probably_i
in
xpuri
[Log] Tezuka, Inui
Characters:Tezuka, Inui
Location:Senior dorm kitchen
Time: Oct 6, Tezuka’s first day
Rating: G, despite disgustingness
Summary: Part 4 of Tezuka’s No Good, Very Bad Day. Poor guy can’t catch a break.
It was getting late. The other students had long since fled the kitchen when Inui had started setting up his apparatus there, not wanting any possible repeat of The Fuji Incident. Alone, Inui worked happily and productively, the only sounds his knife against the chopping board or the occasional whirr of the blender.
After meeting his roommate, Tezuka decided that having a nice cup of tea and sitting down in the lounge would have to do until his room was less occupied and he could lay down and rest. He hoped that the kitchen area wouldn’t be too hectic. Fuji has said that he could meet him and the other students there around dinner time but he hoped that they would be gone now. He supposed his near death experience and being propositioned to a threesome had delayed him past the usual dinner time. He really didn’t want to think about either at the moment though.
Turning the last corner that should bring him into the kitchen, Tezuka paused when he saw just one other in it. “Hello,” He called politely before stepping into the kitchen and looking around. The kettle was easy to spot though he supposed he’d have to search the cupboards for the tea and mugs.
“Oh?” Inui looked up from innocently dicing a tomato. “Ah, you must be Tezuka, the new student. Good evening.” He, like half the students at school, had recognised Tezuka as the “young hero” on TV. Inui assessed Tezuka quietly behind his glasses, his insatiable curiosity driving him to want to collect all the data he possibly could about the student. Tall, seemed like the serious, quiet sort... and looked sort of tired.
“Long day?”
“It’s been eventful,” Tezuka said. He stopped pondering the cupboards and walked over to the taller man to make proper introductions. “I’m Tezuka Kunimitsu, you are?” It seemed unfair that most people knew his name but he didn’t know theres. And he was going to optimistically hope they knew his name because of some school announcement about a new student and not through the tv.
“Inui Sadaharu, third year.” Inui would have shaken hands, but even he knew that wasn’t a good idea at the moment. He held up his vegetable-stained hands apologetically, settling for a nod instead. “Pleased to meet you.”
Tezuka gave him a small nod, taking in his hands and the vegetables he was dicing. “It seems we’re in the same year,” Tezuka said and then considered if he should inquire about what Inui was making or carry on with his tea making. “Could you direct me to the mugs and tea?” He asked hoping just for some directions to the correct cupboards as he’d hate to pull Inui away from his food prep.
“Top cabinet, third from the left here are the mugs,” Inui indicated, before returning to his meticulous chopping. “Tea-- there’s a bit of loose leaf in a canister on the spice rack by the stove, together with some teabags though most people have their own.” Emptying the vegetables into the blender, he next produced a can with foreign lettering on it. He pulled the tab, and an unimaginably foul smell began to fill the room.
“Thank you,” Tezuka said and followed the directions until he found the mugs. He then inspected the tea choices, a little surprised that students often used their own since he was told that all of the food was provided by the school. Clearly it was just another little thing he had to learn as he adjusted to life at Ryuuzaki’s. Just as he decided on a teabag for now, a very strong and horrible odour filled the room and he swallowed down thickly. “What are you making?” He asked vaguely hoping it was for some pet and not human consumption.
“Oh, it’s dinner,” Inui explained. “I have added carbohydrate, protein, fat and fibre in the recommended proportion for a healthful diet, as well as a good balance of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.” He looked quite proud of his accomplishment.
“Sorry, I’m going to turn on the blender now,” was all the warning Tezuka got before the poor abused machine coughed and sputtered to life, shredding whatever unimaginable horrors it contained into a homogeneous pulp.
“It sounds fortifying,” Tezuka said as politely as he could when the blender finally stopped turning an already disgusting mix of ingredients into an even more disgusting smoothie. He really should’ve looked away and continued his quest for tea, but somehow, the horrific sight was impossible to tear his eyes away from even though it made his stomach churn.
“It is,” Inui crowed happily, pouring it into a metal mug where it steamed and burbled slightly. “Very filling and nutritious. Would you like some, Tezuka? Have you had dinner?” He held out the mug encouragingly. “I made plenty.”
Tezuka looked at the concoction and thought there was no way a normal person could ingest something like that no matter the supposed nutritional benefits. Perhaps Inui’s mutation, whatever it was, made him crave such things, or at least tolerate ingesting it. “I’m afraid I ate earlier,” Tezuka lied smoothly. “I’d just like some tea to help relax.”
“Oh? I wasn’t aware that you had had the time to cook on your first day. In fact, the probability that you have had dinner is 13.2%,” Inui informed Tezuka. He eyed the cup. It didn’t look too bad. “It’s not quite as good as the stuff I make for Fuji, but it’s acceptable, I think.”
“I ate before I arrived.” Not a lie but stretching the truth as it wasn’t dinner he had before arriving at the school. “Fuji enjoys your drinks?” Tezuka asked recognizing the name of the student he had met earlier.
“I see you’ve met him already,” commented Inui, tasting a little of his own concoction. He shrugged and took a bigger mouthful. It was pretty much like every other Juice he’d made. “Yes, he enjoys my beverages. Fuji likes to try the new ones I’ve thought up. Are you sure you won’t try some?”
“He was nice,” Tezuka said. Even if he had found Fuji a little confusing or mysterious he had at least shown him to the headmistress. “And I think the tea would be better today. Something calming after a long day.” Tezuka really hoped that calmness wasn’t a beneficial property to the drink.
“Oh but the nights are cold and difficult to get through without some nourishment,” Inui said earnestly, switching tactics. “Also, it has warming properties, which is especially important now that the showers are broken.” He paused and added shamelessly, “It would greatly put my mind at ease if you would have some. Consider it a welcome drink.”
“Wouldn’t tea be just as warming?” Tezuka asked. He hoped he didn’t look as green as he felt when staring at the drink. It was bad enough watching someone else drink it that he really didn’t want to try it for himself. But he was supposed to be open and non-judgemental and he didn’t want to offend someone over their disgusting drink choices.
“Yes, but the effects are not nearly as sustained as with this juice.” Inui patted his stomach in emphasis. There was a warm gurgly feeling in the pit of it. Inui dismissed any thoughts that it could be indigestion. “It’s just the thing before a good night’s sleep. Won’t you try just a little?” He produced a shotglass, seemingly out of nowhere. “You can have both this and your tea.”
Tezuka looked at the glasses and wondered where they appeared from, was it from Inui’s mutant power or just an amazing sleight of hand. “How thoughtful....” He said with reluctance. “Let me make my tea first.” Perhaps Inui would lose interest or forget his offer by the time the tea was steeped and ready.
“I’ll be right here,” Inui told him, dispelling Tezuka’s hopes on the matter. He hovered about with the shotglass as Tezuka prepared his tea. “What kind of tea is that?” Any data on this new student was welcome.
“I believe Earl Grey,” Tezuka said and pulled out the package that he had taken it from to confirm it. It wasn’t his favourite type of tea but it was available and would do until he could get to town to buy his own or learn how the ordering of food for the kitchen worked. “Do you like tea, Inui?” Tezuka asked to make Inui’s silent presence feel a little less creepy as he boiled the water.
“I do,” Inui replied, whipping out a notebook and writing Tezuka’s choice of beverage down. “Is Earl Grey your favourite? My favourite is Lapsang souchong, with a few modifications.”
Tezuka looked over at the notebook and decided that for today, he didn’t want to know what it was all about. “It’s fine. I can’t say I’ve had Lapsang souchong,” Tezuka said finally pouring the hot water into his mug.
“It’s a strong, black Chinese tea, with a unique smoky aroma,” Inui informed Tezuka, already pouring the Juice into the little shotglass. The liquid was of undeterminable colour and still smelt like fermented fish. “It makes a good base for some kinds of Juice.”
“Ah,” Tezuka said not sure what to say to that information. He looked at his own steeping tea and thought that it would be much preferable to the Lapsang souchong and any sort of juice Inui might make. But he seemed doomed to have to drink it. Perhaps he could take it back to his room and dispose of it discreetly. Though would the horrid stench bother his roommate? He was part animal so he might have heightened senses. He really had to figure out the polite way to ask others what their mutations were. Perhaps an instructor would cover it in a class or he could ask after.
Tezuka seemed to be quite taciturn. Inui made a note of that. His reluctance to drink the Juice, quite the norm for Inui’s subjects, was also expressed neither in words nor overt body language (such as outright cringing and gagging). Rather, Inui recorded a 14.3 degree angling of Tezuka’s body away from the concoction. He slid the shotglass towards Tezuka, and raised his own mug. “A toast to celebrate your entering the school, perhaps?”
Tezuka watched the shot class move closer from the corner of his eyes, it seemed there was no getting rid of it. And with the suggestion of a toast he internally groaned, on the outside his expression remained stoic. His tea was far too hot to drink as a toast and Inui likely knew that though with the smell wafting up from the shot glass to his nose, Tezuka was honestly considering scalding his tongue. But that would be especially suspect and rude and there wasn’t that much of the putrid drink in the glass. Surely he could swallow it down without tasting much. He’d really rather not though. “I’m not sure it’s worth a toast,” Tezuka demurred.
“It’s not everyday that the senior classes have a new transfer student, and such a heroic one, at that,” Inui insisted. “I’m sure you will have a ...wonderful time at our school.” He waved his mug around pointedly.
“Is it really that rare?” Tezuka asked wondering if everyone else will have known each other for over two years and he really would be the odd one out. Ryuuzaki had explained that most students enter when they were sixteen but she didn’t make it sound like a transfer student was that odd. He didn’t respond to having a wonderful time at the school, he was currently hoping for an uneventful and swift time considering his introduction to it so far.
“Quite.” Inui nodded. “Especially for one in the middle of the school year.” He adjusted his glasses. “But I’m sure you’ll fit in soon enough, and see the utility of such a place.” His expression sobered for a moment. “For people like us, learning control is everything. At the very least, we will have a shared goal.”
“I suppose the circumstances were a little exceptional,” Tezuka admitted and only that much because it was obvious that Inui already knew of the bus incident. “But I do hope that I can find my place here and learn to use my powers correctly.” He didn’t say that he hoped his place here would be temporary, but that also didn’t mean he wished to make no friends while studying either. After a moments subtle hesitation he decided to see if he could find out what Inui’s power was and hoped the taller man wouldn't be offended. “May I ask what your power is?”
Inui shrugged. He didn’t mind telling-- most of the school already knew what it was, anyway, and since it wasn’t tangible, they tended to forget quite quickly. Tezuka, however, seemed the meticulous sort. “Probability manipulation,” he said. “Before I knew I had this power, and before I knew how to control it to some extent, I tended to make many unusual things happen.”
Tezuka had never heard of probability manipulation before and couldn’t think of anything similar he had come across during his research on mutants which made him rather curious about Inui’s power. “How does it work?” He asked, once again that he wasn’t being rude or invading Inui’s privacy. But Tezuka wanted to know if Inui could decide what probabilities to change and how the outcomes would go. It could either be a very useful and slightly dangerous power or it could be wildly unpredictable and a bit useless.
“I can make probable events less likely to happen, and improbable events more likely to occur,” Inui explained. He liked talking about how mutant powers worked, be it his own or others. “Consciously manipulating probabilities like this takes some preparation and concentration, though. I’m still figuring out the intricacies of how it works. But that’s the same story with everyone else. You get better at understanding the power through experience.”
Tezuka nodded, now understanding Inui’s powers more and thinking that it would require a lot of intelligence and patience to master. His own power might refuse to work as he wanted it to right now, but it was a thankfully straightforward power that should be easy enough to master once he had some training. “I suppose there’d be no need for a school if we could all easily master our powers on our own,” Tezuka said. Though he did wonder why the best school for mutants was placed in Hokkaido.
“Aa,” Inui agreed. “Then there’s the safety issues as well. A normal school campus would not be adequately prepared for a mutant-induced emergency.” He thought of Kaidoh’s venomous spines, Kuwahara’s pyrokinesis, and Kirihara’s immense potential for rampant destruction. “You’ll see when you meet more people,” he said at last. “And then you’ll appreciate why we’re in such a remote location.”
“I do believe I’ve met enough to understand the need for precaution,” Tezuka said thinking back to just a few hours earlier when he had been dying on the grass with a frantic Kaidoh above him. He supposed he would be meeting more dangerous mutants before long and would have to be even more cautious than normal when greeting people. At least Inui’s mutation seemed harmless enough, even if the shotglass full of juice did not.
“Yes. Which is why we should make a toast to your health, hope that you’ll survive like the rest of us, etc.” Inui nudged the shotglass again. Tezuka wasn’t getting away so easily.
Tezuka rather thought he’d survive a lot better without imbibing strange and horrid smelling liquids but he didn’t think he could escape so easily. “Thank you,” Tezuka said as he hesitantly picked up the shotglass in his left hand. “To health.” He decided to not delay any longer, and especially not to risk smelling the concoction. He brought it to his lips and tried to swallow it down before he could taste it.
It felt like chunky slime going down his throat and he swallowed thickly, twice, before his mouth was clear. It would be rude to rush to the sink and rinse out his mouth or throw up so he swallowed a third time and set the glass down.
“To health,” Inui echoed, downing his own drink. Ii data, he thought, noting the hand with which Tezuka had picked up the glass and his remarkable self-control. He looked a little pale, but otherwise unperturbed by the concoction. While Inui was a bit disappointed at the lack of reaction, he supposed data was data. “Thanks for trying it,” he said with surprising sincerity. “Welcome to the school.”
“Thank you,” Tezuka managed to say and then picked up his tea, his hand shaking slightly though fortunately not enough to spill. “I’m going to retire now.” He gave a hasty nod to Inui and retreated from the kitchen, leaving him to clean up the shot glass he had used. His didn’t understand how Inui could make or drink those things. His mouth felt like something had died in it and his body was shaking under the effort to stay mobile. He really hoped that hadn’t just been poisoned for the second time in one day.
Tezuka stopped outside of his room, partially to hear if any sexual noises were coming through the door and partly to try and drink down some of his tea in the hopes that it would help. Despite it still being hot, he managed to drink a few large gulps that at least helped with the feeling of death in his mouth but nothing else. He decided to risk his room, opening the door and heading to his bed without looking to the opposite side.
He managed to set his tea onto his desk and then gave in to what his body really wanted and stumbled to the unmade bed where he all but passed out, clinging to his pillow with the vague thoughts of tomorrow had to be better.
Location:Senior dorm kitchen
Time: Oct 6, Tezuka’s first day
Rating: G, despite disgustingness
Summary: Part 4 of Tezuka’s No Good, Very Bad Day. Poor guy can’t catch a break.
It was getting late. The other students had long since fled the kitchen when Inui had started setting up his apparatus there, not wanting any possible repeat of The Fuji Incident. Alone, Inui worked happily and productively, the only sounds his knife against the chopping board or the occasional whirr of the blender.
After meeting his roommate, Tezuka decided that having a nice cup of tea and sitting down in the lounge would have to do until his room was less occupied and he could lay down and rest. He hoped that the kitchen area wouldn’t be too hectic. Fuji has said that he could meet him and the other students there around dinner time but he hoped that they would be gone now. He supposed his near death experience and being propositioned to a threesome had delayed him past the usual dinner time. He really didn’t want to think about either at the moment though.
Turning the last corner that should bring him into the kitchen, Tezuka paused when he saw just one other in it. “Hello,” He called politely before stepping into the kitchen and looking around. The kettle was easy to spot though he supposed he’d have to search the cupboards for the tea and mugs.
“Oh?” Inui looked up from innocently dicing a tomato. “Ah, you must be Tezuka, the new student. Good evening.” He, like half the students at school, had recognised Tezuka as the “young hero” on TV. Inui assessed Tezuka quietly behind his glasses, his insatiable curiosity driving him to want to collect all the data he possibly could about the student. Tall, seemed like the serious, quiet sort... and looked sort of tired.
“Long day?”
“It’s been eventful,” Tezuka said. He stopped pondering the cupboards and walked over to the taller man to make proper introductions. “I’m Tezuka Kunimitsu, you are?” It seemed unfair that most people knew his name but he didn’t know theres. And he was going to optimistically hope they knew his name because of some school announcement about a new student and not through the tv.
“Inui Sadaharu, third year.” Inui would have shaken hands, but even he knew that wasn’t a good idea at the moment. He held up his vegetable-stained hands apologetically, settling for a nod instead. “Pleased to meet you.”
Tezuka gave him a small nod, taking in his hands and the vegetables he was dicing. “It seems we’re in the same year,” Tezuka said and then considered if he should inquire about what Inui was making or carry on with his tea making. “Could you direct me to the mugs and tea?” He asked hoping just for some directions to the correct cupboards as he’d hate to pull Inui away from his food prep.
“Top cabinet, third from the left here are the mugs,” Inui indicated, before returning to his meticulous chopping. “Tea-- there’s a bit of loose leaf in a canister on the spice rack by the stove, together with some teabags though most people have their own.” Emptying the vegetables into the blender, he next produced a can with foreign lettering on it. He pulled the tab, and an unimaginably foul smell began to fill the room.
“Thank you,” Tezuka said and followed the directions until he found the mugs. He then inspected the tea choices, a little surprised that students often used their own since he was told that all of the food was provided by the school. Clearly it was just another little thing he had to learn as he adjusted to life at Ryuuzaki’s. Just as he decided on a teabag for now, a very strong and horrible odour filled the room and he swallowed down thickly. “What are you making?” He asked vaguely hoping it was for some pet and not human consumption.
“Oh, it’s dinner,” Inui explained. “I have added carbohydrate, protein, fat and fibre in the recommended proportion for a healthful diet, as well as a good balance of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids.” He looked quite proud of his accomplishment.
“Sorry, I’m going to turn on the blender now,” was all the warning Tezuka got before the poor abused machine coughed and sputtered to life, shredding whatever unimaginable horrors it contained into a homogeneous pulp.
“It sounds fortifying,” Tezuka said as politely as he could when the blender finally stopped turning an already disgusting mix of ingredients into an even more disgusting smoothie. He really should’ve looked away and continued his quest for tea, but somehow, the horrific sight was impossible to tear his eyes away from even though it made his stomach churn.
“It is,” Inui crowed happily, pouring it into a metal mug where it steamed and burbled slightly. “Very filling and nutritious. Would you like some, Tezuka? Have you had dinner?” He held out the mug encouragingly. “I made plenty.”
Tezuka looked at the concoction and thought there was no way a normal person could ingest something like that no matter the supposed nutritional benefits. Perhaps Inui’s mutation, whatever it was, made him crave such things, or at least tolerate ingesting it. “I’m afraid I ate earlier,” Tezuka lied smoothly. “I’d just like some tea to help relax.”
“Oh? I wasn’t aware that you had had the time to cook on your first day. In fact, the probability that you have had dinner is 13.2%,” Inui informed Tezuka. He eyed the cup. It didn’t look too bad. “It’s not quite as good as the stuff I make for Fuji, but it’s acceptable, I think.”
“I ate before I arrived.” Not a lie but stretching the truth as it wasn’t dinner he had before arriving at the school. “Fuji enjoys your drinks?” Tezuka asked recognizing the name of the student he had met earlier.
“I see you’ve met him already,” commented Inui, tasting a little of his own concoction. He shrugged and took a bigger mouthful. It was pretty much like every other Juice he’d made. “Yes, he enjoys my beverages. Fuji likes to try the new ones I’ve thought up. Are you sure you won’t try some?”
“He was nice,” Tezuka said. Even if he had found Fuji a little confusing or mysterious he had at least shown him to the headmistress. “And I think the tea would be better today. Something calming after a long day.” Tezuka really hoped that calmness wasn’t a beneficial property to the drink.
“Oh but the nights are cold and difficult to get through without some nourishment,” Inui said earnestly, switching tactics. “Also, it has warming properties, which is especially important now that the showers are broken.” He paused and added shamelessly, “It would greatly put my mind at ease if you would have some. Consider it a welcome drink.”
“Wouldn’t tea be just as warming?” Tezuka asked. He hoped he didn’t look as green as he felt when staring at the drink. It was bad enough watching someone else drink it that he really didn’t want to try it for himself. But he was supposed to be open and non-judgemental and he didn’t want to offend someone over their disgusting drink choices.
“Yes, but the effects are not nearly as sustained as with this juice.” Inui patted his stomach in emphasis. There was a warm gurgly feeling in the pit of it. Inui dismissed any thoughts that it could be indigestion. “It’s just the thing before a good night’s sleep. Won’t you try just a little?” He produced a shotglass, seemingly out of nowhere. “You can have both this and your tea.”
Tezuka looked at the glasses and wondered where they appeared from, was it from Inui’s mutant power or just an amazing sleight of hand. “How thoughtful....” He said with reluctance. “Let me make my tea first.” Perhaps Inui would lose interest or forget his offer by the time the tea was steeped and ready.
“I’ll be right here,” Inui told him, dispelling Tezuka’s hopes on the matter. He hovered about with the shotglass as Tezuka prepared his tea. “What kind of tea is that?” Any data on this new student was welcome.
“I believe Earl Grey,” Tezuka said and pulled out the package that he had taken it from to confirm it. It wasn’t his favourite type of tea but it was available and would do until he could get to town to buy his own or learn how the ordering of food for the kitchen worked. “Do you like tea, Inui?” Tezuka asked to make Inui’s silent presence feel a little less creepy as he boiled the water.
“I do,” Inui replied, whipping out a notebook and writing Tezuka’s choice of beverage down. “Is Earl Grey your favourite? My favourite is Lapsang souchong, with a few modifications.”
Tezuka looked over at the notebook and decided that for today, he didn’t want to know what it was all about. “It’s fine. I can’t say I’ve had Lapsang souchong,” Tezuka said finally pouring the hot water into his mug.
“It’s a strong, black Chinese tea, with a unique smoky aroma,” Inui informed Tezuka, already pouring the Juice into the little shotglass. The liquid was of undeterminable colour and still smelt like fermented fish. “It makes a good base for some kinds of Juice.”
“Ah,” Tezuka said not sure what to say to that information. He looked at his own steeping tea and thought that it would be much preferable to the Lapsang souchong and any sort of juice Inui might make. But he seemed doomed to have to drink it. Perhaps he could take it back to his room and dispose of it discreetly. Though would the horrid stench bother his roommate? He was part animal so he might have heightened senses. He really had to figure out the polite way to ask others what their mutations were. Perhaps an instructor would cover it in a class or he could ask after.
Tezuka seemed to be quite taciturn. Inui made a note of that. His reluctance to drink the Juice, quite the norm for Inui’s subjects, was also expressed neither in words nor overt body language (such as outright cringing and gagging). Rather, Inui recorded a 14.3 degree angling of Tezuka’s body away from the concoction. He slid the shotglass towards Tezuka, and raised his own mug. “A toast to celebrate your entering the school, perhaps?”
Tezuka watched the shot class move closer from the corner of his eyes, it seemed there was no getting rid of it. And with the suggestion of a toast he internally groaned, on the outside his expression remained stoic. His tea was far too hot to drink as a toast and Inui likely knew that though with the smell wafting up from the shot glass to his nose, Tezuka was honestly considering scalding his tongue. But that would be especially suspect and rude and there wasn’t that much of the putrid drink in the glass. Surely he could swallow it down without tasting much. He’d really rather not though. “I’m not sure it’s worth a toast,” Tezuka demurred.
“It’s not everyday that the senior classes have a new transfer student, and such a heroic one, at that,” Inui insisted. “I’m sure you will have a ...wonderful time at our school.” He waved his mug around pointedly.
“Is it really that rare?” Tezuka asked wondering if everyone else will have known each other for over two years and he really would be the odd one out. Ryuuzaki had explained that most students enter when they were sixteen but she didn’t make it sound like a transfer student was that odd. He didn’t respond to having a wonderful time at the school, he was currently hoping for an uneventful and swift time considering his introduction to it so far.
“Quite.” Inui nodded. “Especially for one in the middle of the school year.” He adjusted his glasses. “But I’m sure you’ll fit in soon enough, and see the utility of such a place.” His expression sobered for a moment. “For people like us, learning control is everything. At the very least, we will have a shared goal.”
“I suppose the circumstances were a little exceptional,” Tezuka admitted and only that much because it was obvious that Inui already knew of the bus incident. “But I do hope that I can find my place here and learn to use my powers correctly.” He didn’t say that he hoped his place here would be temporary, but that also didn’t mean he wished to make no friends while studying either. After a moments subtle hesitation he decided to see if he could find out what Inui’s power was and hoped the taller man wouldn't be offended. “May I ask what your power is?”
Inui shrugged. He didn’t mind telling-- most of the school already knew what it was, anyway, and since it wasn’t tangible, they tended to forget quite quickly. Tezuka, however, seemed the meticulous sort. “Probability manipulation,” he said. “Before I knew I had this power, and before I knew how to control it to some extent, I tended to make many unusual things happen.”
Tezuka had never heard of probability manipulation before and couldn’t think of anything similar he had come across during his research on mutants which made him rather curious about Inui’s power. “How does it work?” He asked, once again that he wasn’t being rude or invading Inui’s privacy. But Tezuka wanted to know if Inui could decide what probabilities to change and how the outcomes would go. It could either be a very useful and slightly dangerous power or it could be wildly unpredictable and a bit useless.
“I can make probable events less likely to happen, and improbable events more likely to occur,” Inui explained. He liked talking about how mutant powers worked, be it his own or others. “Consciously manipulating probabilities like this takes some preparation and concentration, though. I’m still figuring out the intricacies of how it works. But that’s the same story with everyone else. You get better at understanding the power through experience.”
Tezuka nodded, now understanding Inui’s powers more and thinking that it would require a lot of intelligence and patience to master. His own power might refuse to work as he wanted it to right now, but it was a thankfully straightforward power that should be easy enough to master once he had some training. “I suppose there’d be no need for a school if we could all easily master our powers on our own,” Tezuka said. Though he did wonder why the best school for mutants was placed in Hokkaido.
“Aa,” Inui agreed. “Then there’s the safety issues as well. A normal school campus would not be adequately prepared for a mutant-induced emergency.” He thought of Kaidoh’s venomous spines, Kuwahara’s pyrokinesis, and Kirihara’s immense potential for rampant destruction. “You’ll see when you meet more people,” he said at last. “And then you’ll appreciate why we’re in such a remote location.”
“I do believe I’ve met enough to understand the need for precaution,” Tezuka said thinking back to just a few hours earlier when he had been dying on the grass with a frantic Kaidoh above him. He supposed he would be meeting more dangerous mutants before long and would have to be even more cautious than normal when greeting people. At least Inui’s mutation seemed harmless enough, even if the shotglass full of juice did not.
“Yes. Which is why we should make a toast to your health, hope that you’ll survive like the rest of us, etc.” Inui nudged the shotglass again. Tezuka wasn’t getting away so easily.
Tezuka rather thought he’d survive a lot better without imbibing strange and horrid smelling liquids but he didn’t think he could escape so easily. “Thank you,” Tezuka said as he hesitantly picked up the shotglass in his left hand. “To health.” He decided to not delay any longer, and especially not to risk smelling the concoction. He brought it to his lips and tried to swallow it down before he could taste it.
It felt like chunky slime going down his throat and he swallowed thickly, twice, before his mouth was clear. It would be rude to rush to the sink and rinse out his mouth or throw up so he swallowed a third time and set the glass down.
“To health,” Inui echoed, downing his own drink. Ii data, he thought, noting the hand with which Tezuka had picked up the glass and his remarkable self-control. He looked a little pale, but otherwise unperturbed by the concoction. While Inui was a bit disappointed at the lack of reaction, he supposed data was data. “Thanks for trying it,” he said with surprising sincerity. “Welcome to the school.”
“Thank you,” Tezuka managed to say and then picked up his tea, his hand shaking slightly though fortunately not enough to spill. “I’m going to retire now.” He gave a hasty nod to Inui and retreated from the kitchen, leaving him to clean up the shot glass he had used. His didn’t understand how Inui could make or drink those things. His mouth felt like something had died in it and his body was shaking under the effort to stay mobile. He really hoped that hadn’t just been poisoned for the second time in one day.
Tezuka stopped outside of his room, partially to hear if any sexual noises were coming through the door and partly to try and drink down some of his tea in the hopes that it would help. Despite it still being hot, he managed to drink a few large gulps that at least helped with the feeling of death in his mouth but nothing else. He decided to risk his room, opening the door and heading to his bed without looking to the opposite side.
He managed to set his tea onto his desk and then gave in to what his body really wanted and stumbled to the unmade bed where he all but passed out, clinging to his pillow with the vague thoughts of tomorrow had to be better.