When Hinata walked into class the next day and saw Souda sulking by the window again, he knew that getting him to speak to anyone, much less make friends with the others, would be a task of Herculean proportion. The reserve student sighed and took a moment to gather his patience before taking his usual seat.
"Hey, Souda," he began cautiously. "How are you today?"
The head of pink hair splayed out on the desktop responded with a muffled groan.
Hinata sighed through his teeth again. "Yeah, I figured." He tapped his fingers on his desk and said, "Well, hey, Nanami and I are planning to go out with a few people after classes today. Do you want to come with us and maybe take your mind off things?"
Souda turned his head so one side of his face was visible and the other was smushed against his desktop. Hinata struggled not to laugh at what would have otherwise been an intimidating glare. "What, is it one big date or somethin'? Are you gonna rub your couple-ness in my face?" the mechanic grumbled.
"No, no!" Hinata said, holding his hands up defensively. "We're just going to walk around town with the swindler and Mioda and maybe go to a café or something. It's not a date or anything."
"Oh, please," Souda muttered. "Those two are basically dating with the... cutesy nicknames and the hugging and stuff."
Hinata blinked. "That's how Mioda acts around everyone."
Souda buried his face into his arms, and Hinata had to listen closely to make out a sentence about only wanting to be around Sonia.
Well, this is going great, Hinata thought, almost sighing for a third time before catching himself. I need to keep trying, though, or Tanaka will probably poison him by mistake. "Look, I know you're upset," he said aloud, "but sitting around and feeling miserable isn't going to help. Being around other people when you're sad can actually make you feel better, y'know?"
The pink head of hair reluctantly lifted itself up, and a pair of matching pink eyes blinked tiredly at Hinata. "No, I don't know. I usually work on my machines when I feel like crap, but I don't even have the energy to do that."
Hinata released how contagious Souda's lethargy was when he let out a yawn, but he quickly muffled it and said, "C'mon, can you just try? I'm..." He paused, trying to find the right words. "I'm worried about you, okay? It can't be good for you to just think about her all the time, and it's just for a few hours."
Souda rested his cheek in his hand and sighed before saying, "I'll think about it."
...
Once Tanaka had been informed of Souda's departure from the school, the breeder almost immediately coerced Sonia into going up to the library with him; he was grateful for an opportunity to spend time with her without constantly throwing paranoid glances over his shoulder, expecting to see a flash of pink and green quickly fading from sight.
"I'm so glad that Mister Souda is finally going out with the others," Sonia said, unknowingly echoing Tanaka's thoughts. "He has seemed so down in the lumps lately."
"Yes, the lumps," Tanaka muttered absentmindedly. A small smile twitched at his mouth as he pulled a chair out for the princess, and she sat with one of her own. Tanaka took his usual seat across the small table and shifted, suddenly unsure how to start a casual conversation; he'd never been fond of small talk but nonetheless searched through his mental archives of the conversation starters others used to speak with him in the past. "How was your day, Miss Sonia?" he finally said.
"It was rather average, I should say," she replied, folding her hands on the tabletop. Her smile reached her eyes as she said, "Thinking of our date did improve the particularly dull parts of the lessons, however."
Tanaka fidgeted as he slowly digested Sonia's words, feeling his cheeks grow warm. He managed to force out something about how the feeling was mutual before bringing out Jum-P to distract him from his embarrassment.
"As we were speaking about Souda a few moments ago, however, I realized something," Sonia began, a playful yet vaguely dangerous gleam in her eyes. "Mister Tanaka, how often do you interact with others besides myself and Mister Hinata?"
Tanaka froze in the middle of petting Jum-P, and the hamster nuzzled itself against his hand in protest. "Not often," he replied, feeling apprehensive about where the conversation was headed. "They have expressed little interest in learning of the complicated rituals, the depraved comings and goings of Gundam Tanaka, and surely they are better off for it."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Sonia said. "I find you quite intriguing, as I am sure you know, Mister Tanaka! I think the others would open up to you if they knew of how fascinating those comings and goings really are."
"Ridiculous," Tanaka muttered, touching a finger to Jum-P's soft head. "You and the oft-disgruntled one are the only of your kind who have ever reached out to me; I doubt the others would find me interesting, for their small and narrow minds could not possibly begin to comprehend the details of such a rich yet cursed existence! It is better for both parties to remain separate."
Sonia smiled down at the hamster for a moment. "But Mister Tanaka, I have gotten to know many of our classmates quite well and they are all lovely people! I am sure they would love to hear your stories if you just opened up to them."
Tanaka grunted and thought for a few moments, taking out Sun-D for Sonia to hold. She accepted the hamster with gratitude and nuzzled it softly to her cheek. "Who is to say that they will not exploit me once I have 'opened up?'" Tanaka asked after several more beats of silence.
A pause. "I suppose there is no way to guarantee that every one of our classmates is honest, but the individuals that I know are very good friends who I do not believe would ever intend to harm others. Perhaps I should get you acquainted with the most trustworthy ones first?"
Tanaka grimaced. "Am I being forced into said acquaintanceship?"
"Not forced, just... strongly encouraged," Sonia said with a smile. She ran a finger through Sun-D's fur, who had run around sniffing at her hand before curling up to shut its eyes. "I believe it would be good for you to get to know the others now that we have spent so many months in classes together! You don't have to if it is outside your area of comfort, however."
Tucking Jum-P onto his shoulder, Tanaka let out a soft sigh and said, "Who did you have in mind?"
...
How Hanamura was trustworthy in any conceivable way was far beyond Tanaka's comprehension.
Sonia's justification was that he had been very helpful in his cooking lesson before Souda and Hinata interrupted and he had left in a boiling rage. She had also giggled at her own pun, and Tanaka couldn't turn her down after that.
Damn her for being so cute.
Regardless, that was how he ended up with Hanamura leering at him from across a cafeteria table as the chef took a break before his shift in the kitchen. As he stonily met Hanamura's gaze, Tanaka was reminded of the incident with the air mattress and shivered. He was very glad of Sonia's presence at his side as Hanamura's grin grew at the breeder's discomfort.
"So, you wanna be friends, huh, Tanaka?" the chef said, finally breaking the tense silence.
"Not particu-oof!" Tanaka rubbed at his side as Sonia's elbow withdrew from a jab. "...Yes. Indeed, I wish to form some sort of bond, but be warned that a relationship with a godly figure such as myself will transcend mere mortal notions of 'friendship.' You must-"
"Ooh, no, don't say any more! I'm sold!" Hanamura eagerly took Tanaka's hand from across the table, ignoring the other man's sputters of protest as he shook. He withdrew with a gleam in his eyes far different from any ever seen in Sonia's and twice as dangerous. "So, why don't we meet somewhere after my shift and you can tell me what I must do, friend?"
The last word was tinged with such ill intent that the Dark Gods emerged from their hiding spot to squeak angrily across the table. Cham-P nuzzled defensively against Tanaka's neck and bared his teeth.
Tanaka stood up immediately. "The Four Gods have expressed their thoughts on this matter. I must honor their request and take my leave." He walked briskly away, and Sonia hopped up to follow, brows furrowed.
"Hey, wait, come back! 'M sorry!" Hanamura called, but Tanaka continued to take wide strides until he was safely out of the cafeteria.
"Mister Tanaka, wait for me!" Sonia's heels clicked rhythmically against the ground as she sped up. "What is the matter? It was quite rude to leave without even a goodbye!"
"Could you not feel the malice seeping from his very pores?" Tanaka asked, turning around to face the princess. "The dark spirits of lust swirling about his head, the sharp stabs of the heinous words dancing about his tongue, the -"
"Mister Tanaka, you must teach me how to sense such spirits!" Sonia interjected with a smile. She cleared her throat. "But yes, perhaps Hanamura is a bit too... forward for your tastes. I do not really understand half the things he says, anyway, or why the others react with such disgust to them." She turned to the left and began walking, motioning for Tanaka to follow. "Nonetheless, let us try someone else. I am sure you will take to my dear roommate, at least!"
...
Tsumiki stared up at Tanaka.
Tanaka stared back down at Tsumiki, who was beginning to tremble.
Sonia sighed quietly and forced a smile before saying, "Now, I am sure that the two of you know each other from class, but I believe you could be good friends if you just chatted for a bit! I know you're busy at the moment, Miss Tsumiki, but would you be interested in such an arrangement at a later date?"
"U-um," Tsumiki began, "well, yes, I think, if Tanaka wouldn't mind..." Another nurse tapped her on the shoulder, and she spun around with a squeak. She was handed a clipboard and apologized for her outburst before looking at the papers. "Oh, Nidai, your results are in!" She scurried over to the coach sitting in one of the waiting room's chairs and examined the writing more closely; her face lit up as she read. "Your heart is in excellent condition, and your lung capacity has improved tremendously. Everything looks great!" Tsumiki looked up and directed a genuine, relieved smile to Nidai. "Just keep up your exercise regimen and your cardiovascular system should remain healthy for many years."
Nidai replied with a beaming grin and stood up, giving the thin nurse the most gentle and least bone-crushing hug possible. Komaeda, sitting some distance away and waiting for his own results, chuckled and sneaked over to give Tsumiki a hug from behind. She squealed and tried to wiggle out to no avail. "O-okay, um..." She sighed, face flushed, and turned her head toward the bemused couple across the room. "I'm sorry, Tanaka, I'm a bit busy, as you can s-" Komaeda started tickling her sides and the rest of her sentence was lost to a fit of giggles.
Sonia raised a hand to her mouth as she chuckled along and then turned toward the door. "We can discuss it later, Miss Tsumiki!" she called. A grin played on her features as she added, "Have fun!"
...
Saionji was out of the question. Tanaka did not like the way she looked at the Dark Gods.
Koizumi, on the other hand, had encouraged him to stop playing with fluffy little balls of fur and carry around a more "manly" pet, like a reptile, but she quickly forgot the matter once she saw Cham-P and instead began reprimanding Tanaka for letting his hamsters get so out of shape.
He bristled under the verbal assault and said, "Evidently you know little of the noble Syrian breed. They are the largest and most powerful breed of hamster, and Invading Black Dragon Cham-P has been so expertly bred by myself that he could easily rip your eyes out if he so desired."
As Koizumi blanched, unsure how to respond, Sonia clasped her hands together and gazed adoringly at the oversized hamster perched on Tanaka's shoulder. "Wow! That's radical! I have held the single most fearsome hamster known to mankind!" She cupped her hands next to Cham-P, who scampered into them and was then raised up to the princess's face to bop noses.
Koizumi snickered. "Wow, I guess he's not as vicious as you think, huh?"
"Do not be fooled," Tanaka growled. "He could kill at any moment but is lulled by Miss Sonia's charms."
"Just like you are, I'm sure?" Koizumi said, smiling innocently.
"...Silence your blaspheming mouth."
...
Owari was preoccupied with her dinner when Tanaka and Sonia sought her out, and she only stopped to complain of Nidai's harsh training regimens before digging in again and ignoring further attempts at conversation. Kuzuryuu and Pekoyama were nowhere to be found, which was fine with Tanaka; though he would never admit it to Sonia, the duo intimidated him along with most everyone else in the school.
Returning to the cafeteria, the couple sat with their dinners and assessed the results of the afternoon.
"Well," Sonia said, dabbing at her mouth with a napkin, "I believe you interacted with everyone besides those that are otherwise occupied! Did you find anyone interesting?"
"I was already aware that the impish one would not be agreeable. Her treatment of the Dark Gods is irreverent and honestly somewhat disturbing," Tanaka replied, absentmindedly feeding Maga-G a small carrot. "And Koizumi has never been the agreeable sort, either. The two compliment each other quite well."
Sonia began to roll her eyes before stopping herself. Perhaps she had been spending a bit too much time with Koizumi if she was picking up on such habits. "I will agree that Miss Saionji could hardly be considered the most polite, but Miss Koizumi has a very different and unique mindset!" She tore up a piece of lettuce to give Sun-D and asked, "What about Miss Owari or the three in the infirmary? I think that you and Miss Tsumiki would get along well, if nothing else! I shall be sure to arrange a meeting for the three of us in the future."
"The ravenous one and the rambunctious one make for an excessively loud duo," Tanaka muttered. Sonia muffled her giggles, remembering Tanaka's various outbursts in the library. "And I am not sure what to make of Komaeda; his demeanor is friendly, but there is some... unsettling aspect of his character that is difficult to describe."
Sonia sighed. "You need to stop being so critical of others, Mister Tanaka. Yes, all of our friends have their flaws, but there are also many things about them that are wonderful!"
"Is there anything about Hanamura that is wonderful?"
"Of course! There's... his... zest for life!" She giggled at her own pun again. "He approaches what he loves with great enthusiasm."
"He also approaches his classmates with great enthusiasm."
Sonia almost choked on her food in her laughter and forgot to reprimand Tanaka for speaking ill of a classmate. She supposed could let it slide this once.
...
After returning from an afternoon that consisted mostly of Mioda bouncing from place to place and leaving everyone else running after her wake, Souda retreated into the safety of his room and sat down heavily on his bed. It had been nice to get out, sure, but the pain of Sonia's rejection hadn't gone away and it stung all the more profoundly in the silence; Tanaka was still out somewhere. Probably with Sonia.
With a firm shake of his head, Souda kicked his shoes off and lay down, not bothering to pull the covers over himself. It wasn't even 8:00, but he figured that the longer he was asleep, the less he would have to think about his situation. Surely it wasn't something wrong with him, anyway, that made Sonia go for Tanaka instead. Maybe she just liked the tall, dark, and crazy type.
He was still convinced of mind control, though. Or maybe possession. Why couldn't anyone else see how she was being manipulated?
He agonized over the subject for another half hour, rolled over to look at the time, groaned, and forced himself to repeat meaningless song lyrics in his mind until he fell asleep.
Several hours later, once the moon had risen high above the school and its light no longer angled into the dark bedroom, Souda was awoken by a hand over his mouth. Before he could process what was happening, a figure picked him up, approached the open window, and jumped out, cradling him to their chest like some mockery of a mother holding her baby and still forcing a hand to his lips.
He screamed and opened his mouth wide to bite down, but the figure hit the ground and a familiar voice said, "I wouldn't do that."
Souda blinked and caught a glimpse of a silver braid before being carried off to a narrow space between the two dormitory buildings. He was set roughly down and immediately started screaming again before getting whacked over the head with what he hoped was the blunt edge of a weapon.
"Shit, you'd think this guy didn't know how the yakuza worked or something," a different, higher voice began. Souda squinted and could barely make out a slight figure walking toward him and Pekoyama.
Kuzuryuu stepped into the scarce moonlight and grinned. "I'd like to redeem that favor now."