Rising Shards

“In a busy hallway in any high school, the overlapping sounds of chatter can sound like pure nonsense,” Oka waved her hands out, gesturing to the crowded hallway that blocked her and Kalei from reaching their second period class. “But listen closely, and maybe you’ll hear something important, maybe even something profound? Probably not, but it’s neat to think about, isn’t it?”

“Definitely not.” Kalei said. “And it’s not that neat, are you trying to be a nature documentary or something?”

“Just trying to pass the time as we wait for this to clear up,” Oka said. “There isn’t really another way to the C building other than this hallway, huh?”

“No, because this school was designed by idiots,” Kalei said. 

“It certainly has some eccentricities,” Oka said, nodding.

Oka was in one of her moods, probably brought on by worrying about Zeta, who was home sick due to being a cat or something. Cani stuff, the usual. 

“Ugh, I woke up way too early,” Kalei yawned. “And stayed up way too late gaming. If everyone could shut up, that would be terrific.”

“I’m not sure they can hear you.” Oka said. 

The two slowly continued on, as Dr. Diast walked past, so invested in her phone call that she barely noticed Oka and Kalei, nodding at the two right before they were out of sight.

“You sure you don’t need me at home?” Evy asked.

“I got this,” Stella said. “I’m flexing, but you can’t see it. Because it’s a phone call.”

“Right, right,” Evy said. “I’d flex too, but everyone in the school decided to gather in this hallway. Can you still hear me?”

“I can hear you!” Iris said. She was with Maia, and the two were leaning against a wall. Diast flinched at Iris’ voice.

“Sorry, kind of an important call,” Diast said before taking off, sighing in relief at the feeling of open air once she was out of the packed hallway.

“Well, that was pretty rude,” Iris said.

“Of you to shout at Diast mid-phone call?” Maia asked. “I agree.”

“Boooo, I was just being friendly!” Iris said.

Maia laughed.

“What?”

“That just sounds like so creepy, dude.” Maia said. “I was just being friendly, I didn’t mean to stalk anyone…what about those dead bodies? They weren’t me, I’m soooo friendly.”

“Now you’re making this take a weird turn,” Iris said. “Hey, Maia.”

“Hm?” 

Iris looked at Maia with a devious little smile.

“No way,” Maia said. 

“Everyone’s so wrapped up in their own business, I bet they wouldn’t even notice.”

“They would absolutely notice if we started mak—if we did some B.F.S. now” Maia said.

“I bet they wouldn’t.” Iris said.

“We’re completely out in the open.” Maia said.

“Out in the open with like a hundred people all crammed into this teeny tiny hallway.” Iris said. “What’s the deal, someone giving away free candy?”

“I think everyone’s trying to get to class.” Maia said.

“So they’re all busy, huh? Everyone’s minds are on something else…” 

“Dude, just drop it,” Maia said. “If you drop it now, I’ll…give you a special dose of B.F.S.”

“Ooooh,” Iris said. “I like the sound of that.”

“Tch,” Scrungy scoffed at the two as she walked past. Maia started to react, but Iris grabbed her arm.

“Let it go, MaiMai.” Iris said. 

“Sorry,” Maia said. “I’m still pretty pissed.”

“I am, too. But no fights with Olivia this semester, alright missy?” Iris said, wagging a finger. “That goes for both of us.”

If the two actually did engage in B.F.S. at that moment, they likely would have been caught, as directly above them, Chumbler and Z.O.K. were crawling around in a vent, looking down through a grate at the hallway below.

“Any eyes on those three yet?” Chumbler asked.

“Just that green-haired chick and that mean cat girl,” Z.O.K. said. “Remind me why we’re up here again?”

“Vents are a great place to scope out your target,” Chumbler explained.

“Uh huh, you always say that when we spy on someone in vents.” Z.O.K. said. “But what intel can we get on the love trio from here?

“I think, uh, lots. Of valuable…” Chumbler coughed. “Intel.”

“I don’t even think they’re in this hallway,” Z.O.K. said. “I don’t see em. Wanna keep going?”

“Maybe not,” Chumbler said.

“Why’s that?”

“I’m fairly certain I’m stuck,” Chumbler said. 

“Huh? Oh, wait. I thought you said you were sick.”

“Why would I say I’m sick?”

“Because you’re sick in the head, heh heh…and because we’re in a tight, enclosed space and germs spread easily in tight, enclosed spaces.”

“Sick doesn’t even rhyme with stuck, I think you might be stupid.”

“Perfect, because I already know you’re stupid.” 

“Then we’re perfectly stupid together, I guess,” Chumbler said. “Wait, I think I can turn around, one second.”

“Be careful,” Z.O.K. said as Chumbler slowly turned around.

“Careful? As if I, the mighty and powerful Chumbler, need to be—AAAAAAAHHHH!” Mid-sentence, the vent they were in plummeted through the ceiling. Before Chumbler could react, she found herself staring, seemingly floating in midair. Kai Matora’s head popped up once the screams from the students around them died down a bit.

“Whoa,” Kai said. “There’s actually people in there.”

After Kai gently dumped the two out like she was pouring water out of a bucket, Chumbler marveled at their rescuer.

“Did you actually just straight up catch us?” Chumbler asked.

“You’re pretty light,” Kai said.

“Holy crap,” Chumbler said. “How strong are you?”

Kai shrugged. “Above average, I guess. Though I guess my reflexes must be real good, huh?”

Before Chumbler could ask anything else, Naomi Ratuna stormed forward, blowing her official prefect whistle, looking appalled at the sight before her. She yelled at Chumbler and Z.O.K. for about five straight minutes, then shouted at Kai as she tried to leave.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Naomi asked.

“I just caught them, that’s all,” Kai said.

“She actually did catch them, it was super cool!” Aira said.

“Well…I’ll still need you for my report, so don’t move,” Naomi said. ”And you’re not part of this, so you can leave.”

Naomi shooed Aira away before she began writing down everything that happened in a notebook.

“I guess that’s back to normal.” Aira said to no one in particular. Nearest to her was Roux, whose ears perked up.

“What, Naomi being a control freak the likes of which this school has never seen before?” Roux asked.

“She was nice to me during finals,” Aira said.

“Naomi was? For real?” Roux asked.

“Like, really nice.” Aira said.

“Sorry to interrupt, but we just got here and…” Marmalade and Michi both stared up at the ceiling. “Why is…that?”

“Oh, that was Chumbler and Zorta Orca Korbley, I think.” Aira said.

“Right. Zorta. Who is…?” Marmalade asked.

“Oh Marms,” Kalei said, wrapping an arm around Marmalade’s shoulders. “Explaining Chumbler lore would take a week.”

“We have time,” Marmalade said, blushing and shrinking down a bit with Kalei’s arm on her. “It doesn’t look like anyone’s really moving.”

“Such is the majesty of a bustling, rustling hallway here at Rising Shards,” Oka said.

Everyone nearby stared at Oka.

“I don’t know what the hell her deal is right now,” Kalei said.

“I’m really worried about Zeta, alright?” Oka said. “Let me have this nature documentary bit.”

Kalei rolled her eyes. “Fine.”