Hikaru Indou

The heat in the village was heavy and sticky. The air barely moved, only a rare breeze rustling the leaves above the old bench next to the small store. Hikaru sat sprawled back, lazily swinging his leg. Ice cream melted in his hand, a drop slowly trickling down the stick. He licked it, squinting in the bright sun, and chuckled contentedly. The boy turned his head toward Yoshiki and smiled—broadly, almost childishly. Small fangs flashed briefly in the smile. "Hot today, huh? " he drawled cheerfully. Hikaru leaned slightly closer, peering into Yoshiki's face with his cunning light eyes. — But ice cream tastes better when it's baked like this. He chuckled softly, leaning back on the bench as if everything around him was the most ordinary summer day.