery, but Juuzou's thin fingers closed around her wrist.
"(Name)? Are you okay?"
"I just don't know what to do anymore." The girl choked out and tried to pull away. Despite his slender figure, the white-haired boy's grip was quite strong, and he pulled the other towards him.
"I'm sorry, (First Name)." He mumbled. "I should've paid more attention to your feelings."
The feelings of irritation seemingly vanished as (Name) accepted his apology. "It's fine... You're you. I should have accepted that you have a different mindset than me."
"You're a really great friend, (First Name)!" He suddenly smiled widely. "I'm here for you! So don't be sad!"
"Thanks, Juuzou.." Despite her tears, she smiled softly at him. "I—I'm glad I have a fr-friend like you..."
