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Everything about Raiden's life was a mystery to Kubo, he was always doing some high class thing like a business meeting or organising a party or making deals, and Kubo was usually strung along, to observe what his family’s ‘natural place in the world is’— Raiden's words, not his.
Kubo wouldn’t say he disliked it, Kubo claims to be a social person, and he does enjoy talking to people. But it wasn’t long till Raiden started pulling Kubo into his business get together, work parties, or some other social gathering, and forcing Kubo to interact with whoever brought their kid along. These kids were usually leagues younger than him, he could usually entertain them with his Shamisen, but other times he would get the snobby kids, the ones who let the high class life get to their heads and forget how to be humble.
Though, right now, Kubo isn’t sure what to do. He was coordinated by Raiden to enter the room he's sitting in, what Kubo didn't know was that this was someone’s bedroom, and that someone is sitting on their bed typing something— completely unbothered by Kubo’s existence.
Kubo’s eyes wandered around her room, brightly pink and honestly fancy, with makeup scattered around a lone white desk, Kubo only recognised some— he only ever used eyeliner every once in a while. Her walls contrasted with her posters though, from the designs and fonts Kubo had to assume they were from some sort of metal, punk, or any type of alternative band. Kubo appreciated music similar to the beetles, or just folk punk. But he didn’t dislike metal music. Paired with the metal posters were various musical posters aswell— mainly Hamilton, for some reason. Kubo never saw it before; what caught Kubo's eye was, though, a piano.
“Uh.” Kubo started, and the girl looked up “can I play? If that’s okay.” He gestured to it, and the girl thought for a moment.
“Yeah, of course. I don’t play it at all anymore. I'm terribly sorry for ignoring you, I just— I didn't expect you is all.” She looked tired and honestly angry.
“It’s fine, don’t stress it. Rai—“ Kubo had to stop himself from saying Raiden's name, this person didn't know who Raiden was. “My grandfather takes me too these things all the time whether I want too or-“
“Right?!” The girl perked up, a bottled up anger searing through “my father doesn’t care if I want to have fifty people at my house or not— it’s always business business business.” She started to wear a mocking face.
Kubo got up and treaded towards the piano, and let his hands brush against the keys. He preferred instruments with the similar anatomy of a guitar, but piano was a skill he picked up awhile ago.
His fingers pressed down, and he played a song he memorised awhile go, while my guitar gently weeps by the beetles, he stumbled and messed up a few notes, but he and the girl sat there in silence, enjoying filling up the house with something they actually wanted, instead of something their guardians did.
“Do you want to get out of here?” She said, closing her laptop.
“What?” Kubo stopped, and stilled his hands “…is this a pick up line?”
“What— no! I mean leave the party.”
“…to where?”
“The spirit of Halloween just opened up down the street, my father doesn’t let me celebrate Halloween, and doesn’t let me go to the shop either. It’s better than this.” She gestured to her room, or more metaphorically, her house.
“Hm…” Kubo pondered,
“Oh come on—!” She spotted, flinging up her hands.
“No, no— I'm in, just how are we gonna leave without getting noticed?” A mischievous grin fell on Kubo's face.
The girl grinned back.
The two hatched a plan easily, the only real obstacle was Kubo's grandfather, who kept a sharp eye on Kubo no matter what despite being blind. Winnie’s father wouldn’t notice if Winnie dropped dead and her mother only cared if she looked nice. The two slipped out of the house easily.
As the cold October air hit them as they walked down the streets, the girl realised she had forgotten to introduce herself.
“I'm Winnie, by the way.” She lent her hand to shake.
“Kubo.” He shook it back.