Admittedly, this is a nice change of pace. One that I didn't think I needed at first.
The sounds of pen meeting paper as ink flowed and words formed working in the office were relaxing in their own right. However, this too is pleasant in it's own way.
There are no cliques to worry about.
No politics and schemes to be wary of.
Not even the slightly strung tension as I look out for ambushes and suprise attacks.
Peacefully indulging myself in this labyrinth of a book has almost been therapeutic. Even with the complicated cyphers it was encrypted in, I enjoyed the thrill of unraveling the challenge with the help of the new materials Shuzenji has given me.
"Gah!" A frustrated cry sounded out.
Now only if my friend were to finally succeed.
Shuzenji has been pulling me along to help supervise his endeavours during our free time. --Not that I minded of course, as I have been treating it as a break of sorts.-- But that doesn't change the fact that I have been watching him climb an emergency staircase by the side of a building and hurling himself towards the ground like a fish on dry land.
When he had informed about the gift of flight back in his home village, I pictured him to be a lost bird trying to find its way back to the nest. I understood the feeling of that desperation.
Teleport has always been with me. It was the only actual connection I had with my late mother. In my desperation to prove it's --and mine own-- worth, I trained relentlessly. Even if never personally known the one that gave me life at the cost of her own, I take comfort at the fact that I am living up to her legacy. Although, truth be told, it wouldn't have been easy if it wasn't for the inherited mental facets from my father.
Any other person would have scolded him after the first time Shuzenji has broken a bone from falling the wrong way, but I am not one of those people.
So I kept watching him with bated breath. Even as I read book in my hands, I made sure to pay attention to the space he inhibited.
So I observe. My sympathy goes out to the boy who is desperately and tenderly fostering the few connections he has left, just as I had in the past.
Then it happened.
My breath hitched as the eyes of the boy in red glowed a dim luminous shade of purple and floated millimetres from the ground for a second just before crashing again.
A single. Scarcely. second.
Despite the minuscule scale of his success in contrast to his efforts on the days we meet, Shuzenji was visibility overjoyed. It was the most that I have seen him emote in a positive manner.
I was distracted by how bright he smiled and got lost in his peals of laughter, that I didn't notice him rush up to where I was sitting and pulled me into a tight hug. One in which I decided to reciprocate.
It was a suprise, yes. But I wouldn't call it an unpleasant one.
"Finally..." He said softly, the frustration and tension leaving as he relaxed. "I figured it out."
I pat his back. "Now, now. Let us not get ahead of ourselves." I said breaking away from the hug and holding his shoulders. "This is just the first step is it not? You have yet to truly take to the skies."
"Right." He nodded. I can see a blush crept up his cheeks as the realisation of what he had just done came to him. "But still, I finally have some progress! I remember the feeling, now all I have to do is repeat what I done but this time, longer and further."
"Indeed." I turned him around and nudged him back to the stairway just as I felt my own face beginning to flush. "Now off you go before you forget the sensation."
And off he went. Even from behind, I can briefly see his red ears peeking out from his hair.
As he began his climb for another jump, I buried my own visage with the book to hide my own face.
'I suppose I won't be forgetting about this.' I thought. The rest of our stay was made in awkward silence. And yet, I couldn't help but sneak a few more glances before and after we parted that day.
~~~~~~~~~~
"I still can't help but feel as if we're breaking some kind of rule in place." I lightly huffed.
"The only rule in place is 'Keep off the grass'. Nothing about that said anything about being above them." Said Kuzuki. I can almost picture him rolling his eyes.
"I do not think that climbing the trees would be a much better compromise. But I suppose it is better than being out in the open, or worse." I sighed.
The two of us are currently hiding in the greenery of the park that Oneesama likes to frequent on her daily commute. It is also the exact same place that she and that brute would meet up either by coincidence or or planned convergence.
We are here to scout out that ape's intentions for Oneesama and whether or not that he is something much worse than an a simple skirt chaser. As apparent by Kuzuki accompanying me for today, as even if Uiharu had done some background checks on him, I would truly doubt that it has valid --if any at all-- information about his less than scientific connection.
And speaking of, the redhead even brought a professional camera with him today. When I inquired him about it, his words were; 'If something did happen, then we would have some prime evidence, yeah?' Which, to be fair, his words hold truth to them. But I have known the boy long enough to recognize that mischievous glint in his eyes anywhere.
Knowing him, it would be some 'blackmail material' as Saten-san would call it.
No matter.
What does matter is that the Brute would arrive at any moment now according to the habit that we has observed thus far. As it is, Oneesama has already done her usual roundhouse kick to the faulty vending machine --Which should have been fixed long ago. Incompetent greedy managers, I swear.-- which showcased her unladylike demeanor and her bland, uncute shorts.
'Although...' Taking a short glance to my right side to see that Kuzuki wasn't paying attention to her but is swiveling his head to look out for anyone else approaching. 'I felt relieved about the latter fact now.'
I'll deal with these blossoming feelings later.
Kuzuki is someone I know and can trust to put my life in his hands after bonding for more than a year. But right now, I have to deal with Oneesama's potential suitor and see for myself if such he's worth even an iota of credence.
"Kuroko." Kuzuki tapped me on the shoulder to get my attention. "Over there." He pointed to a walking figure and- did he just call me by my first name?!
I turned myself to his direction in part shock. "Did you just-?"
"Oh, uh, sorry. It just kinda came out." He stroked his ribbon. A habit and telltale sign of his current nervousness. "Sorry if it made you uncomfortable."
"No. No it didn't." I turned away, ignoring the rush of heat to my cheeks. "But I suppose that we'll discuss this at length at a later arrangement, after we deal with this. I-if you don't mind, that is."
"I- uh- yeah... That's fair." He said before he brought my attention back to the task at hand. "Look! They're convening!"
We ignored what just transpired in favour of doing what we actually came here to do. The one that walked over to Oneesama has visibly spiky hair and aloof eyes. Although he did seem to quirk an eyebrow when he saw Oneesama and went closer.
They seemed to be talking in a relaxed manner.
It was surprising. Normally, Oneesama would put up a false pretense and a fake smile to put up with other people and yet she simply looks like herself, her true self, when they are having a conversation. Ignoring the cackles of electricity and her usual violent ways to expel her embarrassment, Oneesama genuinely looks as if she is enjoying herself.
I leaned in closer to Kuzuki and whispered. "He appears to be decent so far. How are your scans?"
"Nothing bad. No I'll intentions or anything of the like." He said without taking his eyes off of the two of them. "Remember about the fight at the hospital?"
"Yes. But what about that situation has anything to do with this?"
"The friend of those two mages we fought, and my patient at the time..." He glanced at me. "That's him."
"Is that so?..." I pondered for a moment as I watched him and Oneesama interact with each other. "Anything I should worry about?"
"A few." He said firmly. "If Misaka-san is serious about this then she'd have to prepare. That guy is a literal trouble magnet."
I thought back to the fight at the hospital that day. "Yes. I can understand that part." Although it wasn't all bad. I don't think we would be as close as we are now if it were not for the two mages that decided to fight it out.
Making the best out of a bad situation, I suppose that I'll be there for Oneesama when the time comes.
The two of us continued to listen in on them as best as we can.
"Doesn't seem like he informed her of the other side." Said Kuzuki. "They already fought magic users that look allegedly like twigs and she still doesn't believe in it. Still thinks it's some kind of tech."
I nodded at that statement. "Oneesama can be quite stubborn about her own views at times, but it is part of her charm."
Eventually, the two of them said their goodbyes and the boy went away.
"Come out." The voice of Oneesama has that chill as sparks fly off her hair. "I know you're there."
Kuzuki gave me a look that questioned my next move so I placed a hand on his shoulder and we appeared right in front of Oneesama, much to her suprise.
"Kuroko? And Shuzenji? What gives, spying on me like that." She asked, relieving thee tension now that she knew who it was. "
"Just a little reconnaissance." Said Kuzuki.
"And a little curiosity as to who was it that was brave enough to pursue you, Oneesama."
"I- wha? No, I was just-" She was furiously blushing, her face doing the best impression of a tomato I have ever seen.
"Don't worry. I had everything on camera." Said Kuzuki while he gave a thumbs up with one hand and raised the camera in the other.
"No need to say more, Oneesama. I just wish you luck." Knowing what comes next after she starts to short circuit, I took Kuzuki's free hand and teleported farther away. It was just on time too.
"KUROKOOO!!!" A large blast of electricity blasted the area we were just in, and many more were on their way.
"It would be best if we were to take our leave here." I suggested to the the boy but he was too busy looking... At his...
I'm still holding his hand.
I let go in a hurry and coughed to get his attention. "R-remember to send me the footage. It would be good material to tease Oneesama."
"Hm. Sure." He said while avoiding meeting my eyes. Something that wasn't too hard considering that I couldn't meet his either.
"Right. Well, good day."
I teleported as far as I could, without caring about where I would end up in. I just needed to be anywhere but there at the moment to cool down a bit.