“Theater Kid Dusk|Gamer Girlie Dawn” (64.4) (Marmalade)

Michi joined me as I headed to beam chasers practice. I told them they didn't need to stay and watch when we actually started. On the way there, I spotted Zeta at the end of a hallway, and after our eyes met, she headed toward us.

"Great," I said.

"It's just Zeta," Michi said.

"I know, and it's not—" I sighed, realizing how mean that sounded. I kept my voice low, trying to not look like I was  "Remember, keep that whole thing between you and me, alright? I just...am not ready to talk about it with anyone that isn't you."

"I get it," Michi said.

I braced for Michi to be like, "Hey Zeta, Marmalade's keeping a secret from you," almost immediately. But to their credit, they kept from mentioning my secret business (which was mainly just about the crush part and not the devil business or any of that excitement from the camping trip) to Zeta.

"Greetings," Zeta said.

"Howdy," I said.

"Just who I was looking for," Zeta said. "I was thinking to myself, you know, I don't have anything going on, Oka and Lillia left for a play, so what should I do? Maybe perhaps I should partake in some beam chasing type activity?"

"Did you really think that?" I asked.

"I mean, not exactly those words," Zeta coughed.

This was a bit suspicious. I knew Zeta, along with Oka and Lillia, were trying to figure out what was going on with Kalei. Now that I knew exactly what was going on with her, and that I'd promised Kalei I wouldn't tell anyone about it, there was another layer added to this social mix. Being trans and knowing many people like me with changing identities and those who were varying stages of out, I was used to layers of secrets in conversations. I just had to be careful, Zeta would surely try to get some details out. At least it was just Zeta, if Lillia were on my ass about this it might be trickier.

"So...gonna play some beam chasers, huh?" Zeta said, after maybe a full minute of awkward silence that I'm sure Michi was internally laughing at us about.

"Yeah," I said. "I haven't played in a bit, really looking forward to getting out there with Kalei. And the other players, too. Of course."

Zeta nodded. "That's cool! Have you seen Kalei today? Last I saw her she was napping in our room."

"Not sure where she went off to," I said. "But she's definitely gonna be at this."

"Good, good," Zeta said. "There's...hm. A task I must accomplish."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, you know how Lillia's trying to figure out what's up with Kalei?" Zeta said. "She asked if I could like...figure out more."

"I see," I said. "Well, I haven't figured out anything there."

"Dang," Zeta said. "Well, maybe we'll get something?"

She seemed to believe me, and loosened up a bit now that her 'task' was out in the open.

"Out of my way!" A short girl shouted as she tore through the hallway. It was Tay, struggling to hold on to one of her bigger notebooks.

Michi did not get out of Tay's way, and with willpower alone managed to stall Tay in her tracks.

"Are you OK?" Zeta asked.

She is very much not, but that's what we like (?) about her?

"I really don't have time to explain," Tay said. "But for you lot, I suppose I can spare a moment. She's finally here. Well, more accurately, a group is finally here, but she is part of it, and she's who I need to document."

"Who's she?" I asked.

"She...well I'll get to she," Tay said. "The Echela cadets are here, touring campus, and I have triangulated their next location to be the beam chasers practice gym. I have been following them all day, you see."

"Kay, but who is she?" I said.

"I said I'll get to she!" Tay said.

"Echela cadets?" Zeta said.

"I said I'll get to—! Wait, OK, yes, I'll say that next. The Echela cadets, transfer students from an Echela focused academy, will be joining us."

"What are Echela students gonna do at a Cani school?" Zeta asked.

"The same thing Cani students do at Echela schools, keep up!" Tay said. "Sorry, I am just very excited."

I wasn't sure why this was a big deal. I had gone to an Echela school, Echela weren't that different from Cani. I mean, it did suck being there for a lot of reasons, and things were way better going to a school actually equipped to handle Cani's powers. I hoped the Echela students wouldn't feel as lonely as I did at Staverius.

"Because, most pressingly!" Tay pointed upwards for whatever reason. "Among those Echela students is Ko's longtime on and off boo, Roxana."

"Oof," I said.

"Good thing Lillia isn't here," Zeta said. 

"I need to figure out the dynamic, the relationship, all of it! And I have to hit the ground running," Tay said. "If I lose this early lead, this information could be lost forever."

"Why?" I asked. "Surely someone else isn't writing all this down, are they?"

"Well...perhaps there are enemies out there writing down the school's various gossip and treating it as fact," Tay said. "So if I don't, this won't be documented as thoroughly."

In a way, I was thankful for Tay's sudden arrival. Not only was that conversation with Zeta super awkward, Tay making everything about some drama with the girl Ko broke up with Lillia over would take attention off of Kalei, and probably me as well. So I could just focus on playing with Kalei, and enjoying some time with her.