A familiar body lies on the floor, shivering and clutching its neck as kids point at it—laughing and repeating monotonously like robots: "It's your fault. You did this!"
More figures emerge, already pointing at the disheveled figure. "It's your fault. You did this," they say in synchronicity.
Kailus watches as they curl into a ball. Their tears fall onto the seemingly endless, blank floor.
"No, I'm sorry," the doppelgänger cries out, scratching its face as a blinding light emits from it. "I said I'm—"
Kailus bolts awake, drenched in sweat. His breaths come in shallow, ragged gasps, and his mouth drier than usual.
This exhaust-inducing state gave whiplash to his mind: memories of his father pushing him through long, strenuous exercises—rare occasions that left unforgettable scars.
Amid the timid sounds around, he could hear his father's commands echoing through the walls: "Work harder!" "Get up!"
Muscles strain in distress and shoulders locked from movement: "10-minute plank." "500 push-ups!"
"It's your fault," an identical voice says; its words slam against his chest abruptly, repeating faster, sharper—"It's your fault!" "It's your fault!"—until his halo flickered into erratic redness and his thermal wings clamped against his body, trying ever so desperately to protect themselves.
Kailus' mind reverts to his surroundings; his vision splits into two, seemingly colliding against one another, emitting an obnoxious ringing to his already weakened ears.
He tries to sit up, yet gravity—with its strong magnetic pull—weighs him down, as if he were one with this bed.
Coldness crept from his wings, contracting his body back into position, as a grayish-green hue gleamed over his sweat-silken body.
'Another one.. It's getting to the point where it actually feels like torture. I really need a therapist…. Stupid past me.'
He sluggishly rips off his sleeping mask and glances at the clock on his nightstand: 6:00 a.m., it reads. He can barely register the numbers.
"Two and a half hours before class," Kailus mumbles to himself. "I'd better get ready. Hopefully there's a cafeteria—I'm starving, and I don't have the stamina to cook. But~, my autobiography comes first~."
He touches the smooth tip of his nightstand, which in return, offers its cold, hard surface—a blessing in his current state. He pauses for a moment, closing his eyes in ecstasy, before continuing the search.
'Where is it?'
Kailus pats the desk again to no avail. For the third time, he finally rubs his eyes to glance once more.
"Oh, no, no, no—where is it?" he shouts, his voice rushing between the vowels. His eyes dart around the room, searching through every crevice he sees.
Just as he's about to get up, he feels something hard beneath him—oddly rectangular and tall.
'My book!'
Peering through the covers, he spots his autobiography between his legs.
"Oh no, no, no," he mutters frantically, seizing and flipping through its contents. "Please, please, please!"
Tears well up as he holds his breath, silent in anticipation, letting the soft rustling of paper envelop the room. A deep blue hue caresses the room, making it seem as if time paused at his inconvenience.
"No damage? Impossible—there has to be something wrong," he shouts, inspecting the book over and over, searching for anything noteworthy.
"Nothing, nothing, nothing," Kailus mumbles intensely, flicking through the pages in rapid cession, scratching and tugging at each page. "Hmm… Ah, some of my pages are damp is all."
He exhales profoundly like a great burden has been lifted from his shoulders.
A faint breath echoes nearby, although it's unnecessary now that his book is safe.
Sitting up, Kailus stretches, his flexible back crackling in relief, and his radiant wings unfurl endlessly. His halo shines with this newfound happiness, and with that, he gently kisses the book's cover before placing it carefully on the nightstand.
"That was frightening. Let me start the day with a prayer at least," Kailus claps his hands. "God Almighty, let your will prevail—"
(Everyday, Kailus offers a blessing of protection to his family and future. It has become an unbreakable habit ever since.)
During his daily prayer, a muffled laugh comes from outside the door, halting his routine for just a moment.
'Oh, and who can that be?'
He finishes his prayer and leaves the comfort of his bed.
However, as soon as he steps on the floor, something rubbery pulls his ankle—surprisingly gentle but tight enough to prevent any escape—from under the bed.
Kailus let out a squeaky squeal as his halo turned frightful. The person laughs maniacally as their voice gradually fades in the distance.
Kailus kicks as hard as he can—sending whatever grasp his ankle soaring into the wardrobe—shattering it into many pieces. Only a flexible arm, a timer, and a claw remain from the plastic machinery.
'A cuff machine… Oh, YOU!'
He storms out with only one thought: confronting the culprit.
Once he spots her at the front door, he points and shouts, his halo pinkish-red. "Akiro, you booby-trapped my room!"
Akiro, with a playful grin, responds in a soft, almost childish voice. "Why so mad, dear? Furious and flustered at my harmless prank? And there you are, flashing me a look of approval. You couldn't even keep it in your night robe. I'll pray if someone has to face that in bed because it'd be a challenge for sure."
She laughs gently, covering her sly-ish lips; her velvet-bright eyes flushing with lust.
'Dear Lord, this better be one of her perverted jokes. For if it's—'
Kailus looks down, only to witness his robe dauntingly slipping off his curvaceous body. A pink hue washes over his reddened face.
Without a word uttered, he bolts, yanking his robe closed and folding his wings around his exposed parts.
As on cue, Shalius opens her door. Before she can register her thoughts, Kailus shuts his door and hides in the bathroom.
'AHH! Why am I so blind? I flashed my family and now my roommate? I guess I deserve it, but why now?! It can only get so much worse.'
Nevertheless, Kailus showers and scrubs himself. He combs his curly hair and cleans the crevices of his wings. Next, he dons his celestial robe (Angelic Culture) and his mother's golden necklace
Just as he's about to wear his father's golden bracelet, he wavers.
'Something is missing, but what?'
He stands idly, gazing blankly at his reflection, until a particular event clicks. "Ahh, yes, I have to visit Teacher Lascuda today. I hope she can accommodate the college's hours with my tardiness."
Rushing out of his room, Kailus spots Akiro and Shalius by the front door. In a low, threatening tone, he warns: "Don't you dare mention anything about today, Kitsune."
"Why would I?" Akiro teases, her many tails swaying gently. "You wish to savor that moment for your future wife, right? And also, it's Kitsuné."
"Fine, Kitsunê." Kailus retorts, rolling his eyes.
Akiro laughs frivolously, crossing her arms in feign annoynace. "Oh, you're playing that game, huh? I know you're a pretty religious zealot."
"And I-I know… you're bland… just.. boring," Kailus murmurs, averting his eyes.
"Looks like your insult level is too low. If you ever wish to defeat me, train for another one hundred years," Akiro jokes with her arms to her waist and a fake pride plastered all over her creamy, pinkish lips.
Kailus scoffs and flutters down to them. He wraps his hand around the dorkbob yet hesitates. "I—um, I have to go to Carolice to get the schedule. Do you know whe-ere I'm going? Otherwise, I'll join you soon."
'I really don't want to go alone. She should've given the schedule like her job demands.'
Shalius pats Kailus on the back. "No need to worry, dear friend; we all share the same classroom. You can follow me,"
Kailus sighs in relief. "Ah, thank you. I assume they'd differ by gender, yet I'm proven wrong furthermore."
"Or it's the same for us because we're women," Akiro quips with a wide grin.
Kailus tenses at her implication. "Is that true?"
Irritated by her teasing, Shalius snaps: "Stop prolonging this conversation. It's no different than ours."
"UHHH, I don't know about that~," Akiro answers dumbly, her eyes split in two directions.
As their arguments persist, Kailus stands in between. 'Should I believe Akiro or Shalius? Shalius has shown loyalty toward me. She wouldn't lie to me, right?'
In his mind, Akiro perches on his right shoulder, and Shalius on his left.
Little Shalius says in her light, peachy voice: 'Believe me, Kailus. I wouldn't lie to you.'
Little Akiro answers in a fake, dark accent: 'Don't believe that girl. She lies like a sinner.'
'You are a sinner!', the tiny Shalius retorts.
The endless yapping of the mini-mi's irritates Kailus as he brushes them off.
He timidly scratches the back of his neck. "I-I believe you, Shalius."
Akiro's shoulders slump, her fluffy red tails flail downward. "I was never good at lying."
(After today's antics, it's 6:30 a.m., two hours before class.)
Shalius glances at the TV and then turns to Akiro. "Since we're standing here. We might as well get to know each other. To further our bond as roommates, others might say."
"Let's do questions instead. Kailus and I wouldn't like presentations." Akiro demands.
"How do you—"
"I prefer questions," Kailus replies with urgency. "It kind of makes it exciting."
Shalius furrows her brow. "I guess we can do that," she says with half-acceptance. "Who's going first?"
Akiro straightens her posture. "Ok," she turns to Kailus. "How do you sleep with all that glowy stuff on you?"
"I use a sleeping mask," Kailus responds somewhat excited.
Akiro's face changes into a look of half-knowingly. "That sounds a lot simpler than I expected."
Shalius turns to Akiro. "As lazy as you are, what will you do to improve your heritage?"
"I only care about myself," Akiro responds calmly, twirling her finger in the air. "I'm probably going to work at Jipsie's carnival or some fun place—Gambo's raceway, a referee, anything available."
Shalius' eyes narrow just slightly before asking Kailus. "And you?"
'Oh, she's very judgmental. I have to be careful what I say.'
"Umm—I don't have any plans at the moment," he replies, as in turn, his stomach emits a loud growl.
Shalius laughs softly. "Well, how about we get breakfast and discuss this later on? They have many alternatives there."
Akiro perks up. "Really, love?"
"Yes," Shalius says, turning to Akiro. "But you should work out, you're getting a little chubby. Be glad your metabolism is working overtime for that physique of yours."
Kailus glances at Akiro's stomach. "Uh.. yes, you do need some training. Maybe the same as my father's?"
Akiro shrugs. "I'll do it later. I also hate how fat I'm getting. I've tried getting larger kimonos, but my thighs are getting too thick. I hate how revealing my body looks."
"Then why wear so openly in the dorm if you hate revealing yourself?" Kailus asks, tilting his head, his halo casts a grey hue.
Akiro rolls her eyes. "Because you're my roommate, I might as well leave it open. You don't mind the view, do you, Kailus," she says, staring at his halo.
Kailus' halo shines pink at her comment, whereas Shalius' eyes gleam with excitement—her body shimmering softly. "Then I'll forcibly train you. You'll suffer indefinitely—but you'll end up with an amazing physique. Breakfast and lunch will be your last greasy meals before our session commences. It's for the good of your health."
"You don't have to do this. I can exercise myself," Akiro protests.
Shalius smiles warmly. "Then I'll remind AND show you how to exercise for your own good. From your words, you focus on treasuring yourself. I'm merely following your belief to your extent."
Akiro's ears flopped to her head. "F-fine," she stammers.
Shalius grabs the doorknob and turns toward Kailus. "Now that's settled, let's eat, shall we?"
Kailus nods eagerly and Shalius opens the door.