Summer had come and gone; consisting mostly of solo late night drives to McDonald's for fast food binges, and countless mornings being woken up on the dojo floor by a member of the cleaning staff. There definitely were certain aspects to that relaxed lifestyle that Kanda relished in, but now he needed to face forward and give semester one of college his best effort.
The whole point of leaving high school behind and moving on to college―besides higher stress levels and countless student loans―was to make a schedule that started sometime in the afternoon, not at the crack of dawn. Despite all the flack morning classes got and the fact that every fiber in his being told him that come week three he would regret the decision, Kanda signed away his fate; every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at eight o'clock sharp in the morning he would have to be in class, ready to learn all about precalculus and its intricacies. Though attentiveness and ability to soak up knowledge was a whole different can of worms.
Waking up in the morning, especially on Mondays, was like trying to dredge up his consciousness from an abyssopelagic level of muddy, inky ooze that clung to his sleepy brain like a hoard of dream leaches. Sluggishly Kanda roused to an even rhythm of beeps blaring by his ear. He shot out his arm and blindly felt around for his cell to hush the alarm, before sitting up and reaching above his head till he felt a satisfying pull at his arm sockets. Class started in thirty minutes, which gave Kanda enough time to go to the campus Starbucks for an early morning cup of coffee.
He was pretty sure―no, positive that Mother Nature hated him. This year when Summer turned to Fall it was surprisingly cold. It was only the beginning of September and already Kanda had to break out his long sleeve shirt and leather jacket. He absolutely hated the cold, which was one reason why he now attended this university, instead of all the instate universities that had accepted him. Zipping his jacket up a little more, Kanda started the short hike to the lecture hall where he would be taught how to add, subtract, multiply and divide but at a more difficult level.
Pumpkin spice warmed his insides, and after taking another toasty sip Kanda pushed open the glass door to his yet to be accepted new eight in the morning hell. Though a couple people sat near the door, probably for a quick getaway once class ended, the room was sparsely populated. Population plus one, now that Kanda was here.
Meandering down the rows of chairs, Kanda picked out one of the only not broken seats near the front. Morning class coupled with precalculus was sure to be a deterrent towards most to sit near the teacher, at least that's what Kanda bet his money on. He enjoyed the emptiness of the immediate vicinity and hoped no teacher's pets would come in to ruin his solitude.
Slowly as the time drew towards eight o'clock, more and more students filed in. Some joined the group at the back of the room, while others sat near the middle. No one seemed too keen on getting close enough to get caught dozing off by the professor, so Kanda found himself blissfully alone in the second row.
With half of the room already asleep by a minute past eight, the professor announced that role will be called and then they would go over the syllabus. Kanda yawned into his sleeve and tipped back another gulp of coffee. While waiting from A through K for his name to be called, he paid more attention to the feeling of rubbing his thumb along the edge of the cardboard sleeve around his coffee cup.
"...Yuu Kanda."
Tiredly he raised a hand to indicate where he sat, though it was hardly needed since he was right under the professor's nose. "Here."
The professor checked off his name and continued calling out names. Kanda zoned out, more interested in the grain of the wooden desk than the names of the classmates he would hardly interact with for the rest of the semester. Once role call was finished the professor ducked his head behind a sleek black computer, probably trying to pull up a slide with the syllabus on the projector.
Suddenly the glass doors at the back of the lecture hall burst open, a dark skinned boy panted and leaned against the doorframe. The teen walked somewhat steadily to the front of the room while saying, "...S...Sorry for...being late...on the first...day," he paused to gulp in air, "Did you already...take attendance? The name's Alma Karma. I promise to be here on time for the rest of the year."
Kanda flinched at the mention of a name. Eyes narrowed as he studied Alma's appearance; a huge dark cherry cardigan that bunched at his hips overtop a crisp pale yellow button up shirt, light blue jeans ripped at the knees, indigo Converse sneakers, dark hair that had forgotten to be brushed, and an impossibly familiar scar that ran across the bridge of his nose. Though he was taller and his voice deeper, Kanda could recognized his childhood friend anywhere.
Dark eyes met hazel and before Kanda could falsely protest Alma sat down right next to him. The professor excused Alma's tardiness and began explaining the syllabus. Even though they were right in front of the professor Alma had the gall to strike up a conversation with Kanda, who attempted to ignore the other's efforts. He subdued the urge to yell at Alma for being so persistent and annoying in the middle of class.
"That was SO boring, right, Yuu? I mean, come on we can read can't we?! They guy didn't have to keep us there for a whole fifty minutes just to go over the course materials and learning schedule!" Alma grabbed ahold of Kanda's jacket sleeve and turned Kanda to face him. "It's been so long! What made you pick this university? Isn't it kinda far from home?"
Kanda sighed and pulled his sleeve from Alma's grasp. Was it good luck or bad luck that he had managed to pick the exact university Alma would be attending? He didn't know, but the slight resentment inside him leaned towards bad luck. Kanda wasn't about to get caught up by Alma's pace, back then he would almost always get stuck doing this Alma's way. They found a table in the corner of the university's dining square, away from prying eyes.
"So what's the answer to my question? You dragged me over here so spill."
With a sigh Kanda tried to relax, leaning back into the wooden chair. "I got accepted and of course I miss my family," he paused, unsure of what to say next, then grit his teeth. "So, what are you majoring in?"
"Premed path biochem major with a polysci minor! How 'bout you?"
He was surprised to hear Alma's choice in field of study. Back when they were kids Alma had hated doctors and doctor visits, always sneaking in through Kanda's window and begging Kanda to hide him from his parents. Kanda would only frown and tell Alma to stop being a baby and just get his shots, to which of course Alma would protest and hide under Kanda's bed.
Resting his cheek on the palm of his hand, Kanda replied, "Chemistry major, minor in writing."
Suddenly gleaming eyes and sun-kissed skin were in his face. "Really?" Alma seemed way too happy about their similar choice in study paths. For a moment Kanda almost considered going, right then and there, to the registrar and changing his major.
"Really," he echoed in a serious voice and pushed back the encroaching teen from his personal bubble. They had been childhood friends. Had as in the past. Somewhere along the line of eighth grade to now Kanda had come to resent Alma in a way. It stemmed from the way Alma had suddenly vanished from his life without warning, leaving him with nothing but confusion and unanswered questions. Countless days spent hiding out in the grove behind their middle school during lunch period, sharing half of the other's ice-cream bar on hot summer days―were they all nothing? He remembered the hurt he had felt the days―weeks after finally being told Alma had moved away. Of course eventually he had come to terms with the fact that Alma was gone from his life and he moved on, or so he had claimed.
A bell-like laughter broke Kanda's thoughts and he turned to watch Alma grin with teary eyes. "You haven't changed a bit, Yuu! God, I missed your deadpan replies," he said while wiping his eyes with the corner of his cardigan. "I'm glad we can talk like this and be friends again. I've really missed you!"
His mind froze. First, what had given Alma the idea that Kanda was still his friend? Yeah they hung out in the past, but that was before the whole leaving-the-state-without-even a-goodbye had happened. Second, did Kanda even still want to be friends with Alma? His former best friend waltzes back into his life and suddenly he questions his yearlong resolve to resent said best friend. Finally, why did the joyful expression on Alma's face make him forget all animosity?
Hazel eyes curiously watched Kanda and he quickly relaxed his shoulders. "What're you thinking about, Yuu?" Somewhere in the tone of that smooth voice Kanda could tell Alma knew what he was thinking. It was something about the inflection coupled with the way Alma, ever so slightly, tilted his head and quirked the corner of his mouth up.
Kanda huffed and looked away defiantly. "None of your business."
"Well, anyway what's your schedule like?" Cardigan covered hands pulled out a folded square of paper that when opened showed Alma's Monday through Friday schedule. He then turned expectantly to Kanda, who eyed the paper then pulled out his own slightly crumpled sheet.
He watched Alma run a finger along the papers, comparing class names, professors, days and times. Kanda, though he wouldn't say it―because he didn't know how to bring it up―wanted to know what happened those seven years since now. What about Alma was the same and what was different? He needed something so he could figure out if he wanted to continue being Alma's friend. Something to prove Alma was worth his time and effort, something to say that Alma wasn't like those assholes from high school, that he was still the same.
"Ah! Cool! Besides precalc, we have chem together! Let's be lab partners!" As possibly terrible and hospital trip inducing as the idea of working together with volatile chemicals and Alma sounded, Kanda couldn't refuse. "Speaking of class, don't you have a class now? Which one was it...?"
Tapping the lock button on his phone, Kanda watched it light up with the time―ten minutes till class. He grabbed his schedule to find out what building he had to be in. When he reached down for his phone again he found it missing from the edge of the table and in Alma's sticky hands. "What do you think you're doing?" Kanda growled and snatched up his cell, which had the contacts page displayed.
"Seven minutes till class. Call me," chimed Alma as he waved at a quickly leaving Kanda.
Left, down a hall, up a stairwell and to the right. Kanda made it to his class with a minute to spare. Plopping down in the blue plastic chair he caught his breath and waited for class to start shortly.
Unlike his class earlier, the professor had them do a partner activity, where they were assigned partners and had to introduce themselves using the example on the board. This had Kanda grumbling and trying not to glare too hard at his assigned partner; a redhead with an attitude that was too friendly for Kanda's liking.
"Hey I know this isn't part of the assignment but why're you taking Japanese?"
The not so subtle implications made his blood boil and if looks could kill, his partner would be six feet under choking on dirt. "No I don't speak it at home," spat Kanda with enough venom in his voice to kill an elephant.
The redhead held up his hands in the universal sign of surrender as if meaning to calm Kanda's anger. "Sorry for bein' a bit insensitive. Let's start over. The name's Lavi Bookman, and you?"
The grin on Lavi's face just provoked Kanda's rage even more. If only he could slap Lavi. When no reply came from his end that redhead spoke up again. "C'mon I know you're not mute, you answered my other question, even if it was rude. Hey, I'm sorry for assuming. Really I promise!"
Again he made no effort to give an answer, choosing to instead attempt in vain to glare a hole through Lavi's skull. Before the redhead had another chance to speak the professor interrupted, saying that they were dismissed and that these pairs were to work together for the rest of the semester. Kanda gave the large window in the classroom a thoughtful glance and almost defenestrated himself right then and there.
Lunch eventually rolled around and Kanda ended up spending it eating alone in his dorm room. Over a slice of pepperoni pizza he contemplated if he really could make friends in college or if he needed to. After all he'd decided in high school that most people weren't worth his time and that life was livable without constant company. He did well on his own and so far people here didn't seem promising, though it wasn't like he was really paying attention to the other students.
A knock on his door surprised him. Did his RA want something? He went to the door and opened it, expecting to see smirking face of his RA, Wisely. Instead he found a pouting Alma carrying a plate of mozzarella sticks. "Do you need something?"
"Why haven't you texted me yet?!" The short teen barged into Kanda's single room and stuffed a mozzarella stick into his mouth with a grumpy expression.
Turning on his heel and closing the door Kanda frowned. "When was I obligated to message you? You stole my phone and put your own number in there! I never said I wanted it."
Alma paused his circular pacing to glare at Kanda, but then sighed and stomped his foot. "You aren't but...!" He paused to inhale another breaded stick of mozzarella, then shot a dejected look. "...I was kind of hoping you'd be just as thrilled as I am to be seeing you again that you'd call me immediately..." Blood rose to color Alma's cheese filled cheeks.
Only Alma could say something so terribly full of raw, genuine feeling while still looking like a chipmunk. Heart beats quickened and Kanda needed to spit up an answer unless he wanted a crying Alma in his hands―at least that's where the signs pointed. If they were still their younger selves in grade school this would be the telltale sign that Alma would burst into salty tears at any moment. Kanda hoped the other had grown out of that, but he didn't want to take the risk. Back then he had been bad at dealing with a sobbing Alma and his skills haven't improved much.
"Give me your phone." He held out his hand. He got a confused look but then a cellphone landed in his palm, it was the same model as his own. Swiping to the contacts screen he clicked on the add contacts button located in the upper right-hand corner. Typing in his name and number, he returned the phone for Alma to see.
A smile broke onto the teen's face and he leaned in for a hug, which was met with Kanda's arm on his shoulder. "No hugs." Kanda had done one nice thing, that didn't constitute physical shows of affection even though no one was around. He sighed and a question rose to the forefront of his mind. "How did you find my room?"
The situation had gotten hectic and had given him no chance to ponder the obvious. As proven by the visit Alma previously didn't even have Kanda's cellphone number; so how had he found the room, much less gotten through the dorm resident specific key swipe doors?
Something about the way Alma smiled gave him a bad feeling. "Well I saw you walk into this dorm building and guess what?" Alma paused for dramatic effect. "We're dorming in the same building! And that's not all! We're even on the same floor, in the same hallway!"
Suddenly Kanda felt faint; this was going to be a long semester.