"Miss. Teacher, why do you need it so badly?"
"BECAUSE I NEED IT!" Akimazu spits out, gripping the ball tightly and clenching her fist. "I've tried every year to beat that damn numbscroll of a Yokai!"
Visions of Chiro surround her: "Haha, look who won~." "It's all about me, me, me!" "I'm the most loved Yokai in this college~." "Pack it up, babe, you'll never beat me." "I'm number one in this house~." "Hey, did you know who won teacher of the year? Let me give you a guess… It's not you."
Akimazu stares at the ceiling and laughs maniacally, spreading her arms wide in acceptance. "Last time, it didn't happen, let's just say I raised some mutants. One of them is actually a famous soldier. Have you heard of Haraum?"
A night angel gasps. "No way you trained him."
"Yeah, way I did. I trained that class clown with every fiber of my being: grouped him with the worst, separated him from his friends, anything! I even broke a dodgeball on his head, and that's only the beginning."
Akimazu lowers her gaze to them, her eyes slit and her hands clenched. "I will say this: if you value life, do not get on my bad side."
An archangel raises her hand. "Uh, Question: do you punish the whole class or only the troublemaker?"
"Depends on my mood. I might do a group practice today if any of you annoy me today, so be a good child and stay silent."
Akimazu went around the room taking roll. "Kailus, Alanze, Akiro, Bresic, D'shaura, Hazel, Tristan, Shaurqi—"
'I really didn't mind these types of teachers. They were the closest I ever had to relating with my classmates, even though it wasn't that bad.'
'Damn it, she's one of those.'
'Freetime for us.'
"Alright, listen here, you energy sacks," Akimazu yells out, catching the students off guard. "I hope you're ready because I am! I see a lot of fat-fucks in this class, and I know for a fact you won't last a minute in the tournaments."
"Whoa, what the hell do you mean by 'tournament'?" a nymph shouts. "It better not ruin my face."
"I didn't enroll here to fight; I enrolled for education. I swear if I break an arm in one of these 'tournaments', I will sue the LIFE out of this college."
Akimazu bounces a ball on her left hand while looking at her right wrist. "Chill out, weiny pig juniors, it's not gonna hurt you to participate, unless you like sitting in a cuck chair"—she turns to the class—"then I can't help you."
Akimazu puts her hands behind her back and walks in circles around them. "You're gonna be in soft, DURABLE suits during the entire event, and they're 100% safe, so don't even try to excuse yourself. It'll be fun and exciting for everyone, and you'll learn a thing or two about the world when the time arrives. Enough said, I have to start class. Follow me."
The energetic students, along with some of the tired ones, follow Akimazu.
"Shalius, wait up!"
Kailus runs over to Shalius.
"Ahh, my comfort zone. Come back~. Ugh," Akiro whispers as she collapses to the floor. As on cue, a group of girls stands around her.
Akiro's eyebrows furrow. "What," she questions, her tails wrapping around herself.
Karina is the first to speak up. "Hey, so are you friends with Kailus, the crybaby?"
'Why does she begin a conversation with an insult? I "totally" trust you.'
"No, we have a relationship as roommates. What makes you think he's a crybaby? He's a shy kid, yes, but not much of a crybaby. And if he were, he would've never trust a dazzling kitsuné like me," she points at herself with a hint of jazz.
Hazel clenches her fist. "What makes you think he's different? He uses expressions for everything—mimicking others to fit in. He used to steal other classmates' toys and cry when we took them back! I lost my little sister's toy 3 years ago to him, and she wouldn't speak to me for 2 months, and reminds me everytime we argue. Do you think someone can change that easily?"
'Mimicking expressions? He has a halo! Couldn't you see past it? The teachers could've easily caught his lie.'
"He once stole from Raphael, the kid with an abusive father. That was the final straw. He went up to Kailus and docked him. You should've seen his bloody face," she says with a grin. "After that, he got expelled, but that didn't stop him, sadly."
'It seems fake... by the looks of them, they're serious about this.'
"Even I wasn't that spoiled," Katrina claims. "I would've stopped at the fighting."
'You sound just like one.'
Akiro squints her eyes. "That's awful and all, but is it hard to see change in someone? That happened years ago. You should focus on yourself rather than hating someone for the rest of your life. Seems like child's play."
'If this is true, wow, no wonder he became religious. So the zealous angel had a little demon inside him after all. Oo~, another card in my arsenal~. How could a sweet thing ever do something so vile?' She feigns purity.
A dark elf adds. "No, it's deserved. He masks himself for approval, and when he doesn't get it, he'll go to great lengths to annoy you. Two years ago, he used to ragebait us into attacking him. And when we do, he'll tell the teacher. I almost got expelled because of him. Last year, he even—"
Akiro cuts him off. "I already have a headache from Reinhard's class. Tell me more about this later on. How about at lunch?"
"Yeah, we can do that."
The group walks away.
'So this is why his face spells guilt all over when I first met him? But who wouldn't want more cards in their deck? It's clear they only care about his downfall, and it's honestly sad that the only thing holding their group together is gossip and hatred. They're the ones you're told to stay away from because, you know, they cause the most suicides.'
(Although they went through puberty, they haven't gone through a single growth stage. Now, they're trying to ruin his reputation and garner friends by entertainment, since their only personality is information.)
'Are they that arrogant and needy to ruin his pr? Kailus is such a sweet boy. I couldn't imagine what would happen to him.'
Akiro imagines a conversation:
"Girl, I used to have an annoying kid in my school who would steal and cry. He was such a brat," she says in a California tone.
The other person interested in this slop will ask. "Is that so?"
"Totally, super annoying. He goes to this college now, so be careful, babe."
"Oh my gosh~, thank you, baby!"
Soon, Kailus is gonna be known as a crybaby and become the college joke.
Kailus cries in the corner.
BACK.
Akiro looks at Kailus smiling ear to ear, as Shalius stands beside, counting his push-ups. "101, 102, 103, 104, 105..."
'He's so oblivious to his downfall. I have to stop them, but I need to use the bathroom first.'
Akiro yells out. "Hey mentor, where's the bathroom?"
"Back in the classroom you came out of, YŌKAI! The first door you see Infront."
'Oh my, she blurts it out like a slur. Hehehe~.'
After the bathroom:
'Ah, now I'm refreshed, it's time to make some allies. But it feels good to lie on the ground right now~.'
She gets visions of a hospital:
Kailus: "Darling, remember when you had the chance to save me from the humiliation in my college years, but didn't?"
'Ew, it sounds so creepy when he says it.'
Akiro nervously says. "N-no."
Kailus smiles. "Since you're in critical condition, no one will know if I put something inside you."
He reaches his hand towards her.
Akiro shutters. "Wait, Kailus, please, no. Stop!!"
Back:
'See, this is why you respect healer races, no matter what, because they can do anything without your knowledge. You could be shaking hands and die in your sleep from stage six colon cancer. If I save him, I wouldn't need a doctor and could actually save enough for candy. Or he can heal my cavities. Well, my zealot boy, I'll save you!'
Akiro begins her missionary.
She walks towards the workbench where an exhausted night angel lies.
Akiro leans into her space, whispering. "Hey, have you heard of Kailus?"
The night angel tilts her head up, panting. "No."
Akiro continues: "Amazing, I'm here to warn you of a group that's making their round by speaking ill of others' past experiences. They're spreading his past sins to force him to be a common enemy amongst all. Whatever they say abou—"
Night angel stands up with a gleam in her eyes. 9ft tall atleast. Her arms and breasts bulged slightly with a low, serious voice. "Who?"
Akiro sweats slightly. 'I knew night angels would take it a bit too seriously, but I didn't know it would be like that. I'm glad I didn't say he was an angel and specifically a GENESIS Angel. They'll kill first before knowing the reason.'
Akiro walks back. "Calm down, dear, it's not been spread around—atleast to my eyes—but I want you to have an open mind whenever it comes around, to deter others from this gossip. Got it?"
The night angel thinks for a moment before sitting down.
Akiro breathes calmly. 'Thank God.'
She goes to another student.
A tired bunny-kin lies on a blue mattress, sprawled on the floor.
"Sup," Akiro says.
"Hello," the bunnygirl says in a calm tone.
"Do you know about Kailus?"
"Of course I do," the bunny girl says irritably. "I was his first crush back in kindergarten."
'FIRST CRUSH?! Oh, I gotta hear about this.'
Akiro grins. "Continue, darling. I'm interested."
"Thank you, dear, I appreciate it." The bunny girl smiles. "He was a shy boy who was coddled constantly by the teachers. Many called him the favorite kid."—Her face contorts into disgust at the last comment—"Being cherished gave him a massive superiority complex. He would constantly, and I mean constantly, show off his wings. That's when I appeared."
Flashback: 6th grade
Kailus walks to Bulma's table, brimming with excitement. "Would you be my girlfriend?"
Bulma, along with her friends, stares at him.
Whispers went around the girls' table. "Kailus wants Bulma." "Oo~, someone's got a crush." "Is Bulma gonna say yes?" "The prodigy is asking her out." "Why couldn't it be me?!"
Bulma felt eyes on her, wanting her to say yes and accept him into her arms. "I-um. I… no."
Kailus' halo turns deep blue. "What?"
"I-I'm sorry, I declined," Bulma reluctantly answers, hiding her face in her shirt.
Kailus tears up and runs off into the distance. "Teacher!"
Back.
"After that, he went to tell the teacher I beat him, and gladly, they didn't believe. I transferred six months after due to some family issues, so you could say he won in the end. Why did you ask of him?"
Akiro sits infront of her. "Well, it's not an ideal of information, but a plea of openness?"
"Openness? I'm as open as a book." The bunny girl lies on her side with her palm against her head. "Haven't seen him for a long time, but he acts just the same. I could see it."
In the background, the old classmates watch Akiro: "Will she join us?" "Probably, we really need a relaxed person in our group." "What about me? I'm relaxed." "Not that relaxed."
'They already assign a role like I'm a servant. Is that bunnygirl with them?'
Akiro rolls her eyes at their conversation. "How? His eyes have amassed great guilt within them. Perhaps his past actions are hurting him on the inside?"
The bunnygirl stares at Kailus. "Looks like he's having the time of his life with his girlfriend—smiling, laughing, and all. I doubt he changed. Please girl, I know you want to steal a charged angel for yourself, but babe, he's not the one. He'll play you like an instrument."
She points at Kailus. "He's smiling, not an ounce of regret on his face. Kailus assumes he can get any girl because he's a 'charged Genesis angel'—quite pathetic, honestly. It's like how men pretend to be Yarnabee fans to get your body 'than your personality, interest, etcetera."
'Is he really playing a shy attitude? No, no, no… he looks too calm, too brave—too.. normal. He didn't have that when we first met. He must've feigned it! Is that why he 'prays' aloud? To have an alibi? Why can't beings just be themselves rather than playing a character! Is your personality that boring of a male whore?!'
The other girls intervene in their conversation. "Oh, you're talking about him? That Kailus guy is something. I remember he used to look under our skirts." "Oh yeah, he used to whine when he wasn't picked as leader." "What a brat, ahaha!"
The bunnygirl moves away, mumbling feigningly. "Ugh, the Jasmin girls again."
'She's independent from their group. That means Kailus is probably the same one.'
Akiro waves them off. "Yeah, I'll see for myself."
The bell rings.
"Break time, kiddos," Akimazu shouts. "Stuff whatever you find down your throats."
A fairy yells from above. "Including each other?"
Akimazu laughs before covering her mouth. "Y-you know what I mean—just go!"
Kailus gets up, sweating profusely. "Too easy," he murmurs, rubbing the sweat off his forehead.
"With your physique, it would be concerning if you were unable to perform that," Shalius says, folding her arms.
"Is that so? Man, I'm so average. I need to do better than that."
They return to their seats:
Akuro stares deeply at Kailus. 'His vocals are fine, but his hand movements are very timid, his eyes scan the room more often, and he fixes his pants and shirt too much. Very typical of a shy kid, but I'm unsure whether he's faking it. I have to ask him and gauge his facial and halo reaction.'
After being teleported into another room, they exit into the halls.
Akiro, seeing this as a chance, calls him. "Kailus, I have a grand question for you."
Kailus stops and turns to Akiro. "What is it, friend," he answers with a smooth voice.
"Are you faking your personality?"
"No, why would I?" Kailus asks, furrowing his brow. "That's too much to handle with my schedule."
Akiro steps closer, invading his space with the same fierce eyes. "Better yet, did you use to steal toys when you were young?"
Kailus stops in his tracks, wide-eyed and stoned. His voice starts to shake and stutter. "Y-yes… but I-I changed…" he says quietly. "Akiro, I hated him with all my heart. Do-n't mix me with him."
"Two years to change? I highly doubt it. Tell me this: Did you snitch to the teacher when you got rejected?"
"No, it didn't happen. I asked Daisy for a pencil, and she took it as an invitation. I tried to explain, but I didn't like the attention, so I cried and went to the teacher. I wa-s soft, so caN YOU STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!"
Commotion shifted to Kailus and Akiro—all eyes were on them. Kailus walks away, faintly mumbling into the crowd. "Hey, I'm sorry we got on the wrong side. I'll see you later."
'His face... It's genuine. He wasn't faking it…'
(Just as Kailus hoped his pride would be unchallenged, his past had brought it down yet again, and his joy even lower.)
Akiro tries to reach out. "Oh, Kailus I'm—"
Shailus snatches Akiro's hand away. "Stop."
Akiro's ears droop to her head, her eyes shimmer slightly. "I-I thought he was.. something different."
"And you were wrong." Shailus harshly declares. "Do not speak to us again."
'I'm sorry Akiro. I'm overreacting. I should've told her the truth. WHY AM I LIKE THIS?! Now everyone thinks I'm a crybaby. I ruined the chance I had again!'
Damish's voice echoes at the back of his mind: "dance in embarrassment, enjoy in ostracism."
'Damish says to enjoy ostracism, but how can I live without someone to care? I want a girlfriend. I want people to like me. Everyone likes Maephiers for his personality. Why can't I be him? The only person I ever had a soul connection with is Damish—and maybe Shailus, but she wouldn't like me after knowing my past.'
Kailus sits at a corner table.
Shalius fluffs her skirt and takes a seat by him. She puts a hand over his shoulder.
"Kailus, look, can you tell me your past. I promise to be as open as I can be." She says, offering Kailus a golden peanut.
Kailus declines with a sluggish head shake. "I'd rather not. Whatever they say about me is true, and whatever absurdity that comes from their lips was possible by me. You wouldn't like me if you were a part of my life."
"Stop being so negative, it's clear you've changed. It's nothing, as you had exaggerated. Stealing toys? I can see wrong. A miscommunication? I understand. They're overreacting—"
"No, they're not. Please, just let it go."
They stand there quietly. Kailus reaches out and pins the golden peanut's wrapper by the tip and slides it to him. He unwraps and eats silently, looking out the window.
Some seniors join their table.
One of the seniors, a dwarf, points at Kailus. "Hey, what's with the Genesis Angel?"
Shalius sighs. "A person's past can harm their future, whether by action or mental levels."
"Why don't you learn from it, not sulk in it! Look at you, you're practically dying."
Kailus and Shailus glare daggers at him.
The dwarf shifts his position and grabs a crisp from his plate. "Uhh, what is it, champ?"
Kailus twiddles his thumb while staring at the table. "Well, I-I used to be spoiled—"
"That's all," the dwarf yells. "We've all been. I remember chasing my father with a knife because he didn't give me candy. Best believe my ass was handed."
The nymph beside Donald gasps. "All the years I've been with you, you've never told me that. That's an attempted murder charge, Donald, on your own family!"
"Oh Ghyme, so innocent, so pure. If only you knew how short my temper was as a kid."
Ghyme shoots an irritated glare. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Heh, I used to cry to the teacher whenever I had the chance as a child, and spread false accusations. It was so embarrassing."
'How bad?' Shalius asks in her mind.
Donald sighs. "I wish I were that passive. I had to move a lot because I was fighting everyone and everything. I remember beating up a disabled kid."
The table goes quiet.
"Geeze, I went to the hospital so much," Donald groaned, looking down at his plate. "I'm like an MC to a human's novel, except I'd be hated.. anyways, champ, what's your name?"
"Kailus."
"Names Donald, not to be confused with the other one." Donald gives a malevolent frown, his voice loud and authoritative. "Don't refer to me as him."
Kailus' wings move back as his eyes widen. "Ok," he quickly utters.
"And who is this other one?" Shalius asks, leaning forward with a hand on her chin.
" 'Yuan Regume the "Chad", but I prefer to call him Yuan the dick. He's the type of person to bully 'ugly people', surround himself with used condoms, and is a partygoer—drunk, reckless, rich boy and all. His father's a billionaire. If he comes to you, don't accept his invitation."
Shalius circles her finger under her lips. "What are you then," she asks, her eyes gazing deep into his.
Donald grins as he opens his jacket full of snacks and sodas. "Contraband man," he says proudly before zipping it up. "Also I'm the 'weirdo king' or what Yuan Dickeater calls me. Everyone says I'm the chill, popular guy, not the talkative one but someone who could sweeten the mood of others. Are you two freshmen by chance?"
Kailus nods. "Yes, we both are," he says, gesturing toward Shalius.
"Good, I'm a senior in these parts."
Kailus and Donald exchange tons of past experiences, noting how common their natures are. Ghymes and Shailus offer some commentary but remain silent for the most part.
Shalius smiles. 'It's hard to show emotions, but it's easy to smile whenever someone receives a blessing in their life. I want Kailus to feel proud, to appease what his ancestors bought mine. But that Akiro girl… if she stays true to her mocking, I may need to eliminate her. No one can diminish my allies' values and live to tell the tale.'
After lunch, Kailus waves goodbye to Donald and Ghymes. "Bye! See you tomorrow!"
"That's if we meet during breakfast or even after school! You have lunch with the sophomore!"
"Ok, Shailus.. what's the next classroom?"
"Room 374, monopoly class."