And So The Wheel Starts Turning

So yeah…that’s how it all started. On the eleventh day of the sixth month, the horned girl with the golden eyes joined our ranks.

Transferred from one of the best high schools in the country. Top grades in all classes. Short. That’s the gist of what I got about the girl named Evy Ze’Seki.

Like Kokoro and I, she moved far north to attend McKinley Institute. My aunt, trigger happy as always, accepted having another person move into her house. Apparently, Ze’Seki’s mom is a high school friend of my aunt or something like that.

To be honest, I didn’t care too much about the details.

Anyway, today marked the seventh day of Ze’Seki living with us. Unfortunately—scratch that, fortunately, she hadn’t spoken to me once. She simply pretended I wasn’t there.

I didn’t mind that, but it did make our breakfast and dinners a little awkward…

I sighed and put down my pencil, lowering my head right after.

It was the last period of school and we were having our weekly math quiz. Like always, it had been a breeze.

The absolute nature of numbers was something I loved. There was nothing strange or changing about math. Numbers were numbers. The rules that are applied to them can be complex, but once understood, you will get an answer—an absolute answer, every time.

In a way, it’s one of the more predictable subjects. One that doesn’t rely on emotion or perspective to figure out.

The complete opposite of History.

But anyway, the quiz had just started, giving me twenty-five-ish minutes to spare. A curse of being so good at math you could call it.

It did give me time to think though.

Ze’Seki would be joining this school the following week, Kokoro confirmed that much for me. A few people from this class had seen Ze’Seki and me laying on top of each other, so that was something to look out for.

At the very least no nasty rumors had sprung up (To my knowledge). That was the last thing I needed, let me tell you.

The only bad thing I could think of that could happen was Ze’Seki joining my class. It shouldn’t be possible since all our seats are filled, but in the infinite possibilities of the universe, anything was possible.

People already found it weird that Kokoro and I walked home together. I’d proposed that we could walk separately to avoid that, but she adamantly refused. Instead, from what I’d heard, she tried her hardest to dispel any rumors about us dating. So we were clear on that front.

But now that Ze’Seki was joining us, what would people think?

I was all for having her walk separate from us, but I don't think Kokoro would allow that either. At least that should lower the rumors of Kokoro and I dating now that there’s a third person involved—or they might assume something else.

The last thing that I wanted was some harem rumors.

Cause that’s not happening.

We’ll get to it when we get to it I guess…

Worrying about that now wouldn’t get me anywhere. This was all something I had to discuss with Kokoro about.

After an agonizing twenty-five-ish minutes, I was finally let free.

Kokoro spends the last day of the school week hanging out with friends so today I’d be walking home without her. She always pushed for me to join them, but I was far past hanging out with people. Especially that group of all girls.

What was I supposed to do In a group like that?

Today, however, Kokoro mentioned she would try to bring Ze’Seki with her.

I was hoping she agreed. Having the house all to myself was a luxury I no longer had access to with Ze’Seki home all day. Even if she didn’t talk to me, it felt weird knowing someone else was in the house with me.

Not that I needed the house empty for any unsavory reasons. Really.

Anyway, the trip home wasn’t long. In fact, it was only about a five-minute walk. But right now it would take a little longer than that since that wasn’t my immediate destination. Instead, I was heading to a nearby convenience store. Everyone usually preferred the big ones closer to the school so this one always ended up empty around this time.

“Hm?”

As I approached the store, I noticed a small Pantherian boy standing near the entrance. He was holding his hands together and looking around. His ears were flat on his head and his tail was wrapped around his leg.

It was odd to see a kid without their parents just standing in the street, but I dismissed that as their parents probably being inside the store. I had nothing to base that off of, but, you know, what else could I do?

Unfortunately, the moment I entered the store I realized that couldn’t be the case. That’s because, well, the store was empty—apart from the cashier of course.

This was becoming more of a problem than I would’ve wanted.

I bought a bag of potato chips and a drink before exiting the store.

“Are you lost?”

“…Mh-hm.”

That overheard interaction immediately told me someone had finally done something about the boy—good. I was starting to get worried that I would have to be the one—wait.

As soon as the door slid open, I noticed a horned girl kneeling in front of the boy and patting his head. Those golden eyes I would recognize anywhere.

The girl flinched at first, but her eyes turned into a glare the moment they locked with mine.

““What are you doing here?”” We asked simultaneously.

The last person I expected to see right now was Ze’Seki, yet here she was.

“Well,” I started, “I come here frequently. It’s pretty quiet compared to the commercial district,” I presented the bag to her. “What’s your excuse?”

“You think I need an excuse to go places!”

“Hey, you’re the one that was asking me for a reason. I gave you mine right?”

“Well, I get to—” she stopped mid-sentence.

I quickly noticed why she stopped too.

The Pantherian boy had slowly begun backing away. His tail was frizzled and his ears were now pointing back.

Ze’Seki grumbled before pulling me in close. “Look, just help me find his parents.”

“Why should I help you,” I whispered back.

“Why do you think? I don’t know this place like you do. Have you forgotten that I just move here, idiot?”

And now the shoe was on the other foot. In this case, I guess I was the idiot for asking such a stupid question. Obviously, she wouldn’t know a place she moved to a few days ago. And we couldn’t just leave the kid there on the street…

“Alright,” I caved in. “You tell him we’ll help.”

She sighed.

“Hey, um, what’s your name?”

The boy’s hands shook lightly, but he eventually answered, “…Totoro…”

“Okay, Totoro, we will help you find your parents alright? Do you know where you live?”

The boy nodded.

If he knew his address, then this would be much easier than I was expecting. Or at least it would have been if his answer wasn’t complete nonsense.

“…Triangle,” he said timidly.

“T-Triangle?” Ze’Seki, understandably, asked.

The boy nodded.

Yep, I don’t know what I was expecting. The kid looked no older than four.

“What’s a triangle?” Ze’Seki calmly asked.

And, of course, the boy made a triangle shape with his hands. I mean, she did ask.

We were going nowhere with this—except…

“Triangle,” I repeated to myself.

The boy’s words were borderline useless…but that did spark a recent memory.

“Could he mean that he lives by that pyramid of rocks…um, thing?”

“Pyramid of rocks?” Ze’Seki parroted.

I had no way of describing it other than that, and since we didn’t have any other leads, I ignored her question and began walking down the street, “Just follow me.”

The place wasn’t too far from here, but it was filled with odd twists and turns that you didn’t otherwise see anywhere else. For a kid, I’m sure it could get confusing how to traverse these parts.

Standing next to me, holding the boy’s hand was Ze’Seki. She marveled at the streets and buildings as we passed by, making her seem more childish than usual.

“You haven’t had time to explore yet?” I asked.

She was taken aback by the sudden question, but she answered, “No. Ms. Tsutsumi said she’d take me places during the weekend.”

It felt weird hearing someone call my aunt “Ms.Tsutsumi”, but I guess it wasn’t wrong.

“No wonder you look so amazed at every little thing,” I chuckled. “You look like a little kid.”

“H-Hey!”

I pointed at the boy. “Not in front of him.”

She gritted her teeth and then let out a Hmph!

I was really being mean for no reason. My relationship with her was already not the best and I’d be living with her for who knows how long. I should’ve really not kept adding flames to the fire.

“I’m just kidding,” I ended up saying to save face, “If anything, I find it adorable.”

You didn’t usually see people get that excited over something as small as buildings or streets. For some reason, she was really into those things.

“!”

I quickly noticed that Ze’Seki’s face had turned fully red. She looked away and instead faced the front. Did I accidentally make her mad again?

“Whats—”

“S-Stop looking at me,” she shoved me.

Well, so much for saving face.

With a sigh of defeat, I took out my bag of chips and opened them. I’d been yearning for these chips for a while, but I tried to restrain myself to only eating them once a week. They were a popular chip brand named “Sea Chips”.

I can’t say I know why they were called that, but either way, they were good.

The moment the bag popped open, Totoro turned his gaze towards me, his pupils dilating to large black circles.

I took a chip and stuffed it in my mouth. Shaking the bag, I brought it close to him, “Want some?”

The boy pulled back timidly but then nodded slowly.

He reached into the bag and pulled out a square chip that made his hand look tiny. He brought it up to his mouth and took a bite—

“!!!” His eyes lit up and his ears perked up.

“Heh, thought you’d like them.”

These were actually Kokoro’s favorite chips. She had a similar reaction to the boy every time she ate one. I thought they were pretty good too, but it seemed that Pantherians had a higher affinity towards them—not that my weak evidence for that could hold up in any way.

“Want some?” I asked Ze’Seki.

She shook her head without turning to look at me.

Oh well, her loss.

I tossed another chip in my mouth.

Before long, the pyramid of rocks came into view. I knew they had a name, but I never really cared enough to remember it. After all, it was literally just a pile of rocks.

Ze’Seki suddenly grabbed me by the shirt collar.

“W-Were you talking about The Ruins of Akaratara when you said pyramid of rocks?!”

“Oh, is that what they’re called?”

They definitely looked ruined.

All I knew about that place was that it was a popular tourist spot. It was some distance away, but the area was much more open, making it more visible even from this far away.

As I had described them, it was quite literally a pyramid of rocks. Those rocks had engravings on some of the faces, and a pillar stuck out from the center, but that was about it.

“D-Do you know nothing about history?!”

I unlatched her hand from my shirt, “For your information…yes…yes, I do. A lot even,” I lied through my teeth.

“I don’t believe that for a second.”

“Don’t know what to tell you.”

While our bickering continued, I noticed the boy looking around with a glow in his eyes. He obviously recognized this place.

Before we had the chance to look around, a voice called out from the distance, “Ein!”

Behind that voice was a brown-haired Pantherian similar to Totoro. He ran full speed, reaching us in under five seconds.

The boy let go of Ze’Seki’s hand and threw himself into the arms of the Pantherian.

“Where were you?” The guy asked.

The boy could only cry as a response.

The Pantherian stood, carrying the boy in his arms, and looked at us, “Thanks for bringing him—wait,” he turned to me, “You’re Tsutsumi.”

“Um, yes, that’d be me,” I said in absolute confusion. “And you are?”

The guy let out a breath, “Really? You can’t tell me you don’t recognize me? We’re in the same class, man!”

“Oh…yeah no. Can’t say I recognize you.”

“We’ve never talked so I guess I can’t blame you,” he shrugged. “Well, I’m Frey Totoro,” he stuck out his hand, “Good to finally meet you…properly.”

I took his hand, “And I guess you already know me.”

“That I do,” he laughed, “But you,” he turned to Ze’Seki, “I’ve never seen you before.”

She panicked and looked at me then back at the guy, “I-I’m Evy. E-Evy Ze’Seki!”

“Good to meet you too, Ze’Seki.” He smiled politely, “I’m sorry if my brother interrupted anything.” He bowed.

I wondered for a second what he meant by interrupting, but he continued before I thought about it too hard.

“Well, anyway, I don’t want to waste you guys’ time. Thanks again for bringing my brother home.”

“I-It’s no problem,” Ze’Seki answered.

“I’ll see in class, Tsutsumi.”

I hesitantly nodded. My chest felt heavy at his words. This was probably the most I’d talked to a classmate, nicely at least.

But with that, Frey turned towards, presumably, his home. We stood there and watched them leave, but before long, we too turned and—

Ze’Seki grabbed the hem of my shirt.

“What is it now?” I asked in reflex, a bit agitated from that nervous feeling in my chest.

“Can we…visit the ruins?” She asked timidly.

Once again, adorable.

“Is this a date? Are you asking me out on a date?” I teased.

“H-huh, n-no I’m not!” She let go of me and looked at the floor, “I…I’ve just always wanted to visit a place like that…”

By “a place like that” I imagined she meant with historical value. Well, normally I would just say no and leave, but if this raised her opinion of me enough to where it wasn’t awkward all the time at the house, then it probably wouldn’t be too bad.

“Alright…” I started, “Since you’re practically begging, I’ll go on that date with you,” I began walking towards the pyramid structure thing.

“This isn’t a date!” she yelled as she followed after.