missing the things that never happened

sleepyhead.

Maybe making new friends isn't such a bad thing after all.

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Beta'd by frozenCinders. Also posted on AO3 and FFN.

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Mr. Maruboshi has always recognized him on sight. It is hard to avoid that when you grow up in a small town.

Obito doesn't mind. He doesn't think that it is too much of a big deal. But he also doesn't seem to remember that Mr. Maruboshi is a person, and people tend to have their own thoughts.

"You shouldn't eat too much ice-cream, Obito," Mr. Maruboshi says as he rings up the twin bars.

"It is hot," Obito lies lamely.

Mr. Maruboshi nods, sliding the double-popsicle over to Obito. "Then drink more water," he says. He grabs a water bottle from behind the counter and places it by the popsicle.

"Erm," Obito says.

"It's on me," he says.

"I can't," says Obito.

Mr. Maruboshi gives him a look and Obito sighs. He glances out the transparent slide-doors of the store and then takes all of the items. He digs into his pockets for a hundred yen and leaves before Mr. Maruboshi can give him the change back.

The doors slide close with the jingle fading behind him. He places the bottle and the popsicle in the basket of his bike and begins to head to the park.

He doesn't know why he's doing this. He doesn't think that he should, to begin with, but there is something at the back of his mind just wouldn't let him be.

He stops by the park, just like he did two weeks ago, and stands there.

The light buzzing of the broken street lamp fills his head as he waits. He rubs his fingers together and feels the cold plastic cover of the popsicles between them. He wonders if it will melt before he arrives.

A while later, the now-familiar sight of Deidara walking down the street catches his eyes.

"What are you doing out here?" Deidara asks when he sees Obito.

"Nothing," Obito replies. He fingers the corner of the popsicle packaging.

Deidara points at the popsicles.

"Are you going to eat all of that alone?" he asks.

Obito looks down at the popsicles, twirling it in his hand. He shrugs. "Maybe," he says, "What's it to you?"

"It's a twin bar, yeah," Deidara says.

"Yes," says Obito.

"They're meant for sharing," Deidara says.

"Or I can just eat the share," says Obito.

"That's selfish, hm," Deidara says.

"We're not friends," Obito says. "Only friends share the double popsicle."

Deidara purses his lips and then he shrugs. "Fine then," he says. He heads to the park.

Obito follows him, sticking close and continuing to fiddle with the packaging of the popsicles. Obito steps on a twig and Deidara slows his walking. Obito turns and heads toward the swings and he can sense Deidara coming to a complete stop at the sight.

He sits down on one of the swings and begins to rock himself back and forth, eyes never leaving Deidara. Deidara begins to head toward him.

"Are you really going to eat that alone?" he asks when he's close enough.