◤ Turbulent ◢ k.bakugo

FOUR

"Where are your parents?"

The girl shrugs, filling her mouth with the leftover teriyaki Mizuki hadn't finished at lunch. The bluenette's eyebrows furrow in dismay.

"How long have you been out here on your own?"

The girl stops chewing for a second before staring into the distance, like she's looking for the answer herself. Eventually, she shrugs again and continues to eat.

Mizuki can feel her heart start to sink. "How old are you?"

The (h/c) takes the chopsticks in one hand and shows five once, then two across her fingers. Seven. She's almost done with the leftovers, and it hasn't been much more than a few minutes. She must've been very hungry to eat that fast.

When she's done, Mizuki takes it again and puts the chopsticks inside before putting the lid back on. She returns it to her bag and puts it back on her shoulders before rising to her feet. She lets out a gentle laugh behind closed lips and holds her hand out to the young girl.

Wide, violet eyes stare up at her like a deer in headlights. She seems curious, yet scared more than anything else.

"Don't be afraid, I won't call the police on you." Mizuki says gently to reassure her. "But, I will be taking you home. Does that sound okay? My parents shouldn't mind you staying with us for a little while. My name is Mizuki."

The girl is apprehensive for good reason. She had just stolen Mizuki's backpack and should have the police called on her. Why was she being so nice all of a sudden and deciding to take her home? Inside the girl's chest she feels a desire to follow her. It's almost as if Mizuki is projecting a light, and she is just a moth traveling to its source.

"I'm...[Name]."

She reaches out and takes Mizuki's hand.

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Hokama Mizuki was your saving grace. The last thing you remember before she found you was your mother taking you to a park one sunny morning and disappearing when you went down one of the tunnel slides. Ever since that day you'd been on your own. You weren't sure how long you'd spent out there in the woods; you'd blocked it out due to the trauma and overlying fear.

There were lots of things to look at as she guided you back to her home. Cars of all colors lined the sidewalks, some pulling up against the curb to park and others pulling away to re-enter traffic. Multiple, if not hundreds of people passed by you and Mizuki. None of them looked at her, a clean-cut ten-year-old with a nicely pressed school uniform. All of them had eyes on you, a scraggly, dirty girl with ripped clothing covered in mud stains so dark they looked permanent. Their gazes were mixed: some looked out of surprise, some were shocked, some curious on why a disheveled child was roaming with a young student. A few even scrunch their noses at you in disgust, like you stunk. You probably do. You don't remember the last time you had a bath.

Their scrutiny makes you cower behind Mizuki. Her white irises glance over her left shoulder at you, and she gives you a comforting smile. Her pale hand reaches for yours and takes it, like she's noticed the people looking at you. She turns back to face forward. You don't notice it since you're walking slightly behind her, but the girl is now watching out for anyone who stares at you.

Suddenly, her cheery voice disrupts the turmoil in your overstimulated head. She's greeting people, commenting on the weather. The second she speaks, they look away from you and right at her. Sometimes they don't even manage to get a proper look at you before she's causing a distraction. Your heart flutters in your chest. Why was she being so nice to you?