The Fog of Fame (Len x Oliver)

Chapter 7 - Stars, Memories, and Feelings

I stretched and turned my gaze up to the starry night sky; gleaming stars, galaxies from every direction I could see. I slowly made my way to the bench nearby and recollected the moments I've had in the past several weeks of living here.

...

It was on my third week here...

<<<

I felt a shake and a soft voice, calling me out from my vivid dream. Oliver stood there with a brightest grin; he entreated as he tried to contain his overflowing excitement within him, "c'mon, let's play outside!"

I couldn't help but to smile, his joyous expression was one so pure, so innocent it was sure to send even the most grouchiest men to a smile. I nodded to agree and stumblingly pushed myself up. At that he giggled and dashed off, his arm lightly grazing mine as he passed.

I followed him out, muttering a quick 'bye' to his parents before leaving. Oliver led us to a clearing, and beside was a great field of flowers blooming in-season. He told me then that this was a place the village boys would meet up, where they would agree to a game and play around town for until their mothers would painstakingly search and call for their return.

"You do this often?" I had asked.

"No," he shook his head, "Maybe once a month, I don't really like playing with strangers."

"Don't you have friends?"

He nodded and smiled so wholesome, I couldn't help but to chuckle at his answer, "you."

"And... well, there's Piko, but he has other friends too."

I nodded, and immediately, from the distance, I could hear the giggles of crowds of children as they ran in. Oliver grabbed my hand and darted to the group of boys just by the flower patch.

"Piko!" Oliver called. A girlish boy, exotically white-haired and with eyes blue and green, turned to us. He smiled when he saw Oliver, then turned to me with a good-mannered puzzled expression

"Who's this?"

Oliver giggled and grabbed my arm close, "This is Rinto. I met him in Tokyo."

"Tokyo?! Eh?!"

"Mhm." Oliver nodded, "I got lost. And he brought me here."

"That's nice." He turned to me and held out his hand, "Nice to meet you, I'm Piko."

"Rinto," I nodded.

It wasn't long before the group finally agreed on a game: hide and seek. "The arena will be the whole town!" One boy exclaimed. Heads then nodded in agreement while I stood there still, pleasantly surprised.

Another with spiky black hair came up to me. "How about you be 'it'?" He offered, "since you're new here and all."

Should I? I looked to Oliver, who returned my gaze with expectation. With little hesitation, I agreed with a nod and started counting. "One." The cheery, fleeting sound of pattering feet broke out. "Two. Three..."

...

I opened my eyes, then I shouted the chant as I fought to remember it, "ready or not, here I come!"

I felt regret build up inside me when I turned around however; nobody, nothing was there in-sight. It was empty for as far as my eyes could see. How long would it take for me to find them?

I ran back to town, looked left and right at every opportunity, thinking of places where they could hide. I checked behind trees, doors and ledges... Nobody.