The dodgeball match was winding down. Elia Gundred stood quietly near the edge of the court, ponytail swaying gently, her movements precise. She had barely been touched the entire game, moving with calm, deliberate steps.
Suddenly, a ball came flying from the far side. It struck her lightly on the side of her head.
Thunk!
For a moment, she froze, tilting her head slightly…
Then,
Whoosh!
Her foot caught the edge of a line.
Elia stumbled forward, her balance breaking in an oddly delayed way, and fell flat onto the gym floor.
Kiryu Kiryuin approached quickly. "Whoa? Are you okay? I didn't mean to hit you."
Elia sat up slowly, her movements unhurried. Her white hair slipped loose from her tie, falling around her shoulders.
"I… see," she said. "The floor is… unexpectedly uneven."
Kiryu blinked. "That's not the floor's fault you dumb ass"
Elia raised a hand briefly to the side of her head.
"…It is acceptable," she added after a short pause.
Kiryu narrowed his eyes slightly. "You sure? That looked like it hurt."
Elia stood, brushing her sleeve with careful precision.
"It is… within expectation, I'm still within the play area after all..." she replied.
Kiryu let out a small breath. "You're really strange."
Elia looked at him.
"Strange…?"
"The way you talk. The way you move. Even just now... you fell, but you're acting like nothing happened."
There was a pause.
Elia adjusted her sleeve again, as if considering his words.
"…I fell," she said simply.
Kiryu stared at her. "…Yeah. You did."
"…That is all," she finished.
Kiryu exhaled through his nose, half amused, half confused. "That's not how most people react."
Elia tilted her head slightly.
"…Then I am not… most people."
Kiryu let out a short laugh. "Yeah. No shit Sherlock."
There was a brief silence between them.
Elia turned slightly toward the exit.
"…Aim with more certainty next time," she said quietly.
Kiryu raised an eyebrow. "Is that a freaking advice?"
"…If you intend to throw at someone brutally..." she replied.
A small pause.
"…Then do not hesitate."
Kiryu watched her for a second, then gave a small shrug. "Jeez... I'll keep that in mind."
The bell rang.
Elia retied her hair loosely, then began walking toward the locker room, her steps slow and measured once again.
Later
Kiryu remained in the gym a moment longer, idly picking up a ball from the floor.
He turned it once in his hand, then tossed it lightly into the rack.
"…Not most people, huh."
He didn't linger on it.
With that, he headed out.