Chapter 3: Little Green Men?
Maka was practically skipping on her way to the Academy. Despite the lack of sleep, she was more enthusiastic than ever. Not only was Crona finally coming out of their shell, but an unidentifiable object had appeared not far from Earth. Scientists and astronomers all over the globe were frantically trying to get a good, solid look at it. Soul, moody as ever, grumbled something as they walked up the steps to the Academy's entrance.
"Something the matter?" She asked cheerily, hopping up the steps excitedly.. He shrugged and made a face.
"What's got you so worked up?" He mumbled, bags under his eyes dark and full. Maka turned to face him and pouted slightly, her mood dampened ever so slightly.
"I've just got a feeling that something good is going to happen. You should cheer up too, things have been a lot better recently."
Soul stifled a chuckle at that. "So, it's got nothing to do with the aliens?"
"You don't know that it's aliens, Soul." Maka answered a bit too quickly, and Soul really did chuckle this time.
"Knew it. Whatever. Let's just get to class so I can take a nap."
"Good morning, class."
Professor Stein rolled into the room, cranking that horrible screw on the side of his head.
"Good morning, Professor." The class echoed back, as Stein picked up the attendance sheet and began taking names.
"G-good morning.." Crona said to Maka timidly, their eyes fixed on the floor. Maka patted them on the shoulder and gave them a cheerful greeting. A low hum of chatter had begun to emerge as Stein completed the attendance and walked into the storeroom. Kid swivelled on his seat and began talking to Maka and Crona.
"I presume you heard the news?" He said, carefully disguising his disgust as he looked over at Crona's choppy, misshapen hair. His attention was drawn away when Maka answered.
"You mean the… thing?" She said in a low, slightly trembling voice. Kid nodded.
"Indeed. Father has been working constantly to identify it."
"Got any top-secret information?" Maka asked, barely controlling her enthusiasm. Kid nodded, a small smile on his usually composed face.
"It's not an asteroid, or a satellite. It's definitely something else." Maka was about to answer when Black Star, who had been listening in, interrupted.
"Ahh, who cares if it's the Kishin or Witches or Little green men. I'll kick all their asses, doesn't matter to me." He said loudly, a smug grin on his face.
"Little green men?" Kid wondered, before shaking his head. "Besides that, what do you know about it? If it's life that isn't from Earth, we shouldn't react aggressively. It would-"
He paused mid sentence, his eyes staring at something that wasn't there. Then, suddenly, his breathing became fast and laboured, and he put his head in his hands. Liz, noticing that her Meister was having a panic attack of sorts, instantly dropped her conversation and rushed to his side.
"What happened? Did he pay too much attention to Crona's hair again?" She asked worriedly, holding Kid as he began to shake.
"I don't know. He was just talking and then-" Kid suddenly sat straight up and he looked around as if he had just woken up.
"I need to see Father. Excuse me." He stood and speed walked straight to the door just as Stein re-entered.
"What the hell was that all about?" Maka asked Liz at break. Liz, who had been biting her nails all lesson, looked nervously at her.
"No clue. He didn't even ask me and Patty to come with him. It must be bad." Liz sighed, rubbing her temples. "Poor guy."
"I'm sorry.." Crona said tearfully, slumped over. Liz shook her head and forced a smile.
"Hey, it's not your fault that he's a weirdo. He probably just remembered that he left some toilet paper unfolded or something, it's alright."
Crona nodded and smiled shakily back, their eyes still avoiding everyone. Maka patted them on the shoulder soothingly.
"I'm sure it was probably more Black Star's fault than yours."
"Hey! What did I do?" Black Star complained, but Tsubaki gave him a cuff on the shoulder.
"You said you'd attack whatever it is that appeared. I'm sure it upset him somehow."
Black Star barely reacted to Tsubaki's punch, and seemed more miffed by her statement that he was at fault.
"Hey, I'm just saying! Chances are, it ain't gonna be something good."
Maka sighed and shut our Black Star launching into another speech about how he was the protector of them all, and that Kid was overreacting.
"You have to admit, though." He said thoughtfully. "Normally when something upsets him he gets vocal about it. Maybe it was, like, a telepathic signal?"
Liz scoffed. "Telepathy? What, are you telling me that there are Witches in space?"
Black Star held his hands up in mock surrender. "Just saying what I think, which is of course the right opinion. Sorry, Liz."
The two started to bicker, but quieted back down when Stein stood and clapped once, signalling that break was over. As he began to talk about quadratic equations, Maka couldn't help but shake the feeling that Black Star was on to something.