Hot (Coco) From Teacher [[Mikhail, Emi, Chimera]]

“Welcome, Emi-chan!” Mikhail exclaimed, curling his tail over to take some of the bowls out of her hands, and arrange them among the empty desks. “It’s no trouble at all--in fact, I should be thanking you for the food.”

As Emi went to put the bowls down, Mikhail too a moment to study her appearance, trying to read her mood. The outfit was...interesting. Not bad, but Mikhail couldn’t tell it was a “look” outfit, a if she was trying to cosplay a Team Spaceship member from Pocket Creatures. In either case, it had a bit of a “bad girl” vibe--was she trying to impress or intimidate someone?

“I already said it in chat, but I’d like to say it again in person--congratulations on the video. I’m quite sure that it doesn’t seem entirely real right now, but if you can, put that aside, and enjoy your first big success. It certainly came sooner than I expected! I’m glad I got to see it.” Mikhail said, a sly smile spreading across his face, still fishing to try to get a picture of what was on her mind. It was important for Emi to think of the video as a good thing, though. A public thing like that stuck with people for years--it was much better to like what you’ve done that feel like you’d done something wrong. Something beyond the video was bothering him, though…

She’d arrived by herself. That was it. Emi had mentioned to him at Mia’s halloween party that she was new at UA, and thus, it made sense she hadn’t had any friends there. She’d been at UA for a while, though--enough to conduct at least two interviews. Between the time that had passed, and her clear extroversion, she seemed like the kind of girl to have a little teenager posse with her at all times, not the kind to be visiting teachers on sundays alone.

I wonder what’s up with that? Jealousy? Did the video drive friends away, or is it something else?

Then again, maybe he’d answered his own question. Emi was attractive (though much too young for him, he felt guilty even thinking about it), and social, and she was also the sort of person that chose to go talk to teachers, and, additedly, an idol, at a Halloween party instead of her peers. It could have been that she was simply awkward around people her own age.

Huh. Well. All the more reason for me to be here.

He whipped his tail over to the hot chocolate machine, starting up a cup while still talking to Emi.

“I don’t suppose you’d care to share any juicy backstage details? Do you edit the vlogs yourself? And how did you meet-” The door slid open, and Mikhail saw an utterly unmistakable silhouette standing on the other side. "-ah! Chimera!”

Mikhail set the mug down, letting the coffee machine drip, and slithered to the door, putting a hand on the mutant’s shoulder and drawing him inside.

“Mikhail Orlov, not that I think any introduction is needed. Please. Call me Mikky.” He said, letting go of Chimera’s shoulder and flashing his idol-est grin and a peace sign.

One look at the boy’s face told him that might have been a bad idea. Mikhail had actually assumed the first time he heard Chimera speak in chat that he’d met the first student to be openly disgusted at his presence, but that little hypothesis had quickly been shattered. Nope. The boy was a fan. A cute, star-struck, adorably gangly and speechless fan.

Who was, again, too young for him. And a student.

So Mikhail was going to have to be very careful to avoid leading him on.

“I was just asking how you met Emi-chan!” Mikhail continued, filling the silence to give his brain time to buffer.

He had two tough nuts to crack. First, a girl who’s had her first real taste of fame, and didn’t seem entirely thrilled with it, and second, a shy, awkward, smitten fan who’d been shoved in the spotlight. Twice.

Am I really sure about this? Charming I can do. Sincerity, though? Wisdom?

And, for all of his pretensions of being too old for both of them--which were true--he was at most, four or five years. He had clear memories of his own teenage heartbreaks and hardships. He hadn’t handled any of them well.

Aha! There it was--sincerity, sombreness, and honesty from Emi, and wit and a spine from Chimera. Mikky hadn’t dared to hope he could offer more than comfort from this talk, so even a glimmer of the person below the face they showed to the world was enough to put a smile on his lips.

Not that he’d dare to admit to either why he was smiling. If either of them felt judged, the moment would fade away like the sun in a winter sky. No, best to let them think he was just amused at Emi’s inability to grasp how to dress for the part.

“There’s skill to dressing badly, Emi Tachibana. Anyone can toss on a thoughtless wardrobe, but that’s not blending in. I’d be impressed if you could manage it on the first try.” Mikky lilted, smile blossoming into a smirk and a wink. “And don’t concern yourself! I’ll make sure to writhe on the floor quite dramatically if my ribs get to be too much.”

“But! You say you’re troubled by camera-shy hero students! Quite the unfortunate oxymoron.” Mikky snickered. “It sounds like you’ve got a good pitch. Civil rights, and bribery? How could anyone resist.”

Mikky took a sip of food. “You’re quite the businesswoman. Has anyone else in the school caught your eye as your next star?”

He was tempted to go on longer, but he’d set a hook. In some ways, despite how closed-off Emi Tachibana could be, she was also an open book. The way she looked at her vlogs was as work, a transaction, and though friendships could rise from business, each party needed to feel like they had something to gain. At least she’d found one friend, though.

Speaking of--while Emi Tachibana was still easy to talk to, Chimera was a bit of a puzzle. He’d been trying to divert the boy’s attention to Emi, but although that gave Mikky a good lense into his personality, it didn’t exactly help him connect with the kid.

Mikky could embarrass himself. That would certainly peel the stars back. But he needed to be seen at a hero. What to do, what to do?

Well. Perhaps he should just try to keep today light.

“On my injuries, Tsutsuji-chan does seem to feel they’re severe enough I shouldn’t be leading any physical lessons. Is she normally like this?” Mikky said. It was a bit mean to cast aspersions on new mentor, but she’d understand it was for the sake of forming bonds.

Probably.