Dakota came up with a foolproof plan. And it was just to annoy Shinatsu to no end. In the morning, during class, after class, during lunch, during training, all day. During one class, Shinatsu tried to move seats but he wouldn't let her.
Dakota: "Uh uh uh," he said slyly while moving his index finger side to side. He proved to be a royal thorn in Shinatsu's side. And that's all it took for her to back down.
Shinatsu: "You win. I hereby sever our contract. And yada, yada. Blah… Blah… I'm going to sleep." She was genuinely drained by Dakota and wanted nothing more than peace and quiet.
Unfortunately for Shinatsu, up to this point in life, nothing ever really went right for her.
?: "Well, well. Look who it is."
A girl and her clique show up out of nowhere. Their energy immediately gives off snotty rich girls, which irritates Dakota.
Dakota: "Friends of yours?"
Shinatsu: "Hardly."
?: "Is this your boyfriend? If so, I must say you can have better taste."
At this moment, Dakota wanted nothing more than to put these cocky princesses in their place. But he knew he'd probably stand no chance in a fight. If they made it this far, they can't be all talk. So he decides to get back at them in another way. He walks over to Shinatsu he wraps his arm around her shoulder.
Shinatsu whispers: "Hey, what're you doing?"
Dakota: "Just go along with it."
Dakota pretends like he's whispering something in her ear while looking down at the girls with a smirk on his face. He knows something like this will easily bait them into the palm of his hands.
?: "What're you smirking about?"
Dakota: "How do you all decide who's the richest? Is it whoever's dad has the most money, or whoever got into the Hunter Academy with the highest bribe?"
Shinatsu almost lets out a laugh, but she covers her mouth. The girls are clearly infuriated by that comment.
?: "What was that?!"
?: "Let's hear you say that one more time you geek!"
They start shouting incoherent insults as Dakota just looks at Shinatsu with a grin on his face.
Shinatsu grins back: "Let's get outta here. Bye Sophia, you should get your beauty rest." She waves condescendingly with her fingers.
Sophia, the leader of the clique balls his fist in rage. She won't let this go.
The two have gotten out of sight of the rich girls, so Dakota removes his arm from around Shinatsu.
Dakota: "What was the deal with those bitches?"
Shinatsu gives a light smile: "I appreciate what you did. But I don't wanna talk about it."
Dakota blinks once then looks away: "I gotcha." He understands not wanting to talk about something.
They eventually get to their dorms and split with a casual farewell.
***
The next day came and Dakota waited alone at his desk. He realized Shinatsu isn't blackmailing him anymore so he can move back next to Erika. Just as he gets up, Shinatsu walks in and sits next to him.
Shinatsu: "Morning," she said casually, placing her bag down beside Dakota's desk. Not her desk, his.
Dakota: "…You have your own desk, you know," he muttered, eyes fixed on the floor.
Shinatsu: "I do. But the view here is better."
She meant that sarcastically, of course. At least, he hoped she did.
Dakota: "I heard you ranked second on the quiz," he said, leaning against his desk. "You must be proud."
Shinatsu: "Not really."
Dakota: "Ambitious. Truly, a girl of great dreams and vision."
Shinatsu shot him a look: "Sarcasm must be your native language."
Dakota: "It is. I was fluent before I learned to walk."
Shinatsu: "Figures."
The two smiled, knowing a budding friendship was being formed.
***
Lunch break. The never-ending battlefield.
Dakota found himself still eating with Shinatsu. She sat there eating elegantly. The contrast between them was obvious.
She took a deliberate bite of her salad, like a queen humoring a peasant. "You're awfully quiet right now."
"I'm just contemplating whether or not I should feign illness from this awful fish."
"Don't blame you. For some reason they serve this fish like once every few months. Probably to balance out the good food they always give us."
"Sounds like you cracked the case."
"Thanks."
They sat in silence for a moment, interrupted only by the occasional clink of their forks.
Shinatsu: "Despite how you come off, you're friendlier than you look."
Dakota: "Ouch."
Shinatsu: "I saw you help that guy fix the projector after he knocked it down by accident after class."
Dakota: "That's not helping. That's damage control."
Shinatsu: "Ah, so you're doing it for reputation."
Dakota: "No. I'm doing it so people don't break things that I have to fix later."
Shinatsu: "You're pragmatic in the most unheroic way possible."
Dakota: "Thanks."
Shinatsu: "I'm curious. Your friend was forced to train to become a Hunter because of what happened. But what about you? Erika, I can see her reasoning. She probably likes this Chifuyu. But would someone who's just a friend do the same?"
Dakota: "He's more than just a friend."
Shinatsu: "Hmm. But what do you get out of becoming a Hunter? Is this actually what you aspire to be?"
Dakota: "I aspire to not get dragged into weird situations by strange women."
Shinatsu: "That's oddly specific."
Dakota: "It's happened before. Very recently. But no, I never thought I would be training to become a Hunter. It's all Chifuyu's fault. But, I'm grateful. I think I've been feeling better about myself as of late. So I have to thank him the next time I see him."
Shinatsu: "Well, that's great for you."