Raffina discusses an odd recurring dream that plagues her on some nights. Her classmates' reactions are quite different from what she expected. Requested by a tumblr anon!
Lunchtime Discussion
Raffina nudged her sirloin strips. Her fork clicked against the plate, sending a couple pieces of rice onto Amitie's hand as she reached for her sandwich. Humming, Amitie licked off the rice, giggling as Raffina continued picking at her food, her brow furrowed and gaze distant.
"Oh, Raffina, you're really lacking in your manners today," Klug sneered, his comment immediately catching her attention.
"What are you talking about, foureyes?" She glanced over to Amitie watching her pick off the rest of the rice and pop them into her mouth. "Oh, Amitie, did I get some on you? My apologizes."
"It's okay! It tasted good, and the little bit of broth was nice and beefy!" Amitie flashed a peace sign.
Rolling his eyes as Raffina and Lidelle chuckled, Klug leaned back, the breeze tickling his neck. Having lunch with everyone at the picnic table on the school's vast lawn was Amitie's idea, and he was dragged into it. Although it had been annoying listening to Sig drone on to Tarutaru about some bugs, he kept coming back to Raffina's perplexed expression. She was normally so talkative and composed, eating with a straight back and neutral expression, but as she resumed jabbing at her sirloin strips, he had to sigh.
"Something is bothering you," he interjected over Sig's explanation on ladybug wings.
Raffina raised her head. "Me?"
"Yes, you. You're the one who looks rather distressed." He smirked and rested his elbows on the table, cupping his chin. "Are you afraid of our upcoming exam?"
"Not at all, you weasel. I'll have you know that my grades are much better than yours, and my thoughts are none of your business." She stuffed a helping of rice into her mouth, little bits of them trickling down her chin.
"N-need a napkin?" Lidelle offered one from the dispenser.
Her own inelegance made her cheeks burn red. Klug's laughter didn't help, and she snatched the napkin from Lidelle, swallowing thickly and wiping her mouth. She quickly folded the napkin and set it aside, using her fork to pin it to the table.
"Since it's clear that a certain miscreant won't get off my case until I talk-" She smirked at Klug, whose grin swapped for a scowl, "-I've been having a strange dream lately about Popoi."
"Really?" Amitie tilted her head.
"What kind of dream?" Tarutaru wondered, Sig happily going on about the precise length a millipede could be in adulthood.
Raffina steepled her temples. It had been a strange dream, one that haunted her every so often. Sighing, she drummed her fingers on her thigh and said, "It's the darndest dream. I can't remember where I was, but I recall battling Popoi. He transformed into this…" She vaguely gestured at the sky. "...this enormous creature with fangs and slicked fur and seemed truly monstrous."
"H-how horrifying!" Lidelle squeaked from behind her sleeves.
"And we battled, but he always seemed to get the upper hand. He'd counter my spells, and it felt like the fight would rage on and on until…" She shrugged. "...I'd simply wake up with a splitting headache."
"I think you're overworking yourself," Tarutaru replied. "Isn't that a sign of stress? Having repetitive dreams and headaches?"
"No, it is not! Proper ladies manage their stress wonderfully." She smoothed the creases in her skirt, narrowing her eyes at the larger boy. "Are you implying that I'm stressed out?"
"Um...yes?"
She shot to her feet and jabbed her finger at Tarutaru's round nose. "Then I'll Puyo battle you into next week for-!"
"H-hey, Raffina! Maybe don't start a Puyo battle while we're trying to eat? The Puyos could crush our food!" Amitie exclaimed, wildly pointing at their food.
"Of course the barbarian would initiate a fight at mealtime." Klug tapped his tomb, his gaze drifting at the spirit quietly peeking out from the worn pages. "If anything, it's just as Tarutaru said. You're stressed about the test, aren't you? Can't study so you're having nightmares?"
"Ugh!" Raffina snorted and crossed her arms. "I'm being serious. Waking up with a pounding headache after the same dream isn't a fun experience."
Amitie hummed as her friends continued bickering. She thought Raffina's explanation had some merit. Popoi was a curious creature, one who Ms. Accord insisted was a silly puppet. Sometimes, when she gazed at him for too long, she thought he would wink at her. When she tried telling her teacher, she simply laughed it off and said Amitie was tired.
Her curiosity knew no bounds as her smile pushed into her pudgy cheeks. If Popoi truly had some special powers, then she wanted to learn more about him. She wondered if Accord would tell her about him like where she had gotten him because it seemed like she would never let any real details about him trickle out of her mouth.
"L-let's not fight, okay?" Lidelle quietly said as Raffina cracked her knuckles, Klug's laughter echoing around them. "Lunch will be over soon, so, um, let's put this scary story behind us."
"It's not a scary story!" She cleared her throat and lowered her voice, leering at Sig. "Though, I have the impression a certain someone wasn't listening."
Blinking, Sig scratched his head. He certainly had not been listening as he thought Tarutaru was listening to him explaining a centipede's sleep cycle. Peering at his classmate, he shrugged and said, "Nope. Sorry, Raf."
Groaning as the bell rang, she mumbled, "Oh, la ti da."
As they gathered themselves to return to class and Raffina realized her stomach was growling, hurriedly wolfing down a few more bites, Amitie touched her shoulder and said, "Hey! Let's learn more about Popoi together!"
With her cheeks stuffed with food, Raffina gulped it down, her cheeks a fiery red from her improper display. She pounded her chest, forcing it down and ignoring Klug's smirk as he passed her. Sighing, she pushed back her pink curls and chuckled, her hand raising to her mouth.
"Ohoho! I expect to solve this case myself, Amitie. I don't need an airhead like you helping me." She snatched her plate and set her fork and napkin on it.
"Well, that's fine, but I think I'll find out about Popoi first!" She pumped her fist towards the puffy clouds.
"A challenge, hm? I accept! Let's see who will learn about the true nature of Ms. Accord's puppet first, but I already know it will be me!"
Standing by a window, Ms. Accord chuckled as the girls shook hands. She stroked Popoi's head, the clicking of her students' shoes scuffing the floor as they entered her classroom. Smiling, she pivoted around and greeted them as Popoi snickered under his breath, knowing excitement was bound to follow.