"Kujaku" •RWBY•

十一

(Zutto Zutto Zutto [by Ryokuoushoku Shakai])

"Look at all of you becoming chummy... how sweet." Michael's sarcastic comment gets ignored by Suzume, who focuses anxiously on team RWBY and JNPR. She balances herself between the two groups, paying attention to each individual's comment and spoken thought. Her own mind becomes clouded with different opinions, and she nearly feels overwhelmed. To combat her dazed state, Suzume decides to speak to Ren.

The boy with bright magenta hues walks behind them but keeps his eyes forward, distracted by an internal monologue. His heart rate is average and spikes when his blue-haired companion calls his name, "Neh, Ren?" She says, yet, it comes out as a question.

Ren hums and responds without glancing at Suzume, "What is it?" He grumbles, his voice heard above the chatter around them.

Pursing her lips, the extroverted female hesitates to continue conversing with the other. He seems annoyed, maybe by her, but Suzume can't tell.

"What's up his butt?"

"Remember the day before we were supposed to leave..." His heart rate spikes again, "...and Mama scolded us for leaving the doors open?"

The black-haired boy quirks a brow and nods, "She explained that rats stole her vegetables. Although, it seemed highly unlikely at the time," he clarifies her inquiry and waits for Suzume to continue.

"Well, it just so happens that Michael was the one to take them," she gets a long sigh of disappointment in return, "But there's enough food for a hotpot, so I was wondering if--"

"A hotpot!? You're going to make a hotpot for us!?" Nora loudly asks and enthusiastically shows up in Suzume's vision, obstructing her view of Ren. She actively grins, excitement buzzing in her aquamarine irises.

Suzume softly smiles at her, "Yeah, if you want." She then attempts to stare at Ren past Nora's ginger hair, "Would you like a hotpot for dinner tonight?"

The black-haired boy gives her a swift nod. He doesn't verbalize his delight over the savory meal, but his shorter companion can recognize the emotion when his fushia irises gleam. His heart rate evens out, and the crinkle between his brows unwinds.

As Ruby converses with Jaune, she unknowingly tugs on Suzume's hand, bringing the older female closer to her side. Weiss, noticing the gap between them, huffs and yanks on the bluenette's arm. Suzume yelps as she collides with the snow-white heiress, and as she does, the arguing ensues.

"Everything was pleasant until you did that!" Ruby chides and looks past Suzume's head to glare at Weiss.

Weiss merely scoffs, ignoring the black-haired girl's whining, "I hardly ruined anything. You are the one insistent on clinging to her side. If you had tugged harder, you would have ripped her arm out of her socket," she declares and raises her head, pointing her chin to the sky.

"Speak for yourself, you pretentious witch," Michael spat, clear venom laced within his insulting comment. Suzume awkwardly laughs as her shoulders become sore and her fingers go numb. She tries to find an opening between the trio attached to her torso, but it becomes hard to think when the group's heartbeats fluctuate.

Yang frowns at Weiss' comment. She sets her hands on her hips and quirks a blonde brow, "That's a tad harsh, isn't it?" she says with a slightly provoking tone.

"And you're one to talk, Ice Queen," Nora jeers, squeezing harder around Suzume's torso. Her hands dig into the girl's clothes, pulling her uniform's vest taut with her body. Suzume squirms at the constriction and new pressure in her lungs, and a grunt escapes her mouth.