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The music of the party wavers over the yard of Hope's Peak. Korekiyo indulged for a while, but the noise has started to get overwhelming. It's late already and going to his lab at this hour would be a hassle, but it's also too early to go back to the dorms yet.
So he figures the library is about as good a place as any, isolated enough so the noise shouldn't quite reach there. And he doesn't expect anyone to be there - who in their right mind would skip a party? - but as he enters the spacious room, the tables and chairs are pushed aside and a figure is kneeling on the wooden floor, drawing circles with chalk.
"Am I intruding?", Korekiyo asks. The figure moves in one swift motion, rising to full height under a defensive pose, one arm raised half way over their head.
"I see, a man of silent step is approaching the overlord of ice! Have you come with ill intent in mind?"
"Very much not, Tanaka-san. I was trying to find shelter from the loudspeakers."
Gundham deflates a little, flicking his hand. "I shall believe your idle apology. Although, I have to warn you, mortal. I am in the middle of summoning a supporting hellhound to guard those damned grounds for the night."
He kneels back down, starting to draw again, brushing over the chalk with his bandaged hand. Korekiyo raises an eyebrow, stepping over to him with interest.
"A summoning circle?"
"You've heard right! Called upon from the darkest deepest pits of hell, I shall call for demon spawn help!" He pauses, tilting his head to the side. "Are you familiar with the dark practise?"
Upon closer inspection, Korekiyo finds that Gundham seems somewhat irritated. He doesn't have his hamsters on him and his hair looks disheveled, and the hand holding the chalk shakes a little.
"Familiar, yes", he responds, "I know one thing or other, from my personal interest with seances. We are talking about shikigami, may I assume?"
Gundham squints at him, before he sighs. "I prefer hellish companion, but you shall be granted permission to proceed."
Korekiyo reaches out his hand. Gundham blinks back at him, and Korekiyo flexes his fingers, pointing at the chalk. He hesitates, but hands it over after a moment of contemplation.
"Shikigami are conjured beings whose power is tied to the spiritual force of their master. The summoner, yes? I can see you possess much experience in the subject matter, so your output should be quite impressive."
He runs his hand over the smooth wood, erasing the shaky chalk line and drawing it anew.
"Impressive?" Gundham's voice comes out unusually quiet, but he immediately perks back up, pushing out his chest. "Impressive, indeed! I am flattered a mere mortal like you would be able to gauge my underwordly power with one bare glance! Are you in possession of the demon eye, perhaps?"
"Not any such thing", Korekiyo continues, dragging his knees over the floor to close the circle, "Merely common knowledge."
He sits up to his heels, inspecting the drawing.
"Shiki may possess animals or people, and should not be taken lightly", he continues, "Perhaps your rodent companions are of such kind?"
"How dare you! They may look nimble, but my four dark devas of destruction are the incarnate gods of darkness and destruction!" Gundham pumps his fist. "You shall tremble before their power, for their may shred you within mere seconds!"
"Yes, yes. Now where shall they be?"
Gundham falls quiet, averting his eyes. "They've been disturbed by the soundwaves of the vile enchantress in charge", he mutters, and Korekiyo nods. The music is quite loud, he assumes the hamsters would be the first one to be disturbed by it.
Maybe that's the reason Gundham appears to be in distress. He may not say it, but Korekiyo sees the way he retreats at times to be alone with the animals under the tree in the yard, mainly when too many people swarm him. Much like he'd do himself, but... Korekiyo doesn't have any pets to find solace in.
...maybe the solution here is much simpler.
"Though, on the chance to invoke the anger of summoned spirits, I do have a suggestion."
Gundham eyes him with his arms crossed, and Korekiyo offers him back the chalk. Notices his bandages around his wrist have come loose, and Gundham reaches over to tug it back in.
"Have you also been afflicted by the curse?"
Korekiyo stares at his fingers, wrapping his exposed skin up with nimble movements without ever laying eye on it directly.
"I suppose you could call it that", he responds quietly, "But I assure you, not in the same manner as you may be."
Gundham huffs and lets go of him, before meeting his eye again. "State your proposal, summoner of ghosts."
"Right. Summoning rituals do take up a great amount of spiritual energy, yes? As..." He squints at Gundham. "A master of the dark arts, surely, you need all the strength for possible invasion of the death riders?"
"May you be talking about the end of all days?" Gundham raises his bandaged arm and nods. "Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death, I call them acquaintances of mine!"
"Well yes, but wouldn't it be quite the sour welcome, if the earth restricted overlord of ice had exhausted all his energy?"
Gundham deflates, and Korekiyo nods again, getting up to his feet, offering Gundham his hand. "So? How does some study of the occult practises sound?"
He nods over to the shelves of books towering all across the library.
"I see. Preserverence for worst case scenarios. You've spared me great embarrassment in front of my army! I shall be indebted to you, whisperer of humans."
"A peculiar title... I shall treasure it. You have my thanks, my lord."
Gundham's eyes go wide, and Korekiyo swears he's blushing, tugging his scarf deeper into his face, finally taking his hand.
And for all the boisterous words Gundham shouts, his touch is fragile and shy, like he's afraid it may burn. Korekiyo doesn't close his hand around Gundham's, feeling a bit of tension fade from his grasp, helping him stand.
The music is just a dull thud in the back of the library, pleasant background noise over otherwise lively chatter about demons and ghouls and cursed swords.
Korekiyo has never met someone mirroring his interest in occult like this, finding someone who's so much like him in several ways.
And even after the party dies down in the distance, they stay late into the night, talking about legends and sightings and the fragility of temporary life.
Maybe fleeing from social interaction has granted Korekiyo the biggest wish. A friend.