A/N: This is some scrapped ideas from the ice cream scene from last chapter.
"Shizuo big brother, your ice cream is melting!" Akane pointed at Shizuo's melting chocolate ice cream.
"Ah!" Shizuo tried to eat it faster.
"It's cold..." Shizuo muttered.
"Shizuo big brother, there's some ice cream on your face!" Akane took a napkin and gently wiped off the stains around his mouth.
"Thanks Akane-chan." He patted her head.
She smiled and continued to eat her ice cream.
"Shizuo big brother, are you happy?" Akane suddenly asked.
Happiness? That was a feeling Shizuo was a stranger to. He only feels bitterness, and no matter what he does, he hardly can even come close to finding true happiness.
"What do you mean? I'm happy you're here with me!" Shizuo strained a smile.
"You're lying."
Shizuo sighed. Lying wasn't his strong suit.
"Do you have friends?" Akane asked again.
"Of course...I mean, Tom is my friend! And Shinra too, and...Celty..." Shizuo racked his brain for names. He had even less friends than he thought.
"Aren't you lonely?"
Loneliness. He felt that for most his childhood. Afraid he'll accidentally hurt people he cares, he isolated people, himself. He also wanted people to genuinely love him, and not be scared of his strength, knowing that's impossible. Everyone sees him as a monster. But if it means the people he cares about can stay safe, no price is too much.
Shizuo looked at Akane. Even now, he was afraid. What if he accidentally hurt her?
"Sorry Akane-chan, but no one wants to be my friend." Shizuo admitted.
"But why? Shizuo big brother is nice!" She pouted, not understanding Shizuo's situation.
"Not everyone thinks that. I can't control my strength, and people can be hurt. That's why people get scared. It's expected, I'm a monster after all,"
"I love sweet things and hate all things bitter, but bitterness is the only feeling I recognize! Ever since I was born, I...I... already lost what it was like to be human! No friends, no nothing. Even now, it might better if you stay away, Akane-chan. I could hurt you, or even worse..." Shizuo muttered, looking down. Then he heard some shuffling, footsteps, and suddenly, a hug.
"If no one wants to be your friend, then I will." Akane said, hugging Shizuo tightly.
Happiness. What he felt, was pure happiness. He hugged Akane tighter, tears of joy falling from his eyes.
"Shizuo big brother, you need to find someone that will care for you too. And your power, it's not scary. Not at all! You saved me, remember? I'm not scared."
Sobs, tears, joy, Shizuo cried. He started straight up brawling. He couldn't even contain himself. He hugged Akane, who cried too.
All his life, people called him monster. No one had loved him truly.
"Shizuo big brother, you need to find someone that will love you too."
Happiness, what a strange feeling. He was grateful. More than that. He felt refreshed. Amazing. And so much more.
"Are you happy now? Shizuo big brother?" Akane asked, pulling away from their hug.
"Yea. Happiest I've ever been." He patted Akane's head and smiled.
Akane went back to her seat, only to find her ice cream completely melted.
"Ice cream..." Akane faced her pool of ice cream. Shizuo sighed. He took out his wallet one more time.
"What flavour do you want?" Shizuo asked.
"It's okay! Seeing you smile is sweeter than any ice cream!"
Shizuo wanted to protect Akane forever.
