the skeletons that allow your imagination
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i
colour her opinions
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headcanon credit: me
…
headcanons
- Houtarou/Satoshi/Mayaka are childhood friends
- Mayaka is a muggle-born and wary of magic
- Team Ravenclaw
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"O – Oreki?" Mayaka gasps as she eyes her friends.
The trio did not look well – Houtarou's as pale as a ghost, it was as if he was suddenly struck with illness; his face almost mirrors the expressions he makes when he develops motion sickness (all those long train rides to Hogwarts never did him any good). Satoshi, on the other hand, had one hand under Houtarou's armpit while the other was holding Houtarou's arm around his neck for support. Following a short distance behind the boys, Chitanda is silent, looking very responsible and very guilty.
Mayaka instantly feels horrible too. A part of her wants to reach into her robe, pull out her wand and fix the problem.
"What's wrong with him?" Mayaka asks, directing her question at Satoshi since Chitanda can't bring herself to look Mayaka in the eyes.
A million thoughts enter Mayaka's brain. Just hours ago Satoshi had walked into the common room and sprouted some rumour about a mystery near the (very dangerous) Forbidden Forest. Just hours ago, Chitanda had sparkled as she suggested they go investigate (within a safe distance, of course). Just hours ago, Mayaka had declined the offer but she had seen Chitanda grab Houtarou by the arm – an iron grip – and then his struggle.
It should have been common sense to step in and refuse the mystery – not just on Houtarou's behalf but everyone's, the risks were too high, someone was bound to get hurt (so why didn't she say something?).
At the time, Mayaka didn't think much of it, she thought it would be a good thing for Houtarou to help Chitanda considering how he had nothing better to do but now … now –
"Houtarou's just dizzy." Satoshi says, giving Mayaka an easy smile as he eases Houtarou into a big armchair.
"How bad do you feel, Oreki?" Mayaka prods as she willingly looks Houtarou in the face. She notes, he's not just pale, his expression is tinted a slight green hue too, it reminds Mayaka of when they were –
"I'm fine." Houtarou manages. "I just need to rest for a second."
"Are you sure?"
Houtarou waves his hand nonchalantly as if speaking is too much trouble. In response, Satoshi lets out a small chuckle.
Mayaka frowns (and Chitanda continues to stay quiet).
.
.
.
Mayaka frets about Houtarou – she asks if there's anything she can do to make him feel better, from suggesting spells she can cast to offering they drag him to see the nurse at the infirmary to saying she would fix him a cup of tea. All this happens while Satoshi and Chitanda are a few feet away; legs tucked, sat on a couch. They want to give Houtarou some room to breathe while Mayaka flutters over him.
"Fukube-san?" Chitanda whispers.
"Yes?" Satoshi answers, trying to offer a smile but her large eyes look glassy and far away.
"Is Mayaka-san mad?"
"Oh, um." Satoshi studies the tiny girl. "I don't think so. No."
Mayaka is clearly upset but she's not angry. He means to say, he hasn't seen Mayaka this bothered since she complained about Houtarou's mismatched bedding (his blanket was stripped, his pillow was checkered and he had a random throw pillow with bright designs – it was horrendous, Houtarou can be such a boy) but it's nothing too serious.
"No?" Chitanda double checks. "Are you sure? She seems … I mean … With Oreki-san …"
"I know Mayaka may seem harsh on Hourarou, but she doesn't think of him as lowly as she makes it sound. Houtarou isn't a nuisance to her." Satoshi says to Chitanda as the two look at Mayaka who's still hovering over Houtarou.
Chitanda shakes her head then clarifies, "No, I mean … I fear that Mayaka-san is mad at me."
"You?"
She nods. "Yes, me. I don't blame Mayaka-san if she does. If it weren't for me, Oreki-san wouldn't be sick. I should be the one caring for him, but, instead, Mayaka-san has made it her responsibility to do so. I'm burdening her, even if it's unintentional. I feel horrible." Chitanda's voice drops, a quiver of sadness behind it.
Satoshi's smile slips off his lips, "Hey, now, I don't want you to misunderstand anything, Chitanda-san."
"I'm not misunderstanding anything, I'm to blame."
"You … Breathe, okay? You're simply stressed. You must understand."
"Understand what? There's nothing you can say to change my mind, Fukube-san."
Satoshi hesitates, staring at the crackling fireplace then the blue-gold of Chitanda's robes. He leans in ever so slightly and whispers, "I shouldn't be telling you this but … we're friends, and I ... I think you should know the history Mayaka and Houtarou have."
"History? What?" Chitanda blinks.
"I'm going to tell you a secret." Satoshi says.
Chitanda's purples eyes should be sparkling. Normally, she would be vibrating with curiosity, but today is not the day. Today she is determined to not make a sound and listen.
Satoshi pauses for a second, inhaling sharply as if gathering his strength, "Mayaka is … very talented." He starts, the corners of his mouth almost smiles. "She's smart too, but I think you've noticed that she is very cautious around magic and somewhat doubtful of her abilities."
"I …" Chitanda trails off, thinking.
Words mount on her tongue as Chitanda remembers bits of old conversations, of Mayaka doubting her reasons being a Ravenclaw when Chitaanda had said, "Mayaka-san, how can you say such a thing?! You're so smart! How can you say you don't belong in our house?" with her eyebrows squeeze together. And Chitanda distinctively remembers Mayaka's answer, how she didn't say it to sound flashy or different, her tone was sincere and modest. "I think I just got sorted into Ravenclaw because I'm creative." Mayaka had answered. And it made no sense because Mayaka is the one who volunteered herself to be on library duty. She's constantly surrounded by books. She's constant reading and studying and gaining knowledge.
(And then Satoshi spoke, "Well, I think you're smart, Mayaka!" Maybe he was hoping to be part of the conversation? Maybe he just wanted to fluster Mayaka. But after saying that, he had enough time to give Chitanda a small wink before Mayaka turned her head to squawk at him, clearly embarrassed.)
"Yes, I recall. Mayaka-san is ambivalent when she speaks of her magic skills." Chitanda says. "Why is that, Fukube-san?"
Satoshi hums. "Hmm, well, it's mainly due to the fact that Mayaka's parents are muggles."
"Muggles?" Chitanda's eyebrows shot up and hid behind her bangs.
"Yeah." Satoshi nods. "Though, Mayaka's aunt – who's a witch – took her in for a few Summers to prepare her for the magic world," Satoshi explains.
"So Mayaka-san is doubtful about her skills because she doesn't have as much knowledge about the magic world?"
"Ah, that's a difficult one, yes and no …" He looks away slightly before turning back to look at Chitanda in the eyes, "Remember how I said it's something between Mayaka and Houtarou?"
Oh, yes, she almost forgot about that! "Their history?"
"Yes, their history. Though, maybe I should say, it's an old story. But, that may be an understatement as it isn't very pretty."
"Oh …"
"Mayaka, Houtarou and I; we were kids when we met, about eight or nine. Houtarou and I didn't really mind that she had very little knowledge of how much magic worked. We didn't even have wands so we were useless about it as well, we were just glad to have a new friend, but ... an older kid mocked Mayaka for having non-magical parents. He was a big bully, he really liked picking on her. It was ... bad."
Chitanda swallows, almost just as hesitant, "How … bad?"
Satoshi's face got dark and Chitanda swears she sees the androgynous boy's lips quiver with old fury. "He called her a mudblood."
Chitanda felt her spirits drop to her stomach.
"Of course, Mayaka didn't know what that meant. She only just moved in with her aunt. She was still new. But I knew and Houtarou knew. And he got angry for Mayaka. Houtarou stepped up for her and, in return, the bully hit him with a spell."
Chitanda gasps lightly but Satoshi wasn't done speaking so she continued listening.
"Don't worry, it wasn't that bad," Satoshi reassures. "The spell was harmless, but Houtarou was miserable. He spent an entire evening vomiting out slugs into a bucket. Tomoe told us he would be fine, but Mayaka stayed by Houtarou's side until he got better. Later when I asked her why, Mayaka said she was convinced all of Houtarou's internal organs had turned into said slugs and she was afraid once he plopped out his last slug, he'd die. I wasn't sure if she was joking or not at the time, but now that I remember it, she had an upset expression, she must have been worried out of her mind, so I'm pretty sure she meant it."
Chitanda's shoulders sag with weight.
"But …" Satoshi blinks, leaning back against the couch. "Looking back now ... I, I think that the lack of magical knowledge was what drove Mayaka to learn more. It's … a strange turn of events, and, as horrible as that sounds, I think Mayaka probably wouldn't be in Ravenclaw in the first place if not for that moment. I think she would have been a Gryffindor." He says, eyes far away.
.
.
.
"Mayaka-san?" Chitanda calls once Mayaka has finally excused herself from Houtarou's side and Satoshi takes her place, sitting next to the green-eyed boy while telling jokes.
"I don't think you should push your luck when it comes to Oreki," Mayaka says, her face twisted with a little bit of annoyance.
Chitanda looks over at Mayaka. "I ... I won't." She knows Satoshi's story should have reassured her but it only made Chitanda worry more. After all, the frown on Mayaka's face hasn't disappeared since she had laid her pink eyes on the exhausted looking Houtarou. "But, I understand your concern, Mayaka-san."
Mayaka turns to face Chitanda, puzzled.
"Fukube-san –" Chitanda starts but stops herself. She almost rat Satoshi out. He didn't tell her to keep what he said to her a secret but … it's obvious, right?
"Fuku-chan what?" Mayaka raises an eyebrow.
"Fukube-san ..." Okay, um. "He said the three of you were childhood friends so I understand if you know Oreki-san better than I do." Chitanda says and Mayaka relaxes. "But," Chitanda adds, she wants to confirm her suspicions and Satoshi's words. "I do think you should give Oreki-san credit."
Mayaka cocks her brow again.
"Oreki-san's a Ravenclaw too. He may not look like he cares for riddles mysteries but I think he's having fun solving them. He's having fun doing magic."
"You think magic is ... fun?" Mayaka asks, surprised.
"Not always but … it could be, right?"
Mayaka shuffles her feet and her pink eyes look downward. "I think magic is ... dangerous. I think magic can be dangerous. It shouldn't be played with or use so lightly."
"I …" Chitanda's shoulders sag further.
Mayaka looks up, face no longer filled with worry. The short girl doesn't get to reply because Chitanda's shaky words shoot out of her.
"I'm sorry for causing any trouble. I didn't mean to cause Oreki-san to feel ill but I understand if you blame me, I can be so reckless at times, I'm known to be impulsive at times." Chitanda apologises.
Mayaka stiffens at Chitanda's words. "W – What? Chii-chan, it's not your fault! I don't blame you, I just – I was just worried, Oreki can be such a hassle and –" Mayaka doesn't finish her sentence, trailing off. She takes Chitanda's hands into her own and reassures her friend. "I'm not mad at you, Chii-chan, really, I'm mad at myself. I should have stopped you, I should have said something. Skirting around the Forbidden Forest ... I knew it dangerous but I didn't say anything." Mayaka tries explaining herself, tripping over her words. "Seeing that slug sick just got me worked up, it brought back an old memory and I got a little panicky. Everything is okay between us, alright?"
The corners of Chitanda's mouth turn upwards at Mayaka's nickname for Houtarou. It gave her reassurance.
"Alright," Chitanda says and squeezes Mayaka's small hands. "Don't blame yourself either, Mayaka-san. You did nothing wrong, you did your best to look out for Oreki-san. I think you did well. You made him feel better."
Mayaka returns Chitanda's smile with a small grin.
;;
"I've noticed, whenever anyone besides Mayaka-san picks on Oreki-san, she jumps in to protect him." Chitanda observes.
The four walk around the grassy Hogwarts fields. The sun is high and Mayaka is pulling Houtarou by his scarf.
Satoshi clears his throat, chuckling, "I think, secretly deep down, Mayaka is still concerned about Houtarou,"
A small smile slowly wove itself on Chitanda's face. "Do you think Mayaka-san calls Oreki-san 'slug' as a reminder of that moment? To be careful?" Chitanda asks.
"Hmm," Satoshi blinks. "I never thought of it that way. I always assumed it was an inside joke or because Houtarou can be lazy, but if what you say is the reason then ..." He finds himself looking at his childhood friends and Chitanda follows Satoshi's gaze. "That's really nice."
"It is." Chitanda agrees, enjoying the moment.
"Hey, Chitanda-san?" Satoshi calls.
"Yes?"
"Don't tell Mayaka I told you, okay?" Satoshi says with a finger pressed to his lips.
"Of course!"
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Notes 1: The Hyouka group chat is getting out of hand. The amount of jokes I've added from the movie is ridiculous!
Notes 2: I don't think it would be odd for Mayaka to worry about Houtarou. Much less care about him; episode 7 shows Mayaka worry about him when Houtarou got motion sickness and felt overheated in the hot springs. She laid down a futon for him.
Notes 3: For a limited amount of time only, trick me into writing more chapters by reviewing 'spin, shove, struggle'. It's like a chant or a spell. But, honestly, it's my alternative to 'live, love, laugh' – it makes me laugh a stupid amount.
– 17 June 2019