Ishimondo Oneshots

Cornstalks and Apple Trees

   "Hey. Mondo."

   Mondo yawned and stretched out his arms. "What's up, bro?"

   I walk over to the walls of the corn maze and pick off a cob of corn. "This kind of looks like your hair." I burst out laughing. Mondo looked like he was trying really hard to be offended, but just couldn't. He eventually subdued to the laughter as well. I immediately spoke up once our laughing fit was fading. "Should we go left or right?"

   "I dunno, Taka. You should choose. You are the one who called yourself the maze master."

   I rolled my eyes. "I'm also the one who got us lost. Pick a direction."

   Mondo walked ahead of me to observe the fork in the road. He kept looking back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth...

   He finally turned back to me. "Let's go forwards!"

   "We can't, there's no path that way."

   "Well, let's make one!"

   "That's against the rules."

   Mondo leaned into my face, his long corn hair barely touching the top of my head. "This reminds me of a friend who also followed the rules of a corn maze, Akiro."

   "Who's Akiro?"

   Mondo smiled. "Exactly." Before I could ask another question, Mondo continued. "A pack of angry squirrels jumped out of the cornstalks and attacked him! You don't want that to happen to you, right?"

   I pull away. "You're just making that—"

   Shake shake

   I heard a shake in the cornstalks. Could that be...? I yelped and threw myself onto Mondo. He smiled and put his arm around me. I tightened my grip. "Let's get out of here, bro. Don't worry, you'll be safe." With me still gripping onto him, Mondo cut through the cornstalks and got us out.

   I slowly took myself off of Mondo and took in the new surroundings. It was basically a big field with two apple trees. I motioned for Mondo to follow me and we both picked an apple.

   After we ate, Mondo exclaimed, "My legs are really tired."

   I nodded. "Mine as well. Maybe we can sit under the apple tree?"

   "Sounds good." Mondo headed for the biggest apple tree and leaned against the bark. I sat next to him and we stared at the beautiful sky. "I bet the maze would have been easier if the moon was up there tonight."

   "The moon is actually always there. It's just currently in its new moon phase, covering the face of it up."

   Mondo chuckled. "Really."

   "Mhm."

   I leaned over my head so it was resting on his shoulder. It was a really comfortable position. Mondo must have thought it was too. "I can fall asleep like this."

   I smiled awkwardly. "Let's not..."

   The blissful content drained out of Mondo's eyes. "Why not?"

   I yawn and move myself closer to him. "I don't want the squirrels to get us."

   Mondo chuckled a little again and looked out at the night sky. I suddenly felt a new warmth on my hand... Mondo's hand. My cheeks are most definitely turning pink, I can feel it.

   Mondo gives my hand a soft squeeze. "I'll always protect you," he whispers. "No matter what."