Chapter Text
The light filtering through the windows on the back wall of the classroom begins to wane. A bell rings, echoing through the falls. A quick wave, and then a trickle of students leaving as they begin to head home.
It’s a novel experience, sitting around as others leave, rather than actively pursuing anyone I see. I trace Susie’s path, her steps hasty as she exits the room. I almost follow after her, but that will be for another day, for I have a new objective today.
Step by step, I follow Kris. Their demeanor has hardly improved since the classroom. I wanted to see where Susie would go next– However, one mission at a time! Or, well. Technically, I haven’t finished helping her either, so I’m doing missions out of order. HOWEVER, I really wanna see what’s happening with Kris, so that first.
We reach the wide section of the checkered hall, and Kris turns to the massive doorway with a squeak of their shoes on the polished floor before pausing as a voice calls out and quickly closes the distance.
It’s that lady from before! Still adorned in that same excessive amount of purple and that nice pendant. She was fussing over Kris earlier in the classroom; perhaps she’s here to do so again?
“Kris! It is good you are still here! Is your arm doing any better?”
Kris shakes their head quickly. A worried expression shows on the woman’s face. That was a rapid response. Didn’t even respond verbally like during class. I suppose a burn that bad doesn’t have much uncertainty in its condition that would require talking.
* “Just want to make sure. You are going to head to the hospital, right? You need to keep those bandages very clean, so I have read.”
Kris clears their throat and scratches at it as they produce a response.
* “I wrapped these bandages this morning, they’re fine. Carol even made me wear this annoying cast.”
The woman pauses for a moment, a flash of something indiscernible crossing her expression.
* “Yes. Carol. Her. It is good she made you wear that, so it is best you not disturb it! I implore you to change those bandages frequently! We need it as clean as possible!”
Kris looks off to the side and makes a silent sigh. They don’t look particularly annoyed at this interaction, however. Though I’m not too knowledgeable on the subject, I hope Kris listens to her. Healing is important! Something strikes me as odd about how she reacted to that name, though.
* “…It’s fine, mom. I only need to change them daily. Replacing the cast is a pain too. You know, I’m not even sure if this type of wound is supposed to have a cast.”
The woman, who I now know to be Kris’ mother, is unimpeded by this pushback, pressing her doting regardless. She sure is persistent. I suppose that must be how a mother is, given I haven’t really seen this sort of behavior before. Then again, not like I've seen many people. Kris did seem to mention being similarly hassled by that Carol lady. Maybe she’s Kris’ mom too?
* “Alright then, Kris. I will give you some snack money if you promise to visit the hospital today, alright? I know you do not like the cast, but it is better you are not capable of pranking while you recover, or you might injure it more!”
The tall lady pulls Kris into a big hug. Their face is flush once more, yet they hug back regardless. I suppose Kris is a bit softer than they seem, though I already knew that given how fervently they wanted to be my friend!
Yet another hug I can’t participate in, I suppose. I pat Kris on the head, grinning while looking at this uncharacteristic scene. I am sure Kris would not want Susie to see this, that’s for sure.
A bit of confusion appears on Kris’ face as they look up at the woman, then the expression is gone in a moment. As the hug breaks apart, they rest their hand on top of their head before bringing it down. I suppose they must not be used to hugs? Or maybe they were shocked by the suddenness?
The woman’s hand grasps Kris’. A look of confusion is unburied. I share this feeling. I wonder what this gesture is supposed to be. Oh!
Kris’ hand is softly opened, a weathered 20 dollar bill is placed within. Their mom gives them a smile and chuckles a bit as she gives them a closing remark.
* “Do not spend it all in one place! Love and kisses! I will see you at home, alright?”
She walks away hurriedly; it seems she must have some appointment. Kris holds the bill out in front of them before shoving it into their pocket. So it was a gift! I suppose that must be exchanged for something then.
Kris pushes the massive doors of the school open, stepping out into the cold air. I rush to follow them. I would rather not be trapped behind those massive doors, after all. I don’t think I could get them open.
We take a right, traveling across the quiet streets of town. Everything is rather spaced out judging by what I've seen so far, the apartments being the only exception. Trees everywhere. I certainly enjoy the greenery. A lot more varied than the systematic flow of the dark. Kris walks past a green building marked ‘Librarby’. Inside, I think I can see that weird bird guy from the school. He seems rather dedicated to whatever he’s doing there, whatever it is. Though a bit rude, I feel as if he is a bit unimportant. My eyes trace an outstretched arm of mine for a moment before looking at the scenery once more.
Kris crosses the street as I follow, a white stone building with a tall set of glass doors coming into sight. Above, red lettering denotes the building as the ‘hospital’. Kris sighs and walks inside. I suppose they must really feel indebted from the snack money.
I slip through the glass doors behind them and look around the room. Sterile. White. Clean. Unused chairs to my flanks and a desk to my front, with a strange person sitting at it who seems to lack eyes, a head composed entirely of mouth. She speaks up in a monotone voice.
* “Oh, you’re back already…
* “Normally we wait longer before replacing the cast…”
Kris’s free hand traces a curve into the air. What an odd way to send a message.
* “Oh! Her. She’s covering it?”
Kris gives a quick nod. She? Oh! Maybe that means Kris’ mom, that sweet lady who wore that pendant! Or maybe that other lady. I guess Kris’ mom is a big worrywart, paying extra just for faster recovery. That’s adorable.
* “Alright then… Recover fast so you can play again…”
* “I can… only put up with a bit more of Undyne’s singing.”
Kris makes an expression I can’t parse. They push through a set of double doors to the left of the desk, and weave through a hallway.
I try to keep up, scuttling after them, but just as I am about to enter another set of doors with them—
SLAM. Click.
Not again! Why does this one have a lock! Now I've lost Kris! Maybe they’ll head back through eventually? Dangit!
. . .
* “Dad! That doesn’t help at all!”
. . .
* (No trace at school.)
Where did that come from?
* (I’ll keep note of reports of strange occurrences.)
I glance around the hallways. Maybe I’ll be able to occupy myself while I wait for Kris. Tracing further echoes of conversation, I find myself at the windows of another set of doors and gaze into the room. Inside, I spot a familiar, well ironed outfit. Noelle? I don’t think she was injured. Adjusting my angle, I see another inside. Visitation then? I suppose it must be boring in those sterile rooms. Unable to interact with anyone. No matter how much you want to.
Beneath a set of covers on a raised bed sits an older deer man. His fur is of a darker shade than Noelle’s, and his combed black hair contrasts her blond. I suppose this must be her father. They really do look quite different, though.
* “Oh, yeah! Kris actually talked to me today! Well, sorta. I started it. But! Still!”
Wait, what? Aren’t they friends? That was a fairly short conversation as is; do they normally last even shorter? I guess Kris must be too busy joking around with Susie. Maybe that could be my next thing, helping that trio integrate as a friend group properly. Wait. Augh! I can’t keep getting distracted! There’s always so many things to think about. Help Kris notice me, then the other stuff. Well. Once Kris is done with that room I’m locked out of, of course.
* “Isn’t that a surprise? Here I thought I’d have to kick their ass. Next time for their own sake, I hope they start the conversation— and not for any pencil related queries!”
Didn’t Noelle offer pencil related help just earlier? I guess I must’ve missed something about it. Kris truly has been set into a trap of pencil derived doom. Noelle gives a wide grin, sitting on the statement for a bit before rebuking.
* “Fahaha! Dad! It’s fine! Plus, I think they’re injured enough! They somehow got burnt frying some food using our cooking oil! They’ve gone so chocolate-starved they’re going after our baking stuff too!”
The man in the bed gives a big ol’ smirk. He sure is like the flower shop guy, both very warm in their demeanor. He gives a falsetto expression of disbelief.
* “Kris getting burnt? Ain’t that a shock. Normally they’re better at dextrous stuff like that. Honed by years of avoiding wiffle bats. I guess C should keep a closer eye when she lets them in, they’re getting rusty! If only I had a bat on hand, we could have a good ol’ training montage!”
* (Where do I search?)
C? Oh! That must be short for Carol! She must let Kris wander about wherever. No wonder the other one with the pendant needs to chase after them to make sure they actually visit the hospital. Carol must not be too strict on Kris. Just as Noelle said earlier, though, they should really share their baking more if they’re going to be sneaky about it. Maybe once we get to meet, we can share some snacks! Interrupting my monologue, Noelle makes a demonstrative gesture of raising her hands in front of her face.
* (Let me handle it, just focus on recovery. It can’t wait forever.)
* “I was kind of surprised, too! They were like, pretty embarrassed though. All mumbly with their face in their hands, so I didn’t really point it out.”
That is true! Kris sure is a silly one with that thin moody shell. I am glad they wanted to meet me, since I really want to see what a prank is like. I still don’t get why they were so embarrassed over messing up baking. I guess normally they must be way better at it.
* “I think the mumbling’s a given with that kid. Hiding their face, though? Must’ve been a real silly mistake that led to the spill.”
Noelle lights up thinking of the sequence of events that lead to it, spinning out the thread of a story to her father.
* “Ahaha! I suppose so! I bet one of those heart plushies must’ve slipped out of their shirt and tripped em’! They certainly like hiding prank material in places where it can fall easily.”
Heart plushies? What’s the point of hiding those in a shirt? Must be some hidden pranking art learned upon a misty mountaintop to be able to make a cute heart scary. Both of the deer monsters seem to get what she means by that statement. I hope I figure it out eventually!
* “Can’t blame Kris! Deploy speed is an important skill! Just like how Mage can cast damage spells way quicker, so you have less wasted turns!”
Okay, yeah, now I am a little lost. Wait... Mage? Didn’t I see that word on Noelle’s phone? Like, next to Dragon or something, with some sort of slash. If only I could ask that man what the meaning of Noelle’s reading meant; he seems to be clued into the definitions if he’s referencing it.
* “I get it, I get it! I’ll bring the game over! I keep forgetting to charge it! I always end up playing it during lunch and it dies! I mean, uh, accidentally leaving it on! Faha.”
Is it some sort of game? Ah, okay, that makes sense. Maybe I can play this Mage/Dragon thing too. I wonder what the rules are. I hope Noelle brings it over to him soon so I can learn the rules! I do wonder how the game itself is out of charge when her phone seems to be just fine. Ugh, this is all confusing. I hope Kris leaves that heavy door blocked room soon!
* “Ah, good, my subterfuge has worked. You’d think they’re trying to get me to die of boredom here!”
I would die of boredom too. At least I can wander around! Noelle responds with a big, affirming nod.
* “Don’t worry, I will! Though I might have to grab some spare batteries another day– It’s getting late and I gotta get back home before the gates are locked!"
* (What if it knows of us. What if it’s laughing.)
That is rather odd. Why would the gate home get locked? What happens if she can’t get in? I hope whoever is locking that gate does so responsibly!
* (Don’t worry. Just focus on recovery. You need to be prepared.)
* “See you around, honey! Make sure you tell your mom to get you a key already!”
Noelle gives a big wave to her dad before hurrying out the– oh wait, nonono!
The door slams into my face. The consequences of eavesdropping. Augh! I fall flat on the floor, wings sputtering uselessly as I tilt over.
* “Alright, dad! Bye!”
Noelle gives another quick wave as she scurries out, hooves clicking on white tile. Meanwhile, I slowly raise from the ground, legs jittering. If only those windows weren’t so tiny! Then I wouldn’t have needed to have been so close!
Noelle is now long gone— click! A door slowly opens, revealing Kris, and it shuts quickly behind them as I catch a flicker of blue cloth behind.
There they are! Now that I think about it, if that was a hallway to elsewhere instead of a room, I would’ve lost track of Kris from all that waiting. Good thing I got lucky! Well, distraction’s complete, so we can finally continue on our quest of trying to meet!
Kris glances back at the door and sighs. They begin to walk down the hallway to the exit.
I follow.