valiant • radiant

       As she tried to shake off the very last bits of fright that still lingered on her, the kitsune caught a quick glimpse of the other’s expression. A dumbfounded look — a face’s manner of saying “I am surprised!” or “I am amazed!” without actually uttering it — was prominent on his features. The female stared at him without muttering a single word nor a sound before turning away from him abruptly. Without knowing one thing about Kazumi, one would assume she saw something terrifying behind the man — like a spider that she was absolutely terrified of  — or perhaps she was preparing herself to simply walk off, go back to school and tell the higher-ups about the terrible, terrible thing Tarou has done this very day. However, if one was to spend some time with the female and somehow get her to speak about herself, they would be quick to find out that she was simply embarrassed.

       Embarrassment, as many are aware, refers to the feeling of shame or awkwardness often associated with mild or severe discomfort. As some may be aware, if someone was to point out that you have a piece of toilet paper stuck to your shoe, you would most likely ran away to the nearest bathroom in shame and get rid off the terrible cause of your humiliation. However, as many may not be aware, Kazumi is very much capable of experiencing embarrassment and she was VERY much confronting it right at this moment. Turning away from Tarou meant she could prevent him from looking at her quickly reddening face that continued to hang low, that faced her crossed arms.

       His words didn’t help her state, but made it worse instead. Unknowingly to him, kitsune’s face scrunched up ever so slightly and her cheeks only flushed harder at his utterances. Not only did he get to see the weaker side of her ( which was an achievement on its own, so perhaps for Tarou this wasn’t as devastating as for Kazumi ), but he was right nonetheless in what he tried to get at. If she TRULY did not want to do what she said she didn’t want to do — namely spend time with him or be seen with him after sneaking out of the school — then why was she still there? Was it really to JUST supervise him? Or did she saw this as a perfect opportunity to stretch out her legs, let herself loose just this one time, and simply spend this free time in a nice way? Of course she still stood by her words, she didn’t want to be seen with him, not because she hated him like she has murmured earlier, but rather because it would only bring more embarrassment if someone was to see them.

       She didn’t dare to turn around and look at him, even though it would be the respectable thing to do especially when said person is talking to you. Thus, she remained as she was but attentively listened to the tengu. At the mention of the his brother — a fellow tengu named Jirou, that she seemed to be fond of and often played chess with —  the kitsune straightened herself suddenly as she felt new wave of awkwardness. It was true that she was closer to the other tengu, and nothing was stopping her from getting to know Tarou. She exhaled loudly. By now, she guessed that it wouldn’t hurt to do as he suggested, and thus her lips parted. “I just prefer to stay on ground… but I am scared of spiders” she said with a bit more confidence before meeting his gaze. “ And just like you… I am an older sibling.” she added at last and already started to walk past him slowly. “Well… yes. I could go for a walk right about now. I think it would be a well-spent time” a small smile graced her face before quickly getting hidden.

      Tarou didn’t pay much attention to her facial expression since he was busy looking at the sky. However, if he did happen to catch a glimpse of whatever she was trying to hide, things would surely turn awkward real fast. So, luckily for the the two, Kazumi’s embarrassment went completely unnoticed. She was probably caught off guard by his next words. Sharing his fear out of the blue seemed rather... odd, if not confusing. On one hand he thought it would kinda break the ice, thinking that catching her off guard like this would cause her to forget about why she was mad, or rather she would let the feeling go because it would be replaced by confusion. On the other hand though, the tengu didn’t see why sharing insecurities with a fellow student could be bad, plus he believed that everyone was scared of something and that nobody was perfect no matter how hard they tried to be flawless-- even someone like Kazumi. 

      On top of that, the school ground was supposed to be a safe place for any monster, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of one another could be important some day. His eyes narrowed. It seemed that only the headmaster and the school reps knew about this... or maybe even the whole student council did. This ... being the possible threat surrounding the school. No outsiders could enter the realm unless they were registered students. But the threat didn’t even have to enter. It was already here with them. No one seemed to talk about it though, so he could only assume that the other students were clueless. Maybe to prevent chaos and to keep up the this is a safe and secure place image. If it hadn’t been for the fact that he could easily fly around and scout the area from above-- and that he could enter the realm whenever he wanted even if there weren’t any classes-- he probably would never have encounter what appeared to be a monster with a depraved mind. 

      They weren’t alone at this place. Sure, there was this barrier around the school, probably the same one surrounding the village behind this forest, but would it be enough to keep danger away? He didn’t know much. He didn’t know who created this realm or how long it was existing. He didn’t know who created the barriers. He was still clueless, and he surely wasn’t supposed to know more. All he was supposed to do was play the role of a student attending school. But... his curiousity got the best of him. After all, this was a whole new world. A big place. He imagined that it could be the same size as humanity’s earth. He’s been investigating on his own for some time now but he never shared his theories with anyone, not even with his brother. In case he was onto something, he didn’t want to get others into his mess, he would take responsibility for his actions... especially after breaking the rules several times. The tengu couldn’t deny that this situation was not only bothersome but also worrisome, it would only take one traitor to harm everyone residing inside the realm. 

      Maybe that’s why he bumped into Kazumi today, maybe this had to happen. Maybe he was supposed to share his concerns with her. But would she be on his side? Or would she try to punish him...? Maybe get his memories erased? After all, the student council was full of powerful students with unique abilities. It would be easy to rid him of his knowledge just to keep the peace alive. Ugh. He didn’t like the fact that he was even considering these possibilities. But what he hated the most was the fact that he was doubting Kazumi. Did he really trust her so little? He trusted his brother... so it should be fine if-- he was thrown out of his thoughts upon hearing the Kitsune approach. Tarou’s gaze followed her as she walked past him. 

      While her arms were still crossed, and her posture as straight and stiff as humanly possible  — or in the case of the two blondes, as monster-ly as possible  — her head turned only slightly as if she was afraid of being spotted by the tengu’s keen sight. Stealing a quick glimpse of the other, she was met with an immense smile as if she had just told him the great news of his favorite great-grandmother coming over with a huge chocolate cake for her beloved Tarou. However, there was no mention of chocolate cake, nor his favorite great-grandmother or the all day-long cheek squishing that came from kitsune’s lips. Thus, the look of surprise and confusion soon appeared on her features, while she wondered why the whole situation would get him into such giddy mood. To think that despite the accumulated years on his shoulders, the grand tengu would still react so childishly to such an unappealing for most opportunity.

       Surely, “expected-the-unexpected”  — a phrase which here means, to not be surprised by an unusual event  — is mighty familiar to most creatures and monsters alike. Although this expression does insinuate that anything could happen, and it probably will, Kazumi certainly haven’t assumed that Tarou will run, get a hold onto her and simply fly away towards his desired destination. Thus, she did not expect the unexpected at all, even though she has already spent the few minutes with the male and knew of his crazy antics. The fox’s orbs widened in pure shock, the joyful call ringed in her ears and she felt the slight air brushing against her while being carried along on what she believed would be one of her most unforgettable moments in her life, and not for the right reasons at all.

      Although the kitsune was still stunned and her bodily muscles stiffened significantly, she forced her eyes closed almost as if believing this to be a bad dream that she desperately wanted to wake up from. Of course this couldn’t be a bad dream as the female would never allow herself to sleep on her responsibilities, therefore making this simply an unpleasing experience rather than a very realistic nightmare. “Put me down! My kind wasn’t made for flying!” she called out with difficulty through her clenched jaw, as her eyes seemed to close in on themselves even tighter. Even though Kazumi was known to be a fearsome individual that wasn’t easily scared, it was clear that the surprise tactic that Tarou seemed to have used unintentionally ( here meaning, “Tarou’s did not plan on scaring Kazumi to death, but did so anyway without much of realization because of his childlike excitement” ) had a clear effect on her. 

         Even though the flight was short, it still felt too long for the kitsune’s comfort, thus when her trembling legs finally felt something stable under them, she released a loud sigh of relief, internally celebrating the safe landing. Putting her hands on her knees and taking one last final deep breath, she managed to compose herself just in time before the other turned to look at her miserable state. The glare was prominent on her pale face as he spoke in his cheerful tone, and it did not make her feel any better nor as excited as he was. In fact, it only made her regret the decision she made much earlier. “I hate you” she murmured at last, while straightening her posture. Hate was a strong word, and so were Kazumi’s feelings towards the whole encounter with Tarou, especially after the whole fiasco. She was aware that this was most likely only the beginning of something worse, but she didn’t bothered herself with such thoughts for now. 

        “At this point I don’t want to do anything that has to do with you, especially not something I want.” she answered in her usual tone. “Nor do I want to be caught hanging out with you, so let’s get this over with. It was your idea, so I thought you had some sort of plan or I don’t know… a bucket list of things you wanted to do while sneaking out of class?”

      Maybe he should have thought this through properly before jumping into action. But he wasn’t the type of person to do that. If it had been something crucial, something serious, something that could impact his life ot the life of other’s in a negative way-- then maybe he would have took a minute to think twice. However, the tengu had been so full of excitement he simply couldn’t contain the urge to fly high. To him, it was a pleasant feeling and he wanted to share the experience with Kazumi, though he had been too ignorant to even consider her opinion on this matter. Hell, he didn’t even notice her tense body or the sound of fear in her voice while carrying her. Tarou stood there a little dumbfounded by her reaction-- did he seriously expect her to be as excited as him? After all, she was part of the student council, she followed rules and made sure other students did the same. This was just... an exception. Right. 

      For a moment he completely forgot about her status and role. For a moment he viewed her as someone who’d be on the same wave length as him. Someone who was like a friend. But that idea was shattered the moment her next words reached him. I hate you. That’s kinda harsh-- he thought, but he didn’t bother to speak up. The rush of happiness from before seemed to have left his body completely. It was almost as if his mood dropped suddenly. He didn’t know what to do now. He didn’t have any plan. He just wanted to sneak out and then do whatever he felt like doing. But right now? It was kinda hard to figure out what he wanted. If it was just him, he would probably fly around and just enjoy the view. But with Kazumi here he couldn’t really do such a thing, he now knew that she didn’t like flying... though, it would have been great if he knew it before scaring her like this. 

      Ah. So that was the feeling inside his chest, he felt guilty. However, regretting his decisions wouldn’t change anything, the damage had already been done. A faint smile formed on his lips as he scratched the back of his head. The Kitsune was mad, he got that now. Did she really have to sound so cold though? He just wanted to have fun with her but instead, he managed to get her to dislike him even more than she already did. A small sigh left him. “If you don’t want to do anything that has to do with me and you don’t wanna be caught hanging out with me, then what else is there for you to do? Stand around and do nothing?” She was here to keep an eye on him, so her only option would be to follow him, even if she didn’t like it. 

        The kitsune was slightly taken aback by his response and mannerism. Although older than herself, his reaction reminded her more of a child than an individual of an older appearance just like the one standing before her. Her expression softened for a second or two, before returning to more of a glare once he stopped talking. Boring talk? Drop the formality? As if it was this easy! She couldn’t simply act like every other student, or well, person at this school. She had reputation to hold due to her origin, her upbringing and now the honorable position she was given by the headmaster himself. She couldn’t simply act like him, all laid-back and not having a single care in the world… or could she? 

        Although the height difference wasn’t big, she still decided to lean down ever so slightly. Her eyes aligning with his and she simply stared at him for a while. On one hand she wondered why she should listen to him, and be less “stiff”. On the other she knew that maybe he was right. She didn’t had to be this formal and maybe even boring all the time. Perhaps she didn’t realized it, but she might have been less formal when spending time with Tarou’s brother, Jirou. Her eyes wandered off to look at the other’s hair, reminding her of her chess buddy’s same messy look. Then, she straightened her posture and averted her gaze from him, crossing her arms once more. 

        “Fine” she murmured more to herself than him, as if to agree to his terms. She could try to relax if it meant less trouble and opposition coming from the other. But he better not get used to it! It’s one time thing and nothing else. Her eyes quickly moved back to look at him as he started laughing. Fox’s softened features now showed slight surprise at his reaction, as she didn’t remembered saying anything funny. Ah, he was laughing at her words and threatening tone. “So what. Responsibility is a responsibility. I already caught few troublemakers that flooded the bathrooms today, so I could try and catch you too if you keep on trying to be a shithead” 

        Then, she froze in place. Looking at his back now and listening to his words she knew damn well what will happen next. As he said himself, he will leave without her and probably cause even more trouble than it’s worth. She didn’t want to comply with his plan, but then she didn’t see any other option. Not to mention… fresh air did sound nice. She spent most of her life in the nature, so maybe she did develop a certain bias. Her gaze averted once more, slight pout forming on her face due to not believing her own words that would soon leave her lips. To think she would go as far as agreeing to his terms. How stupid. 

        “You most definitely will not go unsupervised. I am going with you, so this way at least if someone else catches you, at least you will have an excuse” she coughed, before straightening her clothing and going past him. She kept her gaze forward and hands behind her back. “Hurry up before I change my mind and tell on you”

      Responsibility is a responsibility.

      He wasn’t a fan of responsibilities. But maybe... that was a lie. Tarou took on the responsibility to take care of his brother. Not only that, but to also protect anyone who needed help, the weak, the strong, the bad, the good. He placed his hands behind his head, as he began to daydream, losing himself in his thoughts. Kazumi was right about the whole responsibility thing, he would give her that much. And despite his reckless behavior and rude demeanor towards rules and authority, he couldn’t bring himself to be as heartless as to stomp over her principles. Afterall, he was following his own moral compass, making decisions based on what he felt was right. He couldn’t help but respect her, even if she was trying to restrict his freedom. She was doing it for the greater good and he appreciated that. Plus, she was friends with Jirou, if his brother liked her enough to befriend her, he would do the same. Or well, he could try. 

      Though, so far it seemed that their personalities and views were too different to really see eye to eye. That’s when the Kitsune suddenly walked past him. Wait, wait-- hold on! He was too caught up in his thoughts he didn’t even hear what she was saying! Stopping in his tracks, he took a hot minute to process whatever just happened. His subconscious surely heard what she said earlier, he just needed to recall it. Her words slowly came to mind again, like puzzle pieces forming a picture. Alright, now everything made more sense. For some reason, it made his heart flutter. It was a weird sensation that almost forced his lips to turn into a bright smile. Was this excitement? He felt like a little kid who’d break rules together with a close friend. He’d better start moving again before the other would notice him standing around like a fool. 

      Arms fell to his side. One foot foward, then another.. and another. His pace increased with each step he took until the sound of his boots hitting the floor echoed through the hallway. He was running towards the female and he wasn’t planning on stopping. Tarou didn’t want to race her, thus he didn’t pass her. Instead, his body began to float. Keeping the speed up, the tengu then lifted Kazumi by the armpits and carried her along. “LEEEET’S GOOO!!” His wings moved up and down, creating a strong blow of wind, as they left the hallway through the entrance. Tarou soared through the sky, inhaling the fresh air with a deep sigh before he found a nice place for them to land. “If only the school had classes outside instead of putting us in a stuffy building.” The words left him as soon as they were back on the ground.