AX   > This is a real fancy place, huh? <

AX   > Cmon, stop dragging your feet! <

You'd be impressed by the facilities if you weren't surrounded by noise and people. Big, sweaty people.

??   - and another school year, more bratty freshmen…

??   You were just as fresh, once.

??   I'm still fresh, asshole.

??   It’s best to set a good example. So they look up to us.

??   Or at least, not judge us by our worst.

??   You mean like that damn delinquent.

??   Want me to keep an eye on him?

??   Someone has to. Otherwise, there's no telling what he'll -

AX   > You doing okay? <

You face your brother, who seems to be feeding off of the busy energy in contrast.

CL   < What do you mean? >

AX   > You were spacing out <

CL   < ... >

CL   < Just, eh, lots of /tall/ people at this place, arent there? >

CL   < Big fellas, drinking their milk and what-not >

CL   < Makes you feel small >

AX   > Aww, dont worry. Well get there! <

AX   > Weve been making good progress on that growth spurt, after all <

CL   < /One/ of us has... >

He places his hand on your shoulder in a comforting and patronizing way.

AX   > Your time will come. Its genetically predestined <

AX   > Maybe youll even be taller than me one day <

CL   < Right >

CL   < Only if /you/ stop growing >

CL   < Better yet, grow backwards. Right into the ground >

He grins.

AX   > Anything for you, Clank <

When you make it to the freshmen side, Axel goes out of his way to greet everyone he sees. Shaking hands, bumping fists, even getting some nods of acknowledgement from the more standoffish folks. Meanwhile, the bustle continues around you.

??   Excuse me, my beautiful peer!

??   Watch where you're going!

??   Heh, I do my best! No matter where I go!

??   Huh...

??   And you. What are you staring at?

??   W-wah! Nothing, I’m sorry…!

??   Let go of me! Who the HELL are you?!

??   God, It's too early for this SHIT...

??   Here, my shaking friend! Dry your eyes.

??   ...th-thank you.

??   Are you wearing mascara? Why is it so dark?

AX   > Interesting company we have here <

He makes a concerted effort to look at their faces. Memorizing them.

AX   > Political heiress, one of those siblings from that big company... <

AX   > I think I've seen that one, they must have an important parent <

AX   > Wow, these are some real big-name people! <

AX   > And Im sure there are some hard-working scholarship kids too ehehe <

AX   > See anyone yourself? <

You give the crowd a sweep, but all the faces blend together. Boring, organic faces belonging to fleshy nobodies.

CL   < Hard to, eh, make out >

CL   < And too many people at once >

AX   > Making connections is more valuable than ever, Clank <

AX   > First day means first impressions <

CL   < Its a bit early for that >

AX   > Nah <

AX   > How about that nerdy-looking one, with the beanie! <

AX   > He’s gotta have some takes on, uh, taking care of ant houses or something <

CL   < Theyre not /houses/. Theyre formicariums >

CL   < And there are no /takes/ >

CL   < Theres a right and a wrong way to go about them >

AX   > See? Youre a natural when youre all smart like that! <

AX   > Look at him. Im sure hell be into it <

He gives you a push in the stranger's direction. You grimace and push him back, dragging him away from all the riffraff. He lets you - maybe because a scuffle between the two of you wouldn't look good to the student body.

AX   > Im only doing whats best, yknow <

CL   < ... >

CL   < Its nice that you care >

CL   < But you /know/ I hate it when you set me up like that >

CL   < You make me feel like >

CL   < Like I cant do anything right on my own >

You get enough of that at home, at the workplace. You were hoping school would be your last refuge. But wherever you go, your brother comes too. And he embodies the feeling.

AX   > Youre not, and you can <

AX   > Which is why I hate seeing you be all... I dont know <

AX   > Like youre not even trying <

AX   > I just dont get why you cant \try\ <

CL   < You dont get to tell me whether or not Im trying >

AX   > Im just saying! <

AX   > You think I \want\ to have all that company talk on my shoulders? <

AX   > I want you to be as much a part of it as I am <

AX   > But thatll only work if you show them you can do it <

AX   > At least show \me\ <

CL   < ... >

The crowds in front of the classrooms thin. Large, elaborate lockers come into sight.

AX   > Oh, hey! That must be mine! <

You follow Axel to his locker - expecting its immediate neighbor to be yours - but your ID doesn’t match. You swivel around, searching, before you realize that your locker is on the other side of the hall. Right across from his.

AX   > What is it? <

Then, he realizes it too. Even he looks surprised.

AX   > Huh <

AX   > At least were \kinda\ in the same spot, right? <

AX   > Itd be a lot weirder if we were in totally random spots <

CL   < Yeah >

AX   > But thats a shame <

AX   > No more Mecha_Locker_Combos <

AX   > It was fun while it lasted, comrade <

He salutes you before turning back around and inspecting his locker. It takes a moment to get your feet moving.

The space between is about six steps long. Why does it feel like a chasm?

AX   > Hey, I guess we’re locker neighbors! <

You turn around instinctively. But he's talking to someone else, whose locker is to his right. Obviously.

??   That's a saccharine way of looking at things.

AX   > Are you calling me soft? <

??   What do you think?

AX   > Eh? Well... its a good thing, right? <

You turn back around. Upon further inspection, your 'locker neighbor' has already come and went. Their name is on a sticker plastered neatly at the bottom. It's a lot like Axel's - with an 'x' at the end, instead. You wonder if the universe is playing a joke on you.

AX   > You have an interesting outfit <

AX   > Yknow, Ive dabbled in a bit of fashion design myself <

??   That explains your ensemblage.

AX   > Ehehe, thanks! <

??   That was the most neutral way I could've described it.

AX   > Still <

AX   > Any words are pretty, coming from the prettiest girl in the world <

??   Incredible.

??   I'm swooning.

AX   > Seriously? <

??   Yes. Clearly, I'm displaying the upmost sincerity.

AX   > Cool, ehehe <

There's no blocking his voice. It's a lot like yours, and hearing it is akin to hearing an alternate version of yourself. A version who was born a few minutes later, with all the advantages that came with.

Even then, all you did was wait for him.