“Oh, of course I can. I’m an expert at opening locked doors. It’s a specialty of mine you could say.” He crouched down for a moment to inspect the lock and hummed to himself. After a few seconds he nodded his head and stood up. “Well lucky for you this doesn’t take much effort. They really should change the locks around here, I mean really.”
With that he took a step back and slammed his heel into the door right about the knob. The door made a cracking noise as it swung open; the top hinge broke off and it hung precariously from the middle and bottom hinges. “Ooops, that was some overkill there.” Yoichi walked inside to inspect the broken hinge. “Ah, that’s an easy fix. We really could’ve been in some trouble for a second there.”
He looked around the immediate area until he located the two small nails that had popped out of place. Picking them up, he stuck them back into their holes and used his flashlight to bang them into place. “There we go. Good as new. Er, actually I’d call maintenance to fix that, I’m not entirely sure the door is going to be straight.” He turned to face the younger boy with his hands on his hips; his watch beeped as a self satisfied smile crossed his face.
“Hah, and just in time. Now, do you need any help with something that doesn’t involve doing illegal things?”
Kyouhei…… didn’t know what to say.
He probably should’ve expected this, knowing his luck, that the officer (Yoichi, he meant) would go about it destructively, and not have a master key or a lock-picking set - although having a lock-picking set would be a pretty weird thing to see on a police officer, right?
The student couldn’t find it in him to care anymore. It was late, he was exhausted, and honestly. Honestly. The fact that he’d seen Yoichi lift his leg and didn’t even bother to try stopping him said something about his mental state.
“I’d offer you some food as thanks,” but I don’t know if I should thank you, “but I don’t know if they’ll charge for repairs and I’ll need all the food I can get if so.”
Still, the nice boy inside him wouldn’t let this go without… without something. He reached into his pocket for his notepad and pencil, scribbled down a number, and ripped it out, presenting it with little ceremony to his “savior”. “If you ever need something a college student can provide, text me… or something.”
Humming through the halls of the university with taiyaki in his mouth, Leo was on his way to class. Or, at least he thought it was the way to his class. Wandering through the long empty corridors, his exceptional hearing picked up someone’s voice and he followed it.
Poking his head into what seemed like an empty classroom, the composer noticed another person standing in front of some… lab equipment? Were they a scientist? How interesting! What was more interesting was their voice. It seemed like they could sing and it wasn’t bad at all. Somehow, this train of thought seemed familiar to him, but he couldn’t recall where he had it. Oh well.
“Hey~!” Leo called out to them loudly after swallowing the rest of his snack. “Whatcha humming!? Ah, and what’re you doing? Is it science? A science guy!? Or, maybe you work with the aliens~”
Not expecting anyone to find him (or interrupt), Kyouhei startled, dropped his tongs while trying to look over his shoulder at whoever was spying in on him, catching a glimpse of orange/red hair before the panic set in.
He’d dropped a potassium cube. He’d dropped a potassium cube into a dish of cleaning water, and it was already starting to react.
With an urgency he didn’t know he had, the student scrambled away, hitting the floor in front of the door as the cube popped due to the transfer of electrons, causing a loud, smoky explosion.
Or was he giving it too much credit, seeing as there was no fire, only a reaction that created a violent noise and a screen of smoke…? In the end, all that mattered was that it was harmless from a distance.
A little stunned, Kyouhei stared up at the person still standing in the door, a little irritated but mostly just indifferent to everything. That had been his last potassium cube, too….
The boy was being more obedient now, eating the chocolate and drinking the water as he had been told. He also answered to izumi’s suggestions.
he didn’t minded the reservation he took at some points; no one wants to talk about personal stuff with a stranger. It was understandable, and expected. Izumi himself didn’t knew much about this stranger, so he was just throwing ideas at the air.
“Well, I believe building up confidence in yourself is what helps against negative critique. That and not caring too much about what others might think. But you can only do that yourself. You can’t ask for help when it comes to that kind of thing” he concluded “Things like gaining lots of confidence in something most people aren’t too good at, is a good way of getting that”
He sighed, trying to think of more ideas. he was already getting invested in helping this boy.
“What do you feel the most confident about? Studies, games, whatever. If you have one thing you can start from there. it’s also helpful when making friends”
Wow, this Izumi was… pretty smart. Good at giving advice, in any sense. Kyouhei made sure to listen intently while finishing off the chocolate and washing it down with some more water.
He then had to pause. Because… he’d never really thought about what he was good at. Whenever the student had to make decisions, it wasn’t usually based on “well, I’m good at this” but rather “this would be better for me”.
Well, there was obviously talent involved, so maybe it was something that went along with having hobbies? So….
“I guess… I’m a quick learner? And I have a good sense of rhythm, and I’m fast - but none of those are really practical skills, right?” Especially not in biochemistry, where it was a good memory that was needed. It was very matter-of-fact.
As for the friends front, Kyouhei’d just moved and the whole ‘socializing’ business was fairly strange to him, but there were already a few people who probably didn’t mind hanging around him?
“You’re very sensible, aren’t you Sena? Or maybe you have experience in stuff like this…?”
Akira doesn’t move at all, he doesn’t really care too much if he gets wet since he knows he’s going to at some point, but he does appreciate Kyouhei’s efforts not to splash any water on him.
“It could be useful, especially if you’re new to this area.” He wasn’t sure if Kyouhei was new to Bellevue but there was no harm in mentioning the update of a weather app, it did turn out to be helpful after all.
“Um…I think I’ll wait out a bit. I was only heading home, so it’s not like I’m in a rush.” Morgana could wait, maybe he’ll even bring his cat back some sushi as a treat. Rubbing the back of his neck, he turned his head to the other.
“I forgot to introduce myself– I think? My name is Akira Kurusu.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Feeling a little foolish for putting off the act for so long (because of what it meant, really) Kyouhei took out his phone and turned on the automatic location setting on his phone before putting it away, not risking any water damage on that front.
“There, problem solved! Well, as long as you only make a mistake once I’m sure it’s fine.” Not including fatal mistakes, of course.
The brunet nodded, acknowledging the decision Akira had made - and what a nice, simple name! He hoped he wouldn’t forget it on accident. “Kyouhei, a pleasure to meet you Akira - though I’m sure the conditions could’ve been better.”
“Same, same~” he chuckled a bit himself, quickly getting three boxes of pizza, each one of a different type , while listening to the boy speaking.
“Heh, you think so? TYVM~ wanna join my party lol?” he said, turning towards the boy again “Well, don’t despair. Even working adults like me give up on normal groceries~ Lack of time, lack of skill. And junk food is great~”
This guy talked like he mentally read some people’s texts. All jumbled up with acronyms and… actually pretty funny to hear out loud, although not funny enough to elicit a laugh from Kyouhei.
“I’m not sure, ah - what game is it?” He wasn’t a HUGE gamer but there were a few MMO’s he indulged in, and he was very partial to 3DS titles. Some Nintendo games had a multiplayer feature, right? Not that he had many people to play with.
“As much as I love junk food, sometimes I need… tacos. Or spaghetti. And those don’t come in boxed meals.”
[水] - Mizumachi only laughed in response. Of course he gets it! He is always up for something interesting and fun! That’s indirectly how he got wrapped up in this mess to begin with! He wanted to try training in another country, messed up and somehow found himself in Bellevue on some exchange program or whatever it was. He should have followed the rest who went to train in the Americas. Where else can you train to become a great American Football Athlete than America? Well, he wanted to be different.
Needless to say, he sure messed that up, but alas! That’s okay! He’s been having fun here, and he’s met all kinds of interesting people, you know?
“Haha! Yeah, investigating curious things is always fun! I like to travel to the beach a lot. Meet new people, gather shells, swim, check people out, beach volley, or tan!”
One of those things was not quite like the others. Who goes to the beach to play ‘Beach volley,’ right? It was all about Beach football! Everything else was common sense for when you go to the beach. It was just like how it was a duty of a guy to try to peep at the girl’s baths at least once in their life timeon a field trip. Yep. That’s what youth is about.
Sometimes Mizumachi would be piling up stools in the bathhouse so he can make a platform to dive off of so he could start swimming in the bathhouse. Then he’d get scolded by his friend Kakei. Be made to apologize, and then have to settle down and sit in the warm bath like a ‘good boy’.
“Nhaa~ I do! I got a loud voice! I’ll be a dynamic announcer! Yeah! I also competitive swim and play American football. It’s tough to balance everything, but it’s all worth it.”
He did love swimming and playing American football, so he was willing to put forth the effort.
“Ah! So you wanna follow me back to the dorms, or something? I’m headed there myself and we can keep talking.”
All is good to stand around and talk, but they should get going before it gets too dark, right?
“The beach?” Kyouhei hadn’t been to a beach in forever. He could only faintly remember going as a little kid, seeing the water go on without an end, touching the sky (in his mind, that’s what it was doing) on the horizon.
“Are you a beach-y person, Mizumachi? Is there a beach in Bellevue?” If so, the brunet definitely wanted to go there. Would the sand be as hot as he remembered? The sea as salty? No doubt it’d be more intense, now.
He totally glazed over the majority of what the larger man said, due to overthinking, but he could’ve sworn… well, it wasn’t really any of his business, right? Right.
Still, it was amazing that Mizumachi had so much on his plate and seemed to have energy to spare (if the current conversation was telling). It made Kyouhei a bit envious.
“I’m sure with your enthusiasm, you can get whatever announcing job you want - and at least you’re doing what you want to do, so that has to make it a little easier?” Not that he was the expert in following dreams, but it always seemed to be easier to do something when you enjoyed it.
Kyouhei took out his phone and peered at the time, noting that it was, in fact, much later than he should be pushing his free time to be, and made a long ‘eh’ noise.
“I would really appreciate that, thanks!” With a soft grin, Kyouhei pocketed his phone and turned to his now-guide and mock-saluted. “After you!”
“Of course, I won’t be offering otherwise if I wasn’t okay with it.” Plus, she had been used to sleeping just wherever with whoever happened to show up; she remembers doing this back in the dorms in Iwatodai and in a few of the brooding schools she was at before.
And making new friends was a good idea too, while she was at it. She hadn’t really interacted with anyone in the city that much (though to be fair, she was busy with school and work) so it would be good, wouldn’t it?
“Yeah, just give me a second.” She moved over from her spot on the blanket she had laid out that she was on, patting the spot where she just was in what she thought was an inviting fashion, a small smile on her face. “Don’t worry about making me uncomfortable, I am the one offering after all.”
Kyouhei grinned widely and rolled out his shoulders - he might as well get all his wiggles out now so that he wouldn’t accidentally wake up his napping buddy or interrupt them before they properly fell into a sleep cycle.
“Sweet~.” He kicked off his sneakers and knelt down onto the blanket, settling half-into the warm spot made by the girl - oh, wasn’t it kind of rude to do this without introducing himself? “I’m Kyouhei, by the by. Thank you for sharing this with me.”
Carefully, he settled onto his back and folded his hands over his stomach, his head tilted so he could clearly see his snuggle-buddies reaction.
[水] - Smoothies~! Always a wonderful thing to have when you are soon to get ready to abuse your brain with studying—or you know… getting knocked around while on the field. Either or works. Mizumachi was following after Kyouhei out of curiosity to watch him gather stuff for the blender.
“Huh? Me? Uh… I don’t think so.”
Well, did boredom count? Sometimes if he got too bored, he like breaks into hives (okay, that’s a joke) and has this intense need to break out into— well, something! Kyohei has been spared this, but sometimes when Mizumachi got excited enough, he’d start stripping. Just down to his boxers, no worries! Sometimes they were swim trunks!
“You allergic to something? Like chlorine maybe? That would be sad. Then you can’t swim in the swimming pool.”
What is life without swimming? It is a life instead full of American football, that’s what! Haha!
Kyouhei hummed, happy he didn’t have to pull anything out of his usual smoothie recipe and began to peel a banana with one hand and his teeth while opening his small-ish jug of milk with the other.
Into the blender, they went and the semi-talented chef plopped the top on before turning to answer, grinning.
“I’m not allergic to chlorine - unless it’s made of peanut butter. I have a nasty strong peanut butter allergy. Found out after trying a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup for the first time. It really sucked. Although, yum.”
He wasn’t sure why it would be thought he was allergic to chlorine - maybe Mizumachi was trying to figure out why he was so pale?
He scratched his cheek as the younger male described his predicament. Well he was fresh out of luck if he left it at work; not even Yoichi was dedicated enough to go on a hunt for some dorm keys. “Well if you dropped them I can help you look around.” Not like he had much anything else to do. He blinked at the others question before flicking the name on his badge.
“Officer Oshiro from Bellevue’s finest at your service. Although you can just call me Yoichi, that’s what everyone else does.” He tucked the flashlight under his elbow and began picking at his nails. “I’m on patrol right now. Supposed to be watching out for riff raff or something. I just assumed that you weren’t some hooligan looking to break in because…well…you’re a bit scrawny. And most young offenders would probably make less noise when trying to enter a building.” He spoke from experience, of course.
“Anyway,” he let the flashlight roll back into his hand and tilted his head, “do you want to solve the immediate problem at hand or would you rather go waste your time at midnight looking for your keys. The real question being, if you did leave them at work could you even get in the building to retrieve them.” Yoichi glanced at his watch. “My first offer remains for another three minutes and fifteen seconds.”
“Nice to meet you, Officer - I mean, Yoichi?.” Kyouhei wondered if maybe he should salute. It was more of a military thing, right? What did you do to show respect to police officers… well, he’d figure it out?
He figured that was the case - not the part about the guy being an officer, but the ‘too scrawny’ part - that and there was the argument that he didn’t have a meaninglessly violent bone in his entire body.
That wasn’t really helpful but now there was an element of panic involved - a time limit. He felt like he was playing that one shark-watching simulator where you had to tranq the shark - anyways.
“Can you really get me inside?” Did he have a master key or something? A lock-picking set? Kyouhei decided to go with the quick solution. He could find his key tomorrow.
Stepping back to admire his handiwork, Komui grinned in satisfaction as he read the notice he had just finished hanging up. It had been a while since he had had an assistant but he thought now was as good a time as any to try find a new one. Hence all the posters he had pinned around the university where they would hopefully catch some prospective students eyes.
Frowning momentarily, the scientist wondered whether anyone would take any interest in applying for the position as even though there were benefits, such as credits towards the year mark and hands on experience, working with him seemed to be considered a dangerous task. People just didn’t seem to understand that explosions were a natural part of science. It wasn’t as if he intentionally set things (and people) on fire… at least, not all the time…
There wasn’t anything more he could do but wait, the most tedious part of the process to be sure. Giving a final parting glance at the page hanging on the wall, Komui then turned to head back towards his office to wait for the applicants to arrive.
If any did come…
On his way back from his basic Chem classes to his dorm, Kyouhei walked past a person who was walking away from a big poster - probably an ad or request of some kind.
Some of the ads posted around campus could be pretty interesting (evidence one, his own request a while ago) but the guy looked almost professional… which could mean possible credits.
Eyes sparkling with hope and with half a dozen Chemistry notes now shoved into his pockets, the brunet spared a prayer for anything that might be listening that the ad was something he qualifed for while sprinting towards where the ad was set up.
Breath catching softly in his throat as he wasn’t the fittest of adults - he gave the poster a once over. Then a twice-over, a grin splitting his lips as it looked very, very promising for him. A lab partner, he could be.
He pulled out his phone and dialed up the provided number at the speed of light, figuring a call was more convenient before remembering he’d seen someone walking away and closed the device, rushing to catch up.
“Hey, hey!” Grasping for something to call the person by, Kyouhei yelled out the first thing that came to mind, which just happened to be; “Man in the glasses! Excuse me!”