Chasing a crow's heart

ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ𓄿་༘࿐ ⋆ ˚｡⋆｡°,⭑

You spotted him before he spotted you, Karasu Tabito, darting across the grass with his arms stretched out, chasing after a cluster of crows that had landed near the sandbox. His laugh was bright, unbothered at first, and you couldn't help but think he looked... Well, rather silly. He looked like he genuinely believed the crows might suddenly decide to let him join their flock.

But the birds didn't stay. They scattered up into the sky with a loud bat of their wings, leaving Karasu standing there alone, his shoulders sagging.

You walked closer, shaking your head.

"You're scaring them, dummy," You say, trying to tease and call out his ridicule.

However the look on his face stopped you. His mouth tugged down in a pout, his eyes darker than usual as he watched the sky.

Was he really getting so upset over crows? This boy was full of surprises. You let out a sigh, feeling bad for calling him a dummy.

"They don't like me," Karasu muttered, toes scuffing against the dirt.

"Does it matter what some silly crows think?"

"I don't want them to be scared of me."

"Karasu, crows are scared of all humans, it's just their survival instincts."

Karasu's heart was soft, that you knew from years of friendship. You were in the same class as Karasu, and had been in the same elementary school since you both joined. It was your last year however, and you'd be going to middle school very soon.

For a moment, you didn't know what to say to respond to Karasu's defeated look, he was staring at the ground, biting his lip to block its quiver.. Naturally, you blurted out the first thing that came to mind

"I'll get you one."

His head snapped toward you, messy hair sticking out in the wind.

"You'll... what?"

"I'll get you a crow," you said again, trying to sound serious even though your cheeks warmed. "One that won't fly away. Promise."

Karasu blinked at you, the earlier sadness shifting into surprise, then something warm. A grin spread across his face, not his usual smirk, but something almost shy.

"You can't promise stuff like that," he said, though his voice had lifted, lighter. "What if you break it?"

"I won't, I keep my promises." you shot back, crossing your arms stubbornly.

It really was stupid, promising to get him a crow. You laughed in your head at that thought, but the way Karasu smiled made you feel like sacrificing your life just to see how much brighter it could get if he had an actual, tangible crow.

ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ𓄿་༘࿐ ⋆ ˚｡⋆｡°,⭑

Middle school afternoons had a way of dragging on. Practice ended late, the sun dipped fast, and the air carried that sleepy chill that made you want to walk slower on the way home.

Karasu walked beside you, hands stuffed deep in his pockets, his hair sticking out at odd angles as always. He kicked at a loose pebble on the sidewalk, following its uneven path.

Your friendship had gotten closer, he was now classified as your best friend. You were still, thankfully, by a stroke of luck, in the same class. He was extremely smart for his age, so were you, although you had areas you struggled in, where Karasu would offer to help you. That kind gesture ended up with Karasu at your place often, in the warmth of your room, you'd lay on the floor. Using untouched science papers as an excuse to strike a conversation.
Today was another one of those days as you walked into your room together. You rested on your stomach, lying down, just blankly staring at the paper as if it would magically answer itself.