Chapter Text
I have never been one to not give people a chance. Father and Mother and especially Grandmother taught me to respect those around me, and the environment I was in. I cleaned up after myself wherever I went, made sure to always treat others with a degree of grace, and most of all...
To not interrupt strangers while they are eating.
The young lady now making a racket in the cafeteria had splattered some condiments on a counter, bumped past at least a dozen people in her haste to sit down with her food piled up dangerously high, and now.
Now she was sat before me, digging away into a pile of mismatched foods, smiling like a fool.
She was the first to have approached me, really. People gave me glances as they sat down or traveled from here to there, but nothing this bold. Even my two other classes didn't have anyone talk to me, really. Usually people this bold weren’t exactly looking out for me. Like back home, when people knew me by the braids in my hair or the ‘Jia family look’, or some other crap excuse for a stranger wanting something from me.
It might be more irritating than the girl’s flagrant behavior.
“Thou must be interested in the tales of history like me!!!” She said, pointing to one of my folk tale books sticking out of my satchel.
“Uhm, no, actually. I’m talking these for an anthropology class.” I said.
The girl had to have been only an inch taller than me at most, but her demeanor made her seem like the tiniest of chipmunks, stuffing her mouth with food until she couldn’t get anything else in. I would admire her dedication if not for how disgusting it was. The grease of the french fries and meat dripping down her chest and across the shirt marked with an image of a knight on horseback, and blinding yellow jacket. Brilliantly bright yellow hair combed neatly into a bob that I wasn’t sure was her own doing. Feet kicking excitedly as she nodded. She had placed a Hatsune Miku themed backpack to her side, also covered in various merch. I could note a trans and lesbian flag, one more I couldn’t note, and at least a dozen Madoka and Homura pins or key-chains. There was also a pin depicting a lance crossing with a rapier, and a small plush resembling some kind of blue robot with a camera like head and yellow wings.
“Mmh, mmh!!” She said, clearly trying to say something.
“Swallow, first, please.” I said.
A large gulp. She pounds her fist against her chest, clearing her throat loudly. The group sitting behind her notices. I hope they don’t think I’m associated with her in any real way besides her barging in to my solitude.
“Apologies, mine noble lady! It takes a good deal of energy to fuel this body, and I am not one to leave to waste the glorious foods of this cafeterium.” She said.
“Uh huh.” I said.
“Still, thou art intrigued by thy tales of culture and human studies?!” She said.
“Uh, yeah. I think there’s a lot of disparity in terms of how we approach something like culture. We try to boil it down into just the essentials when that’s just not how cultures and societies work. I think it’s a larger symptom of the world trying to make things easier to consume.” I said.
“Thine words ring true! One of my dear companions once tried to reduce one of my tales down to simply ‘someone stole something from you’,” she said, imitating a gruff voice, “when she did not seem to understand the drama of the tale!”
Why was I giving her the time of day. I felt like she only half understood the words I had just said, and was more focused on her own ideas and concepts than anything else.
Not that such a thing was a rare concept, really.
“Yeah, some people will do that.” I said.
“Or like this other time! When one of my dear siblings had been bullying the other, so I bravely interrupted and separated them. But alas! I had used too much force in corralling mine most fragile sibling, and she began to sob! Thus, when my father arrived to help manage things, he was most frustrated with me!!! But his empathy was most gracious that day, and he kindly talked through everything with us. Thus, we ended up all enjoying ourselves hearing him read that night!!!” She said.
So she also had siblings. I guess that’s something to relate to?
“What’s your siblings' names?” I said.
“The elegant Dulcinea, the upright Curiambro, and the fervent Nicolina! And of course there is my father, Don Quixote!!!” She said, standing up and hopping slightly on her toes, “dost thou have siblings too?!”
“I have a few.” I said.
“It is such a wonderful thing, no? They provide such a light into my life and grant me wild next experiences I can only dream of.” She said.
“I guess wild experiences is a correct term.”
But to say my siblings were wonderful felt ever so slightly wrong. I didn’t really hate any of them. Zhu and Yuanchan were just…a lot to deal with. Huan and Baoyu were fine, really, they just tended to ignore problems a lot of the time. Baoyu especially. Maybe if he didn’t we wouldn’t have the massive problem of-
“Does thou have any stories of thine family?”
Don’t tell her the worm story. Don’t tell her the worm story. Tell her anything but the worm story.
“…uh, there was a time when I was a kid when…”
NO.
“Blegh,” I said, shaking my head, barely finding another memory “right, there was a time when my eldest brother was messing with me while I was playing outside, saying I was being too cautious and delicate. So I decided to stop being delicate and kicked him in the shin.”
“Ah, he was playing the part of a foul villain?” She said.
“Not a villain, per-say? Just kind of acting like…an asshole.” I said.
“I see, I see! Well, I’m glad thou delivered swift justice regardless!” She said.
“Thanks.” I said.
I grinned, finishing up the rest of my food as she dug back into her plate, only half done. She was able to control the splatters at least, not getting anything on my own satchel. Just would have been better had she cleaned up her original condiment mess back at the-
“S.Q.”
The terse, firm letters caught me off guard, straightening my posture. I glanced to the side, watching as a stone-faced woman in a black suit approached, black eyes staring into the girl across from me. Her backpack was decorated much more lightly, a dull black color with a few splotches of paint, but it was clear the two were close. The pins on each of their backpacks matching flag for flag, a single key-chain of Homura and Madoka, and a tiny key-chain of a small figure covered in paint. The cafeteria was still noisy, but it felt quiet in our little corner. The smell of smoke and paint lingering from the newcomer as she glanced between the two of us.
“Ryōshū!!!” The lady said.
“F.B.” The woman, presumably Ryōshū said, a sinister grin on her face.
...Facebook?
The lady had leaped up with arms extended wide, only to be pushed back down with a palm to the forehead by Ryōshū, who pointed down at the messy table. I couldn’t blame her for the sentiment to be honest, even if it was causing the lady to give the most pathetic of pouts. I wouldn’t want to be hugged by the grease-ball with ketchup splotches on her either.
“I’m no simple filthy beast!! I’m an honorable soul whose immense meal is most required to recharge her energies!!!” She said.
Oh. That’s what she meant?
“Recharge your honorable soul in a less messy manner. I know 8 year olds less clumsy with their condiments than you.” Ryōshū said.
“Fine, fine.” She said.
She nodded to herself, quickly removing herself from the table and sprinting off to retrieve some napkins. Thus, the attention was drawn between the two of us. Her eyes boring into me for a moment as I tried to ignore the instincts to run. I drew my satchel closer as I nodded softly.
“S.Y.B.A.U.?” She said.
“Shut your bitch ass up?” I said.
“...Sancho Youth Bothering All Unrelentingly.” She said.
“Oh. Her name is Sancho then?” I said.
“Yep.” She said.
“Understood. I mean she hasn’t been too much of a bother I think? Spilled her condiments a bit when she was making her meal and bumped at least a dozen people, but she’s…she hasn’t been too annoying, really.” I said.
“Good, good.” She said, nodding as she removed a pocky stick from her pocket, quickly putting it in her mouth. It felt wrong to see, perhaps because of the smoke smell lingering in the air. It felt familiar though as well.
“So, you must be Ryōshū then.” I said, doing my best to make small talk.
“Yep.” She said.
Fantastic.
Sancho’s charge nearly caused her to run straight into the table as she quickly began to wipe the table down with her honorable soul and energy. Her shirt and slacks now only having stains on them instead of active grease and ketchup.
“We have a most valiant soul here, Ryōshū,” Sancho said, grinning wide, “she is most interested in the tales of culture and societies! She also speaks of her siblings and of the compression of our own humanity!”
“Yeah? What’s her name.” Ryōshū said.
“Uhhhhhhhhh…” Sancho said.
“It’s Jia Xichun.” I said.
“It’s Jia Xichun, dear Ryōshū!” Sancho said.
“Fantastic.” Ryōshū said.
I should have left this goddamn cafeteria when I had the chance.
“So, you’re studying what, anthropology? It’s not exactly uncommon here, but also still a bit rare T.B.H.” She said.
“Yeah, that's the current goal. What are you all studying?” I said.
“I am studying the fine art of stories!!!” Sancho said, raising her fist earnestly.
“She means writing. Wants to tell stories. I’m studying a degree in fine arts, specializing specifically in painting.” Ryōshū said.
“I thought I smelled paint.” I said.
“Yeah, just came from my last class. Glad we’re getting right to the A.C.T.S.” She said, grinning as she bit her pocky without somehow dropping it.
…Artistic Creation Through Symbolism?
“Glad you’re getting right to the action, and cutting through the shit!” Sancho said, moving over and biting the grain off the end of the pocky stick, while Ryōshū glared at the giggling perpetrator.
“Not a fan of the whole ‘let’s meet and greet and go over the syllabus’ crap then?” I said.
“No. I’m here to master my artwork, not to baby some morons who have never picked up a brush in their life. I can get wanting to explore your options, but I much appreciate my 200 level courses and the sharpness of more experienced peers.” Ryōshū said.
“Very fair.” I said.
“But is the chance to teach not a most potent opportunity, dear Ryōshū?” Sancho said.
“I’ll leave that to poetaster and white hair,” Ryōshū said, “this your first year here, braid head?”
“Braid head?!” I said.
“Mine sincerest apologies on her behalf, young Xichun. Dear Ryōshū practically never refers to anyone by name,” Sancho said, sighing softly and raising her hands with her palms up, before grinning, “but I am also curious! I have been here a little over two years now, dear Ryōshū even longer, and we have not heard hide nor hair of thou!”
“Yeah this is my first year. Transferred here from overseas.” I said.
“Most excellent! We are most honored to have thou as a guest in thine Crescent Moon College!”
“Agreed.” Ryōshū said.
“Thanks, both of you.” I said, nodding.
“Well, S.Q. should definitely be getting to class, and I should probably be on my way. Was shure nice meeting you, braidhead.”
Ryōshū’s self satisfied grin prevented me from getting too mad at the pun. She quickly turned to Sancho, tightly embracing her in a hug that Sancho eagerly returned. Something stirred in my stomach for a moment, though I couldn’t tell why. With them whispering something, I turned around and decided to focus on pulling up the map for my next class.
Before a single poke at my back caused me to whirl.
“See thou soon, young Xichun?”
Her arms were extended, a wide grin extended across her face, and her eyes practically sparkling from excitement. I try to focus on frowning.
“You know, you kind of intruded on my me time.”
“I’m most aware! But it would not befit me to leave someone on their lonesome in a communal area such as this!”
“…”
Ryōshū bumped her shoulder.
“Ow- and I am most sorry for not asking thou first.”
“T.W.G.”
...that was good?
I sigh, rolling my eyes as I embrace Sancho, who squeezes me tightly. An ambient giggle emerging from her as she sways back and forth, her body warming me up. Ryōshū grinning idly in the background as other students begin to escape into the various hallways.
“S.Y.S.”
“Yeah, see thou soon young Xichun!”
I wave as the two begin to whisper once more, moving off to my next class. Maybe solitude and me time weren’t always necessary…