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Desscaras meets Chikutoge Togeice two days before she's supposed to start classes at the academy. An older witch drops Desscaras off at her dorm so she can "settle in," which means they want her to make friends. Desscaras is here to become the best witch ever- she doesn't need friends to do that. So, when Desscaras walks into her new room and sees a girl probably her age sitting on a chair reading...
"Who the hell are you," Desscaras demands. "This is my room. Get out."
"This is my room too," the girl sneers, shutting her book, "we're roommates, idiot."
...
Desscaras is the most cocky, self-centered witch Chikutoge has ever met and will ever meet; she hasn't been alive long, but she's certain Desscaras will take the crown- if it fits on her inflated head. Unfortunately, Chikutoge is also certain Desscaras is the strongest witch their age and on the path to becoming the best.
It's annoying that they're sharing a room for the foreseeable future. Chikutoge might've even liked Desscaras if not for their forced proximity. But for now- and maybe for forever- she sees Desscaras as her first hurdle to pass on her way to being the best.
...
None of the other girls really like Desscaras. Completely understandable, Chikutoge thinks she could be more personable and less of a show-off, but it doesn't excuse talking bad about Desscaras behind her back.
When she walks into the bathroom after a class she ends up accidentally eavesdropping on a conversation between four girls from their year. The things they say about Desscaras aren't necessarily wrong, but Chikutoge bursts out of the stall as noisily as she can, startling the young witches.
"If you're gonna be rude," she sneers, "at least have the guts to say it to her face, cowards."
...
Desscaras hears the whole interaction from a different stall.
Not a word is said to Togeice about the whole situation. She doesn't care- the girls at this posh school made her gag a little anyways. She doesn't need their approval. They'll be eating their words soon enough.
Desscaras doesn't thank Togeice either; the thought passes through her mind, but that would be awkward. She doesn't need to thank Togeice, Desscaras could have handled those bratty girls all on her own. She decides to be a little nicer instead. Desscaras has to have at least one person she gets along with.
...
The first time Togeice beats Desscaras in a competition changes her.
It's nothing serious, just a magic hover board race, but she can't get the memory out of her mind- they were neck and neck, trying to push each other off their boards. It's a photo finish; they both demand a result. When they check Togeice just barely managed to finish first.
The shit-eating grin that appears on the normally cool and collected witch' face makes Desscaras' heart race and the only thing on her mind is how much she wants to kiss that look right off her stupid face.
...
Desscaras keeps her crush to herself. It would be mortifying if Togeice ever finds out. So, Desscaras acts out, trying to annoy Togeice into staying away from her so Desscaras doesn't have to deal with her feelings head on. It's a brilliant idea.
Except, it doesn't work at all.
No matter how annoying she is, Togeice sticks by her side. She rolls her eyes and complains the entire time but they end up friends. Desscaras thinks she might have to kill Togeice to make her feelings go away, but then she would miss her. She decides to just stay friends.
...
Libro dies shortly before they graduate from the academy and Chikutoge has no idea how to actually help Dess.
She would never admit it out loud, but Chikutoge likes Dess- loves her, even.
So, Chikutoge does what she can to get Desscaras through her brother's untimely death. She brings her food, helps her with coursework, sneaks out with her late at night to party in the city. Whatever she wants, Dess gets. Chikutoge is willing to help.
It would be a waste, she rationalizes, if the brightest witch of my generation never reached her potential because I couldn't help her.
...
Desscaras and Chikutoge graduate from the Mantinel Magic Academy as fully fledged witches. Desscaras doesn't bat an eye, she's been a witch since before they graduated, since before Libro died. She wishes he could be there to watch the ceremony.
It's extravagant and over the top and she loves it.
She loves the attention, the praise, everyone watching her as she gets closer to being the strongest witch. Desscaras already knows she's the best, but now so does everyone else. She spends the evening of her graduation surrounded by adoring fans, and yet she can't keep her eyes off Chik.
...
Desscaras spends years watching Chik. Dreaming of stepping closer and being able to touch her instead of just looking. Her small crush has grown, wrapping around the inside of her chest and sinking it's thorns into her heart, lying dormant until Desscaras finally decides its time to acknowledge that it's not just a passing fancy. She's not knee deep in a pond anymore, she's in the middle of a wide open ocean and she's drowning.
Desscaras lets herself drown.
A man being able to use magic is more likely than Chik loving Desscaras in the same way she loves her.
...
They're drunk.
Desscaras feels light and fuzzy and Chik looks ethereal bathed in the flickering candlelight of Desscaras' living room. It's late and Desscaras knows it's time to turn in, but she also thinks that this could be her only chance.
Before she can talk herself out of it, Desscaras grabs Chik by her collar and kisses her.
It's uncoordinated and messy but Desscaras is drunk and she doesn't care because for a moment Chik is kissing her back.
Then, Chik is pushing her away and running out the front door so fast that Desscaras doesn't even know what happened.
...
Chikutoge spends a month avoiding Dess like the plague after their drunken kiss. Chikutoge has no idea why she fled with her tail tucked between her legs like a scared dog. She's mortified by her reaction, which is why Chikutoge can't show her face around Dess until she's ready to be made fun of relentlessly.
When she does see Dess again there's no jokes; not even a reference to what happened. When Chikutoge tries to ask Dess about it she tilts her head and looks at her with her big, beautiful, honey-gold eyes and asks, "What are you talkin' about?"