Windborne wanderers / kazuscara

4

"kaedehara, kunikuzushi, what on earth happened to you both?!"

the two walked into the classroom together, covered in patches of bandages from head to toe.

they did go on a risky adventure, after all.

"did you two fight? wait, you both haven't spoken a word to each other since the start of the school year!" their homeroom teacher exclaimed, trying to figure the puzzle out.

"um—"

kunikuzushi tugged on kazuha's shirt softly.

"we're friends now, that's all you need to know. and no, we did not beat each other up, or anyone in that matter. so no need to report this to the principal."

that should get the point across.

he could tell that the teacher had a load of questions in her head, but he just walked back to his seat and started dozing off.

——

recess came, and kunikuzushi was at his locker trying to find something. the lockers weren't big, and his was a mess, with the worksheets and tests and all just stuffed in there.

"shit's due for a clean-up..." he sighs as he slams his locker shut, giving up on his conquest to find whatever that he was looking for.

but the moment he shut his locker, he saw fiery red eyes staring at him.

leaning against the locker next to kunikuzushi's was none other than kazuha.

"HOLY hell you scared the shit outta me!"

"heh, never knew you were the type to get spooked by such."

"...i let my guard down, alright? what do you want?"

kazuha stood back up from his leaning position and readjusted his clothes. "nothing, just to hang out, perhaps?"

that's new.

"hang... out...?"

"...don't tell me you don't know what that means."

"i'm not stupid, i know what it means. it's just... y'know what, nevermind."

kazuha wanted to know what he had to say, but didn't pry. kunikuzushi was grateful for that.

"alright then. want to hit the cafeteria? heard they're serving good food today."

"mm."

as they walked the bustling school halls while chatting away, kunikuzushi had a pang of emotion hit him.

what could it be?

embarrassment? nervousness? cluelessness?

no, that's not it.

it's most likely joy—

and fulfilment.

——

he, of course, didn't let that show.

——

"dang, the line's hella long." kunikuzushi snared.

"well, it's only natural... lucky we got here early."

"early? and it's already bigger than my will to live?"

"well, the food's great, so..."

the two waltzed into the line, one hoping the wait would just end. he would have liked to knock everyone there unconscious just to get the food, but that level of pettiness is a new low, even for him.

"recess isn't that long... what if we don't get the food?"

"there's always lunch."

"no, it's just... what's the point in waiting when you know you won't get it?"

"well, you don't know for sure yet. nothing in the future is set in stone, right? don't give up just yet."

"it's food we're talking about here... we can get this shit somewhere else if we did some research."

"perhaps, but some things are always worth a shot, no? don't go thinking about performing alternatives when plan A doesn't even have a set outcome yet."

"why do i feel like you're not even talking about food anymore..."

——

they got their food in the end, and it was delicious.

——

that name, kazuha has always wondered, quite literally means 'nation destroyer'. what on earth could have possibly motivated his parents to name him that? it sounds quite nice upon first hearing, but just a bit of pondering can really get one to wonder.

supernaturals didn't exist in their universe, so that isn't an answer. what, did the birth of the child manage to tear the political state of inazuma apart? doesn't seem to be.

or does it?