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The sky crackled and fizzled as the sound of thunderous booms filled the the living room of the Ramshackle dorm. "It seems like you might have to over welcome your stay as it randomly began to thunderstorm on our hangout," I mumbled softly to my classmate, Jack Howl. His grayishly dampened sliver hair slowly hung glued to his face. He sat in a closed off position, holding a towel onto his face, wiping it over and over again in an angry fashion. I accidentally caught storm of him in his jogging outfit as the rain slammed quick petals onto the ground. I must admit I despised the sight of his defeated running that was necessary for him to go back to his dorm, so I ending up calling him over to see if he would like to dry up until the outbursting tears of mother nature calmed down.
"Why are you going through so much trouble for me," Jack finally spoke for the first time tonight... "I personally find no amusement in seeing people struggle," I admitted in complete honesty. "I was fine, you didn't-" "I saw you almost trip in that mud puddle." Is that chattering mice I hear?.. How silent did the room just get?
My eyes ended up following down to the table that sat in front of me, I remember being told that holding eye contact in moments of stillness is a bad idea. My eyes gloss onto the teacups and kettle that are laid out carefully. I swore I read from a book that calming herbs with tea helped guided conversations, so why is it so difficult to properly hold one? Suddenly, I jumped back in fear as the noise of clearing ones throat surpassed the noise barrier. I finally looked back at the wet guy who was sitting across from me. "What I really meant to ask is: why did you berade me with tea, blankets, and towels when I came in?" His tone of voice seemed a lot more polite... Did he notice I was nervous?
"Oh, that is a force of habit I have, my apologies," I spoke earnestly I could not help but itch my cheek with my pointer finger, I really need to remember that Grim is the only one that I have to spoil nowadays. "A force of habit?" One of his wolf ears kirked down, an obvious observation of confusion. "Whenever my mom was sick and unable to take care of the house I would step up and make sure nobody was able to catch her illness. One time she came home on a rainy day and she caught a nasty cold, it spreaded around the house like wildfire. Now it is a habit of me to make sure she gets plenty of care during storms," I slowly rambled on about my family, a rarity I do not get to do often these days.
Jack stared at me with such an unreadable expression that simply forming words about it was hard enough to describe. He stiffly shoved our eye contact straight onto the ground as he looked at his teacup filled with an unrememorable tea name. He reachs out to it with an unsteady pace, and gulps the liquid down in an untimely manner. "You miss your family," he stated strictly. "Wha-" he interrupted me, putting the cup down surprisingly gentle for the situation, "it's obvious." He classically crossed his arms, the one pose that always made me feel like we had a wall between us.
Well, that was a dramatic way to state it nonetheless... "Yes, I do, but I am sure you miss yours too, right?" It felt mandatory for me to ask him, we have been talking about my family for the past couple of minutes... Besides it was unusual for us to speak about such a topic. It is not often for me to dabble so casually about the ones I care about.
"Of course I do, but you have been ripped away from them and was forced into an entirely different world. You came from a world with no sense of magic to a world that relies on it. Me simply missing my family is entirely incomparable to what you have experienced." Well, if I were to say he was wrong I would have to become the master of decit... A huff of air escaped my mouth as the sound of wind clashing against the weakened windows almost began to surround the room. "I know that," my voiced stuttered with an unbreakable force.
"However, I also know that within each day it has been easier and easier for me to forget them. Even though I care so much for them I can hardly remember my mother's face as of now. It is hard for me to feel like I deserve pity or a single slice of empathy with how it has been. That is why it is difficult for me to not think of it as me simply just missing them." My head shook left and right in such a swift motion, I can tell that my barrier of ice is being melted through each word I spout.
"Sometimes it feels like it was just some kind of fairytale, like I made it up in my head," the glass finally broke as my eyes faltered and let the drops of sorrow drip out. "I do not wish to kiss the sun so why do my feet keep lifting off the ground?" My face planted onto my hands as I try to keep any pride that I have left in me, which is none. My body shook in fear as I hear another clash come about. The roaring of the thunderstorm became louder and louder within each minute. I swear that the roof is going to crash onto the floor with how horrible the weather is getting...
Suddenly, I feel a cozy cloud come on top of me, as Jack wraps a blanket around my shivering body. To be quite honest, I forgot he was there for a good minute. "No matter what you say or feel I will always try to be here for you. You always act like the only person you can rely on is yourself, but that's wrong. I..." He coughs, and then let's go of me as he moves back to our previous seating arrangements. "Everyone in this school can tell that you're struggling so it's not like I want you to come to me all the time, but just know that there are people here for you."
His head whips itself in the other direction as he raises one of his hands to gently scratch the back of his head. His tail slowly wavered against his hidden emotions as it shook itself left and right. My eyes could not help but follow, I would never admit it out loud but I have been curious about beastmen as of late... My heart finally began to warm up from the icy worries that would not be put to rest as I softly spat a snicker from my trembling mouth. Jack immediately turned back in ultimate confusion, which makes since sense since I was bawling my eyes out a couple of seconds ago.
My hands falter down to my mouth to cover my sickening smile, as my sharp teeth began to poke out. "Thank you," was all I was able to manage out as I could not help myself from giggling up a storm. "You really do try your hardest to take care of others," I said, finally being able to put the outburst to rest. "I do no-" "just let me have this, classmate Howl." He playfully huffed, and looked up with his sun kissed eyes, his smile was barely prominent, but I could tell that it was there.
For some odd reason my heart started rapidly beating as I saw such a sweetened sight. In all honesty, anytime his face lights up, even with a slight bit of joy, I can not help but get this giddy feeling in my stomach. Perhaps it is simply just because he does not express it often, yes, that must be why.
I stayed admiring such a simple expression for what felt like hours, but in doing so, he would occasionally break eye contact in an odd manner. I think he might have gotten embarrassed by the silence... "Hey, Yuunmi, earlier today I saw you talking to Ortho, and it sounded like you were speaking gibberish.. What was that about?" He asked a bit apprehensively, it seems he's struggling to find the words to ask the question correctly...
"Are you asking me about when Ortho and I were talking about TTIGRITMCMFDSBARCWKM?" I almost forgot that he made me play that game... "What," he stated with the blankest face I have seen. I never knew his face could retort into such an apprehensive state, I already miss his previous one. "The Time I Got Reincarnated Into The MC of My Favorite Dating Sim, But All the Romance Candidates Want to Kill Me, it's the title of a game. Ortho asked me to test out a handheld, and I ended up having to play that so he could see how well it levels with different graphics," I explained. "Oh, that makes a lot more sense..." He paused and gracelessly shifted closer. I think he was trying to do that discreetly...
"Did you," he paused in an untimely manner, by my guess he was taking a lot of consideration into what he wants to say. "Like any of the characters?" He asked, as nonchalantly as he could. His ears slowly bent down, odd, I do not understand why he would be upset at such a thing. "No, none of them peaked my interest. All of their designs made it seem like they took the sprite of one love interest and then recolored it to make a new one," I admitted truthfully, I could never enjoy something so bland.
"Plus their personality types are all just stereotypes. They made the only dark character aggressive, so everytime I read his dialogue I felt myself slipping into a giant fishtank of disappointment," my tone was a bit too stern, but I am sure that proves my point of how annoying it is. Jack's ears ended up on high alert, and shot back up faster than a rocket. I suppose he got somewhat excited? I am too unsure about these things.
"I'm sure they would feel very unlucky to hear that, especially since you're such a wonderful person." His tail picked up the pace, in fact it almost hit my arm. "That's what everyone believes, so," and here I thought that I was about to be complimented by the most handsome beastman alive. "Actually, in my playthroughs I always ended up getting the 'All Friends' ending, so I am not too sure about your statement. Especially since Ortho said it was only a one percent chance to get..." I responded, now that I think about it, it is a dating sim so obviously people are not trying to get that ending...
"Do you think you're not a good choice?"
"Well, I never said- I mean- you have asked a lot of deep questions today..."
"I think you are."
I could feel my face turning as red as lava spew... Why did he have to say something so off-railing?! My hands immediately flew to my face, as I practically became a roly poly with how much I sucked myself in. "Can you already say your stupid condescending line afterwards so I can move on... That's so embarrassing you know..." My heart practically exploded in my chest. I can not believe that I forgot my manners, this is so humiliating, why did he have to say such a romantic line...
He titled his head as he began to make an unsettling frown, "what do you mean? I didn't say anything wrong." You did not so that's why I feel disturbed?! Why could you not say something that makes me pity myself... You might actually make me think that you...
"Oh, would you look at the time! Seems like I need to get ready for bed, haha!"
"It's six o'clock at night."
"Who doesn't love an early rise, am I right?"
I immediately got up, and flocked away from him. I can not stand being in his presence any longer, if he notices I might cause a new world war... "This afternoon has been great, but remember how Housewarden Schoenheit says beauty rest is important? I think I might actually partake in such a thought! Maybe my skin might become as flawless as his," I stated as I quickly began to rush to the stairs. Maybe I should have used the excuse that I heard Grim was calling me. It would have made it less obvious that I am trying to get away from him. "Have a wonderful rest of your night, enjoy being in Ramshackle!"
Jack watched Yuunmi run pathetically to her room, certainly the average guy would flee to her sight, but he stayed put. "It wouldn't be right for me to force her to tell me how she actually feels... After all I have not been honest to her myself..." He mumbled as he uncomfortably began to scratch the back of his head once again. Suddenly, he heard a boomingly familiar voice "Dude. You are such a loser."
Jack twisted his head towards the noise, figuring out that it came from the table. The mysterious voice was simply just a gray weasel sipping into Yuunmi's teacup... "Grim... When did you get here?" Jack could not help but feel bewildered from the sight of him, he swore that throughout the entire time they were together that he was upstairs sleeping."I lost count of time since I was busy watching you flirt with my henchhuman..." He said begrudgingly, acting like it hurt to even think the idea of their relationship was getting any closer than it already has.
"That wasn't flirting, I was just telling her how much I appreciate her." Jack dismissed him immediately, who does he think he is? Obviously the two of them are just friends. Grim took a couple last sips from her tea as he finally rose up from his loaf position and walked up to him. "Yeah, you keep telling yourself and her that buddy."
Grim rocked his head left and right, he swore Jack was smarter than this, so why is he so stupid when it comes to Yuunmi? "You are putting words into my mouth. Me and Yuunmi are not like tha-" without a moments notice, he was forced into a quickened silence. "She's going to be so disappointed when I tell her that her second favorite person isn't interested in her.." Jack's eyes widened for a moment, before his face became harsh. His ears immediately pulled themselves back without prior notice.
"...Second? Who's the first?" Grim simply sighed "Me, obviously."Jack let out a huff of air as he realized Grim was just spouting nonsense left and right... "This conversation is pointless. I'm going to go talk to Yuunmi, since she's clearly a lot more manageable than a weasel." Before Grim could even make a retort he picked up the pace and dashed upstairs, far away from the troublemaker. "He looks like some kid bolting to the presents stacked nearby the Christmas tree... 'Not in love' if he were to swear that to the Seven he would have been struck down on spot..."
I carefully knocked onto her door, I could not help but feel wary, even though I was only trying to make Yuunmi feel better i actually ended up dragging us further apart... There was no response from her, what if she is mad at me? I knocked again, awaiting a reply from her bittersweet voice... Nothing... Would it be appropriate of me to walk in even if she has not told me to come in?
Who knows what she could be doing in there. I hesitantly reached out to the doorknob as I slowly twisted it and heard a soft click. I pushed forward, trying to gain as much confidence as I can, and hope that I am not interrupting her. Except, I do not find Yuunmi to be standing in the middle of the room. Infact, she's spread out starfish style onto her bed, snoring...
How did she even fall asleep that quickly? She did not even drink the tea she served... My body automatically began to step forward as close as I could to look at her. Her dirty blonde hair spread across the pillow, practically eating it with how thick it was. Thump thump.
Her expression was so relaxed that it almost felt like I was staring at an entirely different person... She was even smiling... Thump thump... I never noticed that she had such pointy bottom teeth, it was oddly cute in way since they were stubby, yet sharp. Thump thump...
She removed her glasses, and laid it onto her nightstand. It made it easier to see the decorated freckles that's around her plump-like cheeks. Thump thump. I quickly snapped out of my, whatever you call that, and noticed that my tail was banging onto the floor. Without a single doubt in my mind I grabbed it so it would not disturb Yuunmi's sleep.
I then turned my head back, making sure that she was not awake... Her face was still plastered with immense joy that it almost made me smile. Good, I do not think I could have explained the reason why I was in here if she woken up... Maybe, I should leave, after all I definitely have overstayed my welcome into her room, technically, it was something I never even had in the first place. I spun- I felt something warm grab onto my arm and tightly wrap around it.
Then, it began to pull, pull so hard that my footing fell quicker than any pride I had left as I flew onto her bed. "W-wait I'm not sure if I am ready for this kind of conmi-" she was still asleep. She pulled me into her bed as she was in lala land. I knew she was strong, since she climbs trees all the time, but how in the sevens can she have that much strength for her to casually pull something that is basically a bolder to her into her bed? Was that even her full power?
Wait, I can ask her that later after we talk about what happened this night during tomorrow morning, that is, if we make up anyhow. Carefully, I tugged as gently, yet hardly, as I could to get out of her clutches, yet to no avail, I was stuck. Why, out of all the situations did this one have to happen? Maybe I should listen to my gut feeling next time and not enter someone's room without warning... Unexpectedly, Yuunmi scoots closer to me as her head bonks into my chest. She keeps it stuck on there, even though she unconsciously mumbles an ow.
Thump thump... Again? Well, with how she has been asleep all this time I am pretty sure that my tail will not affect her slumber at all. I sighed, "I am sorry, goodnight Yuunmi," that was all I could manage until my eyes closed shut. In such a comforting presence, who would not fall asleep next to someone like her? After all, it is only normal to seek comfort with someone you love.