Chapter Text
Zanka had always been top of his class. Straight As, not a single assignment missing. no tardiness, or detention. Not only that he had joined the Debate Club, to get extra credit for himself. Additionally, ever since he moved in with Enjin and Gris, he was able to do some volunteering work, like; cleaning the beach, upcycling trash, and etc. Kyouka didn’t approve of it but Zanka doesn’t talk about it.
This gave Zanka a boost in his grades, and certificate, additionally this would make him look good in his college application.
Until the bastard Jabber Wonger joined out of nowhere. He started to get higher grades then. Zanka. He came in the middle of the semester and was already climbing close to stealing top 1 from him.
Zanka is determined to surpass this masochist.
—
Zanka eyebrow twitched as he groaned loudly as he clenched his paper, there's no way, there's no fucking way. He got a damn 90% on his chemistry test, then he saw a small glimpse of Jabber’s paper that shows a 100%. He was a bit distracted then saw Jabber again in the corner of his eye and saw the bastard’s toothy grin with his sharp, mocking magenta eyes staring at him.
Zanka gritted his teeth in irritation then shoved the paper into his bag and thankfully the bell rang so Zanka could quickly leave. He carefully stood up and slipped on his forearm crutches, then took his bag and left the classroom as fast as he could. As usual people at the hallway stared at Zanka with those useless pitiful eyes, all they could do was stare at my crippled leg like it was the only thing about him they could see.
In the chaotic hallway of Zanka getting to his locker he spotted Riyo holding a red card in her hands, Zanka went up to her where she was waiting next to his locker. “Whats that?”, he asked curiously while unlocking his locker, the red haired girl looked up at him with a smile.”Rudo is giving out valentine cards to all of us, as a way to show his thanks.”, Riyo explained, Zanka slightly raised his eyebrows as he opened his locker. He never really expected that from Rudo before, “You sure it was Rudo and not his long lost twin?”, Zanka questioned sarcastically.
Riyo rolled her eyes “Oh shut up it’s sweet, you’re just jealous that you haven’t gotten yours yet”, she teased which made Zanka scoff “Like I care”, the lie rolled out his tongue like butter. He hated to admit it, but he kinda did. Zanka opened the locker and found a purple card with a spider lily flower printed on it. Riyo peeked into his locker too and her eyes widened in curiosity “OOOOO.. you got a valentine card, again”, She pointed out as she tried to take it from the crippled. Nonetheless Zanka’s height bested her and he held it up high away from her grabby hands.
After a few seconds she stopped trying to grab it and he finally dropped his arm back down, to take a look at who sent it. However he found that there was no name signed on it, it was just an alias. He looked at it puzzled at the signed alias then suddenly Riyo peeked over his shoulder to see and saw the sign.
“Mankira?”, she said out loud curiously, we looked at each other confused.
Then suddenly Riyo let out a laugh “‘Man killer’? You got a psycho for your secret admirer”, Riyo joked, Zanka scoffed at her laughter as he shoved the letter back into his locker. “More like a fuckin cringe fest, who calls theirselves ‘Mankira?”, he questioned, he took out the books he came for his next class.
Nonetheless he was curious, Who could it be from? He has gotten a lot of valentine cards from all kinds of people the past few years with peoples names signed on it. Not just a straight up alias. Were they trying to toy with Zanka or something?
"You got a secret Admirer", Riys teased with a toothy grin. Zanka rolled his eyes in annoyance . "So what?" if they don't have the guts to talk to me then why should I waste my time on them?" he stated firmly. Zanka never understood secret admirers, don’t you want the person you like to know who they are? It doesn't make sense. Zanka that this person was doing this as a crude joke to get something out of him
Zanka started to walk away with the taps of his crutches following him and Riyo followed. "Oh c'mon, it's cute. Plus, maybe... they're just a bit embarrassed of showing their face” Zanka shrugged "I'm not interested in dating anyway", Riyo checked ashukie and hooked her arm around my left arm where I don’t use my crutches. "Oh C'mon, you should loosen up a bit, even Enjin said so", Zanka huffed, he knew Enjin had always encouraged him to be less uptight and actually have fun instead. However he has a hunch his sister would find out and he’ll get exposed.
"Whatever, these admirers would probably forget and soon will give up anyway when they get bored.” Zanka stated.
Riyo rolled her eyes playfully as she walked to class with him, it was true though, secret admirers never last long. That's probably the only time Zanka will see that card.
—
The bell rang again and it was lunch. Zanka refuses to eat at the cafeteria no matter what and usually eats at the cleaner’s club, which was in a random classroom that not a lot of people use. This is where they mostly plan all their events, make their own equipment, and etc. As soon as Zanka opened the door, he saw some of the members sitting around, Riyo was helping Amo braid her hair with Eishia, Follo was eating a sandwich while sitting with Rudo and Tomme, then Gris and Enjin were discussing something. Follo was the first to notice him, he put his food down and went up to him.
“You need help?”, Follo asked softly as he gestured to his stuff, Zanka knew Follo was just trying to be a helpful friend, but he couldn’t help himself feel irritated by his question. It made him feel incapable of doing something simple like carrying his own things. Zanka shakes his head as he hoists up his books underneath his arm while holding his bento box in his hand that his sister made. “I’m fine”, Zanka stated as he limped toward their table and dropped all his books onto the table and sat next to Rudo. Follo frowned a bit he followed him and sat back on his original seat next to Tomme.
Zanka noticed how Rudo was fidgeting with himself in the corner of his eye before handing over a blue card “Here”, Zanka was a bit surprised, since he almost forgot about it when Riyo told him what Rudo was doing this valentine. He took the blue card from him and calmly read it.
The letter mostly talked about how Rudo was really grateful for Zanka to tutor him and take care of him in school. Zanka wasn’t going to admit it but it was really sweet of Rudo. He settled the card down next to him and looked up at him with a chuckle which caught Rudo and the others off guard “Your handwriting is shit”, Zanka stated sarcastically, there was no bite behind it just some banter. This made Rudo turn pink and grit his teeth “HEY! I worked real hard on it”, Rudo stated, “I bet, when you're writing with your left hand”, this is when the two started to argue about Rudo’s shitty handwriting while Folla was trying to calm them down, and Tomme happily recorded everything on her phone.
Then suddenly Riyo chimed in from behind them “Hey! Zanka actually got a valentine card from some person called ‘Mankira’”, Riyo pointed out, everyone looked towards her confused then back at Zanka “Oh really? Got any clue who it is?”, Enjin asked playfully as he walked towards them.
Zanka’s head practically shot up towards Enjin when he suddenly acknowledged him, then shrugged his shoulders “Doesn’t seem familiar to me”, Zanka told, then Eishia hummed when she heard the name “Sounds familiar to me”, she whispered.
Zanka turned to her curiously “Yeah?”.
Eishia looked up and scratched the back of his neck “Yes… but I don’t remember from where, sorry”, she said softly.
Zanka smiled at her in appreciation “No, it’s fine”, he reassured.
Suddenly the door slammed open and they all turned to the door. There stood the tall senior, with his blonde platinum hair flowing down his chest and his signature orange sunglasses were turned into pink heartshaped ones. “YO, YO, YO, WHAT IS UP!”, he exclaimed with his usual obnoxious voice box. Zanka groaned as he entered, Eishia sighed as she looked at her older brother “August, it’s rude to burst into a room”, she said softly. Enjin turned to him curiously “Whats with the glasses?”, he questioned.
August gave a wide grin “BECAUSE IT’S VALENTINES HOMIE!”, he exclaimed again, then skipped towards Follo and pulled him up from his chair and twirled him around a bit before pulling him in close “And I got something really nice plan out for us”, August said softly then suddenly took out a small box “Also got something for ya!”, August said happily.
Riyo cued “Awww, how sweet”.
Zanka cringed at the display of affection but didn’t say anything. All he knew about their relationship was that they both started to date 2 years ago when they were still freshmen or early sophmores.
“Alright you two, go do your lovey dovey shit in private”, Enjin stated, making a few of the members chuckle. August pulled away from Follo with his smug grin still there, while Follo let out a small chuckle with a tint blush still on his cheek as he nervously took the present from August’s hand. Then opened it, he gently pulled out a necklace that was inside and August wrapped an arm around his shoulder then put his weight on him.
“Of course made by me with all my love, just for you!”, August told happily, Riyo and Amo awed out loud at the back of the room while Rudo shuffled on hisbsear uncomfortable. He wasn't hateful, just wasn't used to the display of affection. As much as Zanka was cringing he was happy for them, especially the girl next to him who was taking pics for them.
Follo inspected it like it was the most fragile thing in the planet, then softly caress the carvings of his name and Augusts’ on the cover before opening it to show printed pictures of them both together.
Follo smiled as he saw the pictures and hugged August “Thank you, this is so sweet”, he said softly. August had that stupid grin on his face as he hugged Follo back “Hell yeah! You know I’mma ALWAYS give my best designs for ya!”, August exclaimed happily.
August helped Follo put the necklace on before sitting back down. Tomme quickly wanted to see the pictures inside and so did the rest. Except for Zanka since he wasn’t interested in the whole fiasco.
Then the door opened and Zanka was the first to notice, a tall dark figure stood there, his skin was a deep rich brown of polished sepia, yet littered with faint scars that practically grew up with him. Those wide dreadful, magenta eyes, struck with insanity to anyone that looks at him with his long locs embedded with gold clang together whenever he moves his head.
“Amo whatchu want for dinner?”Jabber questioned out loud with his eyes on his phone. He finally looked up and saw everyone crowding up on Follo. Jabber raised an eyebrow and grinned “Now what's going on here?”, he asked causally, Follo huffed and quickly closed his locket, Jabber saw it and his grin only widened “Aw how precious, what did your boyfriend put a dick pic there?”, Jabber questioned condescendingly as he chuckled. Follo glared at the taller man, then Zanka stood up and put himself between the two. Jabber raised an eyebrow in amusement, even though the blonde’s maimed leg, he wasn’t going to let a bastard like Jabber look down on his friend.
“Shut the fuck up, Jabber. This doesn’t concern you”, Zanka stated firmly.
Amo turned around towards Jabber and grimaced “That's not very nice Jabber. Cthoni doesn’t teach manners?”, Amo commented, her voice was still her usual childish tone but had that bit of hostility in her tone. Jabber scoffed at her response “Didn’t Cthoni tell you to work on your speaking, seriously. You speaking in third person ain’t cute’, Jabber retorted.
This made Amo fume and grit her teeth, “Your face not cute!”, her voice bursted all the sudden out of irritation. Some of the members were a bit shocked or practically used to it. Jabber huffed with his grin still plastered as he leaned on the door frame clearly belittling her. “Chill out, brat. No need to scream like a damn banshee”, Jabber chuckled as he looked back down on his phone “Now whatchu want for dinner, Cthoni is gonna get some for us”, Amo pouted but went up towards him to see what her options were.
One thing about their family is that they have beef with all of Amo’s family members before she was adopted by them a few months before school started. Nonetheless they didn’t allow her family background to get in the way of being friends with her.
After their short discussion, Amo would go back to the others while Jabber stood there for a bit to text Cthoni before looking up and locking eyes with those brooding blue eyes again of the crippled boy glaring at him. Jabber gave a toothy grin then gave him a wink before leaving to walk down the hallway.
Zanka scoffed “Your brother is such an asshole”, Zanka stated as he sat back down, the others all agreed but Amo stayed silent “Sometimes he’s good”, Amo commented softly, but the others found it hard to believe but didn’t comment any further.
After a minute Riyo went next to Zanka “Sooooo.. Who do you think this ‘MAnkira’ guy is?”, she teased. Zanka simply shrugged.
“ Let it go, Riyo. It doesn’t matter since this is probably the only time we’ll see these cards anyway”, Zanka stated firmly, Riyo put her hands up in surrender as she chuckled.