Midnight Memories

Episode One - Amity

He stared at his ceiling aimlessly, not a single thought progressing in his mind as his eyes roamed through every inch of the porcelain paint. He would cease his eyes from the boring white world his room was, and would retreat to the outside, where the sky was dark, yet blooming with different aspects that made it stunning to watch. It was more gratifying than the simplicity of his bedroom walls.

At least out there he didn't feel trapped.

Out there, a million thoughts would race through his mind, which was inexplicably calming to him.

That's why he couldn't help but sneak out to the backyard of his home every night, speculating at the starry night sky. Boys such as him shouldn't be fascinated by the dark night, but rather superheroes like the Dark Knight. But none of that really intrigued him. Perhaps he was different, he had always felt different around others. Not that it bothered him but, a friend would do much good.

Slyly, he exited his room shutting the door softly behind him. He had learnt that if he had closed it too hard, even worse, slammed it, his parents would be alarmed and would rush to him before he could even return to his bed.

Excuses like, "I had to go to the bathroom," and, "I'm hungry," just didn't work on them anymore.

That's why tiptoeing became the only option, and strangely he became an expert at it. He figured he was since he had done this multiple times before, so sneaking didn't require much skill.

He wore only socks as he head out into the night, his eyes glued to the sight in front of him.

Simpering slightly, he gaped with utter bewilderment as the sky grew darker.

Midnight was his favorite time of night.

The sky's color was a resplendent and a sumptuous deep blue, rich and mellow. The moonlight would shine through faint clouds, hovering over him as he stared attentively, his eyes never leaving the beauty of the time of night. Everything about the world was so dead around him, but it was midnight where everything seemed to live.

That's why he couldn't miss it, even if he was supposed to be in bed catching z's.

He had to return to school in the morning, a public school. He had been homeschooled through all fourteen years of his life, but now that his parents were offered jobs that paid higher wages, all of that was to come to an end. Their lifestyle was poor, so the news hadn't saddened Naruto when he heard about it. He wanted his parents to do their jobs, and not worry about him for once. This was before the summer started, where his father, Minato, insisted they'd hire Iruka-sensei to look out after him. The same Iruka-sensei who was Narutos best friend, and the same Iruka-sensei who now always felt the need to follow Naruto around, checking every once in a while if he felt alright.

But he always felt alright, even if he didn't want to for reasons that somehow became of significance to him. He'd never understand why he became keenly engrossed in the topic of socializing and interacting with others when he's only known his home. He was always alone in the house whenever his parents left for work, yet he had Iruka-sensei by his side, assuring him that he'd be alright because his sensei and his parents will always be there.

So he's alright.

He had to be for the people he held dear, because one day they'd disappear, leaving behind more intricate decisions for him to make.

The sky started to brighten.

The midnight time was over, which always frustrated him because he could never look at the midnight sky forever and be at peace. He wished he could gaze upon the sky for all eternity, where the essence of daylight couldn't bother him. Daylight told him it was time to wake up, that it time to head back into reality.