No New Notifications • kny

◇ tuition

➤ 3:10 PM

The straps of her bag yanked on her shoulders. She continued her way forwards, [eye colour] eyes lazily focused on the ground. Today was a blue Monday and its dreariness latched onto [Y/n].

The girl abruptly stopped, passing by the capsule toy machine and drinks vending machine that stood side by side of the entrance. A sign hung from the entrance's frame, faded words spelt out 'Kanata's tuition centre'. She slowly crawled up the familiar stairs, her shoes thudded against the cement steps.

The door creaked as she pushed it open. A bright smile formed on her face when she saw her friends sit at their usual spot.

"Hi!" [Y/n] slid into the seat next to Sabito.

"Good afternoon, [Y/n]." Both Tamayo and Yushiro turned around to face their friends.

[Y/n] dug through her bag, pulling out a book and handing it to Yoriichi who also sat next to her. "Thanks for lending me this, it was a good read."

"Anytime." He smiled and took the book from her with lithe fingers.

"Hey, [Y/n]." The peach-haired boy tapped on [Y/n]'s shoulder, he guided her gaze to the item in his palm.

"Damn! You got another rare?" She gasped in disbelief. "What type of luck do you have?"

His calloused palm cradled a small toy. The toy was a fox mask. It had wide black scleras and tiny white pupils. Its mouth was downturned as if it was serious in thought. The most notable detail was the large scar that ran across the mask's right side. A thick red rope hung from behind.

"You're still wasting your money on the capsule toy machine from downstairs? How childish," Yushiro scowled.

"Makomo likes it so I'm getting these for her." Sabito took no offence to Yushiro's sharp remark and flashed him a toothy grin.

"Aren't you spoiling her?"

"Nah."

The teacher walked into the room, capturing the attention of her students. Her books created a soft thud as she placed them on her table.

"Afternoon class, let's start."

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➤ 4:50 PM

Paper rustled and pens clicked as the students focused on finishing the exercises that their teacher had gave them.

[Y/n] moved onto the next page, her pen pressing down on the paper and circling the answers with confidence.

A soft tap on her shoulder disrupted [Y/n]'s train of thought, she looked to her side and saw a playful grin on Sabito's face.

"Loser has to buy a drink for whoever finished the worksheet first."

"Oh, you're on!"

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➤ 4:05 PM

Sabito's finger hovered over the button, wondering which drink he should get to celebrate his victory. The colourful cans and bottles gleamed through the glass panel that separated them from the group of friends outside the machine. He pushed the button, it made a click and soon the thumps of a metal can falling down ensued.

[Y/n] squatted down to retrieve the drink that had been deposited. Delicate fingers wrapped around the cold can and handed it to calloused hands.

"I still can't believe that you guys managed to finish that worksheet in 15 minutes." Yushiro had a stupefied expression on his face.

"It was one of the harder exercises too," Yoriichi added on.

"Even teacher was surprised! Both you and [Y/n] practically finished it in the first 15 minutes." Tamayo applauded.

"Guess I'm just built different!" Sabito replied with a modest chuckle.

"I finished the paper later than you by 3 seconds." [Y/n] groaned.

The can popped when Sabito pulled the metal tab back. He took a sip, the sweet fizzy liquid ran down his throat.

Sabito sauntered towards the capsule toy machine. He inserted a coin into the slot and cranked the handle with excitement.

The plastic capsule bounced against the plastic walls as it travelled its way down the capsule toy machine and landed in the empty plastic compartment, its shiny blue plastic hue melted together with the bright orange of the machine.

Rough fingers reached for the capsule and twisted it open, revealing a toy that was covered with a layer of plastic. The plastic crinkled when he took it off, bits and parts of the toy slowly being unveiled.

"Is it a rare?" [Y/n] asked.

"Let's find out!"

Even Yushiro who had an apathetic expression was slightly interested in their shenanigans.

With a final tug, the plastic had been pulled off from the toy. [Favourite colour] triangles decorated the place underneath the downturned closed eyes, its inner ears were painted [favourite colour] and the mouth was slightly upturned, giving it a mellow and serene expression.

"Aw, it's a repeat," Sabito huffed.

"Oh no!"

"Here," he shoved the toy into [Y/n]'s hands. "Think of it as a 'thank you' for buying me a drink."

"Are you sure? It says here on the list that it's extremely rare!" Her brows knitted together as she protested. "Don't you want to keep it so you can trade with someone else?"

"Nah, you can have it."

"Oh, uh, thanks!"

"[Y/n], can I see it?" Tamayo asked with an outstretched hand.

The [hair colour]-haired girl nodded and handed the small item to Tamayo.

"It's very nice," she complimented.

Yushiro scrutinized the toy, his iconic scowl still on his face. "Oddly enough, it looks like [Y/n]."

"It does," Yoriichi concurred.

Tamayo glanced at her watch. "I got to go now. Bye! See you guys during our next class." She placed the toy back into [Y/n]'s palms and waved at the group as she walked away. Yushiro too followed after her and left.

[Y/n] parted with Sabito and Yoriichi and said her goodbyes. The gravel underneath her shoe crunched when she walked back home. She fidgeted with the toy inside of her hand, feeling around the grooves and ridges of the toy mask.

Despite it being a Monday, it wasn't actually that bad of a day.

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˗ˏˋ Spam mail folder ´ˎ˗

◆ The toy mask that Sabito gave [Y/n] actually wasn't a repeat.

◆ Makomo shows off the capsule toys Sabito got for her at kindergarten.