21 Whos your daddy? (1/2)
By the end of the story, they stopped walking. Orisa stood there dumbfounded, crying quietly.
”Rita... I'm so sorry,” she sobbed while wiping her reddened cheeks, but more and more tears rained down her face, ”I never knew... She never told...”
Youko tried to hug Orisa awkwardly. She patted the girl on the back and said quietly:
”I imagine that being the case. You rarely mention such details to anyone.”
They stood like that for quite some time. It almost made Youko regret her decision. 'How people deal with the situations like this one, I wonder?'
Finally, Orisa distanced herself, wiping the remnants of her tears with a shirt's collar.
”I'm sorry, Miss Satou. I shouldn't have-”
”It's all right. By the look of things, you are really close to each other, so it must be uncomfortable to hear all that.”
Orisa looked at Youko with a confused expression on her face. When she completely recovered, at least regarding her appearance and ability to move, they began to walk again.
”How do you know all that, Miss Satou?”
”Well, I was there, to begin with.” Orisa looked at her with a mix of horror and admiration. Clearing her throat, Youko continued. ”I also read her report and even briefly talked to lady Stronoff once. Plus, a lot of history books and records mention parts of her story here and there.”
”I see...” It was hard for Orisa to stomach the fact that she walked side by side with someone from the Story. The fact that she was close to Rita, the Hero of the Story, eluded her. ”So you were there, too...”
”Yes,” and mistaking Orisa's intentions, Youko added, ”I owe my life to Miss Stronoff, too.”
-
”Let's review what you can do now, and then you'll tell me your plan.” When they entered the gym, Youko switched her gears back to a teacher mode.
Orisa told her about the six-bottles training, Mana charging and Mana flow exercises, Youko was impressed:
”That is a praiseworthy accomplishment, good work. And now you were planning to develop some basic technique to utilize your Mana flow and Mana pool?” Orisa simply nodded. ”Then let me view your papers once more, I might advise something.”
While Youko skimmed through Orisa's notes, she decided to try the Mana manipulation training that Rita advised her.
'So, I need to create a sphere of Mana on my palm? Sounds easy.'
It was not. Orisa tried to imagine a sphere when pushing her Mana out of the palm, but nothing happened no matter how long she tried. Her Mana just slowly drained away, sipping through her fingers like sand.
'Useless-Useless-Useless!' Her internal critic chimed in.
'Can you, I don't know, maybe shut up? You are not helping me concentrate, and I'm not interested in your bizarre adventure.'
”What are you doing?” Youko pulled Orisa out of her internal debate.
”Oh, this? I'm trying to do the Mana manipulation exercise to create a sphere.” Orisa hung her head a little dejectedly, ”but it seems I'm doing something wrong.”
”I understand. There is a common mistake in the first step of-” Youko was interrupted by an opening door.
Tiana stood in the doorframe with a puzzled and slightly dissatisfied expression, eyeing both Orisa and Youko suspiciously.
”Good evening, young lady Kavenfenn.” Youko said in an even voice, turning around to greet her.
”Good evening, Miss Satou.” Tiana bowed slightly and was about to leave when Youko called her:
”Actually, can I borrow you for some time?”
”Yes, how can I help you?” A momentary dissatisfaction flashed on her face when she turned around and entered the room.
”Thank you, Tiana. Although, it is not for me, I need you to help this girl over here.” Youko waved to Orisa who subtly grinned and winked to Tiana. ”She just started her Mana manipulation training. I think it is an excellent opportunity for you to learn how to teach people, and for both of you to get to know each other.”
”Oh, don't worry, we know each oth-” Orisa began but was hastily interrupted by a blushing Tiana:
”We most certainly not! For me being an acquaintance with such... person is outrageous!”
Youko looked at them with an amused and predatory expression on her face. As Orisa noticed her expression, she thought to herself: 'if you now say Ara-Ara, I'm going to explode.'
”Anyhow, I need to check on the squad and will be back soon. Please, take care of Orisa for me. I will inspect your progress soon.”
”Right...” Watching Youko leave, she turned to Orisa with frustration all over her beautiful noble face.
”So, young lady Kavenfenn, where do we start?” Orisa was faster, she spoke, trying her hardest to keep a straight face.
”Don't talk to me, fiendfood, unless I ask you something. Tell me what you can do and why do you need it.”
Orisa had to repeat the same info dump for Tiana whose face got more and more disgusted with every word.
”Pathetic.” She muttered through her gritted teeth.
”Hey! The fuck!?” Orisa was outraged by her reaction. It struck too close to home. ”It's not my fault that my stats are trash!”
”Then kill yourself already. Less food for the Wavespawn.”
”You know what? Go to hell fucking princess!” Orisa quickly grabbed her things and stormed away.
-
She sat on a bench outside the building, still fuming:
'The hell is wrong with her?'
'Oh, poor girl, somebody is bullying her, how unfair! Let's all stand in a circle, hold hands and be friends!' The internal critic was already there, poking her.
She was just silently raging, thinking about injustice and inequality.
'All men are not created to be equal.' The critic poked her again after some time.
'Stop quoting anime. What do you want from me?'
'Get back. Who's gonna teach you?'
'Not her, apparently, she can go to hell for all I care.'
'What would Youko say? What would Rita do?'
'That's cheap! How could you..?' Orisa was appalled by his behavior.
She grumbled for a few more minutes then stood up and returned to the gym. Tiana was already practicing. She ignored Orisa completely.
”Teach me.”
”Go die already, fiendfood.”
”Teach me!”