tenkaede, hope's peak au, 1328 words
"I just don't get it," Tenko said, kicking at the ground and sending a shower of gravel along the path in front of her. "I care about her so much. So much! Tenko would do anything for her. She's like an angel and I just want to make her happy and be by her side. Is Tenko doing something wrong? Does she not know?" Her voice grew increasingly urgent as she went on, face heating up.
Beside her, another angel hummed softly, adjusting the strap of her bag. Her blonde hair sparkled in the sunlight, and it seemed to Tenko as though the weather itself had worked solely for Kaede's benefit.
"I don't think that's it," Kaede said, glancing over at her as they walked. "I'm sure Yumeno-san knows how fond you are of her. You're really easy to read. Not that it's a bad thing...I think it's great that you're so positive and open! It means that you don't really give people mixed signals or make them wonder what your intentions are. But as much as you want to help, sometimes people just don't think about things the same way as you. That's something I have problems with too," she admitted, laughing softly. It was such a beautiful sound that Tenko's heart fluttered despite herself.
"That's one way that we're really similar, I think. We both want to make people feel more confident in themselves and take the best path possible, but...We can't do everything," Kaede continued. "If they don't want help, it's better to just support them in whatever they choose, and be there for them in other ways."
"I guess so...Tenko would never want to make Himiko upset, but I just don't want her to get hurt. No...no man could ever treat her half as well as she deserves to be. She...she has to be protected! Nobody can do that better than Tenko, especially when it comes to keeping an eye on those menaces." Tenko wanted to punch something. A degenerate would be best, but anything would do. If Kaede wasn't with her, she'd head straight to the dojo to get this frustration out. Aikido was always there for her, even when nothing else seemed to be going right.
"I think you have to give her the chance to look out for herself, though." Once again, Kaede's voice drew her out of her thoughts, returning her to the present. A quiet, empty path weaving through campus, behind the greenhouses and gardens. Tenko never had much of a reason to go near the science buildings, but she was beginning to think it might be worth it to come here more. Occasionally, the sounds of distant voices and footsteps made their way to them, but more than anything else, it was quiet here. Just the warm sun, the gentle breeze, and a beautiful girl by her side.
Kaede's words barely made sense. Of course Himiko couldn't look out for herself. She was so small and weak, and so worryingly withdrawn sometimes. If some filthy man wanted to take advantage of her somehow, there was no way she'd be able to defend herself! For that matter, she might not even care enough to try. Tenko knew that Kaede didn't know Himiko nearly as well as she did, but really, the problem with the other girl's idea should be obvious. Frustration still bubbling inside her, Tenko took some time to digest the advice anyway. Silence settled over them as they walked, only the crunch of gravel underfoot interrupting it.
"And I really don't think anyone in our class would want to hurt Yumeno-san." Kaede's expression was earnest and open. Trustworthy. She reached out, taking Tenko's hand and squeezing it. "Sure, sometimes people don't get along, but nobody has anything against her, right? We're not strangers. All sixteen of us are classmates, friends."
A frustrated noise escaped Tenko's throat. Her eyes burned. She squeezed Kaede's hand back, taking care not to grip too hard. Most people weren't as strong as her, after all, and the last thing she wanted to do was accidentally hurt a girl.
"We have such a connection. We'd be so good together. I just don't understand why she'd choose..." She trailed off. Tenko wasn't ashamed to share her feelings with Kaede, but finishing that sentence would just be too much. No degenerate even deserved to have his name cross her lips anyway.
Kaede frowned, lips parting as though she was considering saying something, but then she shook her head, a gentle smile appearing on her face instead.
"It's normal to feel hurt right now, but dwelling on it won't do you any good, and you definitely shouldn't try to change Yumeno-san's mind about this. Right now, maybe what you need is a distraction. Let me show you somewhere nice."
There was no way she could say no. Tenko nodded, raising her free hand to wipe at her watery eyes. Kaede was absolutely right. She had to be strong, and maybe Himiko would still change her mind on her own anyway. It was too soon to think there was no hope left. Kaede was being so sweet too, talking to her like this. Stopping in her tracks, Tenko turned to pull her into a tight hug, sniffling.
"You're so amazing, Kaede. Helping other girls is so important. Tenko's so grateful to you."
Very much unlike Himiko, Kaede hugged back just as tightly.
"It's nothing, really. I'm happy to listen. We're friends, and besides, it's kinda my job as the class rep to make sure everyone is getting along, right? Now c'mon, I think you're really gonna love this!" Breaking away from the hug, but taking her hand again in compromise, Kaede led the way. They'd passed most of the buildings on this side of campus now, drawing closer to the boundary between Hope's Peak and everything outside of it. To Tenko's surprise, they were approaching a small, pristine courtyard. On its own, that was nothing special. There were various courtyards scattered all over campus. This one, however, looked untouched. Between the delicate, wrought-iron benches and blooming flowers, a tiny stream burbled cheerfully, seemingly starting and ending out of nowhere. Undoubtedly the work of someone with a science related talent.
"Oh, wow," Tenko breathed, bounding over and sitting on the ground. The cobblestones lining the courtyard were warm underneath her, and when she dipped her fingers into the mysterious stream, the water was refreshingly cool. "This is so beautiful. Tenko had no idea this place was even here! It's like a whole little world just for us."
"I thought you might appreciate it," Kaede said, smoothing out her skirt and delicately taking a seat beside her. "I stumbled across it accidentally in our first year, and ever since then, it's been a nice place to clear my thoughts. I've almost never seen anyone else here."
"And you're sharing that with Tenko? Something so special?"
"Of course." A hand settled on Tenko's thigh, Kaede's fingertips just barely brushing the bare skin past the hem of her shorts. "Sharing nice things with people you care about makes them even better. Maybe we can come here together sometimes, whenever you need to get away from everything with Yumeno-san for awhile."
Tenko could feel herself blushing. She lifted her wet hand from the stream and pressed it to her face in an attempt to calm the flustered heat, but it was no use. Kaede's gaze followed her movements. She seemed absolutely charmed by the blunder. How could that be? Tenko knew she wasn't nearly as cute as the other girls in their class.
"Y-yes! Tenko would love that. And let me know if you're having any problems, especially with degenerates. Tenko wants to help you too, and she protects all girls from the treachery of men, especially someone as cute as you."
"Cute, huh? You're pretty cute too, you know."
Without even noticing, her anger had disappeared.