Hello sunshine!

Chapter 1: Sunny, but cold

"Hello sunshine!"

He took his eyes off the book he was reading. That troublesome woman again. If it hadn't been for her he would have been sitting in the comfort of his office. Drinking delicious tea.

Naru made a gruff sound, which made her laugh.

Somehow Naru had managed to get himself injured during a case. Madoka just happened to be there. He hadn't the faintest idea what happened while he was unconscious. Evidently Madoka was told that he didn't look very healthy so she allowed him to check his blood. The doctors told her that he was suffering from low vitamin D levels. Their advice was to let him sit in the sunlight more often. Apparently it would take months of sun exposure to get it to a normal level. Naru suspected they didn't offer him any supplements, because he was also in need of a 'tan'.

Naru agreed that the low vitamin D levels weren't very healthy and would eventually prove to be disadvantageous to his body.

So, fine.

In that case, he would sit in the sun more often.

Or so he thought.

Madoka had argued that his habits never changed. Simply opening a window in the office wasn't enough for her. He would have to sit in the park.

Or so she thought.

"So you came after all," the above-mentioned person said.

Naru replied with a scoff, "I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

Madoka laughed.

"Your parents will be very happy to hear this."

To be perfectly honest, Naru never expected Madoka to force him outside - in the cold - at the behest of his parental units. They were always overly concerned with his health. For that reason he shouldn't be surprised that she told them he didn't try to expose himself to the sun more often than usual.

(Usual equals to twenty-four-seven in the office and apartment minus the cases.)

"I suppose they will. They keep treating me like a child."

"Well, you are a child."

"I'm twenty, Madoka."

"It's not all that much in their eyes," she said, and looked around, "Is Yoyogi park to your liking?"

"...it's busy."

Some kid threw a ball at his face a couple minutes ago. That didn't make Naru very happy.

"Oh, it's not all that bad. Just wait until the cherry blossom season comes around."

No.

No!

Naru wanted to avoid the cherry blossoms at all costs.

Madoka sat down next to him beneath the barren tree.

Curiously it was the only tree in the park without fresh green leaves growing on it at this time of the year. However, it was also the only tree in the entire park that had no obnoxious people hanging around it.

Except that not long after he had settled down an elderly lady had approached him with a distraught face and had looked at him as if he was her long lost grandchild. 'You had better sit in another place. Something might happen!' she had sobbed. He had tried to ignore her, but she persisted in a high-pitched voice, 'Rumour has it that anyone who sits beneath this barren tree will see a ghost or be cursed in one form or another!'

Naru had frowned and politely told her to scram if that rumour held any truth. The elderly lady took his advice and hurried away. Apparently she had not noticed she had been standing underneath the barren tree while she was talking to him.

Alas, he had not observed any paranormal activities so far and passed his time reading a book ever since.

"So, how was the trip from the office?"

"Subway was crowded."

There was a lot of space, but some stupid salary-man fell asleep on his shoulder. Almost, drooling. Thankfully Naru had to get out on the next stop.

"Oh, you took the subway? You should have taken a walk. It's not that far."

A twenty minutes walk!

"I doubt it makes a difference in the amount of exposure to the sun..."

"I wasn't talking about that. You need to exercise too," Madoka said with an insistent voice.

He was inclined to agree, but Naru wouldn't go as far as to admit the sad truth.

"Hm," he said and looked away from her.

Madoka looked up at the tree, but she made no mention of its atypical features. Naru returned to his book and turned a page. It caught her attention immediately.

"What are you reading?"

"Heart of darkness by Joseph Conrad," Naru said and glanced back at her.

She pulled a bitter face.

"That's not very uplifting, is it?"

"No, it isn't."

"Why are you reading that on a sunny day like this?"

Naru didn't answer her. He once read it for school, but it was one of those novels he never managed to finish due to its content. It didn't interest him. At all. Nonetheless he wasn't one to leave things unfinished. Not to mention he needed something to pass time while he was in the park. Above all it suited his current mood.

"Oh! I have something that would cheer you up!" she suddenly chirped, and opened her bag, "Have some tea!"

She pushed something cold into his hands. Naru grimaced at a can containing chilled green tea, but she failed to notice his disapproval and merely smiled.

"Are you going to check on me every time I come here?" Naru asked, opening the can.

She shook her head.

"No, but someone else will do."

"Who?"

Madoka held a finger in front of her lips.

"That's a secret."

Author's notes

So yeah, this is the start to what will most likely be a low-priority series of (mostly humoristic) drabbles. There is one self-imposed limitation. It will only take place in Yoyogi park. Okay, that sounds boring, but anything can happen in a park right? Also, I don't know how long this will run. I have vague plans, but things such as plot and ratings are not set in stone.