It Had To Be You (Kirishima Ikuya X Reader)

Chapter 5

It was a chilly morning.

Hiyori walked with his umbrella in hand and stops once he finds a playground in the distance.

He stares at the slide and starts to recall some memories.

Hiyori played in the sandbox, trying to construct a sandcastle.

"Hey, who are you? Where do you live?" A young girl with pink rain boots asked a younger version of Hiyori.

Hiyori hesitated a bit.

"Um.." Hiyori managed to say.

"I asked you a question!" The girl sighed.

"Tomo-chan, let's play house." Some girl called.

"Okay." The girl, 'Tomo', then made her way to her friends.

When I was a kid, I always found myself alone.

"Oh, Hiyo-chan, you're playing alone?"
"Both your parents work, don't they?"

"Look at you waiting for them by yourself."

"What a big boy!" Some mothers cooed.

The young Hiyori gave a nervous smile and clutched his jeans.

The truth was I hated being alone, but I always wore a smile.

Hiyori sat on the floor, drinking some milk in his house.

"I'm really sorry. Both your father and I have to work this Sunday. Hiyori.." Hiyori's mother told.

"It's okay." Hiyori gave a hesitant smile as he held onto his glass of milk with a tight hold.

I had to keep smiling. I wanted to be the kind of kid that grown-ups would like. So, I acted the way I thought was necessary to do that. Being with others made me forget the role I was supposed to be playing.

Hiyori swam in the pool, feeling free.

But, when I was in water, I could feel who I was in a way I couldn't elsewhere.

Hiyori rose to the surface of the pool and sighed.

"Hey." A voice chirped.

Hiyori's eyes widen as he turned away a little and gasped.

Hiyori saw a boy with red-brown eyes. He had teal colored hair, under that swim cap.

That was where I met Ikuya.

"You're really good at swimming." Ikuya smiled.

"Oh..Um.." Hiyori didn't know how to reply.

"Let's swim together!" Ikuya held out a hand and gave a wider smile.

Hiyori's eyes tremble a second before his lips broke into a beautiful, genuine smile.

"Okay." Hiyori then accepted Ikuya's hand.

And that was the day I learned how to smile again.

Ikuya swam in the university's provided pool as Hiyori timed him.

"Was my time worse?" Ikuya asked as he got out.

Hiyori said nothing.

"My freestyle was lousy today." Ikuya told as he removed his swimming cap and goggles.

Ikuya then walked to the locker room, leaving a worried Hiyori behind.

Ikuya changed into his clothes in the locker room. He closed his locker only to find Sagae Shin and Terashima Koutarou.