Kaleidoscopic

Chapter 10: Picking the Pace

Kotone had her eyebrows scrunched in concentration as she wrote something or other down on her — surprise — light pink diary. Her fiery red hair was tied into a braid and thrown over her shoulder; yet, it managed to reach her lap. The brunette watching her couldn't help but think of how Kotone could handle such long hair. Madoka kept her hair short for that particular reason, it was just impossible to brush through it when you had a dozen beys to fix.

That was the reason why Hikaru had forced her to take a break — apparently, she worked too hard. Hikaru didn't have to try a lot to convince her though. The World Championships were tiring to say the least, which was why Madoka couldn't help but sigh at the younger girl.

"Kotone, what are you doing?"

"Working on a training plan," Kotone said, not even looking up from her work. Her pen finally paused for a second, and she looked up to ask, "Hey, could you show me everyone's stats? That'll make this much easier."

"You know, I'm pretty sure that when Hikaru told us to take a break for a day, she meant take a break for a day."

Kotone rolled her eyes. "Look, we'll be in Japan for another week. We have to use this time to train."

Madoka raised an eyebrow. She couldn't help the smile that tugged on her lips. "Wow, Excalibur made that much of an expression on you, huh?"

Kotone looked at her, and Madoka was taken aback by the intensity in those ice blue eyes. Kotone looked like she was going to agree, but then she paused and huffed. "No."

That was what bothered Madoka about Kotone. She was thirteen, and yet, she thought like an adult. It was easy enough to see in her reactions to things. And then there was that childishness. It was genuine sometimes, like when she gushed about Hello Kitty or insisted on her every possession having something pink in it or wasted a lot of money on sweets of all things, but mostly, it seemed like Kotone was trying to trap herself in a bubble of forced callowness.

Despite all her attempts though, there was an air of experience around her. Her eyes lacked the innocence of a regular child, and even when she pulled some prank or tried to get a rise out of someone for no reason or picked a fight put of nowhere, there was a glint in her eyes — one of distaste. Well, perhaps not distaste, but it was just like... Like her heart wasn't in it or something.

But what caused it? Her job as an agent? Perhaps. But why was Kotone an agent in the first place? Or even working at all? Madoka had never seen her parents, and neither of the cousins had ever mentioned them. Sometimes, Madoka wanted to ask, but then she would stop herself. Gingka's story had taught her that not everything was as it seemed, and she didn't want to accidentally open an unhealed wound.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer."

Madoka jumped with a yelp and blinked. Kotone was looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Something on my face, Brainiac?"

"I—It's nothing," Madoka replied, still shaken.

Kotone gave her a look, this time one Madoka had never seen on her. It was like Kotone was seeing through her, trying to analyze her and find the best possible way to break her down. That definitely came from her job.

Madoka was just about to look away when Kotone shrugged. "Whatever."

For someone who had nearly had a panic attack just a couple of days ago, Kotone was doing rather well. Sure, Madoka hadn't expected her to be jumpy or even nervous, but Kotone had bounced back like nothing had even happened. Madoka figured she had had enough practice with it, what with helping Tsubasa spy on the Dark Nebula and Ryuuga going on a rampage.