barkquad

The home shook with the slam of Maka’s door. Soul and Blair winced at the sharp sound. The purple cat walked with Soul to the couch, sitting next to the boy. She looked at him and titled her head. Soul let out a sigh. “Maka’s a bit… upset…” He trailed off, his eyes trailing to her door. This school semester couldn’t have been worse for Maka.

She’s always been an academic weapon and excelled at everything she could put her mind to. Maka was just unlucky this school year, at least that’s what Soul kept trying to tell her. The academy got a new teacher for mathematics, Maka just couldn’t get a handle on how this teacher taught and got her first B- in her whole academic career. Soul couldn’t see the issue, he’s always been more of a C and B student, but she sobbed over it.

After talking to that teacher and being told “no one can possibly get 100% in my class,” Soul had gotten Maka to cheer up eventually, but the weight got to her, even if she sits at an A-. Things couldn’t get worse from there. With constant annoyance of her father between classes and the antics of her friend group, things began to look up.

Maka took up the job of being a tour guide for the school for new students, something Lord Death decided to start to help build the community of weapon and meisters. She seemed to shine, until Lord Death called her into his office to let her know that she’s been a bit too… quick with giving the tours and new students requesting another tour from anyone else. He emphasized she wasn’t being fired, but the whole event stressed her beyond belief. She’s been sleepless and annoyed, not even being able to read the book her mother sent her for her birthday.

Blair jumped off the couch and walked over to Maka’s door, scratching for her to be let in. The door was cracked open just enough to let her in. The room was dark, the blinds shut with only the desk light on. Blair grew worried and jumped atop Maka’s bed, where the girl was covered head to toe by her blanket. The cat frowned, curling up behind the small of Maka’s knees.

“Maka…?” she whispered.

The girl let out a small sigh. “Yes?” She did not budge.

“Do you want to talk?”

Maka peeked out from under the blanket at the cat, covering herself back up under the blanket. “I’m just very… mad… I think,” she started, taking a pause to attempt to calm herself. “Blair, I’m just tired.”

“Then let’s take a nap—”

“Not that kind of tired,” Maka interrupted. Blair was confused. There’s other forms of being tired? She’s never heard of such a thing, but she wanted to understand her. “Everything has just been… so suck-ish… With the stupid math teacher and my school job, I’ve been exhausted. I’ve never been so stressed. I just want to sleep one day and not wake up the next. I feel like things just happen to me. I use to be… so close to my goal of turning Soul into a Death Scythe and I failed. Everything feels like it’s downhill…” she trailed off, taking another deep breath.

“My mom sent me a letter today.” Blair’s ears perked up, before nudging the girl on the calf to continue. “My mom said she misses me a lot, she’s sorry to hear about the teacher. It was so nice to be understood… but she said she had some news that she couldn’t wait to share. My mom has… a boyfriend.”

Blair’s ears dropped, the puzzle coming into view for her. “She’s elsewhere… she’s not coming home… And for some guy? She’s picked her family, her only kid for some guy and his family? Why am I not enough for my parents to pick and worry about?” She mumbled, her voice cracking as she struggles against crying. Blair frowned, standing up on all fours. She walked over to the edge of the blanket and crawled underneath, cuddling against Maka’s chest. Maka quietly sobbed as she cradled Blair near her.

Blair took a nap shortly after Maka fell asleep, not wanting to leave her alone.

A gentle knock stirred Maka awake from her dreamless sleep. Soul cracked the door open with a plate of pancakes in hand. Blair awoke and stretched before crawling out from underneath the blanket. Maka sat up and beckoned Soul to enter, allowing Blair to leave the room and do whatever it is she likes to do. Soul sat at the foot of her bed and passed her the plate. They sat in near silence as Maka ate.

Maka’s bottom lip quivered a bit as she took another bite. His brows furrowed, unsure of what next to do. Maka broke the silence by telling him the letter from her mom. Soul sighed, moving to sit next to her on the bed. He knew her well enough to know what was running through her mind. This had to be the cherry atop the shit pie she’s been served this year. He felt Maka rest her head on his shoulder.