04 • Hot Damn
The last year has been...tolerable and a little fun. Tenko and I have firmly established ourselves as troublemakers — or, I have been established as the troublemaker and my brother is the "innocent dragged along". He was annoyed at first that I was given all the blame but I eventually wore him down with all the benefits that come with his innocent reputation.
As toddlers we can't exactly cause much trouble, but we find enjoyment in the little things anyways. Like misplacing our teacher's things when they aren't around; stealing all the art supplies so we wouldn't have to sit through an entire hour of mind-numbing coloring; getting "lost" in the halls and ending up in the elementary building and disturbing class time to ask for "help to get back"; switching identities for the day or week to confuse people about what we specifically like or do; and doing generally creepy things like staring at certain spots and smiling, talking/moving at the same time.
It doesn't get us a lot of friends, especially me since I don't exactly have the patience to sit through pretend-house with the other children. Tenko has some friends, though they're more playmates than friends and only really hang out at the nearby park.
A few things have changed as well in the last year. Mother gifted us with the adorable fat dog, named Mon, on our fourth birthday. Tenko and Hana adore Mon, my brother more so since Hana is always playing with her friends down the street. I've never had a pet before so it's a new experience to have to take care of one.
Father has gotten...not better but not worse either. He loses his temper when he learns that Tenko plays heroes with the other kids at the park and starts to lecture him. I'm the one that gets the worse of his punishments since I'm always screaming at him to fuck off and get over his stupid ass issues. The punishments aren't new to me. Being sent to the backyard to think over what I did wrong is really tame compared to what I faced in my first childhood. Plus Mon is outside in the backyard so it's not bad.
The most interesting change is the new kids at school. Yes, school. As we are officially four years old, we had been bumped up into pre-school. The only change is the homework but Ten and I finish that during snack anyways so, no difference really. We at least have a valid reason, sort of, for being in the school halls instead of being continuously lost. We'd have had to change tactics anyways, you can only get lost so many times in the same place.
Anyways, the new kids, ironically, are a pair of twins. They're older than Ten and I, by three years if the whispered conversations are anything to go by. They're also really important? The office ladies wouldn't shut up about their father — whoever the fuck he is. Makes me wonder if the twins are like the other snobby kids in my class that come from big name families.
I've personally never seen them, but since they're only a year under Hana, she has. She spent the entire afternoon talking about their hair, oddly enough. But red and white hair is odd, I'll concede. Hana thinks they're interesting. Tenko just wants a look for himself. I honestly couldn't care less, so I easily agreed to my brother's attempts of getting a glimpse.
You would think that red and white hair to be obvious in a sea of brown and blacks and blonde, right? Apparently the fuck not.
The Peppermint Twins, as I've taken to calling them based on the rumors of their hair color alone, joined the school in the middle of the first semester. It's about to be the end of the first semester and still nothing. It's pretty impressive. Maybe they hide from the masses because they don't like the attention their family name brings?
The thought had prompted me into figuring out if the school had access to the rooftop. Which then prompted me into picking up my lock-pick skills again. Which I taught Tenko. Which then landed us here — sprawled on the floor of the rooftop after having stumbled when the door opened unexpectedly, staring up at two wide-eye seven year olds.
"Huh, your hair really is red and white!"
I groan in annoyance as Tenko shouts in my ear, seeing how I pushed him out of the way so I could fall through first only for him to land on top of me.
"And you say that I forget my manners," I mutter, shoving him off with my elbow.
He falls back with a quiet 'oof' as I stand up and dust off my uniform only to stop and shrug. I don't really care about appearances nor this school and its policies. Looking up, I find that the Peppermint Twins have stepped back a little with the sister being behind the brother. She must be the younger one then.
The sister half of the pair has short white hair with some random patches of red, and grey colors eyes hidden behind rectangle glasses. The brother of the pair has spiky, but soft looking red hair and blue — no, turquoise? Huh, what a pretty eye color.
"The polite thing to do would be apologizing for my brother," I muse aloud, stretching my arms behind my head. "But I don't take responsibility for him so..," I trail off and quickly turn to my brother and slap him on the back to push him forward. "Take responsibility brother! Be a man, like Father. No wait, be a better man. You don't wanna be like Father."
Tenko stumbles, glaring at me over his shoulder before rolling his eyes and facing forward to properly bow in apology. He stands back up, smiling sheepishly now.
"We didn't mean to, uhm, disturb your lunch," he explains, putting all those language lessons to good use. I can only imagine the sort of horror I'd have to go through if I needed to lower my vocabulary down just to keep him at the same level as me. Jealousy is a nasty thing and not something I'd want to potentially deal with.
"Sister was curious about the rooftop and wanted to check it out." The brat! Throwing me under the bus!
"Hey! Just cause it's true doesn't mean you go out and say it!" He only grins innocently at me and I flip him off in response.
"Ah, it's..it's fine," the sister speaks up, her words halting and her hands fidgeting as she hesitantly steps beside her brother. She smiles at us shyly, where in comparison her brother has the most neutral expression a kid could have. I'm impressed.
"I'm Rena," I stick a hand out in greeting. They only stare at my hand for a while before I drop it with a shrug. "That's Ten, my idiotic, younger, less adorable-"
"Oh shove off Rena!" Tenko whines as I laugh. He sticks his tongue at me before smiling widely at the Peppermints. "My name is Tenko. Rena just likes to give nicknames. And I'm the most adorable twin of the two of us, she's just jealous."
I cross my arms, smirking at the opportunity presenting itself to me. "Why would I be jealous of someone that can't put his shirt on the right way half the time?"
He flushes red, turning on me and immediately going for a tackle. I cackle, twisting out of the way only to remember that we're still by the door and immediately hit my head against it.
"Oh! Are you okay!?" The girl asks, immediately rushing over to check on me. Tenko saddles next to me, a frown pulling at his lips as he pulls me up.
I blink as I feel hands searching the back of my head for a bump. I honestly feel fine, the pain only lasting in the moment and a second after. It's something I've noticed, pain is quick to fade but I suppose people's bodies are just built differently here.
"I'm fine, my fault for not paying attention," I shrug before remembering the manners I've finally been taught. "Uh, thanks though?" Okay so I'm not the best. But whatever, people always say it's the thought that counts right?
The girl wears a worried frown when she turns to stand in front of us again. "If you're sure..," she mumbles.
I nod, noticing her twin got closer at some point, probably also worried. Being treated as a child chafes sometimes but getting frustrated over it would just be a waste of time.
"So, not to be rude," Tenko snorts and I quickly elbow him without looking, "but who are you?"
They both blink, looking at us and each other in surprise. "You..don't know?" The brother asks, genuine surprise coloring his tone. I don't let the question phase me, they don't seem snobby.
"Should we?" Tenko curiously asks, head tilting while absently holding my hand. He's a physically affectionate person but doesn't show it often.
The twins startle at his question, mouths opening and closing in their confusion to answer his question or maybe explain.
"Touya," the brother blurts out, blinking as if surprised he spoke at all. His sister is certainly startled. "I..my name's Touya."
"Cool. Nice to meet you, Ariel," I smirk and he can only stare at me baffled.
"..Ariel?" He questions hesitantly, his sister mouthing the word next to him.
Tenko only laughs, "See, told you! Nee-chan likes to give nicknames. I don't know what Ariel means though."
I turn to him in surprise before remembering that Disney movies are probably really old and out of style by now.
"She's a mermaid princess with red hair and blue eyes. Sold her voice to a sea witch so she can have legs and be with the man she loves, a prince of the land," I explain briefly. "You have red hair and blue eyes. Ariel."
He only looks more confused now but also seems to relax from when he tensed at the mentions of his hair color. His sister snorts, covering her mouth and laughter with a hand.
"I'm Fuyumi," she introduces, a soft smile on her face now. She's also looking at me curiously, probably wondering what nickname I'll give her.
I only grin, choosing to keep with the Disney theme since they're twins. "A pleasure to meet you, Elsa."
She giggles, "Who's that?"
"A Queen that was born with ice powers. She has white hair, kinda like you do. She couldn't control her powers, and set eternal winter on her kingdom by accident," I shrug before pausing in thought.
"Though, I suppose Ariel is a Queen too since she married the prince and had like, a kid with him. Can't remember," I muse before looking up to see a surprised expression on her face. It quickly falls away and she smiles shyly, commenting that she liked it.
"Say, why were you guys up here?" I hum in agreement to my brother's question.
"Ah, we don't really..we don't like crowds," Fuyumi explains, expression twisting uncomfortably and awkwardly. I nod in understanding, nudging Tenko to drop the matter.
He thankfully does, likely picking up on the tense air between the twins, and just begins to ramble on anything and everything. I let him take over the conversation, pulling him to sit down with me at some point with the twins following not long after.
Over the course of the rather short conversation, a few things are learned. The twins like tea and cold soba, heroes are an iffy subject much like us, Elsa's favorite color is blue (something Ariel grumbled and ducked his head at), Ariel's favorite color is grey, they don't really have hobbies but Elsa expressed liking to read.
Then lunch ended, we descended the stairs, opened the door, and immediately got caught by the principal.
Tenko and I bolted.
Yelling farewells and 'see you tomorrow's over our shoulders while the principal threatened expulsion and gave chase.
ʕง•ᴥ•ʔง
We didn't get expelled but we did get a phone call home.
Since our first meeting, Ten and I have met up with the Peppermint Twins at lunch every day on the rooftop. It's better than trying to keep my mouth shut around toddlers, and Tenko thought they could use some friends — even if said friends were four-year-olds. They didn't mind, supposedly having a younger brother that's three-years-old.
We never told Hana where we were during lunch. She's nice and would probably be ecstatic to make more friends but...she can also be really pushy. That's not something the twins need, I can see that much.
Tenko just didn't want Hana to potentially embarrass him if they ever met. He also selfishly admitted one night that he wanted to keep the twins as our friends. Understandable since Hana is quick to make friends and his playmates often invite her to play as well. Nothing wrong with wanting to keep something for yourself so long as it does harm anyone.
Mother knows though since she's the one that answered the phone and found out we were on the rooftop. She just packed us more snacks to share.
It's been a few months since we met. Last names never came up, siblings and Mothers hesitantly talked about, Fathers completely missing, and story building all occurred in our conversations. The story building was mostly me explaining the plots of some films and books from my first life (which should still exist but who knows), with Fuyumi and Tenko being the ones that really got into the story, and Touya laughing with comments at the ready.
It took a while before Touya was comfortable enough to react naturally at anything we did, instead of staying neutral. He's a nice and funny kid, gentle in his demeanor but ready to flay anyone that crosses him. Not that he says or does anything to give off such an impression, but it's the look in his eyes. Protective, fierce, burning determination.
What probably got him to open up more was that time I came stumbling through the doors, a little bruised. Some of our year mates took offense to the fact I won't sit back and stay out of the way.
The fuck was I supposed to do? Let them verbally abuse the kid they had surrounded? Fuck that and fuck them. Would have screamed obscenities at their parents about their parenting skills if I didn't have an angry Tenko to calm down. Little brother was ready to commit murder.
I'm so proud.
After that incident though, the red-head had become much more comfortable in our presence. His first real smile appeared when I finished ranting about what quirkist little shits children could be and pinning the blame on both society and the parents. Children may be their own people but people seem to forget that they still pick up and take cues from the adults in their life.
Society has always been messed up one way or another in my opinion so there isn't much left to say there.
The topic of quirks has come up before, but it never went anyway beyond discussing what our classmates have. Tenko and I are only four so we're expecting our own to pop up sometime soon. Being older than us, the Peppermint Twins already have theirs.
Fuyumi, to my amusement, has an ice quirk. It's nice to know that the nickname Elsa isn't misplaced. Touya on the other hand doesn't show his quirk, muttering about it being too strong for him to use. I just know it's a fire quirk and is rather uncomfortable with using it.
Quirks don't really matter to me. I've lived an unconventionally successful life without them. They're just another tool suited to each individual. I don't need a superpower to kill or threaten or spy on someone. Nothing wrong with the old fashioned way of things especially when you know they work.
Sure, they're likely quirks that can work against the "quirkless" way, but that just makes it a nice fun challenge.
Touya agreed with me on the sentiment that people are becoming overly dependent on quirks when I brought up during a discussion of what quirks Ten and I would get.
Tenko had pouted at me for ruining his fun. I scolded him on becoming a sheep like the masses. Then he insulted me. Then I insulted him back. Then he tackled me. Then I retaliated.
And that's how we got in trouble for fighting on the roof.
Not that it stopped us from going back up there even when we were suspended for a week. It just allowed us to practice our stealth, so to say, when we returned to school.
Ariel found it amusing and interesting, demanding we tell him our secrets. Elsa shot her disappointed gaze at us. It was really effective on Ten but I was born a disappointment in my last life so it didn't work on me. I did concede on telling just some of our stealth secrets to Ariel though, just some.
I don't really know why, but he has this look and demeanor to him. It's the same one I've seen in kids at orphanages as Anna. It's the same one I've sported when I was young in my first life.
It's worrying but there's no proof beyond my experience so I can only do so much to help. It makes me wonder though, about the first time we met. When they were so surprised we didn't have any idea who they were.
Kids always have been a weak spot for me as Anna. Makes sense that it stuck around as Rena too.
I'll just have to keep an eye out, I suppose.
ʕง•ᴥ•ʔง
Swinging my legs, I stare off to the side, completely ignoring the red-faced principal in front of me. His arms are crossed over his chest, his foot tapping impatiently against the floor. I don't spare him a glance though, letting my gaze travel around the office.
"Shimura-san," he sighs out, sounding like he's keeping himself from shouting. Good for him to recognize that yelling at children is a bad thing.
I hum in reply, still not looking at him. I look down at myself instead, picking at the drying paint on my uniform. Normally, in situations like this, Tenko would be sitting right alongside me, ready to do what he can to keep me out of trouble. However, this morning he wouldn't stop scratching at his neck. It got bad enough that he was starting to make himself bleed.
Mother decided to let Hana and I walk to school just this once so she could take my twin to the doctors. I almost kicked up a fuss at going to school by myself. It's just not fun without Tenko there. All the kids in my class are so below my intelligence that I'm pretty sure I'm going brain dead around them.
It doesn't help that I'm not allowed in the "big kid" library. Which is just stupid but it's whatever, I've been planing on different ways to sneak in. It helps that Fuyumi and Touya are happy enough to sneak me some books.
I eventually concede on going to school, Tenko whining about not wanting to be the reason I didn't go or something. It was hard to understand him through his pain induced crying.
I did, however, notice the way Hana idly scratched at the back of her wrist. It seemed that she didn't even know she was doing it. She looked really surprised when I slapped her hands away from each other, shooting me a confused look. I'll have to tell Mother about it after school.
Speaking of which, the principal has been talking and I have not been paying attention.
"...have to call your parents again," he huffs, sounding like he just finished an entire lecture.
"What? The fuck for?" I ask, finally looking at him.
He only pins me a disbelieving expression. Then his gaze travels very pointedly to my hands that are still picking at the drying paint. Huh, maybe I have whatever my siblings have too but not as extreme.
The principal quietly groans in frustration, raising a hand to massage at his eyes, muttering, "Where did the paint even come from?"
"The supply closet in the fourth hall," I shrug. I admire the man for putting up with the bullshit Ten and I have caused, nothing wrong with answering one of his questions.
"How?" He looks exhausted and if I didn't already answer one of his questions, I might have explained that I picked the keys off the janitor. Instead, I smiled up at him mischievously and mimed zipping my lips.
Shaking his head, he throws his hands up and waves me out of his office. "Just..go wait in the main office for one of your guardians to come pick you up. I'll have your sister's teacher direct her here after class."
Huh, well alright. I jump off of my seat, squinting at the paint that got stuck to the chair. I look over to see if he's noticed and he has, is staring directly at it in dismay. Right, guess I'll just go then. Waving at him, I quickly make my exit.
Stepping into the main office, I can already feel the disproving and distasteful stares. I would flip everyone off but I'm already in enough trouble and it's not as fun without Ten.
Pushing past the little gate that separates the offices and waiting area, I am very surprised to see Ariel and Elsa sitting in the few chairs laid out. They in turn slowly blink at me in surprise.
"Rena..why are you covered in..green paint?" Fuyumi hesitantly asks, reaching a hand out but pulling it back to herself at the last second.
"What did you do this time? We just saw you at lunch," Touya asks amused, smirk tugging on his lips.
I roll my eyes, walking over to sit in one of the seats next to them. "Fuck off, I was bored. Besides, it was either this or arson."
They blink again, Fuyumi in disbelieving sympathy and Touya in shocked amusement. "Okay, but what did you do?"
"Let's just say that the classroom needed a makeover. Beige is overrated. Green is much more fun."
Touya snorts, turning his head away to hide his laughter but then he looks at me and breaks out laughing. Fuyumi shakes her head, rolling her eyes as she reaches into her school bag and takes out some tissues for me to use.
"Honestly Rena," Elsa huffs when I don't grab the tissues. She slides off her seat to reach me and begin wiping the green paint from my face. I scrunch my nose but don't complain and let her work.
Fuyumi is a worrier, if she doesn't do something to help, she'll quickly grow anxious. It's not exactly healthy but there isn't much I can do beyond lessening her worry and anxiety.
"What are you two doing here anyways," I ask once Elsa finishes.
The Peppermint Twins sober pretty quickly at the question, expressions anxiety-ridden and unwilling. Something bad must have happened for them to look like that. Touya in particular seems a little bitter, so it must have to do with his family.
I'm just about to speak up and change the topic when the older boy grunts a quick answer.
"Our Father," is all he says and all he needs to say. I understand that the two of them aren't on the best of terms with the man from the little they've revealed. It's something all four of us bond over.
I can only nod, easily switching to talking about what I did for the day to keep their minds off of it. I start off with my usual complaints on some of my classmates, then switch to the teachers that are quickly losing their appeal.
Some of the kids in my class have started getting their quirks and it's very easy to see the quirkist mentality of the adults. Those with "useful" and "strong" quirks are shown some favoritism. Those with "useless" and "weak" quirks are treated like glass and invaluables. Those who haven't gotten their quirks yet are beginning to be overlooked.
Being the asshole I am, I called them out on their bullshit. Then proceeded to knock some kids down a few pegs with words like the mature adult I secretly am. I also talked some confidence into some kids like the weak spot I have demands I do.
It was difficult since I'm the "unapproachable" and "mean" kid in class while Ten is the opposite. If he was with me today it would have gone over a lot more smoothly with the kids but I think I did an okay job getting my point across.
The teachers in charge of my class had sent me outside the door to "think over my actions and words". Usually I'm sent straight to the principle when I curse so boldly in class. That's just how I know I'm right and the shitty teachers know what they're doing is wrong.
I'm just building up steam on my rant when the office door opens roughly. I only pause for a second before continuing my rant because while the temperature in the room rises, to my left the air seems to grow cold.
I glance over as I talk, noting that I'm the only one making any sort of noise in the room. It would be awkward if I actually cared for things like that.
"..it's stupid. They're stupid. At this point, I think all adults are completely off their rockers. The teachers, the office workers, and most likely whoever the hell just walked in like a fucking bull in a china shop," I huff, eyes narrowing when the Peppermint Twins shoot me looks of wide and fear-filled eyes.
"Excuse me?" A new, rough voice asks. I don't bother turning to face him, shrugging and inspecting the paint under my nails.
"You heard me."
"I suggest you have some more manners, child. It wouldn't be too good if you offended the wrong person," the man I'm guessing is the Twin's father says carefully.
"I'll have you know, whoever the fuck you are, that I do indeed have manners. They're just reserved for those that earned the respect needed for me to use them," I respond in my best mocky of being polite.
I finally look up. Then I blink.
"Holy shit," I breathe in shock. Already I can tell the red-hair man is smug so I quickly finish my statement. "You're built like a brick shithouse, what the fuck. Who are you and how the hell did you get so big? If you say vegetables, I'm stabbing you."
"Shimura-san!" One of the office ladies reprimands sharply, glaring at me coldly. I reflexively flip her off, watching as the man's face twists into something vaguely resembling distaste.
"I thought that this school didn't harbour delinquents," he states, a slight sneering curl to his lips.
"And I thought jackasses were only a myth but I'm staring at one right now. Guess we were both wrong," I snark without hesitation. Like honestly, who calls a four-year-old a delinquent?
His expression flattens but it's easy to see the irritation in his eyes. I can only lift a brow in return, my own expression unimpressed and unamused.
He clicks his tongue softly, electing to ignore me in favor of looking at the Peppermint Twins. Rude ass bitch.
"Let's go," he grunts. "We don't have all day."
They nod, Fuyumi looking down meekly and Touya wearing the same blank expression as when we first met. I don't call out to them, simply nodding my head in farewell before they fully leave through the door after their father.
I glare at the closed door, slumping back in my seat and sighing heavily.
It unfortunately seems that my suspicions are turning out to be true.
"Fuck."
ʕง•ᴥ•ʔง
YES THE TODOROKI FAMILY IS HERE
I'm ready to fuck up canon, are you?
It's late but Happy New Years everyone!
I hope this year treats you and yours well.
Stay safe!
