celestial

二十

Last edited » September 30, 2023
Author's Note »
Referenced Movie(s) » Friendship Games (2015)
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AT [YOUR NAME]'S HOUSE

You and Dash were lying on your stomachs on your bed, doing separate activities. You finished all your schoolwork some minutes ago, but she was just getting started on math. Dash had decided that annoying you was a better pastime than working together, but to be fair, she did do some Duolingo lessons for about 10 minutes, but still.

"So, like," she started. You looked over, "what math do you take? What are you actually learning?" She's aware of the ambiguous name of the class: Analysis and Approaches.

"It's algebra, geometry, and calculus. Everything math-related except probability because that's the other math class' focus."

You gave your attention back to your phone, "Right now we're doing arithmetic and geometric series and sequences."

"Which is...?"

"It's... like rate of change. You're given an equation and first have to figure out if it's increasing or decreasing. If it's increasing, then it's addition or multiplication, but if it's decreasing, then it's subtraction or division."

"Between those two options, you can figure out if it's geometric, which is division or multiplication, like halving or doubling. Arithmetic would be a constant plus 3 or minus 2: addition or subtraction."

"It gets more complex, though. There's equations to figure out the total sum of an infinite series and stuff. I really like it."

"Sounds fun," she dryly compliment, clearly sarcastic. You ignored her but would also fall silent as you know how strange it is to find math fun, even more so to want to gush about it. You noticed Dash glance over in your peripheral.

"...What else, nerd?"

You smiled, "I'm not a nerd."

"You definitely are," she laughed, repeatedly bumping into you until you talked more, but there really wasn't much to add. Dash looked at your phone to see what you were doing.

"What are you reading?" It was a manga, but Dash couldn't read it for you read Japanese comic books in their native language.

"Demon Slayer, or 鬼滅の刃. It came out at the beginning of the year."
- Kimetsu no Yaiba

"For reference," You were only telling Dash this information because she wants to know and - in a perfect world - become fluent in Japanese, "「鬼滅の刃」 literally translates to 'Demon Slaying Blade,' not Demon Slayer, but it's still pretty accurate."

"What's it about?"

"Do your work."

"I can multitask!" You refused.

"...You at least have to tell me what's so special about 'no' in Japanese. It's in a lot of your mangas." She's heard you pronounce Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia.

"It's of, like a proposition."

"Then why is it Demon Slaying Blade and not... whatever of whatever." You softly laughed.

"First, 「きめつ」 is two words, not one: 「き」 and 「めつ」, which is demon and destruction, but in context, 「めつ」 is more annihilation. 「やいば」 is a very old way of saying blade, and it's specifically a blade, not a sword." Dash nod.

"The 「の」 in the middle is showing possession, but it shouldn't be read as 'of.' It's more like... how in Spanish, there's no apostrophes so you say 'el celular de mi novia.' By itself, 'de' does mean of or from, but its purpose - in context - is to show possession, not act as its own literal proposition."