Yu Yu Hakusho: Sakura-Hued Neighbor, the Fox Spirit and the Childhood Friend Chosen by Fate

Seven-year-old Hoshino Sakura is the most beloved little princess of the Genji Group.

With waist-length golden waves and ocean-blue eyes, she is as beautiful as a delicate doll. But because she has been frail since childhood, she has spent most of her life at her grandfather Gen Kazuya's villa, growing up under the protection of her family, maids, butler, and private tutors. She receives a proper young lady's education and training as an heir to the Genji Group. She is smarter and calmer than other children her age, and understands the distance between people better, too.

Then one day, she becomes a "Chosen Child" and travels to the Digital World, where she meets her partner, Patamon, who loves to cuddle, loves snacks, and always calls her "Sakura."

Patamon's arrival gradually brings the once shy and quiet Sakura out of her shell. It also gives the Hoshino family another special member to dote on as their youngest child.

Later, the Hoshino family moves in next door to the Minamino family.

That day, Hoshino Lily, Hoshino Yuji, and Hoshino Yo take Sakura to visit their neighbor, Minamino Shiori. There, Sakura meets seven-year-old Minamino Shuichi for the first time.

Short red hair, green eyes, quiet, aloof, and distant, he seems like a child who has seen through the world earlier than others his age.

What Sakura doesn't know is that the boy named Minamino Shuichi isn't an ordinary human at all.

He is Kurama.

A demon reincarnated as a human child, he hides within a human family. His mother, Minamino Shiori, is the only person who holds a tender place in his heart. He is cold, cautious, and rational toward the outside world, and never lets anyone get close easily.

Until he notices the golden-haired girl who has moved in next door, and the Patamon by her side, whom everyone takes for a "doll," even though it can move, talk, and act cute.

From then on, Kurama begins secretly watching Hoshino Sakura.

At first, he simply thinks she's unusual.

Unusually smart, unusually calm, unusually good at hiding her feelings, and unusually good at keeping people at arm's length.

At school, they become desk mates, walking to and from school together. Sakura is cold and indifferent toward him, and kind to her other classmates while keeping her distance. She thinks Minamino Shuichi is strange, and doesn't like people getting close to her.

But Kurama becomes more and more attached to her.

Then one day, Sakura comes to school with a high fever. Her cheeks are flushed, but her eyes remain cool. When Minamino Shuichi expresses concern, she merely says, "Mind your own business."

But after school, she can finally hold on no longer. She staggers along, her consciousness growing hazy, and nearly falls.

Minamino Shuichi carries her on his back.

Half-delirious, Sakura asks, "Why do you keep meddling?"

The red-haired boy carrying her falls silent for a moment, then replies, "Because I saw a rare cute side of you, and I can't stop worrying."

After that day, their relationship begins to change, little by little.

Minamino Shuichi visits Sakura while she's sick, talks with her, plays games with her, and quietly listens as she tells him about her life at Gen Kazuya's villa. Though she's awkward about it, she blushes and softly says, "Thank you."

Patamon is very wary of all this.

It doesn't like Minamino Shuichi, always feeling that the red-haired boy will steal Sakura's affection from it. It deliberately cuddles in Sakura's arms, sneaks her snacks, and gives her the silent treatment when she scolds it. But whenever Sakura is in danger, it's always the first to rush to her defense.

As time passes, Sakura and Minamino Shuichi gradually become more than neighbors and desk mates. They become true childhood friends who are close to each other.

Once they know each other well enough, Kurama finally admits to Sakura that he is a demon.

He expects her to be afraid, to question him, or to pull away.

But Sakura merely looks at him calmly, then smiles and says, "I see. That's not so strange, because I'm not an ordinary human either."

Her overly calm reaction makes Kurama feel dissatisfied for the first time.

He realizes that Hoshino Sakura is even more mysterious than he imagined.

And his feelings for her have long since gone beyond those of an ordinary friend.

But Sakura is slow to recognize her own feelings, and continues to regard Minamino Shuichi as an important friend. She never realizes that Kurama is secretly in love with her beneath his calm expression.

Later, Sakura is kidnapped by human traffickers.

Patamon and Kurama rush to save her. In the midst of the crisis, Sakura picks up a knife and cuts off her beloved golden hair to keep Kurama from getting hurt. Her waist-length hair falls to the ground, but she only smiles and comforts the guilt-ridden Kurama: "Short hair is so much easier, anyway. I've always wanted a new hairstyle, but my family wouldn't let me."

From then on, Kurama becomes almost obsessively protective of Sakura's hair.

He helps her grow it long again, and doesn't like anyone touching her strands, because his favorite sight is her with her long hair loose, standing quietly in the sunlight.

This is a story about a seven-year-old red-haired boy and a golden-haired girl, from neighbors and desk mates to friends and childhood sweethearts, and then through a long, unrequited love and a bond forged by growing up together.

They go to school together, walk home together, and share the little awkward moments, secrets, dangers, protection, and tenderness of childhood.

Little by little, Kurama learns to cherish someone in the human world.

Little by little, Sakura learns to let go of her distance and make room in her heart for the red-haired boy who always seems cold but protects her.

Only she doesn't know yet.

The Minamino Shuichi who has walked home with her since they were seven fell in love with her a long time ago.

Premise: A Kurama story