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 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?"

Takeo looked up. His expression was as neutral as possible, as much as one can be when your recently-flaming hand is now coated in chocolate, so thoroughly that he could feel it drying quickly, becoming a brow, delicious crust.

"I'm splendid. I just have fanfiction writer cramps. Carpal tunnel. It's a killer. How is the calmer of the Oubai siblings this day?"

Daisuke found he could not take the joke any further. He didn't know what had gotten into the two, but simply decided to go into a new line of conversation. The issue would arise later were it a problem.

"Too busy," he said. There was something unnatural in being so neutral. His face lined with concern. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'll be fine," said Takeo, exchanging looks with Tsuchi. "He can vouch for me in this regard... I just need to rest my hand for a bit. Your concern is duly noted."

He shifted on his seat, leaning back in an elegant, confident way. "So, what are you doing here, Oubai-san? Research, I presume?"

This was awkward. Akiyama was intelligent and well-educated; the books Daisuke was looking at made him dizzy trying to wonder why the disciplinarian had gone downmarket. He stood there thinking of any explanation he could think of, and made no move of any.

"Yes, a little," he said at last. "I have plenty of things to do here. I think you ought to at least have the general idea. People do vary a lot and it makes my job difficult - and probably yours, of course."

"Indeed, but I believe in part my job is only difficult because the modern school system will have nothing of proper corporal punishment. Yours, on the other hand, is difficult because you have to work on appeals, gathering proof of innocence and scrutinizing cases as they come to you. I admit, I almost wish I had your job sometimes..."

He paused.

"No, really. The position of the man offering forgiveness is certainly better than the one everyone hates. I can at least take comfort that you are fair at what you do, if I do say so myself."

Another pause, as Takeo noticed Daisuke's line of sight. "I'm researching for my Koi no Aspirin fanfiction. Did you see last night's episode?"

Here Daisuke, who had looked a little pleased by the comparison of his work, frowned. It was that, or smile and lie about being in his position only to be admired for his forgiveness. He went back to his suspicions of the disciplinarian who had chosen to survey a curious choice of reading material. And wrote fanfiction.

"No. Should I have?"

"Absolutely. After Michiko-san and Harumi-san were on a car accident two days ago, I had to find out which one of them had amnesia. But I could never believe," he briefly turned his eyes to Tsuchi, "that neither of them would actually recover their memory of being in love with doctor Takahashi-- and having been married to him at the same time."

A pause. He looked up at Daisuke swiftly. "Chocolate bar?" he offered.

"Thanks."

Daisuke modestly accepted the chocolate, by holding his hand out and taking it gently when it was in his grasp. It was put away inside his bag before he stood behind a spare chair in a longing, patient sort of way. There was a point in being invited to sit down.

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