Maru

It had been a few nights since Rick begrudgingly agreed to house him and the girl in Sena’s Flowers. It was a small space, which was fine since it was just the two of them.

The girl had been strong in her pleas to claim the bedroom; however, Rick wasn’t having it.

“The couch is plenty big for you.” He would tell her.

She would pout, yet it was all in vain. After numerous failed attempts, she gave up.

One night, the two were having dinner that Sena had brought over from the local cafe.

As Sena was setting the table, she pulled Rick to the side.

“Hey,” she began.

“Yes?” Rick looked at her.

“Does she really not have a name?”

Rick glanced at the girl and back to Sena.

“Not really…” He mumbled.

245’s words proved to be true. The girl’s papers ended up not having much information on her background, thus no name.

“Aren’t you tired of calling her ‘kid,’ though?” Sena questioned.

“Listen-” Rick huffed.

“What do you suggest I do then?” He asked.

“Well,” Sena began with a big smile.

Rick didn’t like where this was going. Whenever Sena smiled like that, it meant she was up to something. It irked him.

“Have you ever had a pet?”

He looked at her.

“What-”

“Even if you haven’t, there’s always a thrill to giving something or someone a name!” She beamed.

Rick turned to look at the girl, who was blissfully unaware in food heaven. He sighed.

“Do you have any ideas?” Sena frowned.

“But she’s your-” She paused quickly.

Rick raised an eyebrow.

“She’s my...?”

“It’s only right if you name her.” She looked at him.

“Oh, geez, I have to get home!” She cried.

Rick looked around helplessly as Sena waved goodbye to him and patted the girl on the head. He waved back weakly.

As Sena left, he walked back over to the table and sat down.

“Hey-” He began.

“Mm?” The girl looked up with a face full of sauce. Rick chuckled as he grabbed a napkin.

“You-” He paused.

“You don’t have a name that you’re hiding from us now, hm?” He asked, wiping the girl’s mouth.

The girl looked down.

“No...” She mumbled.

“Ah.”

That was all that Rick could manage.

The girl yawned.

“Tired?”

“Mm.” The girl nodded.

“Why don’t we get you to bed then?” Rick smiled as he helped her down from the chair.

They walked over to the couch, and the girl plopped down.

“Guess the pasta wore you out, huh?” He questioned, chuckling in amusement.

“Mm.” The girl looked at him for a second, then looked away.

“Night, Rick.” She smiled gently.

“Goodnight.” He said as he pulled the blanket over her and gave her a quick pat on the head.

*

Rick took out a notepad and placed it down on his desk.

I guess this kid isn’t naming herself. He sighed, opening his phone up to the search engine.

“Alright.” He began typing in the only possible question he could think of.

‘Names for girls.’ He scratched his head and pressed the first website.

‘Annabelle,’ he scrolled. ‘Ashley.’

He scrolled again. None of these names sounded right.

He got to L. ‘Lee, Lindsay, Lori.’ Nope. He then went down to M.

He noticed the section where it told what the names meant.

“That would’ve helped a lot before.” He grumbled. ‘Mari’ nope.

‘Maru.’

He paused.

‘Maru is a great feminine name, meaning gentle.’ The site read.

He then thought back to earlier when she smiled. The girl had a cute yet gentle smile.

“Why not...” He chuckled.

“I guess Maru best suits her.” He yawned, laying his head down in his arms.

*

“Rick, Rick, Rick?”

“Mmm...?” He began stirring.

“Wh- Huh?”

“I told you I should’ve taken the bed!” The girl cried. Rick looked at the clock. ‘8:52’.

Damn it. He fell asleep at his desk and overslept.

“What do you want for breakfast, Maru?” He asked, scratching his back as he got up and stretched.

The girl just looked at him.

“Who are you talking to?” She asked.

“I’m talking to y-”

“Oh!” He exclaimed.

The girl kept looking at him, puzzled.

“Don’t be silly, Maru.”

She still didn’t get it.

“Maru-” He laughed nervously.

Nothing.

“Do you like that name?” He asked.

"Hm?” She looked at him.

“I hope so because that’s your name now, Maru.” He said, ruffling her hair.

She quickly looked up at him.

“Really!?” She exclaimed.

“As long as you like it, why not?” He laughed.

Sena was right. It was much easier to say ‘Maru, please pass the milk’ rather than ‘hey kid, pass it over here.’ Plus, Maru enjoyed her name, so he was relieved.

*

“Maru, hm?” Sena questioned as she looked at her. Maru nodded excitedly.

“Well, I think that name suits you perfectly.” She smiled, looking over at Rick, who in return gave a confident nod.