Chapter Text
Akiko and Arden sat in a café, one that accommodates for mutation quirks, but damn if they weren't expensive.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Arden asked as he sat across from his friend. Noting his compemplative look.
"Just I have something for you, to help with the winter seasons." He dug through his duffle bag looking for something. "Yknow?"
Akiko pushed over a caramel tea, right by his companion's hand. "It's already paid for, so don't worry about it."
Arden took a drink while nodding, "Ah! Found it." Akiko pulled out a piece of clothing and also handed it over.
He looked at it, getting a feel for it. The fabric was soft and breathable, it didn't feel like normal fabric that you'd find in an average store.
"What is this?" Arden asked, a few flowers opening in anticipation, he opened the piece and revealed a hood with slits for his antlers. His friend across the table just gave lazy smile.
"How'd you get this fabric?"
"Asked Powerloader for help." Akiko drank his green tea and reached into his bag again. He took a note book and placed it on the table.
"It's a hood to keep you warm since you tend to not dress accordingly," he opened on his page tapping the little notes on the side. It read, 'Stupid to weather conditions and will die probably.'
Arden was thoroughly unimpressed, "I'm so grateful you care." He glanced outside to the street watching how people were walking and enjoying life.
He kind of wished he wasn't bothered by the way he was treated sometimes, it was stupid. He's learning to help people.
It doesn't matter, he's a hero course student and he'll stick to it until graduation.
Akiko. Their first meeting sure was interesting, to think that an actual friendship would form from, a jumpscare and a stuffy ass classroom.
"Another thing, Ren. We haven't been hanging out as much lately."
Arden finished his caramel tea and set the cup to the side, "Well yeah, we're both busy, me more so."
He back-tracked, "Not like you're not busy, just hero course students spend more time in the field, so we're more tired."
Akiko's eyebrow twitched, "So you think support course kids aren't?"
"No! That's not what I meant." He waved his hand, "it's a lot of work, that's all."
"No, it's fine I'm sure you're tired from making plants grow all day." His face darkened while he said this.
Arden's ears also twitched, "Well you don't have to be mean about it."
They stared at each other, neither making a move to apologise, Akiko put his note book back. His tea half drank and going cold in his hands.
The few other people in the café were staring, the unwanted attention made both boys, at the table more tense. "I do more than make plants grow and you know it."
"Yeah? Because it doesn't seem like it."
People started murmuring and talking in hushed tones, Arden's sure he's heard them say something about him. His eyes carefully seeped over the café. All eyes on him and a few glances at his seat mate.
He inhaled, "You know what? No." He stood with the hood in hand and stepped out of the little booth they were in. "I'm not causing a bigger scene here, I'm leaving."
Akiko looked surprised but quickly put on a neutral face, he tilted his head up, like he always did when he felt as if someone challenged him. "Fine then, leave."
"But don't expect me to make something for you soon!" He yelled after Arden who already left the door.
His phone buzzed and it was a message from Arden, 'Don't expect me to ask.' is what it said.
"Stupid." He huffed and looked out the window, he didn't even want the rest of his tea. Now what? He has a few other projects to finish but they were for Arden, but he didn't want to do them now.
There were other that would ask him, Akiko could never catch a break from hero course students asking him for stuff. Even back in his first year.
One of the waiters came over concerned, "Are you ok?" He glanced over, his eye bags somehow more prominent than before.
He gave her a nod, she looked relieved, "Oh good, you know how they are." He faced her fully, raising an eyebrow.
" 'They'?"
"You know people with mutation quirks, always demanding things so that they can have it easier than the rest of us."
Oh, so she's like that? Shame she was his favourite waiter too. "Accommodation is not a demand." She ignored the look on his face and his words, Continuing on her rant about people with mutation quirks.
"Don't you agree?"She smiled waiting for a positive response.
"No. Do you know where you work?"
She scoffed, "Just because they're allowed here, doesn't mean they should."
"Just so you know, I'm not coming back here, " Akiko stood glaring down at the woman. "and I'm not paying either, fuck you."
With that he left, walking down the street he came across a store that sold support items. Not professional ones but just enough to help people get by.
There was a poster in the window so he went to get a closer look, "Huh, an expo?" For the 14th to 19th July, could he make it?
'It'll be good to get some new ideas...' He thought about the prices and how much free time he would have. It was May right now so he could save up?
He pulled out his phone about to text Arden but stopped himself. 'Right... I still have to apologise, damn it.'
'He should too! Man I'll just do it later, I need to get home.' He jogged the rest of the way home.