Chapter Text
The next Monday, in January, everyone returned to school with tales of their vacation and showing off their gifts with their friends. Allen, Kanda, and Lavi sat by the steps during lunch as it was too cold to eat outside on the roof.
"You know Allen, I've been meaning to ask you this, but when is your birthday?" "Christmas Day." was the simple answer, a dango stick was placed in her mouth. "What?" the redhead exclaimed "So that means it already passed. I was hoping to get you something for your birthday too." "Why we've only known each other for about a month." "Yeah, but still. I consider you my friend and I like to get my friends presents for their birthdays."
Allen looked at Kanda who shrugged and grunted an "It's true." while eating his soba. "That's very sweet of you Lavi. It's a shame the same can't be said for the samurai here." Allen said with a mischievous smile. Kanda sent a dark look her way, which she only laughed at.
"Well then what did you do for your birthday?" Lavi asked trying to change the mood. "Well, we didn't celebrate Christmas, and all I got were more music books and journals." Lavi gave her a confused look. "That's all." "It's all I wanted, but I did get money too." "Wow, most kids would ask for cars or expensive clothes. You're rather humble aren't ya, Allen-chan?" Allen shrugged. "That can't be all you did on your birthday, even if you didn't celebrate the holidays, you must have done something."
Allen finished the rest of her lunch and started packing up. "I went to visit some people." She stood and began walking away from the steps. "Where'd you visit them?" Lavi kept pushing "The cemetery." was all they heard before she disappeared down the hall. Kanda and Lavi stopped eating after she said that staring at her even though she was no longer there.
"Now I feel really bad about asking her." Lavi murmured. Kanda almost punched him but settled for grunting and packing up as well. “Maybe you should stop asking so many questions.” He walked off in the same direction as Allen.
Allen was at her locker staring at what was most likely her schedule for the new semester. In two weeks, they switched classes and, although he'll never admit it, he was curious about her schedule. “Moyashi.” He said when he was close enough to her.
She shot a glare at him “My name is Allen, Bakanda. What do you want?” “Is that your schedule?” She raised a pale eyebrow. “Yeah, what about it?” She shot back. The paper was snatched from her hands by the taller samurai. She growled at him “Give it back Bakanda!”
She aimed a quick punch at his solar plexus, but he dodged it and took a few steps back. His eyes widened when he finished reading the schedule. “What's with that look?” He made a choking sound at the question. He handed her the schedule back, but she continued to pester him.
“Come on Bakanda tell me. Was it something on my schedule?” Kanda hesitated but finally answered with an irritated stare “We have almost the same schedule.” “What!” Kanda pulled his schedule from his pocket and showed it to her. She scanned it once before her eyes widened then read it another two times just to make sure. “Oh God, we do have the same schedule.”
“That's just fantastic now I get to spend even more time with the Moyashi.” Kanda grumbled. Allen gave him a sharp look and punched him in the arm. “Shut up, as if I enjoy seeing your super-expressive face.” She grabbed her belongings and started down the hallway again. Kanda was a few paces behind her.
“Why are you following me Bakanda?” Allen asked in an exasperated tone. “My class is this way Baka Moyashi.” He smirked at her angered face. It was much more genuine than the smile she showed to everyone else. “Whatever Bakanda.”
The silence they walked in was somewhat deafening, but it was comfortable for the both of them. Nothing could ruin this silent walk. "Ms. Walker! Mr. Kanda!" Except for that.
"Hello there, Link, what is it?" Allen said in a sweet tone, a pleasant look on her face. Kanda glared at him link he did to everyone. "Principal Lee sent me to find you both before lunch ends. He wishes to speak with the two of you." "Did he say what it was about?" Allen asked in honest curiosity. "No, he said it was a more private and urgent matter."
Allen sighed internally, she didn't feel like seeing the sis-con principal, but she had to keep up appearances. "Alright then, lead the way." Link turned to lead them back, missing the look that Allen gave to Kanda that said, follow quietly and no one gets hurt. Surprisingly he followed without complaint. He had a feeling he already knew what Komui wanted to talk about.
In the office Komui, vice-principal Reever was behind the desk waiting for them to enter. Sitting on the other side of the desk was Lavi. "Allen, Kanda so nice of you to join us. Thank you so much, Link!" The blonde simply closed the door behind the duo. Allen took the seat to the right of Lavi, and Kanda stood behind the two of them in between the chairs.
"So Allen, how are you liking the Order so far?" Komui asked a strange smile was plastered on his face. "It's very nice here. I am enjoying myself very much." The fake smile still on. "Good, good. I'm glad to hear that you're having fun." Reever cleared his throat "Komui, remember what we called them in for. Do waste their time with unnecessary questions."
"Right of course. A little birdy told me that you’re making a record deal with Millennium. Is that true?" "Was this little birdy red by any chance?" "Yes, he was." 'I'm going to kill Cross when I get home' "Yes I am signing with Millennium, I was told that I would most likely have a concert in the summer."
"That's exciting be sure to give me an exact date so I can come to see you." Komui said happily. "Focus Komui." "Yes of course. Well anyway Allen, I just wanted to tell you that even though you’re going to be starting your career as a singer you won't be allowed to shirk your responsibilities as a student here at the Order. And while you may feel tempted to talk about your rise to fame, not everyone is as supportive. So I suggest you, Lavi, and Kanda not talk about this while you’re at school, lest someone overhear your conversation."
Allen was shocked although she didn’t let it show. "Is that all you wanted to talk to us about Mr. Komui?" the man smiled dumbly "Yep, now run along before you three are late for class." Just then the bell to signal the end of lunch rang. 'How did he do that?' the other four wondered as the trio of students filled out of the office to their separate classes.
"I guess we'll see you later Allen." Lavi said as he and Kanda walked the opposite way of her to their class. Thankfully she didn't run into Lenalee but found that Angel was already inside the room working. The petite girl looked up when Allen took her seat.
"Allen." she said quietly. Allen glanced at her as Tiedoll walked in "Thank you for letting me paint you. I wanted to tell you that it's going to be featured in the school gallery for the upcoming show."
"The school hosts an art show?" Allen asked. "Yes, twice a year." Tiedoll cut in. "Speaking of which, I was wondering if you would be will to do me a favor Allen." Allen raised a questioning brow. "I was hoping you would be able to play some music during the show, something light and relaxing just for a few hours."
More students began to pile through the door as Allen thought about the offer. It would give her some practice entertaining an audience that wasn't her family and it could help start her career by getting people to know her name. "I accept, just let me know the date and time I need to be there so I can tell my uncle." "Thank you so much Allen." Tiedoll said as the bell for class to start finally rang, the rest of the students rushed to get inside the classroom.
Once everyone was seated Tiedoll proceeded to begin talking. Although there wasn't a lot of time left in the semester, he was giving them a small project to do a final project. "I want you all to use any medium of your choice and create a piece that expresses your inner self." Tiedoll explained happily "It can be anything: an object, animal, insect, or another person. Just make sure you can explain how it relates to you. For the rest of class, you may discuss your ideas amongst yourself and even get started if you'd like."
Tiedoll opened his sketchbook and began doodling who knows what on it. Angel began doing the same thing. Across the classroom, Allen heard conversations between the students. Something about boots, a dream catcher, and butterflies. None of it made sense to her but then again, she wasn't paying attention to them anyway.
"Remember Allen, everyone has a mask. They use it to hide away their true feelings for other people." Allen recalled the talk she and Cross had before the summer had ended after she and Narain had their falling out. 'A mask. My mask.'