As fate would have it, Dakota and Shinatsu ended up in detention together a week later.
Shinatsu had been caught "accidentally" using her wooden sword to carve her initials into a practice dummy. Dakota had been caught sleeping through an entire lecture. The teacher, perhaps sensing fate's dark humor, assigned them the same cleaning duty. Shinatsu swept the floor with elegance. Dakota pushed a mop like a man serving a life sentence.
Dakota: 'I'm surprised they have detention even at the Hunter Academy.'
Shinatsu: "You're terrible at this."
Dakota: "I'm conserving energy."
Shinatsu: "For what?"
Dakota: "The rest of my life."
Shinatsu chuckled softly, spinning the broom in her hand like a sword.
During their short 10 minute break, Shinatsu got 2 drinks from the vending machine. She placed Dakota's in front of him without a word.
Dakota eyed it suspiciously: "Is this poisoned?"
Shinatsu: "Do you want it to be?"
Dakota: "Depends on the day."
Shinatsu: "Then it's safe."
Dakota took it. "Thanks."
Shinatsu: "You're welcome."
They drank in silence, but it wasn't awkward.
Shinatsu: "Y'know, you hide your better traits behind sarcasm."
Dakota: "…Sorry about that. Call it survival instinct."
Shinatsu: "That's one way to call it. But it's also cowardice."
That stung, not because it was cruel, but because it was probably true.
Dakota: "I'm not afraid," he said, looking away. "I just don't want to deal with disappointment."
Shinatsu's tone softened: "Everyone's disappointed by something."
Dakota: "Yeah. But not everyone builds a fortress out of it."
Shinatsu smiled faintly: "You'd make a terrible knight."
Dakota: "I'd rather be alive than noble."
Shinatsu: "You're interesting."
Dakota: "Is that a compliment?"
Shinatsu: "Sure."
The silence that followed wasn't the heavy kind. It was easy, almost comfortable.
Shinatsu: "So, what are we?"
Dakota spits out his drink: "Excuse me?"
Shinatsu: "Haha."
Dakota: "You did that on purpose."
Shinatsu: "It's a serious question. Would one call us friends?"
Dakota: "Hm. Maybe something else."
Shinatsu: "Like?"
Dakota takes a moment to think about it: "Pals, or whatever this is."
Shinatsu: "Pals? That sounds dangerously close to friendship."
Dakota: "What else would you call it? Us enduring each other's company."
Shinatsu ponders on it: "You're right. Pals is fitting. But are you sure you're enduring my company? I think you enjoy it."
Dakota: "Define 'enjoy.'"
Shinatsu laughed genuinely, the kind of laugh that made Dakota shoulders relax without him realizing it.
Dakota: "What about you? Are you enduring my company, or enjoying it?"
Shinatsu: "I'm tolerating it."
Dakota: "Coming from you, that's practically affection."
Shinatsu: "Maybe, but I'm only 25% tolerating you."
Dakota: "So a quarter of affection."
Shinatsu: "Enough out of you. Let's get back to work." She turns around with a smile holding in a chuckle. Dakota too turned around with a smile holding in a chuckle.