Nico Niiyama
" It's hard to believe in something that you don't want to believe in."
" Nico stay here and be a good little girl." My daddy told me as he gently patted my head.
" Okay daddy!" I smiled.
He chuckled and left me in the hospital waiting room. I looked left and right before looking down on my shoes. I sighed sadly as the feeling of loneliness started nipping at my heels.
" Hello." A voice said which had a tone of cheerfulness and a hint of friendliness beckoning my attention.
I looked up and saw a girl with purple hair that ended up to her neck with honey brown eyes. Her smile seemed so bright. I wanted to smile like that.
I slowly smiled, a small smile, and raised my hand.
" Hello, my name is Nico Niiyama. You?" I asked her.
" The name's Tenshi Kuroshiro. It's nice to meet you Nico-chan." She responded.
Nico-chan. I liked the way my name rolled off of her pale pink lips. Her pearly whites seemed to shine as her eyes seemed to sparkle.
I wanted to be like her. To always smile brightly like that.
I slowly looked at her and saw that she tilted her head in confusion.
" Ne? What are you thinking about, Nico-chan?" Tenshi asked, her lips slowly turning into a pout.
" E-Eh? Nothing..." I whispered.
" There's always a something behind a nothing Nico-chan." She then extended her hand out to my reach. " Come on! Let's pick out daisies for the fairies."
" Fairies?" I questioned.
" Yup! They are these small human-like creatures with insect wings!" She explained excitedly.
" Wah! I wanna see one!" I exclaimed.
" Although, they're not real." She said sadly.
" They must be real if you have an explanation like that!" I pouted.
" It could be but there is no hardcore evidence." She laughed.
I wanted her laugh. It sounded like bells that rang through my ears and echoed in my brain.
" Evidence? But then, do we really need one?" I asked.
" Of course!" Tenshi responded.
" Then I will search for one to give evidence!" I said determinedly.
" You don't need. At least you have something to believe in, real or not, that's keeping you away from the dark." She explained
" Believe..." I whispered.
" You just need something to believe in Nico-chan." Tenshi said as she ruffled my hair.
" But Nico-chan only believes in fairies!" I pouted and crossed my arms.
" You don't need to lie to me Nico-chan. You just need to believe in yourself."
I wanted her kindness. I wanted her wisdom. She was everything to me.
" Myself...?" I whispered as I clasped my hands and placed it where my heart is.
" Yup!" Tenshi smiled brightly.
" Tenshi!" I heard a woman called.
" Yes Urushii-chan?" She shouted back and turned to the sides.
I turned as well and saw that a woman with short black hair and sharp eyes started to walk over to us. She noticed me sitting in one of the hospital chairs and smiled gently.
" Hello, who are you?" She asked.
" Nico Niiyama." I smiled, trying to imitate Tenshi's bright smile.
" I'm Urushii, pretty sure you've met Tenshi." She laughed.
" Yup! She's so kind and pretty and smart and such an awesome person!" I childishly said.
" W-Wait! I'm not all-"
" She is, isn't she?" Urushii grinned, cutting a blushing Tenshi.
" E-EH?! That's not-"
" Nico?" I heard my father's voice.
I looked to the sides and saw my father standing with a clipboard in his hand.
" Let's go." He smiled.
" Yosh!" I beamed and waved goodbye to Urushii and Tenshi as I walked up to my daddy.
" Who were they?" My dad asked as I came up to him.
" Urushii was the kind lady and Tenshi was the young girl." I said.
" Tenshi huh?" I heard dad whisper.
" Why was Tenshi-chan here anyways dad?" I asked.
" Hm? Nothing you need to worry about."
" But Tenshi-chan's my friend! So I need to worry!" I defended.
My dad was silent for a moment before he stopped and crouched in front of me. He took one of my pigtails and twirled it silently.
" Nico, Tenshi was here because she felt pain that no one else should have to go through. A pain of 5 children being beaten up." Daddy explained.
I was shocked at his answer and felt tears slowly emerging from my eyes. My dad saw and hugged me comfortingly.
" It's okay dear, she's fine now." He said but I wasn't listening.
I wanted to be strong like her. To be able to smile even when she had been in pain. To be able to laugh even through hell itself.
I wanted to be like her.
" Nico-chan?" Tenshi said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
" Yes, Tenshi-chan?" I asked.
Tenshi smiled, a smile that I always wanted, and gave me a hug.
" Let's go back home, ne?"
I smiled and hugged her back.
" Yes."
