"So, you guys new?" The person asks while chewing the french fries Kristian pushed into their mouth.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" Naira asks while covering her mouth with her hand.
"We all are. Well, most of us at least," they shrug. "The actual SCU members don't come here for another hour or so."
"Oh," Kristian replies while looking around the cafeteria.
"forgot to introduce myself," their eyes widen as they put their food down and stretch their hand out to everyone. "I'm Ichika. I go by they/them," they say while shaking everyone's hands and scanning the cafeteria. Naira studies them; a honey-skinned Asian person with neon pink and blue hair sitting at the table with a relaxed demeanor as they twirl their hair.
"Nice to meet you. I thought some of them looked familiar. Everyone's pretty distant, though. I wasn't expecting anyone to speak to anyone outside of their teams," Kristian replies.
"That's because they don't wanna get too close to the enemy," Ichika lifts their eyebrows as they take another bite. "Me, though? I get in real close." They say with a brief and menacing smirk, their large brown eyes focusing on the three. "Sometimes it comes back to bite you, though," they add as they glare at a large and intimidating man at the other end of the table, who glares back at them.
"I-is that one of your enemies?" Kristian asks nervously.
"Who, him? Nah, he's some weirdo who won't leave me alone," Ichika replies casually, rolling their eyes. "Dylan, don't make me come over there! I'll punch both your goddamn kidneys!" they unexpectedly shout at the man, who looks away, embarrassed. "Ugh, you fuck a guy twelve times, and he thinks you're his partner outta nowhere," they complain. "Like, take a hint my guy," Ichika continues before turning to the man and whispering, "Call me," making the group laugh as they continue eating.
As their laughter breaks, Wai Nani looks at Ichika doubtfully. "Wait, so what do you mean enemy?" she asks.
"You guys haven't heard? We're gonna be fighting each other during the last week of class or something like that. It'll be our final exam," Ichika explains nonchalantly.
The three pause and exchange brief looks with one another. "So, rivals. Enemy sounds kind of dramatic," Wai Nani replies.
"Hey names Ichika. I like chicken nuggets, hot people, and being DRAMATIC!," Ichika shouts while waving their hands.
"So you mean like fighting other teams?" Kristian chimes in nervously.
"No, you're gonna be fighting Beyoncé," they roll their eyes sarcastically at Kristian. "Ah duyy! You're gonna be pit against other teams, and that's how your E-rating is gonna be decided. Also, it's the only way to go from second lieutenant to first," Ichika replies.
"Is this for real? How do you know all of this?" Kristian asks back.
"Some guy on our team has a friend in the Intel division or something, a real psycho, by the way. Got a collar around his neck that'll blow if he ever leaves this place without permission," they reply, pointing toward their neck.
"So why aren't you nervous too? You're technically sitting with your rivals right now," Naira asks.
"I'll kick anyone's ass anytime, any day. I'll just need an anvil, rope, scissors, a jar of mayo, and a cliff. Trust me, it's foolproof," Ichika retorts with a cocky grin.
"What's the mayo for?" Naira asks as she tries to steal a fry from Wai Nani but gets her hand popped. "Ouch," she protests in a whisper, making Wai chuckle under her breath.
"Trynna steal my techniques, are ya? Why I outta-"
"What yo crazy ass talkin 'bout now, bruh?" a muscular man with wick dreadlocks interrupts Ichika while standing by the table, his walnut-colored hand landing on their shoulder.
YOU ARE READING
Pondbell: Coldblooded (Ongoing)
Fantasy"If I'd just killed him when I first met him, if I had warned her just in time, how many lives would I have saved? How much heartache could have been prevented?" What would you do if you were living in a world where werewolves, vampires, elves, merf...
