dumb kids doing dumb things

[soba]

kia and i will thread or else

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[soba]

[ why is this weird girl talking to herself

toi doesn't move for a few seconds, like he's testing whether or not she actually saw anything. but when she continues to look at him instead of turning away, he thinks that's enough evidence that he needs.

so he stands up, casually brushes off his pants, and then walks over until he's right in front of her, a hand behind him to hold onto a hidden weapon in case he needs it. ]

You. What are you looking at?

[inveilsible]

... Eh?

[ For a minute, inexplicably, she just sort of stares at him. Then she looks over her shoulder to see if there's anyone standing directly behind her. Then, kind of stunned, she points to herself. ]

You can... see me?

[soba]

[ toi, immediately: oh god please don't let this be any more weird shit

but he just nods, his expression one of disbelief. ]

No, I'm talking to myself. Of course I can see you.

[inveilsible]

No, that's-- it's not "of course"--!

[ Well. Now she just looks alarmed. ]

You shouldn't be able to see me! Are you magic??

[soba]

[ ...

he turns around, to leave. ]

I refuse.

[inveilsible]

[ ... Ordinarily, she'd let it go. Ordinarily, she's nowhere near brave enough to engage in conversation with a stranger and her invisibility had ensured that she could avoid that more often than not.

But he'd seen her, and either that means he's a Magical Girl (some... how) or it means there's something else going on. And she can't let that go. ]

W-wait!

[ Sorry, Toi. She's trotting after you. ]

[soba]

[ oh... he is being followed, he looks over his shoulder at her. ]

What is it?

[ well, he knows what it is, technically. something about magic and seeing her, which sounds like a headache. ]

[inveilsible]

S-sorry, it's just... no one's been able to see me, except for specific people.

And you don't really... well, I didn't think you qualified.

[soba]

What are you even talking about? What specific people?

[ he pauses

why is he asking, he doesn't want to know. ]

[inveilsible]

... Magical girls? Witches? Monsters?

[ She's. Saying this. Very meekly. ]

[soba]

[ he

hates this so fucking much, it's absurd ]

No. Definitely goddamn not.

[inveilsible]

I-I'm sorry! I wasn't trying to say you were any of those things, I just-- don't know why you can see me!

[ Please don't shank her. ]

[soba]

[ he rubs his temple ]

So you're actually invisible? No shit?

[ maybe she's a kappa..... ]

[inveilsible]

[ Rude. ]

If you don't believe me... we can find someone else and you can ask them if they see me.

[soba]

[ ugh

this is a good way to make himself look crazy if she's telling the truth, but. ]

Fine. Come on.

[ there are other kids nearby. ]

[inveilsible]

[ There sure are. Kids who are totally minding their own business and chatting about Kid Things and not really paying attention to this blue-haired kid and his pigtailed tagalong.

Until one of them glances up and raises an eyebrow kind of skeptically at Toi.

"W-what? What do you want?" ]

[soba]

Can you see her?

[ he points at her.

it's funny because toi already has a threatening aura for a 14 year old so this will probably go fine ]

[inveilsible]

[ The kids all turn their heads to stare at the space Toi is pointing to-- and then they glance back at him, shrinking back a little in the universal "this guy is crazy but if I say that he'll probably pop my head off" kind of way.

Sana, for her part, just looks quietly resigned.

"... Don't see anyone but you," the first kid finally mutters. ]

[soba]

[ toi proceeds to just turn around and walk away without addressing the kids any further. rude, but they probably appreciate it. ]

You're not dead, are you?

[ he is just assuming that she's following ]

[inveilsible]

I-I'm not.

[ She tugs at a pigtail-- and he guessed it, she's following. ]

It's because of a wish I made... it wasn't really what I wanted, but a lot had happened and it kind of wound up becoming like this.

My family doesn't care, though, so... I guess it could have been worse. At least I'm not worrying them.

[soba]

[ ... unfortunately, she hit the right button to get sympathy from him. he pauses slightly, but continues walking, the only difference being that his pace is now slightly slower. ]

You said specific people can see you?

[inveilsible]

Mm. Other people who made wishes, like me. And I guess the, um... monsters that attack ordinary people can see me too.

[ She's nowhere near confident enough to walk beside him or to try and catch his eyes, but she continues to follow. ]

But I don't think you're either one of those things, so I don't know why you can see me. I'm sorry if I'm bugging you.

[ But outside of fellow Magical Girls, she hasn't been able to talk to anyone. And that's... it feels strange now, but she thinks it's a warmer feeling of something like hope. ]

[soba]

I have a feeling I know why.

[ he is pretty sure kappas, technically, count under the category of monster, even if it sounds like she's speaking about a different kind.

still, she asked if he was magic earlier, so it should probably count. ]

But not for the same reason the others can.

[inveilsible]

Is that, um... something I'm allowed to ask about?

[ Look, she just met the guy. She doesn't even know his name. This isn't exactly standard protocol for jaw-dropping secrets to be revealed. ]

[soba]

[ honestly it's not even a life or death kind of secret, it's just that the kind of thing that is so goddamn weird why would you ever want to tell someone else about it? ]

I guess I'm magical, in a sense. So that's probably why.