One Maniac at a Time [Rowan]

I see you through the flood
See you through the fire
See you through the storms-a-raging

❧

As interesting as people watching could get, Yoru was getting restless to jump into action. There was something fascinating about having an internal heater, an eternal energy source inside him that fueled him to just go, to do things, to never stop. On the rare moments when he wanted to actually rest and be in one place, he had to resort to shaking his legs or letting his feet dangle down the side of the branch he was laying on, like right now.

Sitting with his feet falling on either side of the branch, with his back leaning against the tree trunk, he laced his arms in front of his chest. The foreign uniforms gave him a certain level of excitement, seeing that Yuuei was indeed not the only school trying to teach and release heroes officially into the world. It was a weird feeling, the quirkers so hated and feared years ago now being trained to be pitted against each other to protect the less battle-ready part of the population. Granted, villains weren’t the only threat here, if the rescue operations they had to go through were any indication. They were able to go against nature itself if needed, but that was beside the point now. His own parents always said they never imagined schools actually teaching children to use their quirks in action as a certain branch of government security. For them, it was unbelievable. Not to mention that their own son was among one of the few studying in such a school. They often burst out in mock tears, saying that their son is making them so proud, and Yoru have to incinerate the tablecloth to make them stop.

He shook his head to get their crocodile tears out of his mind. Back to people watching he went. A few spars were going on at the battle grounds right about now, some people seemed to be involved in a fast paced race on the other side of the range. The rest were just aimlessly wandering around, trying to find what exactly they wanted to do. Another person was throwing a fit at the vending machine. Nothing new.

Jumping down from the tree, he fished out a few coins from his pocket to buy a soda before he would head back and maybe put everyone to shame on that race the exchange students were having. As soon as he reached the vending machine in question, he could recognize the girl standing near it and searching the grass as one of his classmates.

“Did you lose your change? It happens sometimes, either that, or the vending machine swallows it.” He mocked a comment, only noticing her movements and not her possible emotional status while he wondered if it was better to have orange or ginger for a drink now. Only after that did he see her stance, the dejected drop of her shoulders and the fall of her face. He stopped in his movement, hand raised with a single piece of coin toward the vending machine, but now halted in the air. With a furrowed brow, and eyes shining orange as if he was trying to make sense of the emotion her whole body-language screamed at him, he talked to her again, voice more of an annoyed growl than anything else, even though he was only concerned.

“Hey, you okay?” Softness was not something he was able to do right away, so he had to clear his throat and try again, this time sounding decidedly less like he was ticked off by her loitering around. “Something happened?”

words: 598 ● Rowan Sakamoto ● What chu doin'?

I see you through the flood
See you through the fire
See you through the storms-a-raging

❧

He idly played with the coin between his fingers while watching Rowan, listening to her talk. Even he could see she was distraught, that was partially the reason why he asked her about it straight away. He could not deal with people who hid their emotions well, but if someone was as obviously wearing her heart on her sleeve as Rowan, Yoru knew when to at least try and be considerate.

“A bracelet, huh?” Although it wasn’t really visible right that moment, Yoru was a fan of accessories. He was wearing a necklace under his shirt, and a set of chains were hanging from his belt loop as well. His own usual bracelets were left at his dorm room this time, but that didn’t change the fact that he could relate to the problem at hand. He had a bunch of them, but if he lost even one of them for some reason, he knew he would get pretty upset himself.

“Well, let’s look everywhere then. Where was the last place you remember having it?” There was no sudden change, there was just the implication that Yoru will consider this problem as his own and maybe help out in the search without actually admitting to it himself. A subtle shift in his scowl as it softened out was the only facial cue that he won’t just ignore someone else’s sadness. He pocketed the coin he played with before, abandoning the soda he wanted to drink for a bigger cause. That can wait, just like the racers and the students at the training ground. If Rowan was this upset about losing something, it was serious business. Yoru can make fun of her for it once the bracelet was actually found.

“What does that bracelet look like? Made of beads, or is it a thick gold one?” Bracelets can be hard to notice on the ground, especially if they are made of similar material to have the color of concrete or marbles. However it was, Yoru looked at Rowan expectantly, waiting for the answer so they can head out to wherever she last remember seeing it. Or wherever she last walked at, if memory fails her when, as she had said ‘she had been everywhere’.

words: 373 ● Rowan Sakamoto ● Let's gooooo?

I see you through the flood
See you through the fire
See you through the storms-a-raging

❧

He hoped, for all things holy, that she will not burst into tears anytime soon. If puppy eyes were one of his weaknesses, crying was another, and it was something he just couldn’t deal with. He wasn’t equipped with the ability to comfort others when they cried, he would probably freak out more than the person he was supposed to make feel better. That would go all kinds of horrible.

So when no tears came despite Rowan being visibly upset, he relaxed. So long as she didn’t panic more than necessary, they will be able to look around and maybe even ask if someone saw the bracelet in question.

“Silver with green gem, got it.” He nodded at her suggestion to check around the gyms where she had her training as well, and stepped next to Rowan, a little forward, to lead her the way. Her spacing out was an indication that she was trying to think where she last had it, or was just simply lost in thought, grieving her loss.

“Why take the bracelet with you when you knew you’ll jump around a lot? Cheerleading is all about that, ain’t it? You were bound to lose it.” It must have sounded a little harsh, but that was his way of showing concern, and as soon as he said it out loud, he knew it could be taken the wrong way. Eyeing her, bright orange eyes boring into her for answers, Yoru was waiting for how she would react to such a statement. He wasn’t one to sugarcoat his words, which gave him enough pain already with those who couldn’t take criticism well. Even if Rowan had a thick skin, in her current state, it might not go so well with her. But despite all of his growling, Yoru was there to help. That should at least mean something. Yoru’s willingness might seem weird for anyone that didn’t know him well, despite his grumpy and high-and-mighty attitude. But the few in class 1-A who were his closest friend would be able to tell that he was a true team player, ready to do anything to make sure his pack members were happy and content.

Once in front of the training facilities, Yoru did not bother to look at the ground. “I’ll ask the supervisors if someone found it.” And then he already bee-lined to the teachers and assistants who were around while the students showed off their skills and practiced for the coming events of the festival. He asked two of the adults, describing the bracelet the way Rowan told him about it, but neither saw it, nor had anyone brought it to them as a lost item. Asking more might be fruitless, in that case. The adults were conversing from time to time, that much he could tell, and they would share info about something lost-and-found.

Scowl deepening just a bit, he scouted back to Rowan, disturbing whatever she was doing. “No luck. No one brought them a bracelet.” He wondered if she found something, or had come up with anything new while waiting.

words: 516 ● Rowan Sakamoto ●

I see you through the flood
See you through the fire
See you through the storms-a-raging

❧

“Even if you always wear it... I mean, especially if you always wear it, it gets lose after a while, it weakens and then it can fall off. So. Even if you have always worn it, it doesn’t mean it will always stay on your wrist. Eh, nevermind. We just have to find it to see.” He scratched the back of his head idly, feeling like he was unable to properly voice what he meant by that. Things get used up, worn out, hence they often need maintenance, and that includes jewelry as well. His own glass beads needs to be re-forged constantly to have the same shine and quality to them. Of course, he could not know what exactly happened to Rowan’s bracelet at all, but he assumed it simply fell off her wrist during movement. That it just gave up, broke at the seams, something like that.

His conversation with the supervisors was unsuccessful, and it seemed like Rowan did not have better luck either. One look at her made it obvious she found nothing, and was still in panic over how it was possible to lose a bracelet so grown to her soul. “The plaza? Okay then. Let’s head to the food court, maybe it’s there somewhere.” Yoru shrugged, yet again ready to head out toward where Rowan spent part of her day before. He halted for a moment, following her line of sight to the drones, towards where people were still practicing for live battle against machinery. He himself had the chance to try himself against those, and quickly learned that some parts of them was made of softer metal than the rest – he was able to melt them on occasion. “Hm?” He hummed to get Rowan’s attention, then nodded towards the drones. “Should we check the fighting ring? You’re spacing out.”

It was not scolding, he just stated it as a fact. He was still not nice about it though, but if it was a way to spring Rowan into action and thinking more, then it was all fine. He wouldn’t mind checking the ring, honestly. He would just jump in, look around, and then jump out, maybe tip and punch a few drones on his way. If they were able to find the bracelet there, it would be all of the better, and he could get some steam out as well in the meantime. But that all depends on if Rowan deems it possible her bracelet was there.

words: 414 ● Rowan Sakamoto ●

I see you through the flood
See you through the fire
See you through the storms-a-raging

❧

Yoru often berated people when he noticed they were doing something wrong. It was a habit, and a bad one at that, but he couldn’t help saying his mind when he could. He wasn’t the kind to keep his thoughts to himself. It was a rather rare occasion when he was completely secretive, and that was only when it came to himself. As for others, he grabbed the opportunity to say his opinion on friends and acquaintances whenever he wanted to. That is why it was easy to tell when he liked or hated someone. He did not hate Rowan, not at all. He was honest and straightforward with her because he cared, but that was not something he would admit. “Well, now it did not.” He countered, knowing that whatever godly power kept the bracelet on her wrist until now had just failed her.

Staring toward the training grounds, they were both weighing their options. “If it was found, sure. But if no one had yet to find it on the ground, the teachers wouldn’t know ‘bout it either.” He said, another reason to be considered. It might still be resting somewhere in the grass, on the concrete ground or on the slag without anyone noticing. Yoru was about to take a step forward when Rowan waved the possibility away. He was ready to tell her they should look literally everywhere before eliminating any place, but her conclusion made sense. He thought for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, fair. You probably know it better anyway. So, where to? Food court?”

He turned forward, somewhat distracted. There was no need to search the ground on their way back, because he did so while walking toward the training grounds anyway. They will not find it on the way, so instead Yoru kept himself busy thinking about what he will do once this mess was over. Hopefully the guys will still be racing by the time they find that bracelet. He was staring blankly ahead, watching the people walk around and a squirrel rummage at the base of a tree with something shiny in its mouth...

Squirrel?

Wait a moment.

Backtrack a little.

“Hey! Look there!” With barely waiting for Rowan to acknowledge his words, he already speeded toward the little mammal to catch it and take a better look at whatever shiny thing it was carrying in its mouth. These little critters were swift, so Yoru expected a painful chase at least. But well. He wanted a race. He could get it now.

words: 422 ● Rowan Sakamoto ● Lame reply, but at least there is a squirrel!