daybreakacademy

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Who: Kano & OTA
What: magic practice, pettiness, finals
Where: Lumière, greenhouse, library
When: mid-month, before finals
Warnings: self-harm for prompt i., none expected for the rest
Notes: details of Kano's new Fey Contract can be found on his app

i. Lumière dormitory rooftop
[ Fey magic is a really... terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea. But Kano is determined to make it work, this new Contract that he'd forged a couple of days ago, but it's just so different from his usual illusion magic that he'd worked ten whole years to get to the point where he is now, illusions seamless and effortless compared to him staring at his arm right now wondering what he's doing wrong?

Because his arm is bleeding, a bloody knife on his lap while he pokes at the wound with his other hand and it just comes back bloody, him wincing because it hurts and why isn't the magic working? There's nothing intuitive about this at all, and he has no idea how he's supposed to make it work, with the magic supposed to be healing and dulling pain but it's just doing the opposite for him, the pain making it hard to keep a smile on his face, and making him feel like crying a little.

With a sigh, he waves hand over the bleeding cut instead of touching it, and it disappears— simply masked underneath an illusion, but it's still there while he tries to figure out how to do this, preferably before he bleeds out.

It won't come to it, though. He has three years worth of band-aids stocked up, and he knew they would be useful someday. ]

ii. campus, on the way to the greenhouse or inside
[ But you know what always makes up for terrible days? Even more terrible ideas to get your mind off previous ones. This one isn't that bad, though, because it's something that'll have positive long-term consequences. Probably.

Anyways, it's Kano with long sleeves and pants and winter gloves and the hood of his jacket pulled over his head and eyes and also a bandanna over the rest of his face so he can have as little skin showing as possible. It isn't all because of botched healing practice, though, it's because he's lugging around a three gallon plastic jug in his arms— you know, one of those large plastic containers twice the size of your head that you can buy cheese balls in, but instead of cheese balls, it's bees.

It's a jar full of bees.

He had to ship them to a PO in town and then lug them all the way back to campus; this insect purchasing restriction is really an awful pain. ]

iii. library
[ But also, anyways, it's almost finals and while Kano did surprisingly okay on his midterms, he's got to do slightly more okay on his finals too, because exam scored are literally all that's carrying his grades without the homework to pad it.

So the library it is... Books, his arch nemesis... Him, sitting at one of the open study areas with a stack of brand new text books in front of him that barely look touched, a mug of something on the table that's a dark dark red to the point that it's almost black and also has four tea bags sitting inside it that's steeped so long the tea is no longer steaming, and also hands clamped over his ears like he's trying to block out ambient noise, or massage away a headache, or give himself a headache so he can go hang out in the infirmary for the next two weeks and not do finals.

Why does Daybreak have to be a school??? Schools suck. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

But it's like that, isn't it? You go out and do things, and then dinner at the end to wrap it all up...

[ A whole day ordeal sounds exhausting, honestly, and he really doesn't want to be a part of it. Instead, he glances over at Yuya curiously. ]

What's he usually do during the day, do you know?

[ He imagines Toki stayed home to play with his cat, as he's always there when Kano drop by- disguised or not- but it's been a long time since he'd done that. ]

I don't know... class? But I don't know what he does outside of class.

[He's never really asked, but maybe he should? It's been a little weird where they've talked about some of their very personal experiences but also don't keep up with each other's day-to-day.]

Do you... really want me to go hang out with Toki right now, or is it just an excuse? [It comes out slowly, because he won't blame it for being an excuse. But also, since Kano mentioned he had a lot going on... does Kano know something's happened to Toki he doesn't? Is he worried?]

[ That's right... Toki actually goes to class, despite having abysmal grades even worse than Kano who doesn't, so he'd just assumed they were in the same boat. Outside of class, it's pretty hard to determine what people do anyways— as much as Kano runs into Yuya and vice versa, it's usually on the way to some place or another, and it's hard to describe what Kano does with all his free time that's not a nebulous "being up to no good." ]

Hm... I wouldn't call it an excuse? [ Not really. But the reasoning is complicated, and he'd rather not talk about it, so he just gives Yuya a shrug, and turns away from anything that may or not be up. ]

But if Toki's busy, there's nothing to do about it until he comes home, right? Why don't you invite me over for snacks, and you can teach me cards and keep me company?

Only if you want me to! [Yuya rubs his eye, briefly, and he hates this part when he's second guessing and trying to read feelings. Not even with Kano specifically, but in general, when he's not sure if he's gone into just being a pest while trying to help or just screwing something up.

He told Michael he doesn't focus on the past, but the truth is those old mistakes always pile up and make him afraid of making new ones.]

You don't have to do it for my sake, so... I'll text you, and if I'm not doing anything with Toki you can just come over if you want. Otherwise, it's really fine!

[ Good luck trying to figure out any of Kano's feelings, trying to parse through what he wants people to see, what he hopes people will realize, what he hopes people won't, the fact that he doesn't suggest things without an end goal and what he "wants" rarely plays into it. ]

Hm... Things aren't always for one person's sake or another's. I'll have a good time either way, so I'll wait for your text, or sleep through the evening. I have no plans, after all?

[Yuya, meanwhile, is just full of anxiety and self-esteem issues.]

Okay. [Yuya ducks his head a little, taking a step back.] Then... I'm going to get food, but I'll see you later?

[Later is vague, and that's just where Yuya keeps it. If he thinks he'd have a good time with Yuya, that makes him a little more hopeful he's not just being annoying. But with anyone besides Gongenzaka and Nana, it's hard to shake the feeling when he's not giving his best.]

Bye. [Yuya waves, turning to go to the cafeteria with the assumption Kano won't be following.

He'll send a text less than an hour later, once he's returned to his room with treats and found it Tokiless. Just a short invitation he can come by, and then Yuya curls up at his desk with Kuroko to watch movies on his phone.]

[ The text goes unread for an hour after... two hours... Either something came up, or Kano's ignoring the message, or maybe he'd fallen asleep. (he'd fallen asleep)

But two hours after Yuya first sent the text, there's a simultaneous knock/jiggling of the doorknob at the bedroom door, because Kano never figured out when the door is locked and when it isn't. Yuya never does get a text message confirming Kano coming over. ]

Yu~ya! Are you in? It's Kano! I've come over to play~!! Or maybe you're not in right now? Have you gone out?

[Yuya's still curled up at his desk two hours later, his head against the wood and mere inches from his phone screen as he watches the credits roll on the movie he was watching. It's for the best it takes a while, because his familiars get into another fight, and he thinks it was bad because he doesn't even remember what was happening in the movie or the room in the half hour his head felt like it was going to split open.

He slowly lifts his head when he hears Kano, and then jerks up suddenly and gently pushes Kuroko out of his lap so he can--first he slaps his face, rubbing his eyes to make sure he looks more focused than he feels.]

I'm still here! [Then he opens the door, offering Kano a welcoming smile.] I just finished a movie, so you picked a good time.

Hm, that bad, huh? Don't force yourself to follow through on things if it sucks.

[ Yuya can pretend to be focused all he wants, but there are still tell-tales signs, the exhaustion in his eyes, the stiffness in which he walks. He thinks maybe he shouldn't have been so pushy about Yuya going out with Toki or hanging out with him; people should just spend their days off with a good meal and a fourteen hour nap. ]

But alright~ Where were your cards again? —Hi Kuroko!— Were they in your desk?

[ He places a hand on Yuya's shoulder to turn him around so he can dig out his playing cards, but at the same time, Kano tries his hand again on that healing magic the Fey had promised him. Not healing any open wounds, but... dulling pain, clearing out a headache to make it easier to think, making one's limbs feel a little less heavy, little things like that he can't know if it works like that because he's not the one feeling it, but it can't hurt to at least try. If nothing comes of it, it's what he expected anyways. ]

[Sometimes, Yuya curses how easy he apparently is to read. He can't see it in himself at all, but everyone else can see all the signs he doesn't.

Kuroko yawns and stretches, giving Kano a slow blink before weaving between them to hop onto the table by the windowsill where the fish tank no longer sits.]

No, I'm really okay--[He insists as he's turned around and takes the guidance to the desk as he starts to open the drawer for his cards.

He stops halfway through, though, when he feels the pain start to ebb away. Unnaturally so, not in a bad way but it's too sudden to think it's his tolerance to the two of them building up. And Kano's hands are still on his shoulders.

He looks over his shoulder at him, wide-eyed with curiosity and his tone questioning for an answer.] Kano...?

Hm? What's up?

[ The hand remains on Yuya's shoulder despite the warning bells going off in his head, wanting to be hopeful but at the same time not wanted to be hopeful so easily. He leans around Yuya's side and peers into the drawer, like Yuya's asking him permission on something or whatever; he's not going to explain all on his own without being prompted, rather preferring Yuya to ask directly. ]

[Yuya doesn't stop him from snooping around.

He looks confused for a moment before he realizes there's nothing outward to express healing a headache and he needs to use his words.]

My head got a lot clearer just now. It doesn't hurt so much, dis you do something?

[He sounds equal parts awed and curious. Does Kano have healing magic now?]

Huh? Did it really? That's great!!

[ It really is, but he also doesn't answer Yuya's question— instead, he lets go of Yuya's shoulder and claps him lightly on the back, because he's got to figure out why his magic worked this time and not all the hundreds of times he's tried on himself, and Yuya is unfortunately now his guinea pig.

The headache should go away permanently... maybe... or maybe it'll rebound, he doesn't know, and can't really predict it just yet. The slap on the back? Will it hurt because it's a slap, or not at all because he's also touching Yuya in that moment?? Magic sure is fascinating. ]

No? [Yuya hardly notices the slap on the back, but that's mostly because it's not an actually injurious gesture and he doesn't think about the pressure.

Maybe he was presumptuous, thinking it was Kano doing something. Maybe he's just getting used to both of his familiars... or they're just being more quiet.

Yuya shakes his head to wave off the thought and pulls out the card box with a smile. He opens it and starts spreading them out on the desk.] They're all the same cards as before, but maybe I can explain some strategies?

[ It'll be better for the both of them if Yuya thinks that, because that headache will be coming back slowly but surely, especially once Kano hops over to sit on one corner of the desk so he can have a bird's eye view of the playing field while Yuya explains the cards and the rules and all those wonderful handwaveable details. ]

Yeah! Teach me Bonbon's strategy and the best way to defeat it!

Eh, but he's usually the one that beats me.

[But he can explain his strategy really well, havign analyzed Gongenzaka's deck and memorized a lot of his cards. Yuya sits in his chair since Kano parks himself on the table, and he starts pointing at cards, holding them out for Kano and describing how they work together.

He tries to soldier through the pounding in his head as it comes back, giving no indication except the occasional squint of his eyes and pause of his sentences. But they're separated from each other right now, he feels, and it isn't so unbearable when they're not fighting.

He can probably go on for at least an hour if Kano doesn't interrupt.]

Then, let's think of a strategy to beat him together~

[ Not that he'd be as much help to a seasoned card fighter, but maybe a new perspective on things will be useful, with the way he's quick to pick things up, gives no particular indication of understanding versus confusion in that his expression doesn't change at all from the light smile on his face, and lets Yuya talk for over an hour without interruption. ]

[Two heads are better than one, and Kano's natural talent for strategy probably gives Yuya some ideas how to approach his next duel. He's talking so animated, eating and offering the snacks just as often that the food's probably finished in that hour.

At the end he stretches, arching his back to fend of the soreness of sitting in place for so long.] Ha, you're getting the hang of it quickly, Kano. I bet you could even play Gongenzaka on your own and win.

Haha, it's because I have a good teacher, right? I wonder if I challenge him to a duel with terms, if he'd accept~

[ One that points out all of Gongenzaka's supposed weak points, so even without the experience the other two have, he's still got some leverage. He also hops off the desk and onto his feet, sweeping all the snack wrappers and whatever into the nearest wastebasket. ]

Next time you guys play together, invite me too, alright?

It probably depends on the terms... [Yuya scratches his cheek, but he smiles.] But we'll find a time to play together for sure!

[He starts to gather his cards in a pile.] Maybe then we can make you a d--ah!

[Yuya flinches, fumbling with his cards before he presses his hand to his face. It's a couple seconds before he looks back up, according scrunched up with frustration before he re-gathers his cards and puts them in the box.] We can make you a deck, too.

Uh—

[ Um??? He jolts, seeing that, because it reminds him so starkly of when he'd first seen Toki get hit by a vision, clutching his face and screaming out and that was the night he'd fallen off the roof and things went to shit— Toki had done that exact same thing too, just continuing on with the conversation like nothing was wrong, and Kano had rolled with it, and he'd always regretted that.

He won't make that mistake again now. ]

What happened? Did you see something??

[ Is this a vision migraine?? he can only assume it is ]

Huh? [Yuya blinks slowly, pinching his brows together. See what--oh.

He shakes his head.] No, I don't get visions. [That hasn't changed. He rubs his forehead as he closes the box, then rests his cheek on his hand as he looks at Kano.]

I summoned another familiar like Odd-Eyes when we went after the daemons who attacked the ball. I'm still adjusting to it.

[And he can tell the two of them aren't getting along. He's mostly just relieved that seems to have been a spike of irritation and not an actual fight just now.] You don't have to worry, though, I'm not hurt.

[ If Kano and Toki can be irresponsible and pick up new powers, it's reasonable enough to think that Yuya can too—- it seems that his guess was off track, but a new familiar is sort of in that realm. ]

A new one... Looks like it hurts, though, you don't have to lie about that.

[ He raises a hand to point at his forehead, where Yuya keeps reaching up to touch every time he gets another spike of a headache. ]

[Yuya ducks his head sheepishly when he's called out.] Sorry, I just--don't want to make everyone worry so much.

[He's already caused Nana and Gongenzaka a lot. It was a bad choice that's caused more problems, he thinks, than it helped any.] But I'm not physically hurt besides the headaches. They should stop when everything settles down.

[ "When everything settles down" is so vague, both in terms of how and when, but that's not really something he can help much with, right? So he parks himself in front of Yuya and waves his hands towards the bed. ]

Hey, sit down for a sec! Right there~ There's something I want to try! Like pressure points? They're supposed to make headaches and stuff go away?

[ Of course, he has no idea where the pressure points are and the proper technique to use them. But this'll give him the chance to poke and prod and work his magic- or not. ]

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