halfemptyglasses | Study Session

Study Session

"Oh, good evening, Autor-senpai," Mirai greets when she opens the door to her sparse room. "I'm sorry there's not much."

The plush bed sits unmade, the comforter piled on the end. A small stack of books and papers wait on the low table that serves as her desk next to a few canned juices. Living on the fund for minors provides the necessities but not much else. Still, Mirai can't complain.

"We'll pretty much have to work from the floor," she says, padding over there with stocking feet. "Ah, and please help yourself to something to drink."

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"I wouldn't know where to start there, either. Just... It'd be nice to get a completely new life." She holds her hand out like she's offering something to the empty space in front of her. "Just say, 'Thank you, but I need a new one.'"

"This is one, kind of," Autor says, setting his chopsticks down. "I've always thought of my time in Milliways as a completely separate life, where I go flying and deal with magic and cook udon. Then there's the old life at home, with work. It's not as glamorous, but it needs done, and there will be opportunities there that I'd be a fool to pass up."

He tilts his head, murmuring softly, in the tones of one who has considered the same for himself, "I mean, I suppose you could never go back."

"And just stay here?"

Autor shrugs, holding his hands up in a helpless gesture. "I'm probably supposed to be telling you to go back out of some sense of obligation to your old life. But if it's that toxic, why not come to a better place where you can make yourself as you see fit?"

Autor can't deny that there's a selfish part of him that wants them both to stay in Milliways forever, and not face anything in their respective worlds. But he doesn't think that's what's fueling his advice now. "Of course, you could probably make a life for yourself in your world currently, too."

"I'm not sure that's the part that's toxic," she says, certain that she doesn't have to explain further. "Besides, it feels like cheating."

She doesn't have to elaborate. "Just for the record," the boy says quietly, "you are not unpleasant."

He picks up his chopsticks again, and goes after his spinach. "Cheating?" Autor says. "Mm, that's fair."

Mirai lets out a sigh. "I should at least find out what the Nase clan will do."

"That's a good plan," Autor says, finishing his noodles and leaving the delicious broth for last. "They might just want to establish their presence as an authority and not do anything to you at all."

She thinks on that as she continues eating.

"Ah, h-how is your project going?" she asks after a lull. "No more all nighters for now, right?"

Autor nearly drops his chopsticks. No one has ever asked him about Spinning--and few people ask him what he does in general. His heart thumps in his chest, and he quickly reviews what he has told her.

"Oh! Um," Autor says, setting his utensils down to rub his warming cheek. "No, no more all nighters, but I'll be pulling another one of those soon. And I think I may have found an interesting lead, but I'll have to take a book apart to do it. Thanks for, um, thanks for asking."

"And fasting again?" she softly asks.

Autor glances at his broth, and nods. "I'll... I'll eat really well before and after. I promise," he replies, just as softly. "I've been doing this for years and it hasn't ever been as disastrous as it was then. I got careless."

Mirai nods a little, knowing she can't stop him. She picks up her chopsticks again and eats.

"It'd be a pretty sad state if you had to rely on others to feed you again," she says, her voice a little lighter now.

The boy glances up sharply, his jaw dropping and his face burns. "Ah-! I, um..." he stammers, resting a hand on his reddening neck to keep from flailing. "I really appreciate that you, ah, did that. And I'm probably not going to--I mean, no I won't--ever be in a position like that again. Yes. But, um, thanks again, because it was really kind of you to help me out like that, and er, yes. Yes."

Friends feed each other frozen yogurt... Right?

"Ah, I'm sorry! I was trying to joke! I didn't mean to embarrass you!"

Autor holds his hands up. "Oh, no! In retrospect, your joke was hilarious," he says, and means it. "And it's okay to embarrass me! Friends embarrass each other sometimes--Rae, for one, takes great joy in making me flail--and truth be told, this is something I probably should be embarrassed about on occasion, because it's actually really quite funny, and like I said, was kind of you to do for me, too."

Mirai folds her hands in her lap and sighs. "I still don't know if I'm any good at that. I kind of wish there was a being friends test I could study for."

Autor mimics her body language, and nods. "Rae has to assure me that I've learned how to be a friend on occasion, and believe me when I say I'm still learning, too," he says quietly. "As far as I understand it, being a friend is an odd mix of vulnerability and understanding boundaries. It's about trust, and extending the benefit of the doubt, which--correct me if I'm wrong--but I believe you've done that for me."

He glances up, shy. "I like having you as a friend, Miss Kuriyama."

Mirai lets his words seep in before giving a small nod. "I- I think I like this. That I can trust you. That we're friends."

Autor cheers in his head, but keeps his exultant celebrations restrained on his face, with a small, soft smile. "Good. I'm happy to hear that."

He cocks his head. "Are you still hungry? You can have that second bowl, or we can break into dessert."

"Ah, what about you? We could share it. Like, split it up between the two."

Friends share dinners, right?

"Really?" he asks quietly, almost shy. "I'd appreciate that. I still need to drink my own broth, but after that we can split the third bowl. Thank you, Miss Kuriyama."

He rummages through his food bag and locates the bowl, which is still warm.

"I mean, you made it. And you like it, right? So if you're still hungry, you should. I don't mind."

She finishes up her own bowl and grabs another juice.

"Are you comfortable? It's not too cold in here, is it?"

"Yes, but I primarily made it for you," Autor says, uncapping the bowl and pushing it towards her. He sips his broth, pleased with the taste, and sets his bowl aside.

"It's a bit cold, but I'm all right. Are you cold?"

"A little. Hang on."

Mirai gets up and walks over to the bed, grabbing her comforter and tossing it around her shoulders.

"I have a spare if you want one?"

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