dumb kids doing dumb things

[soba]

kia and i will thread or else

Comments

[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.

[inveilsible]

In a sense?

[ Now Sana moves closer, peering at him carefully. Was there something she missed? Normally, her Soul Gem ought to have reacted or maybe that was only because of Witches or-- ]

I can't sense anything at all... I-I'm not doubting you, but you hide it really well!

[soba]

I'm not hiding anything.

[ he is just sometimes a kappa, and right now he is not. ]

How could you tell?

[inveilsible]

"Tell"...? You mean, sense it?

I'm a Magical Girl. [ She pauses, slowly twisting her fingers together. ]

I can tell if there's something... well, off. Though that usually just means there's a Witch nearby.

[soba]

What are those? Are they the monsters?

[ he supplies no information about himself, but grills her instead. ]

[inveilsible]

Some of them. They're... creatures that can take control of innocent people and lead them to their deaths and they're definitely really dangerous. It's a Magical Girl's duty to fight them.

[ He can grill her all he wants, she doesn't think she's particularly interesting.

Though she's really not ready to tell him the Real Deal behind Witches. ]

[soba]

[ he lets out a low whistle ]

Wow. That's shitty. [ that's one way to describe it ] So there's more of you?

[inveilsible]

Mm. There are a lot, I just... haven't met all of them.

[ And also some of them are jerks. ]

Can I... ask what you are, exactly?

[soba]

[ wow. don't be nosy. ]





Kappa.

[inveilsible]

K... kappa?

L-like the-- with the dish-- and cucumbers--??

[ Pardon Sana's shock and interpretative gestures. ]

[soba]

No, the other kind of kappa.

[ yes, of course the one with the dish ]

[inveilsible]

Other... kind....

[ Look. SHE'S. NOT DOUBTING HIM. ]

[soba]

[ oh my god

he just stares at her for a second, and tries not to roll his eyes. ]

No, it's the normal kind.

[inveilsible]

Does that mean you... transform?

[ Because again, he doesn't look anything like a kappa. ]

[soba]

[ THERE IS JUST

AN AWKWARD SILENCE ]

Sure.

[inveilsible]

Can I see??

[ SANA YOU CAN'T JUST ASK-- ]

[soba]

No.

[ it actually doesn't work like that, but he will not explain that. ]

[inveilsible]

[ Poor Toi will never be a bride. ]

O-oh... [ and Sana deflates, poking her fingers together. ] Sorry, I guess that was really rude of me to just... I'm sorry.

[ Well, of course she can't just ask some guy she doesn't even know the name of to turn into a kappa. That's stupid. ]

[soba]

Whatever.

[ ... ]

Why are you even hanging out here?

[inveilsible]

… I wander. Sometimes if I don't make myself move and walk around, it gets a little too lonely...

[ And she has friends now, but they all go to different schools. ]

[soba]

[ ... hmmm

he scratches the back of his head ]

Come on. Those guys over there look like they're ready to pee themselves.

[ the kids??? they can still see toi talking to himself ]

[inveilsible]

S-sorry... I know talking to me is only going to make people think something's wrong with you.

[ But he'd said "come on", not "go away", which... she hadn't expected, but Sana will take it regardless and move after him. ]