Nicknames

Ryuji shuffled towards the shoe locker once the school bell rang, alone. There was no afterschool binding practice because Yukiharu-san and Fuyuki-san had gone early home for family trip for the Golden Week, and Natsume-san is on cleaning duty.

Classmates spill past him, excited voices about the Golden Week clamors. Their shoulders almost brush against him, almost becoming an invisible.

Ryuji sighed changed his shoes and shut the locker door. Going back home meant seeing his parents and families. It also meant going back to how things were. Unseen. Ryuji wanted to spend time with his study group, doing things outside of school. It was expected, everybody has their own family to spend time with.

"Ryukin," He heard Natsume-san's playful voice. She was already on his side with her signature pose - finger resting on her mole. He didn't have time to process other than the image of a humped back goldfish. She was already changed her shoes and was ready to go. "Going home alone?"

"Don't you have cleaning duty?" Lucky her, she only gets to do it for today.

"I traded with Macchi for next week." He stared and before he could think. "I couldn't let Ryukin go home alone before the Golden Week."

He blinked. "Excuse me?" She did call him Ryukin, a gold fish.

"Machida-san - that's her nickname." she added casually. "Come on let's go."

Her words were ordinary and casual, but they felt like an invitation out of the blue. Ryuji had no reason to decline and tugged along by her gesture.

- - -

Ryuji never spent time with Natsume-san alone, let alone walking home with another girl. The walk was silent and Natsume-san must have felt awkward too. Both looked straight on and glanced at each other every few steps.

The slow walk down the avenue stretched the awkwardness. Late-spring heat made the asphalt shimmer - the school uniform was surprisingly cool and comfortable despite looking like a shrine maiden at a distance.

He wondered why she called him that - a hunched goldfish. It can be cute, but that isn't something he wanted to be linked with. A little pet in a glass bowl. The thought made him to straighten up his posture.

"Ryukin, are you okay?" She finally broke the ice. There it is again, maybe this is how Fuyuki-san felt whenever she calls him Ko-chan. At least it's not a goldfish.

"Ribs still hurt," He answered, "From the fight."

She made a face, "I never got to thank you for that." She brightened up. "You're a life saver Ryukin!"

"You're welcome." His lips twitched. The way she said it felt almost affectionate. But more like calling her pet.

"Then hope you don't mind the slow walk to the konbini, I'd like to reward you for your good deeds."

He didn't want to sound dismissive. "Sure, but can I get a different one?"

Natsume-san hummed and looked at Ryuji when they reached the konbini's entrance, "Reward or Ryukin? Sure, let's do that after you pick your reward."

- - -

The automatic door slid open as they excited the store. She had melon milk with a straw and Ryujin with a cold can of coffee. They ambled over to the riverside park. The bench by the playgrounds were inviting the two to sit and brainstorm for a new nickname.

"Okay, let's try some," she said, a twig in one hand and drink on the other. "How do you write your name again?"

"Dragon's path." Ryuji answered in writing, taking a sip from the cold can. The bittersweet taste and aroma hit the spot.

Natsume-san hummed and nodded, straw in her melon milk carton. She then wrote dragon several times. "Ryu-chan is cute. Tatsu...chan, Tacchan."

Her eyes fixed on the letters, it was somewhat embarrassing - it felt like she was scrutinizing his identity and reconstructing it.

"How did you come up with Fuyuki-san's name?" He wanted to divert the attention from his name.

"When we first met, Hana-chan called him koitsu - this guy - when we were kids. I thought that was his name and called him Ko-chan. The name got stuck." Her eyes still on the names and tried different variations. Ryu-chi, Tattan and Ryu-tan. She scratched them out.

Yes, I share your irritation Fuyuki-san. Who wants to be reminded as this guy?

"How long you've known Hana- Yukiharu-san?" He asked.

"As long as I can remember," she said. She watched him for a beat, then cocked her head. "Why need help getting more of her attention?"

"Feels like she's avoiding me since the fight, like I'm invisible again." Ryuji scribbled on the ground. Minato-Minato; unseen Minato.

Natsume blinked, then laughed. "That's a good one." Her laugh faded quickly. "But that's really mean."

She scooted closer, a waft of her shampoo tickled his nose. She wrote slowly and clearly. Minato Minato - Everyone's Minato.

"I think she's having a hard time dealing with you is all." He expression was neutral, and flat tone. "People call her Yuki-hime because they only see her cold calm expression. Once you get to know her and she gets to know you - you can really feel she has a warm heart. I call her Hana-chan because she's pretty on the outside but also the inside."

Both stared at the list of new candidates for Ryuji's nicknames and in silence. Natsume-san looked lot more mature right now and he appreciated her putting in the effort to pick out a new nickname.

"Minato-Minachi" She returned to her bubbly tone after adding the chi at the end of the name. Then put a circle and a star around it, doodling over unseen Minato.

"You're everyone's Minachi," she said. "We all see you clearly."

Then she looked at the other list she was working on then circled another one. Tacchi.

"Tacchi." She tapped his shoulder and the touch felt more than the words. "It sounds like touch in English." She tapped again.

"Which one would you like?" she asked.

"I'll let you decide Natsume-san." He mildly regretted saying it. She might go back to Ryukin.

She puffed her cheeks, "If I'm going to call you Tacchi then you should call me Sayuri-san."

So that's what she's deciding. Ryuji let out a sigh of relief and nodded.

"Minachi, once the finals are done we should all go watch fireworks, the Sumida River fireworks are the best!" She squealed with excitement. "It's months away but I can already smell the Takoyaki and candy apple." She flicked off the twig to the bush nearby and tossed the empty milk carton in the trash bin.

So, which one is she going to call me? He thought.

"Minachi, I have to go home to prepare for family trip. I'll see you once we are back from the Golden Week and then it's off to the midterms we go! Fighting!"

He watched her walk away down the path. He sat there little longer to look at the two circled names. The name Minato felt a little different now. He still had to go back to Chiba for a week but now he felt he's got a place to return to.

As he walked home, he thought about the fireworks and what name Sayuri-san would call him after the Golden Week. Minachi, most likely. Tacchi felt personal and something else lingered the way she said it felt like the name should be used just between the two.