savethecitydesu | Investigation!! Discover the extraordinary!

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Investigation!! Discover the extraordinary!

Who: Takeo and Tsuchi (open)
What: Reading trashy books
When: Afternoon, after class, the day when the kids went exploring at night.
Where: The municipal library near the school

But most people would feel hard pressed to believe that there was any "knowledge" in these trashy books. Everything from actual mythology books, to silly magazines about UFOs, ESP and the supernatural were stashed on the table that they'd set aside for this "most imperative of studies."

Takeo wondered if this is what those "supernatural clubs" in other schools across the country were all about. If so, he seriously hoped they had found magic scrolls, like he had (and currently had in his backpack) because if they didn't, well, then it would be terribly embarrassing for them.

At the time he was waiting for Tsuchi to return with some more magazines that he'd commanded the boy to get. His criteria was "as new-agey as possible."

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This command gave Tsuchi a direction in which to search for something he had never thought he would be using. He was wondering by now if he was being watched, bringing all these magazines back to the table. For they were stacked up to his chest. In the course of a half-hour he had acquired thin magazines, glossy periodicals, pamphlets, newspapers, and even an old beaten magazine with a crack in its spine running down it. At any rate, his arms were going limp. Then, as soon as he got to the table, put the books down.

His friend was still searching for information in a book of mythology, causing his interest to go up.

"I don't know how to picture you looking at this stuff," he said. "And gods know, I've been thinking about it for a while."

Takeo was wearing glasses at the time. Thin-framed reading glasses that made him look a little smarter, and a whole lot older. He looked up at Tsuchi for a second, raising a hand from a notebook which he kept by his side, where he was writing down all things he found interesting. "I'm not sure I'd like to know how I look right now, either. So I'd like to pretend I'm invisible," he said, gesturing next to himself. "Have a seat, now. I need someone to bounce ideas off from. As far as I could tell, if one goes by the assumption that magic is real, then," a pause, "we are incredibly small creatures in a big, fearsome world. Also, role playing games may have been right on the money... eerily so."

Tsuchi took his seat. He fingered open one of the magazines. He simply thumbed through its content and tipped his head lazily. His eyes began closing of their own accord.

"For sure the photocopying machine is a save point," he mumbled. And he seemed to wriggle in his chair. "And what makes you even think you're so small and insignificant?" And by extension himself. "Like, I get the reason. But it doesn't really sound like you."

"Don't be ridiculous, Utazawa. Photocopiers aren't save points. Phone booths, however, are apparently the real deal, if you got the right number. But... why not accept it? A bird only flies high because it's not too big to be grounded. To rise high is to understand how small you are, Utazawa. Don't take it so badly," Takeo said, while flipping some pages.

He paused. "Close your eyes for a moment and focus on a question... when you think about yourself, what do you associate with? A field of red leaves in autumn, a lagoon with water making waves in circles, a rocky mountain, or a lush forest?"

The question, all of it, put Tsuchi into deep thought. He could see that he was more water because it was calm. But how his nature was - his nature - accepted it because it kept him obscure entirely. As he pondered, his nose wrinkled.

"Water, I guess." Then, although he was sure it was asked for a good reason, said, "Wait, are you asking this from that mag?"

"Yes. Now the next question is whether or not you would be the person dancing at the party, the one sitting down, or the one throwing the party. I think if we carry this quiz to the end it will rule that you are a," pause for Z-snapping fingers, "Quiet Sassy Chick."

He then closed the magazine aimed for girls from the ages seventeen to seventeen, and moved onto the next text, a more serious magic book with a silly cover featuring crystals. "According to this, everyone has an element. Mine is fire. Yours may be water. And some of us have a secondary element... what lies 'beneath' it."

Something confused appeared on Tsuchi's face.

So he rubbed his nose and blinked it off. For certainly, nobody else was likely to say something as odd as a magazine said he was a girl.

"Then it has to be the same element or another one. That's how these things work, right?"

"Yes, and that is, apparently, the bemusing part." Takeo continued going over the book. "It seems to be... incredibly logical. Almost instinctive, even. Like almost everything we know from video games or fantasy books or movies is incredibly accurate... And it makes me wonder why."

He shook his head lightly. "According to this, and... well, another magazine that has amazing tips on how to trim your nails (from 1993), you must do a bit of introspection. Look 'beneath' your element. I tried it, and I meditated about it... but all I saw was piercing white."

"This is too strange. Perhaps you could say I'm a little grounded, I guess?"

Tsuchi was reading his friend's book, except upside down. Then he leaned forward a little, trying to make out a long word, and then fell back into his chair. He looked at Takeo then with expectation and curiosity, like he should be working harder. His friend was doing most of the analysis.

"I don't know what's gotten into me that I'm taking this seriously," he said searchingly.

"Well, why wouldn't you take it seriously? Specially after, earlier on, you managed to hypnotize someone, and I managed pyrokinetics? I'd say it at least deserves the attention... and I honestly appreciate having someone in my camp. It's a good start."

Tsuchi looked up from the magazine, a little hurt. He was taking it seriously. But he was just struggling to put it into words, he guessed.

"A start for what?"

"A start for a different life. A greater one. Such as you and I both deserve, Utazawa. We have new opportunities, and so we must look into following them and see where they lead, and which ones to pass, of course... But at the end, greatness awaits."

Tsuchi was one of those people that was happy to be great by shining in the light of others. He could think of nothing better than keeping this arrangement in perpetuity. But, unlike some, he believed in the person he supported and really did want to help.

"Then," he replied, "I'll try to help when I can. But would-be king or not, you must eat."

Takeo blinked, looking up at the other boy for a moment prior to checking the time on the clock on the wall. "Heavens, look at the time. I really have gone on for a while without food," he said, tapping his chin, "but it's a bit too early for dinner. Think you could go fetch us a snack?" he asked, reaching into his pocket for some money. "Something we can eat here. Maybe chocolate bars."

Before his friend had finished speaking, Tsuchi was already rising in his chair. He clung to its right arm and leaned over it as though he had been shot. A hand, rather used to it, groped for the bag at his feet. He thought of the money being offered in his direction. He answered quickly, "Save it. I already brought a few things."

He helped his fingers undo the clasp, then flicked the front pouch over. He brought out the bars and liquids he had bought at the supermarket. And after that, he pushed them across the table.

"I'm allowed to worry, you know. Plus it pays to be prepared, I guess."

Takeo smiled lightly. "Oh, how nice of you. This will certainly help the ongoing march of our two-man army," he said, taking a moment to prepare the small meal, setting things up so that there would be a minimal risk of a spill. "On that note, I understand that we are now, and I can't believe I say this with a straight face, witches (but boys), which admittedly makes us bitc--" Pause. "Boywitches. Point is, I admit this makes me think..."

He popped open a small box of juice by driving in the straw.

"I wonder... if we'll just continue our lives as they are. As highschool students. You know," he blinked slowly, "one always wonders, what would it be like to lead an extraordinary life..."

Tsuchi laughed into his hand as he came back with an response. "I don't know. When some people are young, they want to be astronauts, yeah? But that's so common. I don't intend to go into space. I really don't like the thought."

He looked down and discovered that, in the force of habit, he was turning his hands and tapping his thumbs together.

"It just seems to me something really isn't extraordinary if everyone's doing it, really."

"The extraordinary part comes in how you do it," Takeo replied calmly, sipping more juice.

He paused, drowsy eyes staring off into space.

"Holy crap, that was so philosophical, I should put it on a shirt... In fact, I'm so impressed at myself I'm seeing things-- like, I think I see Oubai..."

Tsuchi turned his head away, searchingly. In between spotting and searching he could see the sunlight streaming through the shelves by the skylight built into the roof. Then he saw Oubai by the photocopier, and blinked.

"Oh," he said. "I don't quite follow your logic in seeing him as a problem. Maybe he's here to borrow a book. Fancy that."

"Or, he might be saving his game..."

Tsuchi covered his mouth with his hands, gasping. "That is so bad!" Then, leaning back in his chair, he admitted, "Nope. Can't do it. But who is the hero and who is the villain, I wonder."

"In our minds, we're all protagonists in our own stories--" Takeo paused, picking up a small bag of N&Ns and leaving some on his palm. "I'm on fire today."

An unfortunate corollary of saying so was that, curiously enough, this signaled his powers, which burst to life on his chocolate-bearing hand.

"Well... inconvenient," said Takeo, as the chocolate melted in his hand. "So much for melts in your mouth."

Tsuchi was quiet now, and he was staring at his friend's hand with some accuracy. He thought so quickly. He was taking his jacket and nearly wrapping it around, before he knew what was happening. The colour was draining from his face. Fear of discovery had taken away his fascination.

"Now doesn't this just beat all?" He looked back at Oubai in even greater anxiety.

Takeo had driven the hand under the table, and was now pursing his lips while voicelessly thanking his friend with a look.

"Clearly, I must be more careful of these things."

Daisuke rested a hand on the photocopier beside him and thought this was a weird scene. He stared at the two, hardly able to believe one was in a panic and the other did indeed seem disconcerted. He began to think of what to say.

He stood prudently . At this point he noticed the hand-hiding under the table.

After what seemed like a century, he enquired, "Are you all right?"

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