Changes Through life

Chapter 3.

Dedicated to birth_by_geek_

The air was warm with the fast approaching summer, filled with green leaves swaying back and forth with every breeze. Joyous squeals rang out through the playground as the students all emptied the building for recess. As Roxas made it outside, he didn’t waste a second before turning the corner and moving to the edge of the schoolyard that had grown so familiar over the years. As always, Ven was already there-- Roxas wondered from time to time how his friend managed to get ahead of everyone else so easily.

“Hey, Ven!” At the sound of Roxas’s voice, the typical nervous look faded slightly from the other’s expression. He pushed away from the tree and relaxed his stance, giving a small smile as he turned to the blond.

“Hey, Roxas.”

Hopping forward the last couple paces, Roxas excitedly took the hands of his friend into his own. “Let’s go to the swings before they’re all taken!” Ven nodded at the suggestion, and the two of them ran off to the other end of the schoolyard.

Leaving the swing on the end open for the other, Roxas took the swing one in, knowing Ven was more comfortable being separated from the rest of the kids. As soon as they were seated, Roxas noticed Ven reaching a hand in his direction. With a blink, he reached back, squeezing it tightly. Though the two of them held hands fairly often, it was rare that Ven initiated the action himself-- Roxas hardly thought anything of it, however, simply smiling when the other squeezed his hand in return. Careful not to break their connection, Roxas gently kicked off from the ground, his swing lightly moving back and forth. Ven was soon to move as well, matching his friend’s speed with no problem.

“What did you do in class today?” Roxas asked then. “We’re gonna start making our own storybooks in art class soon, so we’re reading a lot to help us come up with ideas! It’s really fun.” Ven gave a tiny smile as a response.

“Th-that sounds nice…”

“It is! We’ve read all sorts of cool stuff with heroes and dragons-- I want my story to be just like those ones!”

“Your stories are already cool like that,” Ven encouraged. “I really like them.” Roxas beamed at his words.

“Thanks, Ven! I’ll be sure to show you my book as soon as I’m done with it,” he promised. “So what is your class doing? Does fifth grade get harder at the end of the year?”

“Oh,” something in the tone of Ven’s voice sounded very disheartened-- scared, even. “We aren’t doing much, j-just--” his words jumbled together at the end before they stopped completely, gaze shifting down to his lap. Roxas tilted his head at the other’s action, blinking in concern.

“Are you okay…?” Roxas brought his swing’s movement to a halt. Taking his usual nervousness into account, the other certainly seemed bothered by something. Ven’s gaze shifted to the side, his grip on Roxas’s hand tightening ever so slightly.

“Er, well…” he let out a quiet sigh, stopping in tandem with Roxas. “I-it’s nothing.” A moment of silence passed between them before it was broken by Roxas’s next proposal.

“Hey-- do you wanna come over this weekend?” If something really was bothering Ven, maybe he would feel better talking about it when they were away from everyone else. The question posed seemed to brighten the other’s spirits if only for a moment. With a smile forming on his lips, Ven nodded.

“Okay,” he agreed, voice now hinted with enthusiasm. Roxas smiled in response.

“Cool! You can come over after school on Friday and stay overnight-- my mom can get you home before your lesson on Saturday.” Once that was established, Ven already seemed to be feeling a bit better. Roxas continued their earlier conversation himself, going on about his various ideas for his upcoming project.