Chapter Text
The stairs the two young brunettes were jogging towards were tall, hard to climb and easily avoidable by taking a slightly longer inclined road that bypassed them. It circuited a lone playground, with a red slid that was abandoned, small swing sets that crackled as they swayed and dump sand that was decorated by a dancer's footsteps early each morning. But the two friends chose to avoid it for once, deciding that concurring the challenging stairs from hell will be a good way to finish their morning jog, promising them a feeling of achievement and some tense shins as they sprint back to their second home.
"Ready?" wondered the younger of the two.
"Ready!" responded the older teen before skipping forward, using the little speed advantage he had over the well-trained mutant to get a head start. But his hazel eyed running partner for the morning was quick to catch up, climbing the stairs two-at-a-time. "No! You can't win!" protested the water and earth bender, causing his psychic and teleporting friend to chuckle, only more confidently taking the lead.
"You are even happier than usual today." He remarked, not as an insult but as a simple observation. "Excited for the first day of school?"
"Very! I really missed everyone and everything! We only got to see each other once and not training felt too strange. I think I even missed the actual lessons!" The other confessed questionably, breathing through his nose and taking the lead away from the class C student.
"That is unlike you, indeed." The observant teen concluded, approaching the end of the nightmarish climb and the main street. "But it was a little strange being without everyone, even for such a short period of time." he admitted, shaking his head when he saw his friend beating him to the end and stepping first on the sidewalk, already taking the right turn to the majestic academy that could be seen in the proximal distance.
"You guys haven't met at all?" wondered the honey brunette, green eyes wide as he looked back at the chocolate haired teen who excused his friend's surprise to the lack of oxygen going to his brain.
"We decided to meet up in class, it was just ten days." He pointed out the reason, not understanding the cause behind the too-knowing hum that he was responded with.
"Ten days you got to spend alone with Tatsumi…" Hoshitani teased with a wink, smiling poutly when the double powered mutant just jogged passed him, looking around blankly like he usually did.
"Why do I feel like you're implying something?" Sawatari wondered back with a tilted head, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards when the earth bender caught up to him with a horrified gasp, noticing one of the neighborhood's residence walking peacefully with his dog right next to them. "Still with the animal phobia?"
"I c-can't help it," he excused, rubbing the back of his neck with a little embarrassed chuckle. The other mutant returned him a small smile that he was delighted by, aware that among their many differences, he and the person he got surprisingly close to were entirely opposite when it came to high spirits and enthusiasm. It was a part of the reason he found Sawatari to be so cool.
"You should consider treating it, with Tavian walking around." The psychic pointed out, looking ahead to the finish line, the main doors of the dormitory building where the rest of their gang snored happily.
"Tavian is nice enough, I even let her touch my leg!" declared the class A student proudly, the other nodding in approval, slightly impressed. "Even Tengenji said that- wait! You are trying to change the subject!" Hoshitani stared back unbelievably at his psychologically manipulating friend who denied the accusations with a firm poker face.
"We should focus on training," he muttered, informing the usually clueless water bender unintentionally that he was right. "I made a mistake by telling you, didn't I?" Sawatari wondered with a shake of his head, releasing his breath through his mouth, pushing his legs to move faster to keep up with the sprinter of the former team Otori.
"No way! You are supposed to tell me, we are best friends!" insisted the optimistic brunette.
"Tatsumi is my best friend." Pointed out the realistic one, not expecting the other to nod strongly in agreement.
"Of course, and Nayuki is mine. But since I'm dating him and you'll date Tatsumi soon, the title should move on!" he voiced his unreasonable reason with charming cheerfulness, causing his adventure-buddy to chuckle despite himself. Hoshitani's bright optimism was a little contagious, but not enough to blind him and confirm the words that were good-intentioned yet too casually said.
The teleporter sighed and shook his head, and the other mutant nodded in defeat, understanding that his daily time to promote his friend to follow his heart was over. He hoped for better luck next time. "And how are you and Nayuki doing nowadays?" the hazel eyed student wondered, satisfied to see the way the smile on the green eyed teen's lips doubled in size with the mention of his boyfriend of two months.
"Great! Nayuki is the best!" he declared, skipping a little as they sprinted down the sidewalk, way beyond the speed of a casual morning jog. Hoshitani truly missed it, the silence the streets surrounding the academy offered in the mornings; when the homey shops were closed off and only single cars passed randomly, the pavement dotted with wet stains caused by the early sprinklers watering the purple and yellow flowers that grew alongside the road… he will never get tired of any of it, especially not of the gated building at the corner of the street, the one only the special people could enter.
"Morning guys!" he greeted the guards as the two of them ran past the gates, their names and entry permission already known to the two security men. "Race you to the dormitory!"
"Got it." the chocolate brunette accepted the challenge. The earth bender already saw his victory as he was still maintaining his speed while his friend was at his limit. But he really should have remembered how high Sawatari was on the list of people not to underestimate.
He was five steps away from the thin blue door, grin wide and feet burning, when a bright golden light blinded him for a moment, followed by the appearance of his best friend, who leaned against the door with his arms folded over his chest and small smile a little smug. "Same time tomorrow?" he wondered, causing Hoshitani to laugh as he caught up to him, finally breathing in properly and leaning on his knees.
"Definitely!" he agreed with happily squinted eyes. "But no powers next time!" he insisted playfully, the other nodding in knowing understanding, opening the door so they can step through it. "let's go wake everyone!" Hoshitani called next, skipping up the stairs with all of his strength rejuvenated once he realized that the time had come to finally start their second year. He just hoped it will be even more amazing then he dreamed it will be.
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Hello there, my little sugar cubes! Here's a quick first post to kick off the new year;
It is I once again, Koumoto Tetsuya, here to reprise my role as the head of the school's blog and bring you the latest and juiciest news of Ayanagi academy! I know, I didn't think they would let me continue either, but since even the principle is a fan, the board decided to keep me online! – So screw you those who complained about my freedom of speech anonymously like cowards!-
Now I'm sure you all had a hard time getting up early for the first day and don't want to come back to the regular school curriculum, but worry not, cause it doesn’t matter what year you are starting today, our school is the farthest thing from regular!
So smile my fellow mutants and hold your head high, there are so many things out there waiting for you!
Comment below and let me know what is the thing that helped you get up and drag your ass to class today :D for me it’s probably the anticipation for the glutton free breakfast pancakes!
The pixie typed the last line of the post with skilled fingers before clicking the post button and closing his laptop. He inhaled deeply, unable to contain his excitement. He glanced up at the round clock hanging above the door of his dormitory room and shook off the nervousness that the first day of school always brought with it.
Koumoto silently got up from his chair and made his way to the full-length mirror he brought with him on the first day of his first year. He fixed his tie carefully and smoothed down his white hair, patting himself on the back for not waking up the lightly-snoring couple that slept peacefully on the bottom bunk. He grabbed his phone and walked out with big strides, after sneaking one last glance out of his room's window to see that the yard was already starting to be filled.
New faces of younger students experiencing everything for the first time, blending in with classmates and second-stage comrades he recognized even from miles away. He took another breath with a smile and flew down the stairs with quick flips of his green wings, exiting the dorm building. Now, I can’t wait for the first day's craze to commence!
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He glanced down at his wristwatch, tapping his foot as he impatiently waited for the dormitory's door to be opened after he knocked on it three times in the last ten seconds. "Ren!" he warned, knowing that the sleepy demon on the other side of the door was deliberately ignoring anyone trying to bother him before the first bell on the first day of school. But as the plant manipulator of the former team Sazanami speculated, his best friend considered him the exception.
"Koki, why didn't you say it was you…" the dark haired student excused as he opened the door, rubbing his admittedly pretty eyes open and still in his sleeping attire of any other season but winter, just his underwear. Nanjo found himself pleased by the sight, and for a moment he forgot the pressing clock. "Sup?"
"The entrance ceremony is in 15 minutes," pointed out the gray haired mutant, entering the room when he was invited, not expecting it to be any different from the way it always was, minus the two other residents who chose to come to the first day of school from their homes.
"So?" wondered the yawning teen, stretching his arms above his head. But he got himself together before the answer came, reminded by the smug raised eyebrow from his best friend that any aspiring student council president cannot afford being late to the glorified entrance ceremony. "On it," he excused with what he intended to be a determined salute, but turned into a wavering wave paired with a deep yawn. He preferred the early rising over everything else that might happen to him if he didn’t attend the first day of school; not only will he be lectured and punished, but it will also mean he will once again be stuck in the front of the class, a place no one but Sawatari voluntarily took. Their literature teacher did have a habit of throwing books at them when they didn't pay attention and he seemed to have painted a special target on Kitahara's horned head.
"Quickly now," his former teammate from class E noted playfully, leaning against the desk and not resisting his urge to slap the demon's ass in encouragement. He always liked it when his all-boy-school partner wore tight things that happened to be white. Kitahara knew that and accepted the compliment, still protesting the unnecessary acceleration with a chuckle and a raised middle finger that the other accepted with a smug smirk.
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"So." He heard a blank voice calling him once more, before becoming aware of the strong grip on his arm shaking him back and forth. The blonde squinted his eyes open to glance at beautiful Majorelle eyes who stared back at him. The intangabilliter smiled gently at the blurry face he saw almost every single day before rubbing his left eye, which was heavy with tiredness.
"Good morning, Ageha." Hachiya greeted, reaching blindly to the nightstand where his glasses were always left. "Did you make it to the library yet?" he wondered, adjusting the brown frame over his nose so he could see the world again.
"It opens up later on Sundays." Ageha informed him, getting up from his spot on the carpet and stretching his arms above his head. "Careful-" he tried to warn when he noticed his roommate was about to get up, but was too late. The blonde sat up casually and bumped his head into the wooden base of the top bunk. "You really are clumsy sometimes…"
"Sorry, I'm getting too tall for the bottom bunk," he murmured to himself, not noticing he caused a soft small smile to stretch on the sonic screamer's lips. "Or maybe because I'm nervous," he whispered but was heard either way.
"But isn't it the same as it always was?" Ageha wondered as the clumsy blonde made his way to the bathroom. He knew without needing to be told that the reason his roommate was nervous on this particular morning was the fact they were about to begin their journey as second years- which to him meant nothing special. "We're still in a tournament and we are still fighting the rest."
"Against our own teammates too…" Hachiya replied, placing some toothpaste on his brush with a little too much concentration. He wasn't ready to think about the day he will be up against his best friend, but sadly it was still approaching him with giant steps.
"If it's what we have to do," Ageha determined in a calm voice, pulling on his school blazer and looking completely unbothered by the matter. Seeing that his best friend was ready to do what it took to get to the top. And as someone whose goal was to help him get there, Hachiya was starting to feel determined as well, if a bit more nervous still.
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The 'bishop's cauldron' guild was just approaching the gate of the deserted fortress, their leader, TheLightningThiefManko (who hadn't choose the stupid name for their admittedly strong group) marched first, shield brought up and emerald sword at the ready, his comrades waiting for his orders. Their surrounding was quiet, almost unnaturally so, which an expert like him knew meant an attack was about to be launched on them. He instructed his mage to stay put and their archer to be ready, the ten of them surrounding their two healers.
The electricity manipulator leaned forward in his chair, shoulders hunched above his laptop and head-set nearly falling off, but he couldn't afford to move his fingers to readjust it in case of a surprise attack.
And indeed, the poisonous trolls weren't ones to linger, showing themselves the moment the guild passed the castle's crumbling bridge in one piece. "Split up!" he yelled to his fellow warriors, dashing forward and slicing through one of the trolls. He used the two seconds he bought himself to take another sip of his coffee can, groaning when he found it to be empty once more. He bravely pressed the space bar so that his heroic character could jump off the bridge to dodge a flying mace, hanging by one of the strong yet moldy vines. He smirked and released a call of victory when he spotted it, a dark tunnel entrance under the bridge, suspicious and misty looking. He suspected that the dark object that had been newly added to the game might not have been hidden in the fortress, but underneath it.
He threw his empty coffee can away; unintentionally making it hit the other fifteen he emptied since he began playing. He called out to his flying hippogriff, so he could get to the cave 500 meters underneath his dangling feet. The beast followed his command and retrieved him. He smirked in reality and in the game as darkness filled his screen, leaving him to stare at nothing for a second.
Actually, it turned out to be more than a second, when he realized that he might have gotten too invested again and forgot to charge his laptop. "Shit!" he cursed loudly, tapping the keyboard to desperately try and wake the machine back to life, but the empty battery could not be healed by any high elfin priest.
He got up from his desk and marched to his bed, angry just from thinking that his game-friends are never going to let him forget it once he logs in next, probably in the morning before school. And I was so close too, he sighed, slouching as he crushed on his bed and allowed a deep yawn to erupt from his soul. Note to self, never play with a battery, and always plug the laptop's cord to the socket. He yawned again, deciding to just accept his defeat for the last time and call it a night, remembering that the first day of school will commence even if he is exhausted, and he definitely was.
He picked up his phone, to set his alarm and calculate how long will he get to spend in dreamland; but almost got a heart attack when he saw the time staring back at him, clear and unmistaken, as if evil-laughing at him. "No way!" he protested, looking back and forth between the empty coffee cans and his unpacked suitcase, trying to recall if it was possible. He cursed again when he tried his luck and moved the curtains from his dormitory's room's window; almost permanently blinded by the bright sunlight that attacked him without him being mentally prepared. "It's already morning?!"
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Ugawa was well aware his 'New Year revolutions' were ambitious, but he still intended to follow-through each of them with his determination high and his head held even higher. This year will be different; he told himself the entire 3-hour train ride from Kyoto, mostly to stop himself from being taken over by melancholy for leaving his home once more. But he shook it off and stepped off the train with a small smile, taking comfort in the fact he was going to his second home instead.
New year, new me! He declared in his head when he passed the large gates, showing the two guards his student ID proudly. I'm going to get perfect grades, get in better shape, get my guy…I might even get taller! He exclaimed as he marched up the stairs of the dormitory building that was almost empty, due to his residences leaving for the entrance ceremony already, the same one the mind manipulator was allowed to be late for thanks to his home being far away.
He glanced down at the small piece of paper that contained his new room's number, having it already memorized yet too thrilled not to gloat a little more. And the most important part, a new roommate! He practically skipped at the thought, walking the familiar hall of the class C dormitory. He had no special preference seeing as Tatsumi will never want to switch roommates, but anyone from his class will be tolerable enough; nothing could break him after a year with the human-dog who liked to eat rice balls in the middle of the night.
As he turned his key in the lock and pushed the door wide opened, he found out that embracing an optimistic attitude was the worst thing he could have done and he was better off being the pessimist he always was. Apparently, the worst thing that could have happened to him was not to spend a year being Inumine Seishiro's roommate…but spending two years with the horrendous title.
"~good morning Ugawa!~ how was spring break? Did you have fun? I bet you did! I did too! And I ate so much I think I grew bigger! And-" the hyperactive dog greeted him, skipping his way toward where the pink haired teen still stood in the entrance, eyes wide in shock yet cold and empty. I should have seen this coming, didn't I?
Without another word he slumped his heavy bag on the floor, stuffed his hands into his pockets and turned on his heel, getting the farthest away he could from his former teammate, focusing hard on his calming breathing and desperate to get to some sane people that he could complain too.
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The purple haired mutant smoothly rode down the side streets leading to the Ayanagi parking lot, which was almost entirely empty. I'm not late, he noted to himself with a smile, relieved to have started the year on the right foot for once and avoiding a lecture from the principle. He parked his motorcycle at the far corner, where it was less likely to be scratched or bumped into and took off his helmet. The spring breeze hit his face refreshingly as he stood up and turned the engine off.
"Isn’t he from the fighting department?" He heard an unfamiliar voice wondering behind his back, belonging to one of the teens hanging out near a silver and expensive looking car.
"Yeah, from team Otori!" Another teen confirmed, tone sounding rather enthusiastic.
"Right! Kuga was it? The one who won Mr. Ikeman," supplied the third of the group, ducking his head a little when the mind reader walked passed them, a calm smile resting over his lips.
He didn’t recognize any of them but he didn't mind them knowing him, especially when they sounded impressed rather than judgmental.
He heard more thoughts and whispered as he made his way to the main hall, where the yearly entrance ceremony was held; filling his head before he willingly forced them out, proud of his control to do so.
It's good to be back
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"Where should I stop for you Tengenji-sama?" asked his car's driver, two hands straight on the steering wheel and eyes focused on the road ahead, ears sharp to hear the young master's response.
"At the end of the street, please." Instructed the young noble with a kind tone, stroking the soft fur of the black cat sitting on his lap. She was purring joyfully, probably trying to butter him up so he won't put her in her carrier bag, where she will remain hidden until he arrived to his dormitory's room. Even as second-years, the rules regarding the raising of pets still stood in front of him refusing to budge. "Come on angel, hop in." he gently asked of her, opening the soft lid of the bag for her to enter. She did with a protesting meow, already familiar with the drill.
He accepted the driver's help with his luggage, holding onto it with the hand not holding his bag. He placed his glasses up his nose, smirking smugly to himself as he excused his driver and made his march toward the gates of Ayanagi. He was faced with the expected swarm of his devoted fans that waited for him, along with some paparazzi photographers and personal security of the academy. The screaming of the adoring people was the best way to start a new year, he concluded as he marched through the crowd, winking at a few lovely ladies and signing some autographs before excusing himself to settle down. He had a long day ahead of him after all.
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The water and earth manipulator rushed into the common room, the school bags he was carrying almost falling off his shoulder. "Good morning Nayuki!" he called to his boyfriend, who stood next to the common room's counter and folded a green napkin around a bento neatly and skillfully.
"Good morning," he greeted softly, accepting the chin on his right shoulder.
"Are you done yet?" wondered the happy voice in his ear, its owner glancing down from behind him to witness his latest masterpiece.
"A-l-m-o-s-t..." Nayuki replied, tying the last knot before turning to hand the box to the brunette. "There you go,"
"Thank you!" Hoshitani told him in his usual enthusiastic tone, before accepting the box and giving a light and short kiss on the invisible boy's temple, handing him his school bag in exchange. The duo collected the other bentos made for the rest of their former teammates when both their phones vibrated in unison.
Nayuki balanced the boxes on one of his hands and pulled out his device from his pocket, showing his boyfriend his screen as well.
It was a text from their senpai on their group chat, saying 'Good luck on the first day, boyz! (¬‿¬)✌.' the brunette laughed shortly at that.
"Thank you Otori-senpai!" they recorded their reply together. Nayuki was still having a little trouble believing and digesting that they were actually second years now, but he surprised even himself when he admitted he wasn't nervous at all.
Those feelings changed a moment later when another message popped into the chat, from their redhead classmate.
'Where are you boors?! I need help carrying my bags!'
Hoshitani looked at him innocently, not noticing it either, both of them taking their mark to run as fast as lightning and thunder out of the dormitory building which thankfully was only a minute away from the main hall.
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'This spring! The prince of the musical world is returning to Broadway!' called the caption, bold lettered and bright underneath the show's title. On the cover, his brother was displayed, his sly smile had a pinch of mystery, as if he was hiding a secret that could destroy the world. The announcement of the star's departure from Japan wasn't news to the energy manipulator, since he heard about it at least three times already yet never from the man himself. Not that he minded it. He was back at school where he was most comfortable in, with the people he liked and his goal approaching him faster than ever…he only wished the academy will stop shoving his brother everywhere… so what if he was a successful alumnus that was a good example for mutants everywhere?
He stepped away from the notice board when the whispering behind his back started. He breathed through his mouth and adjusted his gloves, ignoring the random gossipers that assumed he was sulking, when all he intended to do was read the important messages of the day. But he was determined to keep a positive vibe, reminding himself that his day had only started.
"Yo," a deep voice called from behind him, waving friendly in greeting.
"Hey," he greeted back, already feeling better once he was with a familiar face, his mind reading roommate who somehow managed to not be late on the first day of school. "Just in time," he noted, the other smiled a little.
"I came prepared," Kuga pointed out, holding onto his motorcycle helmet with a proud posture, as if challenging destiny to try and challenge him.
"Good morning!" a new voice entered the conversation, cheerful and sunny as ever. He was accompanied by his roommate, who clutched his bag's straps over his shoulders, looking around the courtyard and smiling at the familiar faces. "Who's excited for round two?" the water bender wondered with a bright grin, his three former teammates mirroring it without intending to. Tsukigami was no longer surprised by the Hoshitani effect, he just forgot about it a little over vacation.
A thing he couldn't forget, however, was the fifth member of their group and his talent to annoy him in a matter of seconds, most of the time without even needing to say anything at all. It started with the loud screams of adoring fans, squeals of joy and hyperventilating from a bunch of teenage girls that appeared at their school's gate almost every morning. From the security line in the middle of the crowd emerged the redhead shape shifter, hands in his pockets and his cat in her designer's satchel, his smirk unable to be ignored even from miles away.
"Those glasses…"Nayuki was the one to mutter, the four of them staring at the one they somehow called their friend with amused expressions of dismissal.
"I think it's time he upgrades this disguise," Kuga pointed out knowingly, receiving a nod of agreement from his roommate.
"There seems to be an even bigger crowd too…" the brunette standing next to him noted, waving at the Tengenji heir who was struggling to find them in the crowd of Ayanagi mutants standing at the courtyard and catching up with each other.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," he apologized sarcastically as he caught up to them, taking off his glasses and placing them in his front blazer's pocket, a condescending smirk spread across his lips. "Missed me?"
"Someone's delusional," muttered his usual bickering partner, earning his wanted response of anger as he teased, making the class A duo share a chuckle. True, no year could begin until things went back to the way they were.
"Let's go, the entrance ceremony is about to begin." Nayuki said to break them apart, noticing that the students around them were already making their way to the stadium, uniforms perfectly ironed just in case of a regulation check and their expressions telling they just couldn't wait to get it over with and get to the fun lessons of the day ahead.
"I honestly thought we'll be in the same class or something," noted the earth bender as they walked along the stream, his mind reading friend nodded in agreement. Tsukigami could see their point, given as there were twenty five students in the tournament, just enough to fill a classroom… but honestly, whichever poor teacher who would have gotten the job of handling that group of stubborn brats who were now going to be the energy manipulator's rivals to the top, was probably going to commit suicide after a week.
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The brunette leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms above his head, letting out a fresh breath of air with a smile. "I can't believe we are actually in the fighting department!" he exclaimed, placing his empty bento box back in his bag. The mind reader couldn't help but agree, with everything they had gone through to get to this point...
"Manjome-kun says he feels like he just leveled-up," supplied Nayuki with a small smile.
"Feels weird to me," admitted Kuga from where he sat next to Tengenji who was looking at him questionably like the others. "That the school actually allowed us to enter,"
He knew even without the use of his powers that his former teammates had had that worry as well, seeing how they were views by the student body. They were a level-3 team, who was coached by the coolest senpai in the academy, stardust rebellion and all that… the Ayanagi brand was known to never condone people like them succeeding…
"They didn’t really have a choice," pointed out Tsukigami, who had actually given it more thought than he should have. "We won our spot, and Ayanagi will never go against its own rules."
"I wonder if we'll actually make it…" mumbled the nervous blonde, probably not intending anyone to hear but failing to achieve it.
"Of course we will, you boor." Tengenji assured, directing his chopsticks at the last vegan shumai that was left in his box.
"It's not that obvious." the energy manipulator stated his opinion. "Last year, the tournament was a competition of groups, individual skills are what matters now," he said and his roommate nodded.
"But it doesn't mean we are completely on our own, right Hoshitani-kun?" questioned the invisible boy, looking at his boyfriend hopefully.
"Of course not," he was assured by the water bender.
"There are our teacher and our private instructor," Tsukigami completed before adding with a small smile what he knew his blonde friend needed to hear. "And our friends, of course."
"And it's still a group challenge, in a way," the redhead opinioned, causing the rest of his previous teammates to look at him with confused and questioning expressions.
"Group challenge?" Hoshitani wondered. "But they said-"
"That we are fighting against each other, sure" the stubborn shape shifter waved it off. "But at the end, it’s all about which group gets to be the next Kao council," He continued, closing up his finished bento box as well and placing his chopsticks on top of it. "And I don’t know about you boors but this box-office star will make sure to pass," he declared proudly, pointing at his own puffed-up chest and making his bickering partner roll his eyes.
"Can you repeat the last part?" he wondered with a challenging raised eyebrow. "Just who is the box-office star?"
"Huh?!"Tengenji inquired, causing the remaining mutants to laugh at the usual banter that was about to commence. "It's me of course."
"Maybe in your head it is." Tsukigami replied with a snarky tone, looking at him teasingly.
Hoshitani couldn't help his laughter as his former teammates argued, only stopping once the school bell rang, signing that their lunch time was over and that their English teacher was expecting their arrival.
Maybe things won't be so different after all…
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"There are too many people in here," commented Ageha as they made their way out of the food line, scanning the cafeteria with his empty eyes for a place for him and his best friend to sit and eat their lunch.
"Maybe because it's pie day?" Hachiya tried to find an excuse for the number of students filling the room with loud chatter and commotion.
"The first years just had their first gym lesson, of course, they'll swarm in here as soon as they can," pointed out Koumoto Tetsuya as he passed them by, shamelessly listening to their conversation as he made his way to a spot saved for him by Hoshitani Yuuta of former team Otori.
"Gym is awful, I hope everyone is okay," said the blonde, as always worried needlessly about things that had nothing to do with him. But the sonic screamer early learned to accept that fact about his roommate, lately, he came to appreciate it a little.
"You only hate gym because you're-" he began to say but was cut off when the taller of the two tripped over an extra shiny floor panel, his shoes squawking as he fell over. "Clumsy." He finished, rolling his eyes to see that the content of his roommate's trey spilled ahead of him, the pasta chunks coloring the floor bright red and the water spilling over to make a puddle… the pie flew the farthest, hitting a beaten up sneaker shoe colored black- which was attached to Kitahara Ren.
"S-Sorry!" mumbled Hachiya as he stumbled to his feet, brown eyes blown wide behind his glasses when he looked up at the one he accidentally splashed. He swallowed thickly to see his friend's usually green eyes were pitch black.
"you will be, " informed him the demon, looking up from his stained shoe to the stuttering intangabiliter. Ageha stood still in his place, watching the scene carefully as the demon examined his claws; smiling wickedly and making the tall blonde from class E shiver a little.
"I didn't mean to offend you demon-san," he hurried to apologize again, lifting his hands up in surrender as the shorter mutant approached him dangerously. "I t-tripped and-" Hachiya tried to continue but was cut short thanks to a strong hand warping itself around his throat, claws digging a little into the flesh.
"Ren," it was Nanjo's turn to intervene, not because his narcissistic nature failed, but because he knew the possible consequence of his friend hurting someone, even if he had horns at the time of the crime. "Enough."
"Who said so? I think I should stain his clothes too," the horned mutant stated playfully. "I think he'll look pretty in red, don't you Koki?" he asked his partner in crime, his slithered tongue slipping out of his lips just in time to lick the creamy pie that hit him in the face.
They were starting to get noticed by the crowd around them, pairs of wide eyes wandering between the demon whose blood began to boil and his attacker, the fish-eyed former leader of team Yuzuriha.
Ageha returned the death gaze directed at him, relieved to see that the red-haired delinquent let go of his best friend, with a knowing smile. With inhuman speed Kitahara reached back to grab something from the table, probably aiming for his knife but instead grabbing his half-eaten chicken wing, throwing it right at Ageha's forehead, staining him but making no actual damage. He got to curse once and look back at his best friend, who shrugged his shoulder, pretending like he wasn't the one to keep the knives out of reach.
The sonic screamer used the small window to grab his blonde roommate by the elbow and yank him away, confused as to why their second-stage rivals decided to come to their rescue and forgetting for a moment that the four of them were surrounded by teenage mutants who were just looking for an opportunity to get in trouble.
"So, duck." He managed to warm right before some first year had to audacity to call out-
"Food fight!"
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Thanks to his long year of training as a part of team Hiragi, Ugawa could proudly say he had sharp instincts- which was what saved him from the first wave of lunches that flew through the air.
The moment he heard the call declaring the upcoming war, he slid right down and under the table he was sharing with his friends, the sound of splashing sauce and smeared potatoes ringing in his ears. He slides in deeper toward the middle of the table, his back bumping against another teen who wanted to save himself too.
"Ugawa-kun!" called the nervous blonde in relief, half transparent but unharmed still. "Are you okay?"
The pink haired mind manipulator hummed in return, shrinking even smaller when a plate of pasta flew a little too close to him. He glanced around to see it was only them secured under the table, the rest of the gang somewhere unknown. "I can’t believe this is really happening," he muttered under his breath, hearing exciting howls that could only belong to Inumine.
"We are all going to get killed!" Nayuki whined, thinking of the worse but actually making sense. The administration is going to punish whoever is responsible severely, especially if the debacle will drag the use of powers outside of class. "I have to save Hoshitani-kun-" he began to say, scrambling to his feet but being stopped by his pink haired friend who held him in place by the ankle.
"He is on his own now, Nayuki-kun," he said, the blonde frowning worriedly. "The second stage hasn’t even begun yet, we have to stay out of trouble," Ugawa pointed out, making the other hesitantly nod, torn between wanting to help his loved one and helping himself. "but don't worry, Hoshitani-kun can take care of himself," he said, recognizing the earth bender's laughter through the crowd, close to where he spotted a pair of shoes he recognized to be Toraishi's.
"Wait for me guys!~" sang out a particular mutant with super strength, skipping his way after the power replicator and the optimistic brunette of previously team Otori.
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"I don’t think we have anything to worry about," Tsukigami pointed out as the three of them made their way down the hall leading to the school's cafeteria. "It's just another teacher right?"
"On the surface sure, but he needs to be incredibly strong," Tatsumi confirmed, trying to imagine the instructor they will be meeting in a few days, in their first official practice as second stage competitors.
"And authoritarian," added Sawatari knowingly, not being able to think of one teacher he knew that will be able to handle all 25 of them at the same room together.
"And patient," the telekinetic mutant agreed.
"Intelligence is key of course,"
"Of course."
"Yeah, all of that," the blue haired energy manipulator waved off their joint laughter. "I just hope for someone who has us participating as well," he honestly admitted, knowing he will only be able to bring it up with his current company, those who knew from their previous experience at the Ayanagi course that most adults do not treat level 5 mutants like they are a part of the group.
"I haven't even thought about it," the silvery blonde teen looked at his class B friend. "Do you really think we are going to sit in the corner again?" he questioned, only half joking.
"You don’t need to worry," determined the calmest of the three, pushing the door of the cafeteria open and looking at his two comrades. "Ayanagi is known for having all of its students accounted-" he began to say, words dying in his throat when they were faced with the reality.
Tsukigami stepped a little closer, frowning as his eyes ran over the scene, locating immediately those that he cared for between the flying plates and spilling everything.
Hoshitani and Inumine were running around happily, dodging hits and taking a few, covered in sauce and creamy pies from head to toe. Inumine just received another pie to the face, making the water bender laugh before returning the favor to his friend's attacker, who happened to be the power replicator of former team Hiragi.
The energy manipulator than noticed the redhead cat, sliding around the floor like a skater, throwing whatever he could reach at Toraishi while holding a tray as a shield, cursing his rival with a wide smile identical to the other's. The blue haired teen couldn't help but chuckle at the teen's idiocy. "What do they think they're doing?"
"Is it some sort of game?" Sawatari answered his question with one of his own, hazel eyes squinted as he scanned the scenery as well, thinking face on.
"Maybe," Tatsumi said with wonder, his open lips twitching into a smile when he saw his friends were somehow having fun in all the chaos. All but his pink haired favorite, who he noticed was hiding under one of the tables with Nayuki, as if a nuclear bomb had just been shot.
Their eyes meet a moment later, the pink pair begging for help without any words. So the emerald eyed teen offer out his hand, pulling his friend from under the table and to the door in a flash.
"Thank you, Tatsumin." Ugawa muffled as he crushed against his rescuer with a huff of breath, the other tapping his head in acceptance before stepping back to break their contact.
"What happened?" wondered Tsukigami, team Hiragi's former beta joined him with a tilted head.
"Kitahara and Hachiya-kun, they- wait, we have to save Nayuki-kun!" he started explaining before remembering there were more important things.
With that Tatsumi reached out again, spotting the shorter blonde still under the same table, confused as to where Ugawa had wandered off to. This time, Tatsumi managed to release his hold on time, so that the little chef doesn't crush into him but instead stumble to a stop at the room's entrance.
"Are you okay, Nayuki?" the energy manipulator asked his nearly transparent friend, who nodded quickly.
"I'm just worried about Hachi-"
"What is going on in there?!" the five of them heard a strong voice asking, followed by the sound of quick steps that rang down the empty hall. They all exchange a look, only the merciless one having the courage to say out loud what they all thought.
"Let's get out of here," Ugawa said, neither of the middle school friends arguing with him that this was the best choice as they elegantly removed themselves from the crime scene, out to the courtyard where they blended in with the rest of the innocent.
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It was a little harder than he expected to keep his phone steady, as he hovered over the chaotic cafeteria, recording the events. He quickly maneuvered out of the way of a flying potato, giggling when he noticed Hoshitani slipping down the mush covered floor, zooming in on the water bender.
This is going to get so many views, he thought excitingly, switching to film the one to start it all, still with his horns and claws out , but without the murderous look he aimed at Hachiya previously. He actually seemed to be enjoying himself as he threw fist-fulls of vegetables at Toraishi, getting back-up from the purple haired mind reader who sprinted into action. But the black haired flirt wasn't left alone; to his protection came the manga prince in the beat-up sneakers- Manjome Koji.
The smile that spread over the white haired fairy was beyond his control, as he watched the electricity manipulator, fighting the urge to zoom in this time, fearing to live up to his stalker's reputation. The token of his affection was hit face first with a raging ball of pasta, stumbling back and landing flat on his butt.
"Cover for me Toraishi!" he called as he scrubbed the sauce off his eyes, careful not get any inside. He blinked his beautiful blue eyes open, his lips twitching upwards in determination and the need for revenge. He stumbled off to his feet, pulling back the sleeves of his ruined blazer and suddenly getting the feeling he was being watched.
Manjome turned toward the flying fairy, his expression soon turning annoyed." What are you doing?!" he questioned irritably, grabbing a hold of a pie left whole enough to reuse against his enemies.
"It's for the blog!" Koumoto answered simply, tilting his head toward the class A student but still looking at him through the lenses of his phone's camera.
"Turn it off, it’s evidence!"
"Nonsense, stop thinking like a detective!" he implored back, turning toward the sound of crushing tin, seeing it was Inumine stumbling into one of the trash cans, howling sadly when he hit his head first. He was lucky enough to capture it on film and was about to turn back around to document the first years who decided to mess with Keihi and Arisaka- probably because the two's synchronization lad them to be too effective together. But he failed due to a double attack- a pie hitting his phone away from him and into the filthy floor, followed by a potato hitting his stomach and knocking him down to the ground as well.
He shook his head as he clutched his hurting middle, eyes scanning for the criminal only to find the energy manipulator of former team Akatsuki laughing his head off. "Manjome Koji! How dare you!?" he scolded, a little surprised by the heartless attack that left him without his phone- his greatest weapon. The other smirked in satisfaction.
"I did warn you!" he claimed his innocence before skipping away to help out his comrades.
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He stepped away from his best friend as soon as the fight began, his priorities taking hold. Sure, Kitahara was his best partner in crime, but as someone whose goal was to reach the head of the Kao-council- he had a reputation to uphold. Which is why he located himself in a perfect position at the far corner of the lunchroom, leaning on it with folded hands and watching the scene unfold without being associated with it.
The plant manipulator had built and broke a thick wall of fig tree leaves to block the food coming his way accidentally, remaining in his clean cream blazer and ironed trousers. He hadn’t expected this turn of events, even when he considered his best friend being more on edge lately; having spent the spring vacation at home and between gigs where he needed to be extra careful about his self-control of the demon inside of him… all it took was a drop of cream to drive him off the edge. The gray haired teen would have just dragged him off the cafeteria the moment the food started flying, if it wasn't for the interference of a part of the dream team.
Probably fearing for Hachiya's sake, the miracle Hoshitani was the one who led the distraction, throwing some mashed potatoes at the demon. When Kitahara turned toward him, the water bender just called: "You didn't look, Guilty!"
That was all it took for the usually pretty green eyed teen to forget about his murderous thoughts of Ageha. Toraishi- being used to handling the demon from spending a year as an annoying roommate -jumped in as well, dragging the attention toward him. Team Hiragi's guard dog followed one of his trainers (since the other was too busy hiding under the table) and soon the demon was lured into the game as well.
With their distraction, Nanjo knew he could step back, but not leave altogether, in case the evil spirit remembers his greatest desire all of the sudden.
A small smile stretched over his lips as he watched his best friend running around and slipping over food with everyone else, relieved to see that his claws were retracting the more he was hit, his wings folding and his horns disappearing again the more he laughed with his second-stage rivals.
Nanjo got to see from up close as Kitahara returned to himself- running out of Tengenji's range but slipping as he did, landing right at the plant manipulator's feet. The other chuckled and offered out his hand to help the shorter teen up, noticing with satisfaction as the pitch black eyes brightened up to be jungle green again.
"Welcome back, Ren." He greeted the older teen blinking at him confusingly before noticing the commotion around him. His eyes widen at the chaotic state of the cafeteria, the stained walls , flipped over chairs and the tables that were mounted by non-flying students who wanted to have some high advantage over the others…even the ceilings were decorated with food gooey enough to stick to them.
"What happened…?" He asked, glancing down to see what was left of his uniform, which were now covered with each type of dish served to them that day. Nanjo sighed, expecting the other not to remember a thing since he was so far gone…"Koki," he was implored seriously, but failed to answer due to the interference of a sudden radio silence.
Both mutants immediately looked at the entrance to the hall, Nanjo swallowing thickly when he recognized the Kao council member who just stepped in-Eichi Nagashima. Usually, his expression was soft if slightly suspecting, but now his bright red eyes told he was furious. The gray haired mutant didn't get to question or linger of the beautiful ginger standing next to him, her eyes the brightest blue he ever saw and matching the ends of her wavy long hair. The third-year Indocumentor spoke.
"I want whoever started it to step forward!" he called, using his power to command people's actions, impressing even the violet eyed plant manipulator as how fast he made Kitahara take a step closer to the questioning upperclassman. Nanjo would have noticed the other mutants involved stepping forward as well if he wasn't focused on his occasional bedmate.
The burgundy haired teen glanced back at him with question filled eyes that reflected worry they both shared. "Koki…what did I do?"
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"Detention on the second day of school..." sighed Toraishi, upper body draped over the table, trying to find a comfortable position to catch a nap. "I think I broke a record."
"I can't believe it," Tengenji started saying to the teen sitting next to him. "Detention for wasting food!?" he questioned the school's sanity. "Punish the people who started it, sure, but I was protecting myself!" he excused, folding one leg over the other and huffing out in annoyance.
"I wasn't even fighting! I was just documenting it for a professional purpose." Koumoto vented as well on the table next to him, his sharp ears ducked low to match his mood.
"I regret nothing." admitted Manjome.
"Yeah, what did they expected us to do?!" joined Toraishi from his seat in the middle of the white classroom, wishing he at least had a window to stare out of dramatically.
"Remove ourselves from the situation," said Nanjo knowingly. "Like the thoroughbreds did, and the chibbies,"
It was true of course, thanks to Koumoto's 'scientific documenting' the principle was able to see exactly who were those who ruined the cafeteria and had to squeak it clean before being sent to detention. It was clearly seen that Ugawa and Nayuki hid it out under one of the tables, just waiting for it to be over; while Tsukigami and the class C roommates turned on their heels the moment they entered the cafeteria and saw the chaos taking places.
"I've never been in this room before," Hoshitani changed the subject, ignoring the last remark made about his boyfriend by the former team Sazanami member. He was leaning his cheek on one of his hands, staring the clock hanging above the wall and noticing its dials were moving too slowly. He moved his finger subconsciously, drawing random patterns in the air that should have turned into small water streams for him to toy with, but instead left him staring at the white board. "Hey Kuga," he called as he turned around to the purple haired mutant that took the seat behind him, disappointed to find the other mutant deeply asleep. "I think Jumonji threw his trey at me too hard…" he admitted to Tengenji who eyed him questionably. "I can’t use my powers,"
That caused the redhead to laugh shortly, joined by the white haired pixie who kindly supplied the explanation to his clueless friend. "It’s detention room, it disables powers,"
"So the delinquents who are usually here won't kill each other," completed the shape shifter with narrow eyes, clearly referring to the demon that started it all, who was sitting at the corner of the room, his horns no longer visible but his eyes lacking any spark.
"That is awesome!" the brunette spoke, still trying to conjure water and amazed by his failures.
The door of the room was abruptly opened, making the young mutant look up from whatever they were staring at the moment. It was a Kao council member who entered, Imada Sorai- the Tengenji heir believed was his name. His orange eyes were freezing cold while he was giving his speech about how they should think about what they have done and use the next detention hours in writing an essay about it.
The shape shifter rolled his eyes, a little surprised to see that those who began it all didn't protest. Nanjo's smug smile rested in place, Ageha's dead fish eyes were lowered to his notebook and his clumsy sidekick was as quiet as he was since they entered the room, glancing much too often to the back of the room where the demon sat. He has his back half turned to them, his side leaning on the back of the chair and his legs pulled up a little, like he wished to disappear.
A knowing look from his earth bending friend made him know they shared a thought, both recognizing the feelings of regret and struggle coming off from the jungle green eyed teen's aura.
The shape shifter glanced up at the clock again and sighed, counting down the minutes until he could be out of there and reunited with his fluffy friend who was probably worried about his absence. He took a deep breath to calm himself but instead almost choked, the sharp smell of spicy fish which he reeked off hitting him way too hard. He scratched his last thought from his head, it’s all Kitahara's fault.
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"I'm so sorry Ageha," he repeated for the fourth time, his head ducked and his hands folded together as he bowed in regret, walking alongside his roommate back to class E's dormitories. He hadn't had to courage to talk when they were in front of everyone in the detention room, and then when they went outside to buy a late-lunch burger, having forgotten their intended lunch was thrown at Kitahara's face.
"Stop apologizing." Demanded the shorter teen with an empty voice, looking ahead at the corridor. "You just didn’t watch your step, Kitahara overreacted." He stated the facts he saw in his eyes.
"But…" Hachiya tried to protest but the silence glance he got from the sonic creamer was enough to cut him off. "Sorry…" he apologized out of instinct before remembering this was just the opposite of what his best friend asked him to do- which caused him to apologize again.
But instead of being scolded, the shorter mutant walking next to him twitched his lips upwards, saying without any words that he understood. The blonde's heart was about to jump out of his chest as it did every time he remembered the way the black haired mutant jumped ahead of him and stood by his side a few hours earlier, not hesitating to get into trouble himself just to help out his clumsy sidekick.
Ageha's sweet smile whipped away a moment later when they turned down the hall to their room, facing a corridor that wasn't as empty as they anticipated.
"Yo, Hachiya," greeted the burgundy haired teen leaning on their door, hands folded over his chest and posture casual, back to his usual self.
"What are you doing here?" asked Ageha impatiently, not stopping at the sight of the murderous demon that appeared human for once. "It's not your dorm."
Kitahara only seemed amused by the other's short temper and cold death stare. "I need to talk to Hachiya," he explained simply, pushing himself off the wall and looking directly at his former team Yuzuriha friend. The sonic screamer joined his line of sight, both of them looking at the nervous intangabiliter who nearly tripped off his feet again.
"O-Okay," he agreed, his best friend nodding once before pushing past the green eyed mutant and into their room, closing the door after him and leaving the two friends alone in the empty hall. "Sorry, about earlier," Hachiya said before the other could beat him to it, making him chuckle.
"That's my line," he was corrected. "I'm the guilty one," admitted the shorter teen, hands stuffed in his pocket as he approached the other, meeting him halfway. "Well, it wasn't exactly my choice but still," he had to add, making the resting smile on Hachiya's face more genuine. "I apologize,"
"Did Nanjo-kun send you?" the blond had to ask, not expecting the other to initiate any form of apology, especially for something that really was out of his control. But one glance at the one standing before him let him knew that his assumption was wrong. "It really is okay, Kitahara-kun."
"The demon doesn't mind hurting people you know," he supplied casually, looking at the ceiling. "If your boyfriend hadn't stepped in…" he teased, laughing when the other's cheeks turned pink. "Honestly I don't see what you find attractive in this guy…"
"I-I don't know what you're t-talking ab-bout -" the bumbling bee began to protest but was cut off by a blaming finger and a knowing smug smirk.
"You are guilty!" he teased, the other sighing in defeat, knowing that his friend was very aware of his feelings for the apathetic sonic screamer that will never be returned. "Anyways," Kitahara returned to his point. "Next time you see me with black eyes, just run the other way," he said, gesturing behind his shoulder with his thumb, making the taller teen shake his head with a smile.
"Got it." he saluted, making the other's smirk wider.
"So," a familiar voice captured their attention, the black haired teen peeking out from the door with his usual blank expression spiced with some irritation. "The burgers will get cold" he pointed out simply before closing the door again.
"I'm coming!" called the blonde. "I'll see you later," he excused himself politely.
"Yes, yes, go to your little fangirl," Kitahara waved him off in a friendly matter. "And remember-" he was about to repeat but was cut off by the taller of the two, who mimicked his pointy finger with a gentle smile.
"If your demon friend approaches me, I have your permission to punch him in the face!" he said confidently, making the other laugh loudly.
"atta boy!" he encouraged, reaching out his fist to be slightly punched by the other. Hachiya pushed his glasses up his nose and stepped into the room as Kitahara turned around toward the exit of the dormitory, hands shuffled in his pockets.
He never expected there to be any other mutant in the entire academy to look beyond his horns and claws; someone who will actually mean it when he said he understood it wasn't Kitahara's fault; and he least of all expected it to be Hachiya So… yet, he felt relieved to be forgiven for his outburst earlier- not wanting to think about what would have happened if he lost another friend to the demon crawling under his skin.
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During the first week of school, it was really difficult for him to keep his mind silent. First, he was out of practice, only being around his friends during vacation and avoiding crowds. Second, the loud thoughts of the student body constantly surrounding him were always pushing their way into his head.
Somehow, their first training session as second stage participants had managed to top it all.
The twenty three students in the room were keeping their cool on the outside, he noticed when looking around, in complete contrast to what was going on inside their heads.
In the salad that his head had turned into- excitement, fear, determination, nervousness and confidence were spiced up by the need to prove, the desire to dominate and boosted egos pulsing through violently.
"Are you okay Kuga-kun?" Nayuki asked and he made the mistake of nodding his head, making the buzzing go louder.
"Everyone is thinking too loud," Toraishi could see through him of course, knowing his overwhelmed expression more than anyone and out of personal experience.
"S-sorry," mumbled the nervous blonde, getting a reassuring smile from the bothered mind reader who knew it was really not in his control.
"You are going to be just fine, Nayuki-kun." It was Sawatari to note, his words calming the invisible boy a little considering his particular gift of seeing the future.
"Can you say the same for Hoshitani though? the class is about to begin," Tsukigami pointed out, already warmed up and ready for whatever the new teacher was going to have them go through as part of their personal training. The former beta of team Hiragi just smiled peacefully, not a second passing before their missing member decided it was time to make his grand entrance.
Kuga was grateful for Hoshitani. His thoughts were usually quiet, seeing as he just said anything that crossed his mind out loud. The brunette immediately found his place next to his boyfriend, reminded by the hazel eyed psychic that he had to warm up too. Tengenji had to scold him of course, the water bender apologizing with an innocent smile, claiming that he had one more minute left.
Which was why the thoughts swarming around the room were getting louder and louder.
'I'll win.'
'I hope the instructor is nicer than the teachers…'
'I have to win.'
'I'm hungry.'
'We'll get there together'
'This is so stressful'
'Just be at the top four,'
'Damn, how long until it starts, I need to pee…'
'No one can beat me.'
'Let's get this thing going and-'
The sound of an opening door was what shut the voices in his head.
The purple eyed teen looked up toward the training room's entrance, surprised as much as he thought everyone was as by the one walking through it, smiling at them as she made her way to the front.
Kuga chuckled under his breath when he heard his childhood friend whistle low, agreeing with him in silence. The woman in front of them was beautiful, her hair fiery ginger and ending with light blue highlights that were clearly natural. Eyes blue and her form petite, lips full and skin fair, looking so out of place in in her yellow t-shirt and past-knee jeans. He recognized her eventually, matching her face vaguely to the one standing next to the Kao council member who dragged them to detention a few days ago. But he couldn't find any excuse for her being in that room in that time, except when he admitted that she must be-
"Good afternoon everyone, my name is Hikogo Mitsugi and I'll be your second stage instructor."
As expected, the teenage boys filling the room couldn’t keep their control, whispering and mumbling their disbelief, amusement and delight of having such a hot teacher. "I'm the luckiest man in the world," Admitted Toraishi dreamily, swallowing air when he was elbowed in the stomach by Ugawa, who had to make him stop sounding so stupid somehow.
"Keep dreaming, she'll be guilty of falling for me in no time," said Kitahara, earning a smack in the head from his gray haired best friend who Kuga suspected was just jealous.
"Not if I get to her first," Nanjo challenged with mischief radiating from his violet eyes, his ever resting bitch smirk still stretched as looked ahead at their new teacher.
But despite the fact she heard it all for sure; her natural smile remained as she scanned them. He could tell without reading her mind that she wasn't just looking at them to get familiar, but to match their faces to those she was expecting to match their names.
"It’s nice to meet you all in person," she said, not waiting for the chatter to go silent, her arms folded over her chest. Kuga was almost certain some was drooling in the back.
"Nice to meet you, sensei." One of the few who managed to keep their cool responded, bowing his head slightly and stepping forward, making the smile on the female's face to widen.
"Thank you, Tatsumi." She said, taking the silvery blonde by refreshing surprise. She chuckled at that and shook her head. "Alright, you got your few minutes of shock, now focus." She ordered and without much more everyone straightened their backs, reminded once again where they were and why. "Good boys." She praised them, making hearts beat faster. "Now, how about we start with a level 5 simulation and then move on to-" she got straight to the point but cut off hesitantly by a dismissive Jumonji.
"Don't you want to know our powers and levels first?" he wondered, earning a few supporting nods from the mutants in the room.
"So you'll know how to handle us," pointed out another braggart teen who allowed entering the second stage to get to his head. But Hikogo Mitsugi just chuckled in return.
"I already know them all Arisaka," she made her point clear with a challenging eyebrow.
"But we don't know yours," Keihi felt the need to step in to his boyfriend's defense, one hand popped up his hip. But no one really needed that answer, Kuga himself knew it from the moment she stepped into the room and forced a wall around his head that blocked all thoughts, even those he wished he could listen to.
"She is a power negationer, you boors." the proud shape shifter, whose eyes were no longer cat-like spoke, looking a little irritated by the fact he was stating.
Hoshitani was about to protest and question what Tengenji meant, but got his unasked-for explanation from the energy manipulator standing next to Kuga, looking a little tired.
"Which is a fancy word for saying she can block all of powers,"
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Otori Itsuki sent you a photo
Otori: I'm at the festival I told you about! The piñatas are huge!
Hoshitani: so cool! Argentina looks amazing J
Otori: I'm in love with it, I'm afraid O_O so I'm never coming back to Japan!
Hoshitani: you promised to come back and visit us though!
Otori: I guess there's no helping it then ;) I am curious to meet that new teacher of yours
Hoshitani: Mitsu-sensei is incredible, scary, but I love her still!
Otori: replacing me that easily – (;*△*;)
Hoshitani: never!
The water bender texted back, knowing that the mutant he was talking to was probably laughing at the statement somewhere in the middle of a busy carnival. He could see it in his head, his former mentor and current long-distance friend parading around the carnival, his own black feathers putting those of the professional dancer's to shame as he joined them with a rhythmical step.
A deep yawn that echoed through the relatively quiet room grabbed his attention, as he couldn't resist looking up to face it's source, smiling to himself at the slight of his sleepy boyfriend, rubbing his eyes with lazy hands as he dragged his feet towards the bed. "Can we go to sleep Hoshitani-kun?" he asked, probably not wanting to be the one to cut off one of the rare times the brunette could talk to their former senpai. The younger of the two just chuckled, nodding with his usual happy smile before texting Otori a concluding message, telling him he'll talk to him tomorrow when his brain could actually function. His state was not so far off from Nayuki's.
He reached out his turned off phone to his roommate, who placed it at the nightstand next to his own before rising to the tip of his toes, so he could kiss the green eyed teen's cheek in one last gesture of good night. Hoshitani giggled a little and returned it, shifting to lie on his side as the invisible boy settled down, pressing himself closer to his stuffed dolphin and releasing a content sigh of pent-up exhaustion. Right before he fell asleep, Hoshitani's phone buzzed again, causing him to shoot up and glance down at it, able to see the popped-up message from his position on the top bunk. He chuckled a little at his silly friend's parting words before closing his eyes again, ready to face the next day with just as much might as any other.
Otori: ditching me for your boyfriend ha? How rude ^_^ I'll just go drink the night away with the exotic dancers then! Talk to you tomorrow!
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Tatsumi watched with a sleepy smile as his best friend paced along their shared dormitory room, making sure everything was in its place for the night like he always did. He put some more water in the humidifier, placed the telekinetic teen's pills back in the cabinet and made sure their door was locked.
"Alright." He declared once he finished, walking calmly to the bed and sitting down at the bottom bunk, placing his contact lenses in their watery containers; refusing to wear his glasses at all cost- something his best friend will never understand, given that Sawatari was really cute when he looked all nerdy and dapper. "When should I wake you up tomorrow?" he asked, peeking up to face his best friend.
"Do you mind if I come running with you and Hoshitani?" questioned the blonde, taking into consideration that the two brunettes might want to keep it to themselves during the only time in the day they had just the two of them.
"You know I always want to spend more time with you." supplied the hazel eyed teen, voice ever serious and monotonic, making Tatsumi smile in delight nevertheless. "But why would you think about it now?" he had to ask. The level five mutant didn't blame him of course, choosing to go on an intense physical activity early in the morning when he usually resembled a zombie until noon was indeed unlike him… but his best friend picked up on his reason before he could enlighten him on his own. "You want to impress Mitsu-sensei?"
The taller of the two simply looked away with a tiny smile, making the brunette nod in understanding that was blissful yet expected of him. "She is really interesting." He excused, his roommate nodding once again with a knowing expression.
"She is motivating, indeed." He supplied his own input after thinking about it for a moment, noticing that even he unintentionally started to work harder in his training. "I'll set our alarm." He concluded, the telekinetic teen nodding with an agreeing hum, turning off the light switch from afar as he yawned. Now all he had to do was somehow drag himself out of bed in the morning, and if he managed to do that, nothing will stand in his golden way to the top.
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"Will you turn off the lights already?" wondered his impatient roommate from his position under his blanket. The pixie would have rolled his eyes if he could, but his face was a little stiff due to his night cleansing mask.
"Beauty routine first!" he excused, accepting the other mutant's protesting groan and ignoring his complaining, carefully applying the green cream until it covered every flawed patch of skin. He dismissed his hideous reflection in the mirror, loosening the tie of his robe a little to better fit. It was a gift from his sister, who walked in on him changing his pajama shirt on spring break. Apparently, the fact that slipping wings into designated holes was hard and uncomfortable had escaped her until the moment she saw the white haired pixie nearly fold his upper left wing in half in order to do so.
So she made him more a comfortable sleeping attire, a fluffy robe that opened in the back, keeping him warm and cozy and his wings free to flutter around without restraint. He should really thank her at some point, maybe next time she chooses to be nice to him.
He stepped into his slippers and made his way to his laptop, the browser immediately opening on his most visited page, the Ayanagi blog. He stretched his fingers in front of him, clicking the tab to open a new draft for the last post of the day.
He typed quickly and with a smile, letting everyone know of the events of the day and how excited he was about the opportunities the second year will provide for everyone, especially those of them in the tournament. He hurries when his roommate started complaining again, fixing a typo or two with experienced fingers and signing off with his usual parting sentence.
And as always if you like my blog feel free to comment below and share your thoughts with me, like this post and all the rest and I'll see you tomorrow in one hallway or another ^_^ and to all of you first years- welcome to Ayanagi academy for gifted youth!