Mon Coryphée
Book I, Mes Larmes
"Épisode II"
Friday was looking rather gloomy that afternoon. Classes at Wilhelmshaven Performing Arts Academy were transitioning into the Seventh and last Period. The hallways filled with passing students. With a ten-minute passing time they would have time to catch up with each other, since the school was so big.
Students were not required to wear uniforms because it was a school of artistic self-expression and creativity. Uniforms were required to be worn, however, when attending special events, such as field trips to concerts and recitals, or when visiting local and regional arts colleges. Students were given uniforms at the start of every year and expected to keep them until the end of each semester. But appropriate casual wear was meant to be worn on average days; nothing too obscene or suggestive—just general self-expressions. As long as pants weren't sagging and skirts weren't too short, things flowed almost naturally for Wilhelmshaven students, as well as for Wilhelmshaven.
A passel of girls were crowding next to the door to a general education classroom, discussing things that had happened in between that day and the night of the Banquet. It hadn't been a mere twenty-four hours, but the girls were eager to notice the projected "Valedictorian."
They giggled to themselves, just as Silver the Hedgehog passed them by.
Silver was wearing a white sweat jacket with matching shorts, a green shirt, and a pair of beige boots. He cruised through the hallway with a gentle but cautious confidence. Immediately taking note of the flowing students, they were only eyeing him reflexively. He had the heart to smile back at them, so he shied a wave.
But no real responses came. Just more ocular diversion.
Much like in middle school: Silver always doubted making any friends in high school. And transferring from the Junior High Division of Wilhelmshaven had dealt some damage. The white hedgehog had been branded the "freak" of his new middle school, Sulston Junior High. Other kids would pick on him because of his shyness and withdrawn appearance. He tried to protect himself by dressing in whatever was "cool" at the time, but even then he was subjected to pranks and name-calling—a favorite pick to tasteless bullies, peerless pressures, and other abusive ne'er-do-wells. Trying to be cool was obviously not Silver's forte, so after graduating from Sulston he promised just to be himself and hoped for the best.
And now, the best had come. Because Wilhelmshaven Academy was his dream school, one he wished he'd never left. It was a fresh start on an old rapport. And he wanted to do his best at reviving it.
"Hey, Silver!"
Silver instantly stopped walking and looked over his shoulder to see a green hawk waving him down. He seemed to have a cool-looking grin on his face. Silver blinked, head tilting to a reason why the hawk was jogging.
"Y-Yeah, Jet?" Silver answered.
The hawk huffed; but just as quickly, he combed over his rich emerald crest, smooth and suave. Seeing him clearly faking his coolness, Silver chuckled bashfully. "Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I'll be late coming in tonight."
Silver blinked at the fellow Junior Classman again. A somewhat sulky glower pursed his lips. "Is it another Archery Club meeting?" he muttered.
Jet sighed roughly, "Yeah. But the season's dwindling down, so we won't be having many more. Don't worry, though. Just lock up and power down, like usual; no need to wait up." His gestures were grand but straightforward.
Which was one thing Silver noticed about his dorm mate. A thing that neither pleased nor annoyed him. He understood that it was just one of those unconscious motions that everyone does. Whether it's repeating certain words, gestures, facial expressions—Silver was aware of it, and had to swallow his annoyance at times. Growing up, the hedgehog teen was fascinated with how the mind works and rationalizes things. He was even more interested in what he called "choreographic psychology," or how dance movements and gesticulations were able to convey musical tones and moods. Ballerinas were the best at expressing emotion through their bodies: They used them in tandem with music to guide audiences through amazing visual-aural displays. Actors and singers could do the same, but not to the same effect Silver wanted.
Silver knew he couldn't dance to save his life, but he signed up for an elective dance class anyway, just to watch the blossoming dancers up close. His grades suffered greatly, but he didn't care as long as he could see them dance.
Especially the Senior Classman Shadow the Hedgehog.
Such an accomplished coryphée prior to high school, Silver felt undeserving of being graced by the Senior's presence everyday. It wasn't personal in the least bit, though it was still amazing for Silver to see him. The way he moved struck him most tenderly: With that bold sashay, girls from all class levels squealed upon his and his colleagues' arrival.
Quite literally—in that happening.
"Whoa, it's them…!"
"The Tetra-Core, they're here?!"
"They must be heading toward Mrs. Swordshaw's class…?"
Another dreamlike serenity swirled around Silver. A fuzziness blossomed in his chest, a familiar drumming loudened in his ears. It wasn't fast, but the hard thumps were beginning to sync with that fuzzy warmth.
'Oh God, this feeling again…it's back,' Silver's mind fretted. 'Oh no, I can't let anyone see, y'know! They'll make me into another laughingstock—of the whole school, y'know! No, not this one too! J-Just, just calm down, Silver. It's no big deal, you've seen them everyday since the beginning of the semester…!' He gulped. It was tiny and inaudible.
Beyond the crowd of heads was indeed the Tetrarch Chorus: Sonic and Shadow with Knuckles and Espio. The perfect dance ensemble, they were a bushel of teacher's apples ripened to outshine all others. Ready to graduate and take the world by storm. With Sonic's wild breakdance moves, he could concoct a EF-5 tornado without breaking too bad a sweat; Knuckles' bebop pop-and-locks occasionally squalled with Espio's gentle mixed martial arts; and Shadow's balletic pop counterbalanced all of them with edgy intensity and fickle sexiness.
They cruised in style, nonchalant and reserved. They seemed to be carrying on their own conversation. A couple girls caught on to something about a new CD album being released some days previous, and Sonic the Hedgehog wanted to know if anyone else had heard of it. A mixed response came from Knuckles the Echidna, who scratched the back of his head a bit carelessly. Espio the Chameleon, across from him, blinked to and from both crewmates' faces. Shadow the Hedgehog didn't seem all that interested, however.
Now, the thumping in Silver's chest was louder and shakier than before. His eyes stuck in a daze, he looked on in awe of them. 'They're all so perfect. Knuckles and Espio, and Sonic and Shadow…! Both couples are awesome! I-I…totally ship them…!' Silver's heart melted into a gooey love-struck mess.
"Uh, Silver?" Jet the Hawk was standing behind the fellow Freshman's shoulder. "You okay?" But he was on the move before he could get a reply. "Hey? Silver?"
A most antiquated clock face warned the end of Seventh Period's transition. Its brass pendulum gave the mechanism a grandchild-like vibe to the clock tower's. The clock tower bore a name of regality. Purely in jest the moniker, "Urania's Watch," was dubbed to the "grandmother" clock due to the relation between itself and the Muse of Astronomy. She was often depicted as a white Actias luna all around the school. Thus was Wilhelmshaven's Science Wing aptly named. On the way to it, Visual Art students borrowed cues from the mural, noted the different styles and applications, and appreciated the interspecies relationship all the sister-Muses shared. Urania's white wings were always bright and starry, like the universe she enlightened the countenances of her eight sisters with.
But Mrs. Swordshaw was a Literature teacher. Her classroom was at the very end of the hall. No time could be wasted now; the Tetra-Core was so close to it.
"Now's my chance…!"
As much of a nervous wreck he was, Silver wasn't completely functionless. Although no one predicted what he had done now: He had slinked further up the hallway and dashed back, only to bump into someone. And the impact was enough to send him reeling and crashing to the floor. Books and papers flew everywhere, and Silver's body was shuddering from the underestimated blow.
Hands scrambling for his things, Silver was cognizant enough to pray, 'He'll notice me now…won't he?'
Knocking into Shadow the Hedgehog wasn't something one would do to get his attention, however—let alone, pray for.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" the apology came sputtering repeatedly from Silver's lips. "I-I didn't see you for some odd reason! Please—Please, forgive me, Mr. Shadow-sir! I'll never tread this path again—I swear!" Fingers were still trying to stick to strewn papers and splitting textbooks. More papers dawdled to the floor. Silver kept begging for forgiveness from the Senior classman he'd bumped into. His mind was in such a flurry, he couldn't stop rambling on about promising him "dutiful butlery" for the rest of his life, becoming his man-servant, and such.
"Stop talking."
The simple command quelled Silver's blathering squall. Without much effort, but with his heavy, commanding air. The Senior had never tumbled to the ground. Silver turned his face up to see him.
The upperclassman's eyes: bone-chilling, heartless, icy and aloof. But something in his soul was rattled by the sight of those frostbitten eyes.
"What the heck is his deal?" a male student's biting comment dribbled into his ears. "Is he crazy? You don't bump into Shadow, of all people, on purpose!" came another, from a defensive girl in glasses. "That apology was so fake…! And making himself his pet-slave is asking for a death wish! Faker!" another girl sneered, sticking her tongue out at him. "A dumb faker, at that…" a boy next to her snickered.
His mind bleared. Something about them fascinated Silver, as well as scared him. Mental mechanisms blurred out all the negative commentary around him. Shadow was his primary focus. Nobody else's words mattered.
Knuckles, Espio, and Sonic trained their eyes on Silver. They were studying him for a moment when Shadow spoke up again to the numb, and apparently mindless, sixteen-year-old.
"Never run into me again, underclassman," Shadow threatened. "Ever. Again."
Sonic examined the white hedgehog more closely: 'That kid's the same one from last night. I've seen him beforehand as well, but where, when…?'
"Got it?"
All Silver could do was blink, dreamily, just as a fluid blush started in his cheeks. Only for it to be sharply noticed—by Shadow, no less. "I…I'm sorry."
Green eyes narrowed, as well. 'And why is his face…reddening like that?'
Shadow frowned heavier, flicking his eyebrows downward and clicking his tongue. "Stop your apologies, and your desperate pleas. They're all hollow, and I can see that. How dare you insult my intelligence with your petty insincerity! You stay out of my way, litter trash…!" Shadow warned again. With a sharp turn of his head, "Hmph!" puffed through his nostrils. It signaled his crewmates to follow. As Shadow sauntered off, both Knuckles and Espio veered around the spot. Knuckles scowled at the boy, while Espio lightly glared at him. They treaded lightly, stalking away like a couple of tigers chagrined by a rotten kill.
But Sonic had stayed behind for some odd reason.
Silver sat frozen stiff. He wasn't sure how to take Shadow's words. He was dead-on about his shallow apologizing and empty compromising. The white hedgehog didn't think he'd see through it so fast and so easily. Silver wasn't a sociopsychological mastermind, but neither was Shadow. In fact, he acted like a total opposite: A complete and utter sociopath. The Captain's aloofness clashed with the fact that he had a close-knit peer group. One to call his own and one that no one else had. Silver couldn't figure out how such a dichotomous instance could exist.
Shadow was alive a tad over a year before Silver's birth. It was a haunting reality for the sixteen-year-old. One he never grew into accepting. At that point, it was easier to accept the idol's words as law and never bump into him again.
'He may be my idol, but he can't talk to me like that, y'know! …Or can he?' Silver's hands flittered over his books and papers, trying to gather them up while Shadow wasn't looking anymore. 'Curse my birthday being a year late! He's talking so dirty to me! And…he hasn't even…?' The thought ebbed from Silver's thought processes.
But soon enough, red-and-white gym shoes stepped into his line of vision.
Silver froze again. Quivering citrines leered upward as twitching ears perked to hasty footsteps, echoing chatter, and the one voice that stood out.
"Hey. Silver."
The white hedgehog's eyes trembled at the sight of Sonic, the one missing from the Tetra-Core posse. He blinked wildly, chest thumping at a simmering scowl the upperclassman was wearing. That same obnoxious flush took over more of his face this time. There was an element resonant with Shadow's glare. Their faces, nearly matched, shared that element of danger and ominousness.
"Uh-huh…?" Silver drawled a bit stupidly.
An aquarium-themed textbook was being handed to him. "Here's your textbook." He placed it in the kid's arm; he felt Silver reflexively grab at it. But Sonic smirked, not letting go. A gasp escaped from the underclassman. His idol had knelt down, peach lips inching closer to an ear.
"W-W-What's—?" The obviousness of Silver's blush was undeniable.
And so was Sonic's dark tone: "We don't take too kindly to attention-whoring, Silver. Keep it at a minimum of zero, okay? Or else the end result might not be to your liking." Green eyes narrowed. "That is, of course, if you're not mindful of it." A couple of sharp pats fell on Silver's shoulder.
Citrines hesitated a glance at Sonic as the blue hedgehog gave his attention to Shadow's call. "Get over here," Shadow had said. He was waiting impatiently in the doorway of Mrs. Swordshaw's classroom.
Sonic grinned. "Coming!" His face made a complete 360 in the span of glancing back and forth from the Junior to fellow Senior. But when he looked at Silver the second time, his eyes stayed sincere emerald. "Huh, judging by that book, looks like you're heading to the Science Wing." His gym shoes squeaked as he backtracked to Shadow's vanishing silhouette. "That's quite a ways! Good luck with that, 'cause hey!" He was jogging backwards, calling back to the underclassman. "…You know you're late, right?"
And just as Sonic disappeared into the classroom, the Seventh Period bell rang. The halls were empty by the time they had. A chill filled the air. A desolation that made the tardy bell's ring sound dissonant and haunting. It rang like Urania's Watch: but seven times, to signify Seventh Period. Different tinkling came in intervals after each Period's end, and played just before the end of passing period. Altogether they composed a music box version of a little Scottish tune, its most notable rendition played by a renowned violinist. And at the end of the day, the entire measure would uplift and relax the students' spirits.
'Oh my God,' the thought crossed in Silver's mind. 'He…'
A dreaminess didn't let him look away from the spot Sonic was in before disappearing. The textbook was clutched against his chest. Its school of rainbow fish shimmered even without the cover's gloss.
A whisper, soft as drizzling rain, finished, "He knows my name."
Épisode II Set…
JunAegileus777: Sorry for the late-ish update, everyone! My Internet connection had been lagging all week, but now it's fixed!
And here we are, at Episode 2! Silver's characterization is "glaringly" obvious, no? But that darkness in Sonic's voice and eyes...I smell a hint of defensiveness in that boyfriend of yours, Shadow! But careful, Silver, 'cuz you are "fresh meat" in a sense. You shouldn't get too invasive, especially with an already established relationship. Between two Senior classmen, no less. Doing that is like asking for a death wish...from Death and his Scythe themselves.