A Month Of Kaider

Two: Dialects Are Strange

Cinder can't help it.

She can't help noticing the boy after that one encounter.

It's not like she hadn't seen him around school before, but now it was as if he had a neon arrow above his head. A huge neon arrow that acts as a magnet for Cinder.

As much as she tries to avoid him, the universe goes against her and puts him in her line of vision anyway. Walking to lessons, she catches sight of him; when going to the library, she notices him hunched over a book; getting the bus home, she sees him walking.

Everywhere she goes, he turns up, one way or another.

And today was just another one of those days. Except, she does more than just see him, she actually crashes into him.

The two of them, quite literally, crash into one another.

They both have totally different reactions, Cinder cursing and rubbing her head, Kai apologising profusely and picking up both their books.

"Cinder?" Kai asks, smiling.

"Oh, stars, sorry, not again..." Cinder blurts, the most she's spoken to anyone in days.

"It's okay, we share the fault this time."

Cinder briefly wonders how it's possible for someone to be so nice.

"Right, well, thanks," she mumbles, taking her books back from him.

His eyes light up as he sees her technology designs. "Have you learned about robotics yet?"

Cinder smirks. "Of course, it's one of my favourites."

"Could you help me then?" he asks.

Cinder frowns. "Help you... with robotics?"

Kai shakes his head. "I did want to, but I wasn't able to take it."

Deciding to try and bypass the mournful look in his eyes, she asks, "What do you need my help for then?"

"I need you to help my robot."

"What?" Cinder asks, confused. "I thought you didn't take robotics?"

Kai shushes her, glancing around before smiling sheepishly. "I don't, but I do have a robot."

"How?" Cinder asks. "Half my class can barely get one to turn on, never mind fully function."

Kai gives her a strange sort of exasperatedly hopeful look and bites his lip. "Are you available after school?"

"Uh, sure, why?" Cinder asks, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.

"Okay, could we meet at the oak tree?" Kai asks.

"Mhm."

"Ace! See you later!" Kai beams at her, his dimples immobilising her larynx as she manages to smile back.

She's aware of people staring at her with curiosity as Kai bounces away so she lets her messy locks fall over her eyes and sticks to the walls as she makes her way to Geography.

Winter giggles as she slides into her seat, nudging her. "What happened?"

"What does as oak tree look like?"

Winter frowns, "Tall, green, dense, usually shaped like broccoli?"

"That's what all the trees in school look like," Cinder huffs.

Winter raises an eyebrow, catching on quickly. "Who asked you to meet them near an oak tree?"

"Nobody."