Chapter 5: Cutting Algae Part Two

[mp_simplyacommoner]

It was 7:50PM. Teru had gotten bored of studying and broke it up with his nightly stretches—he had decided it was going to be an early night to bed. He had already decided he was going to sign up for the next basketball roster and it was offseason practice time.

As it turned out, he couldn’t tolerate a lack of things to do after school for long.

Cooling down from his trunk rotations with some Kamizawa Water, he checked his phone and paused mid-sip. There were a few notifications from Mob that he opened right away. There were a few pictures of what was undoubtedly the long-awaited kaiseki meal…though they were a bit blurry. Oh, one was actually decent in quality. There was also a blurred person in the background of one without much food—even with the lack of clarity it looked like they weren’t expecting to be caught on camera. Had he meant to send that one, let alone take it? Oh well, didn’t matter.

that mukōzuke Send.

( ੭ ˘ ³˘)੭‎°｡⋆♡‧₊˚ Send.

divine looking Send.

Comments

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

well, not really that well Send.

we're not as close as we used to be Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

oh Send.

well she must be pretty great to still have your attention Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Yeah she really is Send.

If you come by school sometime I'll point her out to you. Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

sure Send.

and I'll stay out of your way this time :(⁄ ⁄ᵒ̶̶̷́⁄⚰⁄ᵒ̶̶̷̀⁄ ⁄): Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

you didn't get in the way before Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

I mean Send.

I didn't get it right from the start (҂ ꒦ິヮ꒦ິ) Send.

besides Send.

you're more than good enough on your own Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

a lot of good things came out of helping Tome Send.

So don't feel bad about it. Send.

You're not in the way and you don't make trouble for me Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

don't worry Send.

I don't feel bad anymore Send.

I had fun Send. He did. Even Tome was a pretty fun person to be around. Whatever she thought or felt came straight out of her mouth, no matter how bizarre. It was an earnestness he could respect.

just promise me something Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

sure Send.

What do I need to promise? Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

maybe you're not more special than anyone else Send.

but you're also not less special than anyone else Send.

promise me you know that Send.

Tsubomi-san would be lucky to have you Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Thanks Teru Send.

You're really a nice guy Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

I don't think so but Send.

you deserve to have someone tell it to you Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

even if you don't think so, i do Send.

and you deserve to have someone tell you THAT too Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

you’re sweet Send.

He hadn’t even begun to do enough to even out the scales, as it were, but it was a start…

At least, he hoped.

He still was nothing like Mob, though, whose kindness poured out of him and had done so for likely all his life. And, because of his work, he got to share that with so many people.

hey, by the way Send.

was that your Master in one of your photos? Send.

I couldn’t see well Send.

but I figured it must have been Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Sweet. It wasn't something Mob was called very often.

Yeah Send.

Did it not come out well? Send.

If you want to see him, I can take another one tomorrow. Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

he's really young looking Send.

do his powers keep him youthful or something!? Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

He's only 27 Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

really? Send.

you're sure? Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Yeah really sure Send.

I've worked for him for a few birthdays now. Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

oh Send.

For some reason unknown to even him, Teru had been convinced that Mob was studying under some ancient grandmaster who was acting somber because he was nearing the end or something. It just felt right, he supposed.

did you talk to him? Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

kind of Send.

he just told me he wasn't possessed or cursed though Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

do you believe him?

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

he seemed normal tonight

[mp_simplyacommoner]

alright Send.

sorry, I don't mean to be overbearing Send.

I wouldn't be able to relax at all if I suspected someone close to me wasn't themselves Send.

there wouldn't be a worse feeling Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

I think I believe him Send.

Especially after tonight. He was so much like himself that I started wondering if maybe I was wrong for thinking otherwise Send.