School photo day was coming, and Isamu wanted to help his best friend, Himari, look perfect.
They had grown up next door to each other, inseparable since childhood. Isamu adored her. He thought Himari was beautiful, sweet, and smart. Isamu had his own strong points Himari admired: specifically, she found him to be servile and useful.
Their homes sat along a quiet road on the outskirts of a small town. With hands-off parents, they were free to run wild in the woods, away from adult supervision.
Summers were spent splashing in the creek and catching crayfish, autumns jumping into leaf piles, winters locked in epic snowball battles. Isamu would pelt Himari in the shoulder with a snowball. She would cry. He would apologize. Then she would return with a heap of snow and dump it down the back of his jacket. From then on, Isamu never hit her with a snowball again--but always let her fill his clothes with snow when she thought it was funny.
When neighborhood kids picked fights, Isamu stood in front, taking the brunt of the bullies’ blows while protecting Himari. When Himari found an interesting looking cave, she made Isamu take a look--always Isamu going in first--that if there were any spider webs they would get in his face, not hers. When it they went on a walk in rain springs, she made him lay down in the puddles, and she would step across his body, protecting her shoes from the mud.
Isamu picked flowers for Himari. In the summer, he stepped into the thistles to collect blackberries and raspberries, bringing them to Himari as little tributes. Sometimes, she made him feed her one by one, like a princess. Which she was.
Himari would pluck the petals off the flowers to see if she should reciprocate Himari’s love. The answer was always, “No.”
She did love him, though. In her own way. She gladly took his service and demanded more from him. He gave his devotion in unlimited quantities. He craved the opportunity to serve her, to make her feel beautiful, special, and relaxed. Just being around Himari was his own reward.
***
“It’s school photo day tomorrow,” Himari announced. “Let’s take a picture together.”
“Really? You want me in your picture?”
“Of course! Why wouldn’t I want a picture with my bestie?”
Himari’s words made Isamu blush.
“What should I wear?”
“Just your usual stuff. It doesn’t matter what you wear. What matters is what I wear.”
“That makes sense, Himari.”
“Come with me after school. We need to find a dress. You’d help me buy it, right?”
Isamu glanced at his wallet. He was saving up money for a new video game system. But if Himari needed a new dress, that was more important.
***
Himari spent hours after school trying on new dresses, and Isamu carried them all around the store. In the end, she settled on two new dresses and matching shoes. Isamu paid for the more expensive outfit. By then, Himari was exhausted
“I don’t have time for homework,” Himari sighed. “But we’re in the same math class... You’d fill in my worksheet for me?”
She looked at him with impossibly sweet, irresistible eyes.
“Of course,” said Isamu. “It’s always my pleasure to help you.”
On picture day, Isamu was running on little sleep. But it didn’t matter--Himari was well-rested, and she was the one who was choosing the poses. When the flash went off, Isamu was right where he belonged...