Teyvat's Academy of Vision-Holders I (Ittorou Edition)

Chapter 5 - Sneakers

Itto's POV

     My nerves were shot all day. Gorou never came back after lunch and his text had been a lot more straight-forward than the few others he'd sent. Practice was an absolute wreck - everyone knew something was wrong, but I couldn't tell them "oh, I'm worried about a guy I met yesterday, cause he's really cute and I want to call him mine."

     Except Coach pulled me into her office when Harold - the smallest guy in my weight class - managed to pin me. "Alright, what the fuck is up with you?"

     "Noth -"

     "Don't lie to me, Arataki. Sit down and talk." I sat but I didn't speak. She just leaned on her desk and waited, arms crossed and pink eye glaring at me. Time ticked back, rubbing at the fidgety nerves in my head. "Sooner you tell me, the sooner you can go relax."

     "...Have you seen Gorou since lunch?"

     "...Archons, you obvious himbo - yes. He stopped by to check if I had extra meds on the way to archery."

     "Really? Thank Celestia - okay, I'll be alright."

     "...No. Go check on him for me."

     "But practice -"

     "Harold took you down - shut up and go. Get changed first though." Who was I to argue? I practically bounced my way to a changing stall and left, ignoring the teases to run towards the archery range with my stuff. But I didn't see him at all - Kujou Sara, Venti, Amber, a bunch of unfamiliar sophomores and freshmen - but no Gorou. The archery club teacher - Mr. Tighnari? - saw me, walking over with a confused look.

     "Can I help you?"

     "Uh, Coach Beidou sent me to check on Gorou."

     "Ah, yes. He's getting changed, so just go wait for him.

     "Thank you!" I tried not to run, but I was definitely speed walking. In my rush to quell the worry in my soul, I forgot my manners - all of them, including the ones that told me to knock on a locker room door. All I could hear were whimpers and moans, plus a wet, squelchy noise that sounded faintly familiar - I must've made a noise because it all stopped, leaving only the soft pants of air to accompany my panic.

     "...Itto?" Of course he knows it's me.

     "Hey, uh... Hey bro." Bro?! "I, um... Coach! Yes, that, Coach said to check on you!" I looked around, spotting his feet under the stall door before he cracked it open. "Archons, are you alright? Why're you so red?"

     My instincts were so bad - I dropped everything and darted over, pressing the back of my hand to his forehead. He didn't say anything, leaning into my touch with a little shiver. "Is this that yōkai thing? Should I get your aunt?"

     "No, no, just... Please step out. I'm not ready for this. Not yet." He grabbed my wrist and gently pushed it back so he could step back and close the door. "Please, just wait outside and pretend you didn't hear anything, okay?"

     "...I-I'm sorry, I should've knocked first."

     "I don't care. I'll be embarrassed later, but right now, I just wanna finish up and go home." I hurried outside, sitting there until he finally padded back out - "padded" was serious, because instead of his normal body, his legs were replaced by fluffy dog legs. I could tell it continued up his sides once he stretched a little, a yawn showing off his sharpened fangs.

     "...You had feet a second ago."

     "Yeah, well... I don't know how to explain it." I just stared for a moment before he patted my head. "C'mon - Aunt Beidou needed me, right?"