Kitagawa pov:
Kitagawa Marin's pov:
It was her first day in kindergarten, and she could barely contain her excitement. She tugged at her frilly pink bag, the one with sparkly hearts and little anime charms hanging of the zipper. Her blond bangs danced with every bounce of her step as her mother led her into the cheerful school gates. Everything was bright, colorful, and bustling with tiny voices. Marin's eyes sparkled at the possibilities.
"You're going to make lots of friends today," her mother had whispered with a kiss on her head.
But as Marin scanned the classroom, something tugged at her attention-an unfamiliar face sitting quietly at one of the low tables. He wasn't like the other who were laughing or chasing each other around. No, this boy had a calm expression, his eyes focused on the crayons in his hand. He strokes were steady, not messy like everyone else's. Marin found herself staring.
He was drawing.
Not scribbling. Actually drawing.
she shuffled over slowly, curious.
"whoa! You can draw?! That look so good!" She asked, peeking over his shoulder.
The boy glanced up. his eyes were sharper than she expected--quiet but aware. Like he saw more than she did.
"I'm Marin! Kitagawa Marin! What's your name?"
"Haruto, Kenziu Haruto" he replied.
"Nice to meet you, Haruto-kun, you're kind of quiet huh?"
He didn't answer, but she didn't mind. Marin had never needed permission to be loud.
She plopped down beside him without asking, legs crossed, arms behind her head as she stared at his drawing.
"That's so cool. You're Like a mini-artist or something! I can't draw like that all. My dos always end up looking like potatoes."
"Do you draw anime too?" she asked. "I like magical girl stuff! and horror stuff too! But not at the same time 'cause that's scary. She likes to watch horror movies when her parents present there but she can never watch those scary things, she know that very well.
"I don't draw anime," He replied quietly. "But i can try ."
I overjoyed and replied ,"yess! you gotta draw a magical girl someday, okay? Maybe I'll wear a costume and pose for you!"
Later, while the teachers were singing silly group songs [off-key, but fun!]. She glanced at haruto. He was trying mouthing words, moving his hands. That made her smile. He wasn't like the other boys who yelled or ran around like wild pokemon. He was different, maybe slightly interesting, if he had liked magical girl then i would have make him mine best friend instantly.
At snack time, she reached into her bag and offered him half her strawberry-flavoured biscuit. "You like these? they are my favourite."
He looked surprised. Like no one had ever shared snack with him before.
"Thanks" he said, super soft.
She grinned "That's what friends do, right? share snacks"
Friends.
She didn't know why that word felt kind of heavy when he heard it, but she let it go. Marin wasn't into heavy stuff. She was all sunshine and sparkles. And right now? She had a mission[mission impossible].
When the teacher said to pair up for painting, she didn't even ask-just grabbed his hand.
"We're partners! you'll draw, and I'll paint okay? i suck at outlines, but I'm great at colors!"
He hesitated, but didn't let go. That was enough.
Together, they made a picture of s magical girl under cherry blossoms. Pink petals, swirling spells. She declared proudly, "She's me!" and pointed at the girl in the picture. "You made me look cool!"
Haruto just nodded, then said something that made her insides melt a little.
"You are.. kind of cool"
She blinked. Her eyes widened, no one had ever said it to her like that.
"Aww, you're sweet when you talk. You should talk more, haruto-kun!"
When the day ended, she watched him walk off with his mom. But he looked back-just a bit-and waved. She waved both hands like crazy.
Maybe he'd be the first real friend here she made.
And if not?
On the walk home, Marin skipped beside her mom, practically vibrating with excitement.
"So? How was your first day?" her mom asked, glancing down with a smile.
"AMAZING," Marin beamed. "I made a new friend and he draws like a manga artist. Seriously like, swoosh swoosh, and suddenly there's a picture of me in magical girl costume!"
Her mom chuckled. "That's great Marin. What's his name?"
"Kenzou Haruto-kun!" she announced proudly. "He's quiet, but in an anime-cool kind of way. Like, if he were on a show, he'd be the mysterious boy with hidden power or something."
"Oh really?" her mom teased. "And did you talk to him entire day?"
"Yup! I gave him one of my strawberry biscuits too--because magical girls always share with their party members."
"Obviously! He even drew magical girl picture of me!" Marin twirled dramatically on the sidewalk.
Her mom reached out to steady her mid-spin. "Careful, superstar, sounds like you had a sparkly day."
"The sprawliest!" Marin declared. "And tomorrow. I'm bringing him some manga and magical girl reference book. Just in case he wants to draw more."
Her mom laughed, ruffling Marin's head. "Well, sounds like you found your artist. Just don't scare him off with too many sparkles at once."
"No promises," Marin grinned. "But I'll try."
Haruto Pov:
The quiet hum of evening settled over house as Haruto sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, pencil on the hand, eyes fixed on the finished sketch in front him. A magical girl...with golden twin tails, ribbons swirling like shooting stars, and a wand that looked too big for her tiny hands. But the most striking thing? it looked just like her.
It was Marin, her grin, her sparkle. Just... a little more magical.
Haruto's pencil paused. He'd never drawn something like this before. Not for someone else. Not based on someone else. And not while sharing strawberry biscuits under soft sunlight.
He gently set the sketch down."Haruto, dinner's almost ready," his Mother called from the kitchen. "Okay," he said, rising to his feet.
From the living room, his father's voice filled the air - deep and relaxed. Souta was off the phone now, laughing lightly at something Miyuki said as they set the table together. That warmth- it always caught Haruto off guard.
Dinner was served. Miso soup, grilled salmon, and simmered vegetables. Simple, homely. The kind of Meal that Made you feel. seen. "So," Souta asked, glancing over his chopsticks, "how was your first day of kindergarten, Haruto?"
Haruto blinked. The question hit a Little deeper than it should have. In his past life, no one asked. Not like this.
"It was nice," he said. "I Made a friend."
"Oh? That's wonderful," Miyuki chimed in. "Boy or girl?" "Girl," Haruto said, glancing down at his rice. "Her name's Marin. She loves
Magical girls. so we drew one together."
Souta raised an eyebrow with a warm Smirk. "You drew a magical girl? That's new.
Haruto gave a soft smile. "It ... kind of Looked Like her."
That Made his MOM chuckle, and his dad's smirk turned into a full grin. It wasn't teasing - it was just amused. Interested. Happy. As the clinking of bowls and light chatter filled the room, Haruto found his heart unexpectedly full.
In his last life, Mealtimes were silent. Here, they felt like stories.
Maybe tomorrow, he'd draw a new pose. Maybe Marin would like it.
Maybe.....he liked this.