Continuous footsteps vibrated along the flooring of the hallway came from Akali's boots, wandering around the halls never feels the same to make her eyes catch her target, the supposedly dancer but an intriguing transfer. She kept her eyes open to look for that same girl wearing a P.E attire, a temporary ponytail and an impossible blade floating at her side. She kept looking, looking and looking, whether she stumbled across the classrooms, some facilities and even comfort rooms. Just where on earth is that transfer anyway? Was she lost or what? Questions rose upon Akali's head as she makes a thought about it.
"My purpose is to apologize. Nothing else." She said internally. Though some point want her to know more. "For sure she went back on dressing normally."
That thought alone made her stop as she have seen a familiar face at the floor where the dressing room is located, right by the corner she have seen, of course it is Irelia but she is talking on to someone. Her instincts made her hostile and active, because that person who Irelia is interacting is none other than..
"Hello.. I would like to know where is the dressing room.." Irelia asked in a manner of respect.
"Just straight ahead and move at the corner." A guy said with a facemask and a manbun, he is wearing a t-shirt with a towel wrapped around his neck.
"Yes yess! It is! Follow Shen's advice girlie! I also support his answer!" A yordle with a teeny voice spoke on behalf Shen's advice, he is also wearing a mask but it blends on his purple jacket. "The P.E. class is ended so go get your stuff! Girlie."
"Ah! I would like to thank you." Irelia bows down as a gratitude.
"No need! No need. Just ask anytime! Transfers are usually tend to lost themselves around the halls so don't hesitate to ask anyone! " Shen happily took the gratitude and waved goodbye at Irelia, they moved along in the opposite direction where Akali is. Quickly, she hides on the corner with the use of the darkness it casts. She braced herself for something like conversations between the two ninjas.
"Was that the transfer from our faction, Shen?" The yordle asked Shen.
"Yes. I heard she is a great dancer! Oh yes! She must be that dancer who participated on the Valoran event days ago!" Shen replied with enthusiasm.
"Ah! Yes YESS! I remember now! Yet I had not seen some of her moves there.." The yordle sighed, completely disappointed. "You see.. the crowd is heavy and I can't see! Even you lifted me along."
"Too bad, Kennen. But don't worry, maybe if there is a chance she could dance here at the Institute, we would see her dance again!" Shen tries to lift up Kennen's spirit a little.
"..Mm. Well.. I hope Kali would see it also." Kennen lowered down his gaze.
"I hope. It's her choice though." Shen speaks up his thoughts, and he tries to cheer up Kennen by bringing up interesting topics for the yordle.
Akali shakes her head about on what she have heard, perhaps those two quite perplexed on her own path now with regards of her decisions. She exposes herself from the darkness of the corner and proceeds to the dressing room where her target went. And yes, she could brace herself on what reaction would Irelia throws at her.
Yet..
She opens the door that the contents were empty besides of the lockers and equipments, no sign of people, no sign of her. That is weird.. Was she that fast to dress up?
Slowly she walks inside the room, locating where could her target's belongings were placed today. For sure she remembers that transfers usually have there lockers at the end of the room, and so she went to that specific location. There she saw a locker beside the mage named Syndra, having names taped and written in marker. She stared at the locker until her eyes landed on the writing on a tape there, plastered right just above the railings of the locker.
"Irelia.. Xan." Akali reads the writing. "Hm.. nice name. I should take a note of that." Satisfied on what she have discovered, she is okay on what she have got though she must apologize to Irelia as possible because of what happened earlier. Her feet proceed to her locker and she started to strip, making her way to her usual uniform.
Lunchbreak..
The crowd blared her ears as they heard the bell signifying a one and a half hour of lunch break, Irelia could spare eating here but the noise is like the siren of a firetruck. It's different from the times she used to eat alone or with someone that only the sounds of nature can be heard, but here she was, dealing with the excessive amount of decibels that her ears would literally start to bleed. With her bag on her shoulder, she exited the room in haste, avoiding to gain attention from people due to her transfer issues.
She may bump people, but her swift movements made her unnoticeable. Of course her motive is to find somewhere to eat her precious lunch made by her O-ma. Almost half of it was taken by her brothers, somehow they really loved their grandma's cooking though nothing beats motherly cooking. Good thing her O-ma made too much that her lunch is almost perfect on her palate.
Every hallway is crowded. There is nowhere she could go, even on the field areas where students would go picnic, bond, spend time together are occupied. Irelia sighed on how much her day is literally busted. Perhaps she could eat at a place where no one comes? The only place she visited recently is the clinic.
"Ugh. No way. Akali is there." Irelia muttered with her voice. Upon pronouncing Akali's name made her reminded.. that. Her face instantly went crimson, of course who on earth wouldn't be after they HAVE seen by a nurse?! Thinking of it makes Irelia curse on what happened. But that ended as she made a thought of eating, slipping out her stomach grumbled a little that constantly begging for help.
Sigh..where will she eat? She wondered if there is any. Soon she noticed that she is stressing so much, she remembers her big brother Zelos' advice. "If there's nothing for you to go.. try out the rooftop! Every shoujo character always find so many good things there! Who knows? Maybe you'll find your-" Immediately she cringed, stopping on how her headache is going to hit her head if ever she could continue her brother's GREAT advice.
"Fine. Rooftop." Irelia rolls her eyes and sighed. She drags her feet along the way and find the nearest staircase, literally she knows that the highest point a stairway leads is the rooftop. As if she went into a sudden physical examination by just climbing up the stairs though it went well as she have seen a large door at the end. Without hesitating, she opens it. A full glare of light blinded her a little as the sunlight finally made its entrance, the winds are wispy that cleans her mind and body. She roams around to see if there is anybody but no one is at sight. Good..
A smile went on and curved her lips showing delight, she went and find a spot where shade casts. At last, at the back side of the rooftop where she came earlier, shade is perfectly casted from the direct sunlight at the opposite direction. Another thing that made her delighted is that no one occupies there, plus the view is outstanding.
She sits and pulls out her lunch, opening the lid and a scrumptious tempura with teriyaki sauce is in front of her, added with a nice cooked rice that completes her meal. "Thank you for the lunch, O-ma.." She bows her head and took her wooden chopstick.
Ah.. she could sniff the air around that clears her mind, forgetting what happened today and enjoy this refreshing lunch on the rooftop with a spectacular view ahead. The mountains are peeking almost visible throughout the horizon, how beautiful it seems to be seen from here. And those trees below are green that her eyes befall on to relaxation. No. She came here to enjoy her lunch, not sightseeing the world, but she could make it a use by thinking of it as a television.
Pulling her chopsticks and picking a nice, juicy tempura drools her mouth, as if she wanted to take a bite first before recognizing the rice. Before her she could gobble down the tempura..
-Slurp-
-chew, chew..-
-Slurp-
-chew, chew..-
Her body got petrified a little before she glances at her right. Someone is slurping food that counts it that the person is eating deliciously. At her right..
Akali slurps noodles and chews. "Hi." She said while chewing.
Irelia almost drops her food, this is not what she expects for. "What are you doing here." Her voice is flat and for sure her shock reached her senses.
"What can you see about this?" Akali said before she slurps noodles.
"Yeah. You are eating ramen for lunch. The question is.. Why are YOU here?" Irelia asked in tone of irritation. "I thought you are in the clinic."
"Clinic is out for lunch too." Akali replied before slurping again. "And it's lunch. What are you expecting?"
"Great.." Irelia sighed and packs her things, she stood up but a hand pulls her arm down and forces her to sit. "What?"
Akali glared while holding a bowl of ramen on hand. "You opened your lunch, you eat it. Deal?"
"I don't want to eat with you here." Irelia denied, pouting at the same time.
"Well, you have to deal with it then." Akali said as she removes her hand and went back eating her food. "If you don't want to eat just because I am here then go down and find a place for you to have your dearest lunch."
Akali is right after all, there is no place for her to eat unless she has contacts with anybody, like groups, friends whatsoever. She let it slide and pretends Akali is not here, focusing herself to eat lunch without saying anything. Though she may catch a glimpse of the ninja eating her bowl of..ramen. Who on earth eats ramen at this hour? Yet she have seen Akali without a mask in sideways, little did she know that this girl has a face. Oh well, better have her own way then.
Scrunchy tempura cracks her ears as the texture of breadcrumbs added so much joy of her lunch, she could notice that Akali might've heard it too. Well.. honestly, as if they are fighting with food by doing such sounds like Irelia is chewing in crunch while Akali is slurping her noodles and chewing it like gooey substance. It's breaking the silence for both of them, until Akali sneaks a little to scoot closer on the agitated girl.
"Sorry 'bout today." Akali apologizes as she slurped noodles, chewing it slowly to have the flavor reached her taste buds.
Irelia stole a glance and closes her eyes, for sure she understands why Akali went here to eat with her. She took a tempura and gives it a bite, crunching the food as it breaks the silence. "Mm.."
The ninja heard that mumble and made a small smile as a sign of relief. To make that as a delight she faces Irelia and pulls a couple of strings of noodles, dripping with beef broth soup that anyone cannot resist. She pointed it on the distressed girl and made an attention.
"Ah.." Akali ordered. Her eyes locked at Irelia's blue ones while pointing the chopsticks with noodles.
"What? No.. no thanks." Irelia tries to be in denial but Akali didn't gave up, she pouted and shoved the chopsticks with noodles directly on Irelia's mouth, it looks forced but it is worth it. Some noodle is about to fall down and Akali catches it in haste, bringing that last batch of noodle to the girl's mouth.
Irelia has no more words but to chew the contents and eats it. And then she snapped. "What was that for?"
"What? I just want to be nice." Akali replied. "Deal with it."
"Hmph.. You know what? I admit you have a sense of justice in you." Irelia said as she bites tempura. "But your attitude is.. ugh I don't know."
"Oh wow. Looks like someone finally taken of to know who I am." Akali snickered. "Too bad. You have to get use to it."
"Thanks. I'll give it a try." Irelia rolls her eyes and ignores Akali's rants.
"Heh. Why look at that. Even you has a manageable respect to elders and strangers yet you have no friends." Akali snorted to hide her laughter behind that teasing sarcasm.
"Hey! That doesn't mean I am not friendly!" Irelia barked to fight her cause. "I am sure to myself that I am a caring person."
"Caring? More like daring." Akali corrected. She slurps noodles again and laughed.
"Ugh. I hate you." Irelia pouted, showing a little bit of irritation and eats her food alone with her thoughts.
Akali glanced a little, honestly this conversation is making her nervous a little but that is worth it. Besides, she is forgiven by the fact Irelia took that apology right of the bat. She really can't help but to denounce that Irelia is really a type that she welcomes and redeems people. "I hate you too then.."
However.. that statement made her think otherwise. "Whoa. It feels obviously weird if I think it in opposite." It made her skip a beat a little though that thing has a sort of a double entendre.
Again. Irelia stole a glance at the ninja. "Whatever."
Few minutes have passed, they finally finished their meals. Irelia gulps water before she fixes her things, while Akali drinks the soup broth with elegance. Wow. Irelia can't help but to shake her head in disbelief.
"What? You want some?" Akali might've noticed Irelia looking.
"No. I am wondering how come you drink down the soup while sitting up very straight like in royalty." Irelia asked in curiosity.
"Why not? I love ramen. And so I do have respect on it." Akali went back drinking until on the last drop, she breathed 'Ah!' at the end which it counts as delight. "That hits the spot."
"You're unbelievable." Irelia squinted and shakes her head again.
"I am always unbelievable. And so I do." Akali finishes everything with a drink of few gulps of water and sighed. "So. You dance."
"What? I just finished my lunch." Irelia quickly denied and made a reason.
"We. Finished the lunch." Akali corrected. "Let's say, you, as a dancer. You better show some, else you are just a hoax."
"Oh? That concludes how you wanted to say that I am daring." Irelia snickered with her pride equipped.
"We'll see. For a dancer like you. You wouldn't want to become a disappointment."
"Why would I? I stay true to my dances."
"Really? Then show me."
"I told you I just finished my lunch!" Irelia pouted, screaming a little that counts as a minor complain.
"Oh. Too bad. Then let's wait your tempura lunch to settle down." Akali shrugs it off and yawned a little. The winds blowing from north is making her drowsy, for sure this is just an indicator that she made a hearty lunch for herself. "Why it has to be windy.."
Irelia let herself quiet and let Akali be alone for awhile. Goodness.. Her days in this Institute are pretty much melodramatic like she always can tell, plus her interactions with Akali is not much convincing but rather different than on the actual one. How suspicious.. and weird.
"Hey." Irelia called. She noticed that Akali is about to doze off.
"My name is not Hey. I told you that recently." Akali said blankly while her eyes turning into almost a horizontal line.
"Ugh. Akali." Irelia finally said her name.
"Yes?" Akali's tone is welcoming. What? That's different from what she had been recently! The amount of politeness is reaching almost friendly than before.
"Nothing." Irelia sighed and wandered her eyes around the view instead of giving Akali's dozing a problem.
"Nothing? You called me for nothing? That's intriguing.. Maybe you have something for me." Akali gestures like she is thinking of to something.
"I don't. Never will. For the likes of you." Irelia ended her statement, kind of a little bit colder than before.
"Oh? That hurt. I feel bad." Akali blankly stated under her dull red eyes.
"Yeah you should feel bad." Irelia added.
"I feel bad because that is the reason why you have no friends." Akali smirked before she chuckled, how lovely to tease Irelia by using her own attitude.
Irelia glared. "Tsk." That hurt Irelia's pride a little. Oh well. Better let it be like her father said and stay true. Avoidance is far more better to create chaos like she always reminds Irelia.
"Yeah I have no friends yet you are interacting with me." The dancer crosses her arms with annoyance.
"Good thing you know." Akali smiled a little. But before she could speak for her thought, the bell rings around the campus which brings her the attention to rise up and go back to class. "Oh. Class hours is in."
"Mm. Else I'll be late." Irelia prepares for her things and walks along with Akali down to the staircase.
"How about a race?" Akali shuffled her mask and looks at Irelia with anticipation.
"UGH. I have said 'I just finished my lunch' two times now." Great, since when Akali has this energy to move after the lunch break? Irelia sighed in disbelief.
"Let's make it three times then." The ninja smiled behind the mask that Irelia has no further knowing. The ninja scuttled off, leaving Irelia climbing down the stairs without any use of energy. Geez.. This day is sure hectic and grateful. And so she reached the time for her class to start. Only to know Akali is already seated as soon she entered the room, looking at her in a way of mocking her on how slow she was.
NOTE:
Wow! Something is stirring up little by little to our characters! The development is about to surface now! uWu
And Akali.. you really burned some Irelia's pride a lot XD
Anyways! I am updating few chapters of this story by one day because this day is the only day I could find free for my schedule! cries* Also I have to formulate chapters on Four Seasons as well! NOOO . But this doesn't mean I am giving up! I will be updating my stories so don't worry readers!
Please take your time and happy reading!
