Chapter Text
Yin had already emailed her potential professor before actually finalizing the independent study course with him. She'd done that a few times with courses before, just ask a few questions over email, it was always fine.
This one had instead asked her what time she'd be free to chat. Not sure why he thought she needed to DM about this, but fine, she could do that while editing after her next video's raw footage was filmed.
Yin wasn't expecting him to video call her.
She felt a moment of panic stir her heart, but after all morning recording she didn't have it in her to let any emotion reach her eyes. So she just clicked 'accept call'.
"Alola, cousin!" Said the man on her screen, and she nearly groaned as she watched his eyebrows go up for just a moment.
Her professor was hot. And worse, her hot professor's first impression of her was of her in about five pounds of makeup (including copious amounts of glitter), twice that of red and black hair extensions from her naturally white hair, more glitter in her hair, dead eyes, and a slightly hoarse voice from so so SO much talking.
"Afternoon, Professor," she said-- it was still morning for her, but time zones.
It was at this point she realized-- she didn't actually have her questions memorized. She usually just copy-pasted a list she'd written years ago into the email, and she checked out their answers at her leisure.
At least Yin was given a moment more to think when the man finally said, "I'm Professor Kukui, if you haven't already guessed! And you're Yin, yeah?"
Yin nodded, and Kukui continued. "Yeah! So, what's on your mind? Interested in taking one of my courses, that was it, right?"
Again, Yin nodded. "Yeah, wanted to travel abroad, take an independent study on some Alolan exclusive phenomena, but that's kind of a big commitment, you know? So had a few questions I wanted to ask first."
Kukui grinned and nodded vigorously, saying, "Well, shoot!"
Yin… still hadn't remembered a single one of her very important questions. So the first thing that spilled out of her mouth was "Which Lycanroc is the best?"
Kukui's brows knitted together at that, though he was still smiling like mad. "Uh?" He said, hesitating a moment, "they're all great in their own ways? Cuz, I'm not sure--"
Yin shook her head, "Sorry, sorry. You're right. Good answer, but not…relevant, I guess." She'd had professors who couldn't care less about anything not in their field of study, and the warmth in Kukui's tone of voice was a good sign.
"Okay, uh, real first question--" Yin cleared her throat and steeled her nerves. This… well, there were a couple reasons she asked over email, usually. Might as well get it over with. "I'm trans," she said, "and a Weird one at that-- gender fluid. I'm Yin today, and legally, but some days I'm a dude, and I go by Yang those days, and he/him pronouns. Is that gonna be A Problem?"
Kukui laughed, and Yin felt her heart sink. Well, so much for-- "Nah, cuz, no problem!" He said, interrupting her thoughts. "Not sure I've known anyone fluid before, but yeah nah, I've had trans folks before, don't worry. Not sure you'll really have 'classmates' since you're looking at IS, but transphobic behavior is not tolerated. Got a few different ways to report if necessary, but hopefully it won't be. So… how should I know which name to call you, then?"
"I'll let you know," Yin said with a tired smile, and discussed accommodations a little more before turning to logistics-- what kind of assignments and testing would be necessary to turn over to the university for official grades.
After clarifying what Yin's study would be-- mostly understanding the use of Z-Moves, with a minor focus on Alolan forms, and Totem pokémon, with the unifying theme of "Alolan pokémon life," Kukui settled on a few times weekly log of some kind or other.
"It could be a journal, with a few important battles you had that day, or progress in mastering a Z-move," Kukui said, "or an audio recording, narration and maybe some live radio, yeah? Or anything really--"
With the most energy she'd displayed all call, Yin clapped her hands to her cheeks and said, "Oh no, I couldn't imagine what it would be like to make--" as she spoke, she fished out one of her spare cameras, "a vlog," she moved her mic into view of the cheap webcam she was using for the current call, "every day," and she pulled a corded mic out of where it had been hiding in her shirt. "I can't bring the rest of my studio lights and everything with me, but…" She chuckled. "At least we won't have any problems there!"
Kukui laughed good naturedly as well. "Glad to hear it, cousin!"
They spoke a bit longer, and actually even got a little into small talk-- despite how it scratched at her throat, Yin found herself not wanting to hang up. She'd never had a professor this personable and personally interested before, talking to her as if she was an equal rather than an underling or a charge.
Yin hadn't even been really thinking romantically about him beyond the initial notice that he was hot, until she noticed the twinkle of a wedding band on his finger. Once she'd had the thought, she mentally kicked herself-- even if he weren't married, it wasn't as if that was anywhere near the realm of acceptable. It's not like it would be illegal, she was a full adult at nearly 21 years old, but something about teacher-student relations… it didn't matter.
Also, if he wanted to fool around with students, there were girls who wouldn't make him question if he was gay some days, so there was also that.
Eventually, though, between Kukui's other obligations and Yin's dwindling voice, they both had to agree to end the call.
"Good talking!" Kukui said with a hearty laugh. "I hope I'll see you in a couple months when the semester starts, yeah?"
Yin nodded. "I think you will," she said, smiling herself. "One laaast question before you go, though. Very important. Def a make or break question, everything's riding on this."
Kukui raised an eyebrow, and said, "All right, hit me like an Earthquake. What've you got?"
Still smiling, Yin said, "Mint or peanut butter?"