Chapter Text
Ren leaves the house, breathing out slowly. "Hm..." Hard to believe we're gonna be in high school now... He shrugs as he goes. Hope Kronii and I are in the same class... be nice having a familiar face with me... especially since who knows who's gonna be here.
Amongst the sunlight of the early morning he quickly reaches the Ouro household, walking up and knocking gently on the door before taking a step back. He hears a muffled conversation from inside before footsteps quickly come to the door. ...Ouro-san doesn't rush. It's someone else.
"Ah- Ren!" He blinks, seeing Kronii standing at the door, a smile gently coming to her face, her school uniform loosely adorned over her person. "Hey, come in. Mom's just making some breakfast; you eat yet?"
"Uh... huh. Thank you." He bows before walking in, glancing around briefly. "You look good," he speaks, glancing her over quickly before looking away at some random wall. "Suits you."
"Oh-" She laughs, closing the door behind him. "Thanks. I woke up early and got caught up in myself in the mirror, y'know how it is."
"Mm." He chuckles, placing his bag near the doorway and walking to the kitchen, where Kronii's mother is preparing some food to eat. "Good morning," he speaks, bowing his head.
"Ren," she smiles. "Take a seat. Breakfast'll be ready soon; have you eaten already?"
"Yes," he speaks. "Erm... just some tea will be more than enough for me, thank you."
"Hm..." She puffs her cheeks slightly. "Come to think of it... you always eat breakfast before you come over in the mornings, don't you."
Ren smiles. "Mom would be worried if I didn't eat what she made, even if she knew you're making stuff too," he speaks. "'Sides, don't wanna be a burden on you..."
"Don't be silly, you could never be," she responds. "Anyway, get back and give Kronii company. She's been waiting to show you her uniform, you know."
He tilts his head slightly, looking back to where she had her phone out. "...Really." He shrugs internally and bows again before returning to his friend, who puts her phone away, a gentle smile coming to her face.
"Hm?" He feels something touch him and glances down, chuckling to see Boros winking at him. "Heh... Boros, huh." Ren bends down and offers a hand which the snake slithers onto, smiling. "How cute..."
"Mm." Kronii's voice comes over and he sees her frown slightly, though it clears up as she takes Boros from him. "Isn't he the cutest?"
He closes his eyes for a moment. "Not as cute as you though." He hears her sputter briefly and is unable to resist ruffling her hair gently, laughing. "Don't go getting jealous of a snake, okay?"
"Especially when Ren's been around for longer than Boros," speaks her mother, carrying some plates and such into the living room. "Anyway, eat." She places a tiny plate for Boros, who slithers over from Kronii's hand to it and munches, an expression of contentment coming across his face. "You two'll have a long day ahead, after all."
"Thank you for the food," bows Ren, Kronii echoing similar sentiments as they dig in.
"Hm..." Ren looks over at the board showing where all the students' classes would be. "Let's see..." He quickly locates his name in the sea of them and blinks. Class 1-C, huh... alright.
From beside him Kronii hums lightly, narrowing her gaze. "I'm in... Class 1-C," she speaks aloud. "Where are you...?"
"Same," he responds. "Guess we got lucky in that regard, huh... please treat me well." He bows, hearing a laugh escape Kronii as he does so, feeling a smile come to his face.
"Me too." Kronii returns her gaze to the board as he straightens up. "I wonder... looks like we have some other concepts with us," she muses.
Ren frowns slightly. "What, like you? Wardens of... space, or something?"
She shakes her head. "Not wardens, no. These are just actual concepts given shape," she answers, the two of them moving aside as some other students move up to the board. "Like... one of them was Ceres Fauna. She's the epitome of nature, or Mother Nature, if you prefer." Her eyes close. "Pretty sure I'm the only warden of something... they're good people. Friends with 'em from our time in middle school."
"Huh. Well, guess there would be that link of being manifestations and stuff," he speaks. "Never knew them all that well... think I shared a class with Fauna, and one with Sana, but... we didn't really interact back then." He pauses. "Hm... think Nanashi-san's had her name changed a few times already, hasn't she?"
"Oh, you talkin' about me?" He flinches slightly, turning to see a smiling Mumei looking at the two of them. "Hello, Kronii, Ren-san."
"Mumei," speaks Kronii, moving to hug the owl, who hums in hugging back. "Oh, did you see the classes already? You, Fauna, Bae and Sana are with us in the same class this year!"
"Yep. Don't think I've shared a class with you before, Ren-san," she speaks, looking at him. "Hope we get along this year!"
"Likewise. Please treat me well." He bows again, and when he returns to his former position he sees her holding out some berries to him. "Hm?"
"Oh... it's berries," she speaks. "Like, uh... just a friendly greeting gift and stuff for ya. Like... an ice-breaker? I guess?"
"Ah. Thank you, then." Ren gingerly takes them and consumes them, nodding. "Mm... nice and sweet. Thanks, Nanashi-san."
"Hm... you're friends with Kronii, right?" she speaks, nodding to herself. "Like, even before Kronii and I met?"
"...Yeah. Childhood friends," he replies. Where's she going with this...?
"Okay. Then call me Mumei," she speaks. "Nanashi-san sounds really distant... and we're friends now! Right?"
He looks at Kronii. "...She really does give off that feeling of wanting to protect her, huh." Ironic, since she's the embodiment of civilization... you'd probably think she'd be protecting me. "Alright, then, but just call me Ren, then. Don't really care for honorifics..."
"Okay, Ren!" A wide smile seizes the owl's face, and he feels an urge of 'HNGH' seize his heart. "Let's get along and make lots of memories this year, 'kay?"
"Just from what I've seen so far, I know you two will," speaks a new voice. Ren looks over to see Fauna approaching, a gentle smile of her own on her face. "Hey, everybody, Ren. Hope we can spend some time together this year."
"Mm... same," he speaks, bowing slightly.
"Hm... I've heard a lot about you from Kronii," muses Mother Nature, humming. "From what she's said, you seem like a good person." She giggles. "From what I saw of you from middle school, I think so too. Hope we can get along and all."
"Huh." Ren looks at Kronii, who pointedly does not meet his gaze. "Well, I'm glad. Hope we can get to know each other too, then."
"Mm-hm!" Fauna peers at him more closely, hair hiding one of her eyes from his own gaze. "I'm sure we'll be great friends... right?" Her visible eye closes. "And you won't forget me, will you...?"
Kronii rubs Fauna's shoulder, and Mother Nature jolts slightly. "Don't tease him too much, Fauna."
"Hm... are there any others in our class?" Ren wonders aloud. "Like... concepts, like you guys."
"You bet there are!" He jolts as hands touch on his neck suddenly. "Wah-!" He turns back to see a girl hanging upside down somehow, seemingly from the air itself, a wide grin splitting her face before she lands on the ground beside them. "Nice to meet you, Ren! I'm Hakos Baelz, the embodiment of chaos!"
"...Nice to meet you, too." He bows his head again, watching as she interacts with the others, gathering them somewhat in order. Scared me there. Also... for being chaotic, isn't it strange how she seems almost like the leader here? "Hm... ah." He tilts his head. "Er... Hako-san. How did you know my name?"
"Hm?" Her ears twitch, wiggling as she turns to him, looking pensive briefly. "Well, Kronii's talked about you a lot! A guy friend she was hoping to have with her in high school and- mmrph!" She stops as Kronii's hand shoots over and covers her mouth.
"That's enough, Bae," speaks Kronii, cheeks dyed red, eyes briefly meeting his before looking away. "And I definitely did not say anything like that."
"Huh... you didn't?" Mumei closes her eyes, leaning slightly. "Pretty sure I remember you saying it, though..."
"~! Mumei, that's-!" Kronii looks panicked, quiet chuckles leaving Fauna at the scene.
He chuckles. "Well, for what it's worth, I'm really glad to have you with me too," he speaks. "And for you all, as well, I look forward to getting to know you better." He bows again.
"Oh! Well, I look forward to that too, Ren!" A pair of footsteps divide off from the crowd and join the five of them; he glances over to see Sana walk over. "Seems like it'll be lively with all of us together!"
Ren takes half a step back as their attention focuses on the embodiment of space, resisting the urge to heave a sigh. ...How is it that I feel so exhausted. All I've done is converse with some of my classmates. "Hah..."
Kronii moves over to his side and taps a finger gently against a shoulder. "...All of us together can be a bit overwhelming, huh?" she speaks, teasing undertones to her voice.
"Yeah," he speaks. "Pretty sure they're good people, though, since you're friends with 'em." He laughs. "And especially if you're comfortable enough for them to mess with you."
Kronii sighs. "...I never could keep a secret from you. Well... wonder if I... if you'll be lucky enough to share classes with me for all of high school."
"I'm lucky just sharing one class with someone as beautiful as you," speaks Ren. "Heh..." Sometimes I wonder how you've stayed around for so long.
"Hey, what's so funny?" She gazes at him, tilting her head, still flushed. "You messin' with me?"
"Nah," he replies, ruffling her hair, seeing her eyes scrunch up. "Ain't messin' if it's the truth, is it?"
"Yeah!" Ren grunts as he feels Baelz spring onto his back, the sudden weight causing him to stagger briefly. "Ren's tellin' the truth, Kronii! Right, guys?"
"Heh... yeah," smiles Sana. "All of us are lucky to have each other as classmates and all."
"Yeah!" A cheer rises from them. "Anyway..." Baelz moves off his back, humming. "We'd better go to class, or we'll be late. C'mon, guys!"
Ren smiles, following after the five of them as they make their way across the school grounds. I was feeling kinda nervous about this... but if it's with the five of these dorks, I don't think I have anything to worry about. He watches for a moment at the smiles and laughter amongst them all. And considering their natures... assuming nothin' happens, they'll be friends for a long time to come.
He swallows, closing his eyes briefly and glancing off to the ground as they continue walking. In comparison I won't stay around... and before long they'll all probably forget me and everything to do with me. His heart twinges. ...Is it even worth getting to know these girls?
"Hm...? Hey, Ren." He blinks, seeing Kronii having dropped back slightly to walk by his side, voice dropping. "Something wrong?"
He shakes his head, shaking the frown he felt there. "It's nothing." Practically feeling her doubt he smiles at her. "Really. I was just thinking how with you guys there won't be a dull moment."
"Mm." Kronii chuckles. "From my perspective it's the same, you know. With the five of you with me I bet we'll have a lot of fun times and make cherished memories we won't ever forget."
Ren swallows and nods, forcing himself to breathe slowly even as he continues smiling. "...I bet."
She sighs briefly, tapping her knuckles against him for a moment. "Is that it... I'm not going to forget you. And just from what I've told the others... I bet it'll be hard for them to." Kronii leans into him slightly. "...You've been by my side a little too long for me to even think about forgetting you."
Ren feels his next breath come easier, gently pulling her close. "Okay." He nods slowly, almost chuckling as he hears her hum, one of her hands finding his and squeezing. He exhales, feeling himself relax against her. "...Okay."