"Dude, are you okay?" Rex asked, putting his hand on Duaka's back.
Duaka was hyperventilating, leaning with his elbow against a tree, his forehead resting on his forearm.
"Yeah," he slowed his breath, "I must've used a lot of my prana. I'm alright."
"Alright my ass," Rex said, "It looks a lot like you're having a panic attack. My sister used to have those all the time."
"Nonsense."
Kaminari approached them, "What's the matter?"
"Oh, Duaka is having prana exhaustion," Rex coughed, "He was attempting a super powerful technique back there."
"Super powerful technique?"
"Uh-huh, I've seen it," Rex elbowed Duaka, "Right, Duaka?"
Duaka coughed unintelligibly.
Kaminari stood on Duaka's other side, opposite Rex.
"What have you had for breakfast?" Kaminari asked as she pulled Duaka's black hair aside to take a look at his face.
"I didn't have breakfast."
"Well, and have you been sleeping well lately?"
"Not really."
"You pulled an all-nighter."
"I pulled an all-nighter."
"Of course," Kaminari gently slapped Duaka's back "Let's go grab lunch. Chop chop."
Kaminari grabbed Duaka's arm and guided him away from the tree.
"You too, Mr. Super Powerful Technique." Kaminari said looking back at Rex.
Rex caught up to them and they went to the Cantina.
Duaka slowly unclenched his hand, his racing thoughts calmed down into coherence.
As they arrived at the Academy Cantina and sat down at a table, Duaka realized how stiff the corners of his eyes were and massaged his face.
"I'm gonna go get us food," Rex said, leaving Duaka and Kaminari by themselves.
"Are you ready to eat?" Kaminari asked.
"Yeah, I just..."
"How do you feel?"
"Like everyone was out to get me," Duaka said, "Like someone else was speaking to me inside my head."
Kaminari paused, biting her lip.
"Spooky," she said while munching on some garlic bread, "Was it because of what Chosee said?"
"I guess so. I didn't realize I was this far behind, you know?" Duaka looked at Kaminari, "I came here with the possibility of passing, but after that, I just can't fail. I have to find a way."
Rex came back juggling three food trays, laying them on the table.
"You look better already," Rex said.
"Yeah, he was just telling me about how he's gonna pass the testing grounds with his super powerful technique," Kaminari said.
"See? I told you."
"Yeah, I just have to find out what it is first," Duaka said.
Rex stuttered, looking at Kaminari and Duaka. They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Real funny, guys," Rex sat down next to them and they all started eating Mr. Z's spicy noodles.
"Hey, I've been meaning to ask," Duaka said, "I didn't see Engel during class, is she sick or something?"
"She's taken a few weeks off before the testing grounds to train with her cousins and uncle," Rex said with his mouth half full.
"Something you should probably be looking into as well," Kaminari looked at Duaka over her round dark glasses, "At this point everyone knows at least one waza to go off of. That's a requirement to enter the testing grounds in the first place."
"I'll try and speak to Drakon about it."
"Good," Kaminari smirked, "I'm sure your cousins can help you through your steam shenanigans."
Duaka yawned.
"For today, I think you should take the afternoon off and get some shut-eye." Kaminari suggested, "Me and Rex will share with you today's notes."
"What? But I just got here."
"And I don't think you'll get much out of it in this state," Kaminari said, "Come back tomorrow, with a clear head and fully rested."
"Well, if you insist," Duaka said, getting up and fist-bumping Rex.
"You did really good today, keep it up," Kaminari said as Duaka was walking away.
I think my heart skipped a beat.
Duaka walked home, his eyes hurting from the daylight.
He turned his key, and stepped inside. His mind was unusually quiet.
Wow, the house is really messy.
Duaka put away some magazines, cleaned the kitchen countertops and picked up the bird feathers that littered the floor.
As he was closing the blinds and preparing to go to sleep, he saw a newspaper on his table.
What's this? I don't remember Drakon leaving this here...
"Pythians run amok. Has the world gone mad?" the newspaper headline read.
Great, another racist tabloid.
Duaka threw it into the trash and lay down on the couch to sleep.
Today was a really good day.
I still feel Kaminari's scent on my shirt.
Tomorrow I have to...
... talk to...
Duaka smiled and dozed off right away.