𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅𝐅. furuya satoru

chapter 6: selfish

( please click on the comment section in this line for content warnings that might serve as spoilers)

Alternate Title: I wanted to go to Inashiro too.
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Hazui Tadanori, Winter Break of the First Year

"Oh. Tadanori."

It was one of the coldest day winter could offer the bustling city of Tokyo. Tadanori had three layers of clothes on him—a warm sweater, a jacket, then a woollen coat—and on top of that a large red scarf hiding his nose and mouth, though the outfit didn't really help and he was left still shivering even when standing in line waiting for his turn in the crowded fast food place. Tadanori was always a summer child, he had always loved the summer heat the bristling wind carries and the feeling of sweat rolling down his back. Though it was unbearable at times, it was nothing compared to the god-awful cold nipping on the back of his neck.

His hand was busy holding the evening newspaper, trying to figure out the answer to all the crossword puzzle questions so he could fill it in later and maybe win something in return, and his other hand were wrapped around a boy's, much younger than he was though he had been mistaken for a ghost of Tadanori's younger self at times. They have the same dirty brown hair and the same frown on their lips, as if scowling at everyone who sees them. The only thing that sets them apart was their height, the scar on Tadanori's left eyebrow, and the boy's blue eyes instead of Tadanori's green ones.

Winter break was almost over, it was the day after new years and little Hazui Takayoshi had spent the entire new year's evening whining and begging Tadanori to take him out to play some catch ball. Tadanori refused, it was freezing outside and he would rather prefer doing some indoor exercises like maybe going on the treadmill or playing shogi ("But those aren't exercises!" "They are, Taka." "You're so boring!"). A sob slipped out of Taka's quivering lips and a glare from his father was enough to make Tadanori promise that he was going to bring him to his favourite fast food chain the next day.

It has been so long since Tadanori had spent time with his younger brother that he had forgotten how fun and freeing it was hanging around someone without the fear of being a burden. They left the house early in the morning—Tadanori suggested that they walk but Taka wanted Tadanori nii-chan to drive him with the car, in the end they settled for the bus, Tadanori explaining that the police will come after them seeing how he was without a driver's license.

The brothers walked around a shopping mall that was still high in the Christmas spirit with red and white decoration all over the place, though no Santa's were found (much to Taka's dismay). Tadanori let the festive spirit get into him and even bought Taka a brand new pair of shoes, one as red as a fire truck with black lines going around the edges of the otherwise white sole, and a baseball cap with the Yakult Swallows logo on it, promising that he was going to buy Taka a jersey of his favourite player when he has the money. Tadanori also went to one of his favourite bookstores, looking to buy some word puzzle books but remembered that the only reason that they were going out that day was so that Taka could eat his favourite burger and fries, so that was when he decided to get the evening's newspaper and the one printed earlier that morning.

Taka called him a 'freak of nature' when he didn't take his scarf off as they entered the busy fast food restaurant, causing Tadanori to smack him on the back of his head with his newspaper, asking him where he learned that phrase and that he should never use it, especially to anyone older than him. After a small yet intense glaring battle, Tadanori pulled his gaze away to focus on the puzzle at hand and Taka grumbled, despite so, the eight-year-old wasn't able to hide the glistening happiness on his eyes as his knuckles turned white, gripping the paper bag that was holding his brand-new shoes.