Rising Shards

I wanted to keep to myself after getting back from my break. I felt alright, but there had been some weirdness that made me actually appreciate quietly making sandwiches for my fellow classmates, and also teachers and staff. I appreciated having something I could do over and over without thinking about it too much. That said, my moments of almost meditative food preparation were regularly interrupted.

”Roux, one sandwich per person,” Kalei said.

”I know, but I’d like to make one without getting accosted by Ko Matora.” Roux said.

”Then see if you can get another root beer, I dunno!” Kalei said.

”I already tried, but Rain was very harsh to the idea of me having more sugar.” Roux said. ”I suppose I could try whatever they’re making at the ol’ Wildfire Grill, or Wildfire Grills plural, whatever they’re calling it...”

”Be careful if you go over there,” I said.

”Pfft,” Roux said. ”Worried about me, Faleur?”

”I’d be worried about any of us going over there,” I said.

”Silly Zeta,” Roux said. ”I am much too powerful to be taken down by Wildfire Hearts.”

”They said, shortly before getting taken down by Wildfire Hearts.” Kalei said.

”What part of too powerful aren’t you getting here? None of their tricks will work on me.” Roux said. ”I’ve had plenty of poison tasting training if they go that route, for example.”

”I’m just saying being all smug about how they can’t beat you feels like you’re begging for the universe to be all ’well, time to obliterate Roux.’”

”I’d deflect their obliteration blasts,” Roux said. ”All this talk of destruction and poison is making me hungry. Sandwich time.” They held their hand out, and Kalei smacked it away.

As Kalei and Roux bantered, I smiled a bit. Roux seemed to bring out something in Kalei, which was welcome given what Kalei was going through, and my attempts to understand what was going on with her up and down mood that day.

During our brief break, I tried and failed to do some detective work on that line of thinking. Kalei wanted to ask me about trans stuff, and asked about it out of the blue. But she also didn’t want Marmalade to hear. Did she not want to upset Marmalade talking transgender business? Marmalade had never had issues talking about it before.

”That Benta guy is here, and he saw my Cheapy Cheapy shirt, and now he keeps asking me if I like Cheapy Cheapy,” Marmalade said. ”Like, I do, but I don’t want to talk to some old dude about her!”

”Cheapy...who?” I asked.

”A singer,” Marmalade sighed. ”Also an internet personality. A virtual singer, if you’ve ever heard of them.”

”I haven’t...” I said.

”She plays games, makes songs, dances, she’s got a bird/banker gimmick, she’s cool,” Marmalade said. ”But I don’t want to talk about a singer I like with some old guy. I mean, in some scenarios I would be fine with that, maybe? I don’t want to just shut out all Cheapy Cheapy fans just if they’re a certain age or gender, you know? But in this particular scenario, I’d give that a pass.”

”I haven’t heard of Cheapy Cheapy, but if you like her, she’s probably cool,” Kalei said.

”Heh,” Marmalade grinned, but before she could respond, Risa walked in, her timing impeccable for deflating a moment.

”What’s going on, Risa?” Kalei said, as her friend rocked on her heels.

”I had a question I was thinking of running by you.” Risa said.

”...which is?”

”I was just wondering if we could hang out soon?” Risa asked. ”I have something I want to run by you.”

”Yeah, sure,” Kalei said, not sounding very enthusiastic. ”Text me whenever.”

Risa stuck around to make small talk for a while, somehow managing to brighten up the mood by talking about video games, which got Marmalade talking but unfortunately left me out. I knew how Kalei reacted when I brought up my favorite game Raina Starlight’s Farm Adventure. I figured Risa would have an even harsher reaction to it, so I clammed up and didn’t say anything until we were interrupted again by Aira, who blipped into the room with her teleportation powers.

”If they don’t want me to teleport,” Aira teleported away, then back. ”They can have their orders...” Another teleport. ”...given super slowly.”

”You tell em!” I said. ”Wait, are the servers on break? Did Oka get to go?”

”There’s apparently a barrel of root beer somewhere that Penteldtam bought for this class,” Aira said. ”And she got roped into going with Michi and the Matora sisters to get it and roll it over.”

”Oh...”

”I’d help, but I’m protesting that Benta guy getting all mad about me teleporting.” Aira said.  

”Did he ask you about Cheapy Cheapy, too?” Marmalade asked.

”Yes...” Aira said bitterly.

After Aira teleported away again, Marmalade tried to explain the singer to us as our room started to fill up with other students from the job classes taking their breaks. It was mostly Wildfire Hearts students, who brought a tense atmosphere with them. And the pleasant aroma of freshly cooked waffles, which was an interesting combo. The tenseness ramped up significantly when P.D. approached us, her girlfriend Nikki not with her.

I realized when she stopped by us that P.D. was a lot taller than me. Her mask was silvery and reflective, and I couldn’t see any of her features in it. I could see my own reflection, though. Still looking unfortunately very sweaty from the work shift.

”W-wow,” I said. ”Your helmet’s...uh...pretty cool!”

P.D. didn’t answer, simply turning to look at Kalei.

”You got something to say?” Kalei asked.

P.D. continued staring.

”Thought so,” Kalei sighed. ”If you’re gonna keep doing this, all I’m gonna say is I’m not going after your girl. I’m done with that.”

Still nothing from P.D.

”Just leave us alone, kay?” Kalei said, getting up. ”Come on, this room’s ruined.”

Kalei and P.D. didn’t say anything else to each other as Marmalade and I followed Kalei. We stopped in the hallway, where Kalei seemed way too calm given what just happened. Marmalade headed back to our class, ending her break early.

”I wish Aira didn’t zip off, we could’ve used her for a quick getaway.” Kalei said. ”You good after that?”

”Me? Oh, I’m no stranger to awkward moments of this variety.” I said.

”Don’t beat yourself up, that wasn’t on you,” Kalei said. ”P.D.’s just being an ass.”

”Makes me think Nikki has some pretty bad taste.” I said.

”I dunno...”

”Are you doing alright?” I asked. ”Do you need to talk about it? Because you know I’m here if you need anything.”

”I’m fine,” Kalei said flatly, then excused herself and left to be alone for a bit.

I winced, having two awkward moments in a row due to me and my big mouth.

Kalei seemed normal when she got back a few minutes later, and I vented out my awkward encounters and heated meetings with Wildfire Hearts students by making sandwiches.