#ultimatekendoka

"Of all the days to get in trouble for violating the foolish ‘dress code’…" he mutters, reaching up to touch his bare neck, where a long, purple scarf usually sits, now nowhere to be seen. He feels vulnerable without it. No matter what the situation, it was always wrapped around his neck, be it gym class, formal occasions, or even at the beach. Having it confiscated was like losing a limb.

A bell tolls, signaling the end of the day. Sighing, Tanaka packs up his books, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He gently reaches his hand into a pocket in his coat. A tiny, fuzzy face peeks out.

"Dark Gods.. I hope you will travel well in there. It is not befitting for those of your stature, but it is, unfortunately, all I have." The hamster — Sun-D — licks his thumb and burrows back into the pocket’s warmth. Tanaka smiles slightly; though he misses having them nestled around his neck inside the muffler, he knows they’ll be fine for the walk.

Opening the front doors of the austere school building, greeted by a rush of frosty air, he sets off.

He doesn’t get far, though, before he runs into another student. A splash of red draws his eye over to the figure. Tanaka recognizes her vaguely; silver hair isn’t common. She has a sword case strapped across her back, and seeing it triggers a name in his head: Pekoyama, the swordswoman of Hope’s Peak. She’s crouching near a bush with her hand held out; curious about her behaviour, Tanaka approaches quietly, watching.

At the sound of his footsteps crunching through the thin layer of snow, Pekoyama stands and whirls around, edging away from the bush.

"Tanaka," she says curtly, acknowledging him with a nod. He says nothing back, still watching the bush; surely something must have been happening there to make her act that way.

A tiny meow sounds.

Face crimson, Pekoyama takes a stiff step in the opposite direction. When she looks back, Tanaka already has the cat in his arms, picking pieces of leaves out of its fur. Snuggling into him, the cat looks like it’s in heaven. She bites back her urge to attempt to join in. I would only scare it again anyway.

Suddenly, the cat perks up. A look of comprehension lights up Tanaka’s face. He puts the cat on the ground and, oddly, covers his pockets with his hands. He shoos it away sternly.

"Ah.." Pekoyama says before she can catch herself. Without being asked, Tanaka pulls a hamster out of his coat. Pekoyama stares.

"The feline sensed the presence of the Dark Gods.. I did not wish for it to go further, so I banished her," he says, matter-of-factly. "Though they can protect themselves, I do not encourage battles."

Still staring at the hamster, his words rush past her without making much sense. Dark Gods..? Battles? Even so, the hamster sits placidly on his hand, fur puffed up against the wind, not looking the slightest bit dark or capable of battle.

”..It must be cold, being outside in this weather,” Pekoyama says.

"The Dark Gods are formidable; do not worry, o stoic one. However…," he says, and raises his hand to his neck again. "It was.. unfortunate timing that took away their typical habitat, so they have to make do with my pocket for now."

Pekoyama recalls the ridiculously long purple scarf her classmate normally has wound around his neck; without it, he seems less intimidating and mysterious. She fingers the material of her own red scarf, cozy around her neck.

"If you don’t find it objectionable, I wouldn’t mind lending you my scarf. For the sake of the hamsters, that is."

Her voice is quiet. Tanaka looks at her for a long moment, considering.

"…You truly have the well-being of animals in your heart," he says finally. She looks up at his words, smiling through her surprise for the first time in their interaction. She unwinds the red scarf from her neck and passes it over. It looks odd, clashing with Tanaka’s colour scheme of purples and blacks, but the hamsters scamper happily into the warmth it offers.

"I should be on my way," Pekoyama says. She bows slightly and walks a few feet away, but turns back again. "…If it isn’t too much trouble, please let me know tomorrow how they’re doing."