Chapter Text
My eyes slowly drift open, my chest aches, and I can’t breathe. I slowly roll over to my side and groan, slowly regaining the air in my lungs. Gold Ship bends down to my level, scratching her head at the situation. It had been several hours of training, and we were finishing up with a joke race; however, Gold Ship took it a bit far with the end celebration.
“ Wow, can’t even take a kick, eh? I’m not even sure you’re good enough for the trip to Eden then… “
She says, slightly shocked and sarcastically mocking me, now holding a hand out to me
I push myself up off the ground, grabbing Gold Ship’s hand, who helps to pull me up. Getting on my feet, I cower over while holding my stomach. Each movement hurts, and I can barely make out words as I slowly stand upright
“ Is he okay!? Why did you do that? “
McQueen panics, hoping over the fence to me as she scolds Gold Ship
“ He could’ve been seriously hurt, or maybe he is! Jesus! “
“ Pfff… It was just a kick! And look, he’s standing up right now! You’re good, right, Trainer? “
She walks over to my side, humorously slapping my back as she defends herself
“ Yeah… just… God… “
I say, still coughing loudly and regaining my breath.
McQueen makes it to us, now looking around at me as she sighs, rubbing her face before grabbing my arm. Pulling me away from Gold Ship, she drags me over to the table and chair before sitting me down, returning back to Gold Ship.
“ Really, Gold Ship? You just got a new trainer and you’re already doing this kind of stuff? You did this last time, and guess what? The last one left! “
She throws her hands around, annoyed at the whole situation, as she quickly flares up
“ I… I was just trying to be funny! “
Gold ship puts on a nervous smile, trying to de-escalate the situation
“ Funny? He could’ve gotten hurt! When are you going to learn that this kind of stuff is just going to drive others off? “
McQueen flares up again, continuing to throw her hands around as she berates Gold Ship
“ I… I was just trying to be funn- “
Gold Ship quickly shrinks down, her expression and overall body tone turn depressed
“ No, Gold Ship. I keep trying to help you, but it… It gets to be a lot. “McQueen now starts to calm down, sighing as she tries to fix the situation
Gold Ship doesn’t respond, simply looking at McQueen before peaking over to me. Her expression is filled with embarrassment and overall guilt as she walks past McQueen and me, now jumping over the fence as she starts to walk off.
“ Gold Ship, come on! I was… ugh… “
McQueen walks over to the table, holding her face and sighing as she sits on the dirt next to me, her back lying on the barrier to the fence
I look down at McQueen, who is still holding her face, quietly talking to herself. I should say something…
“ Are you okay…? “
I continue to look down, still slightly taken aback at the whole situation
“ It’s just… I try to help, but it never seems to stick with her. “
She drops her hands to her side, visibly upset as she tries to calm down
“ I get that, but at the same time, you’re trying to change who she fundamentally is. If people can’t accept her for who she is, then… It’s not her fault, it’s their fault. “
I try to understand both sides, trying to assure her while being empathetic
I get up and walk over to McQueen, standing over her with a hand out. She looks up at me for a moment before taking my hand, standing up as she slowly puts a smile on her face.
“ Thanks… You should go talk to her instead. I need to go check up on some stuff. “
She turns around slowly, still visibly upset but calmed down, now making her way off the field.
I’m left by myself at the table, I sit back down and look at the flipped plushie of Gold Ship, sitting it upright as I slowly look at it. Maybe Gold Ship does know she’s like this, that might’ve explained the hands on her head at the locker room. I sigh and stand back up, grabbing my phone, bag, and lastly the plushie. I slowly cross the fence and walk up the stairs, now making my way to my office.
It’s a short walk, and it feels warmer than the previous days. I grab my phone out of my pocket and open the screen, 6:12 PM. I shut it back off and stuff it in my pocket, finally reaching my office. I drop off my bag next to my desk, shut the door, and begin the walk to the dorm rooms.
It’s once again a short walk. I watch as students begin pouring out of the main hall and cafeteria to whatever they had planned for the day, either walking back to their dorms or something outside of the academy. I spot McQueen for a second, who’s talking to a similarly tall student. I think that’s… Teio? I remember seeing her on social media for a race she won. I wonder what she and McQueen are talking about. I quickly turn my attention back to the path and start coming up on the dorms. I walk past a slightly busy road and reach the dorm area.
I stop in my tracks and look at the different housing blocks. I never really asked which block she lived in. I’m about to turn back and just talk to her tomorrow, but I finally remember her student papers. Ritto Dorm! But… was it junior or senior? I struggle between the options and settle for checking the senior first. I walk over to the building and step inside. I spot a student walking towards the stairs and try to ask her if she knows where she lives.
“ Excuse me, can you help me find a student? “
I call out, speed walking over to the other student
She turns to face me, and I can slightly recognize her
“ Yes? Who are you? “
She looks curiously at me, her arms folded
“ You’re… Fuji Kiseki, right? The dormitory leader? “
I point a finger out, still doubting myself
“ Yes I am, and you are…? “
She looks even more curiously at me, now expecting a response from me
“ Oh, right! I’m Gold Ship’s trainer? Do you know which dorm she lives in? “
I hold a hand out, trying to be friendly
“ Nice to meet you then, Trainer. I believe she lives in the last dorm on the top floor. “
She shakes my hand in return, letting go and keeping her hands at her side now
“ Thank you, nice to meet you as well! “
I quickly bow down, walking past her
“ You too! “
She says, watching me walk past before continuing up the steps slowly
I quickly reach the top floor and make my way down the hallway, stepping in front of the last room at the end. I walk up and knock on the door, still holding the plushie in my hand. I wait for a few seconds and knock again, receiving no answer still. I continue to stand there, now raising another fist to knock on the door. I’m about to knock again before the door creaks open slowly, and an eye peeks out from the crack.
“ Trainer? What are you doing here? “
Her eye widens, she quickly opens the door fully, and stands there, slightly taken aback
“ I just wanted to make sure you were okay after what happened at the track. You also forgot your plushie. “
I hold up the plushie, slightly smiling as I raise my eyebrows
“ Trainer, I’m… I’m so sorry… “
She quickly starts to tear up, covering her face with her hands
We stand in silence for a second. I’m about to speak up when Gold Ship walks up to me, hugging me tightly. She digs her face into my shoulder, quickly locking me in place. I drop the plushie and slowly move my arms out of the hold, returning the hug. I can faintly hear her mutter something under her breath before releasing me.
“ I’m sorry if it was unexpected, I’m not trying to make you feel weird… “
She quickly turns back around, walking over to her bed as she cleans the run-down tears on her face
“ Gold Ship, I promise you that you’re fine. Do you wanna… talk about it? “
I slowly follow her, grabbing the plushie off the floor and closing the door behind me as I sit next to her on the bed
“McQueen’s right, I drive everyone away! She’s only my real friend because she’s forced to stick with me! All of my friends are! “
She quickly tears back up, her whole tone emits bleakness
“ Listen, I talked to McQueen, and she just worries about you for this exact reason. I’m starting to worry as well, especially after what happened in the locker room. “
I put a hand on her back, trying my best to be helpful and nice
“ You… You don’t think I’m a burden? “
She whips her eyes, looking directly at me
“ No, Gold Ship. Not at all… You’re just different, and that isn’t bad. “
I smile, patting her back now
“ It’s been a week, and guess what? You are the funniest, most interesting person on this entire campus. “
We lock eyes for a second, a glint shines in Gold Ship’s eyes as she hugs me tightly again, I return the hug once more, and we sit in silence, embracing each other for what feels like an hour.
“ Thank you… do you… Still want to go to Eden with me? “
She sits up for a second, locking her eyes with mine again as her tears dry up
“ Of course, I wouldn’t want to do anything else. “
I smile slightly, sitting back up as I put the plushie on the ground next to me
Gold Ship smiles back, fixing her hair and straightening her outfit for a second.
“ Hey, this might be out of the blue, but… do you wanna hang out here for the night? I have movies we can watch. “
She slightly blushes, her tone switching from bleakness to overall joy
“ You know what? I got nothing else going on, let's do it. “
Gold Ship puts on a large smile, roping her arm around my neck as she pulls me down to lie on the bed. She pulls out her phone and pulls up a pirating site for movies. She scrolls around and finally presses start on the movie she wanted to watch. It buffers for a second, and the title finally loads in, Zebra man? I turn over to Gold Ship, who’s already looking at me, now slightly chuckling.
“ This is what comedy should’ve been! Now pay attention or else… “
She turns back to her phone, still smiling as she starts the movie
I roll my eyes and return my gaze to the screen. As time passes, the movie itself isn’t anything special. Something about a teacher becoming an old TV show character, or at least that’s what I picked up from the constantly moving phone. Slowly and slowly, the phone comes lower and lower to the point it’s an inch above our faces as Gold Ship falls asleep. I try to get up, but one of her arms keeps me stuck on the bed. I’d rather not wake her up. I look over at Gold Ship, who’s practically drooling over herself. I guess I’m stuck here. I slightly smile before closing my eyes, slowly going to sleep.
Hope it keeps up like this…