Classes were over by the time Kazu and Edwin reported the completion of their assignment to the office.

“Lunch!” Edwin exclaimed. “I’m dying. I’m starved. I need food. It’s the assignment’s fault if I have to rely on antacids for the rest of my life.”

The corners of Kazu’s lips twitched. Edwin was exaggerating, just because he was expecting homemade food from a certain someone.

“We haven’t eaten a proper meal since last week,” Edwin half-groaned, clutching his stomach.

“Are you rehearsing a story to win over Maybelle’s sympathy right now?”

Edwin cleared his throat and righted himself. “So that your recount will not contradict mine.”

And he was shameless to boot.

“You’ve eaten four times, with an addition of three in-between-meal snacks every day while we were tracking the Seed-”

“Hush. When you get a girlfriend, you’ll know how to play your cards properly.”

Kazu was certain he was better off without that piece of advice.

Turning right at the junction leading to the cafeteria, they ran into a familiar face, whose expression turned sour at the sight of them. Kazu nudged Edwin in the ribs.

“Crap,” Edwin muttered. Out aloud, he said, “Hiya, Ryan.” He gave the underclassman a smack on the back. Ryan’s thin frame lurched forward from the impact. “Why so gloomy?”

“Because yours truly is broke and is in great need of due payment.” Ryan held out his hand. “Please.”

Edwin clasped Ryan’s fingers. “I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m sure they’ll pay up soon.”

Ryan bestowed him his best scowl.

Just then, Edwin spotted Maybelle waving from inside the cafeteria.

Sidestepping Ryan like he was a puddle of spilled juice on the floor, Edwin glided over to her, arms stretched out. “Hey, did you miss me?”

Maybelle glanced behind his shoulder. “Hello, Kazu. Glad to see you back. Is Rin with you?”

“Aren’t you looking for the wrong person?” Edwin asked with a hint of reproach.

“Hi, Maybelle,” Kazu replied, taking care to avoid Ryan’s mutinous gaze as the latter stormed away.

Maybelle purposely ignored Edwin’s statement. She slid into the seat she had reserved. A lunch box sat in front of her, filled with her signature egg rolls and sandwiches. “Too bad, I was planning to give them to Rin.”

“Isn’t this supposed to be our homecoming gift?” Edwin asked, incredulous.

“Well…” Maybelle considered. “It is your gift, but made in consideration of Rin’s favorites.”

Edwin was affronted.

Kazu burst out laughing. “Stop making fun of him. He was talking about you all week.”

“Kaz-” Edwin warned between his teeth. The tips of his ears turned light pink.

Maybelle worked hard to hide a smile. Afterward, she pushed the lunch box an inch closer to Edwin. Their pull-and-push antics never failed to amuse.

Kazu excused himself to the counter to get himself some lunch, despite Maybelle’s insistence that she made enough for all of them, and to give them both some alone time.

The cafeteria buzzed, chatter mingling into indiscernible sounds. In the distance, the PA system announced an upcoming club meeting that was half-lost to the din. The roasted chicken had been marinated with strong-smelling herbs and heaped with loads of garlic – something Rin would have hated, he considered. He deliberately took his time getting a drink and took a detour all around the packed cafeteria back to the table.

A normal day in school.

Some people minded mundane days, but Kazu liked them. He found such peaceful and laid-back days difficult to come by. Unlike Edwin, who was programmed with plenty of energy to expend and had an abundance of excitement to burn, Kazu preferred having quiet time spent with friends, family, and music.

When he arrived at the table, Edwin was telling an equally engrossed Maybelle about their previous assignment – undoubtedly with added flair and details that did not exactly happen.

“- the Seed sliced into two and words exploded out of it, alphabets and all, like fresh popcorn –”

Of course, time spent with Edwin was never exactly quiet.

“- and we were all blasted out of the Territory! Even the walls were broken -”

“You make it sound like we just faced a bomb.” Kazu slid into the seat opposite him.

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Edwin shook his head and said drily, “You need to learn the ways of storytelling.”

He proceeded with his tale while Kazu worked on his lunch.

Once he was done, Maybelle glanced back and forth between them. “Hasn’t it been becoming worse lately? Seeds seem to be appearing everywhere. It’s like someone is trying to disseminate Seeds deliberately-” She broke off, biting her lip, throwing a guilty glance at Edwin.

Kazu carefully observed the pattern on his plate. Any topic related to Edwin’s arrested father was taboo. For a moment, an awkward silence hung amidst them. Their neighboring table packed their bags and left with their trays, talking about upcoming tests.

Edwin faked a cough, breaking the tension. “I’m sure there are many people who would do anything for profit. The Master we spent the whole week tracking stole words and sold the words back to the people he stole them from.”

The atmosphere returned to normal. Maybelle’s relief was written all over her face.

Edwin plowed on. “Everyone used to accept that Seeds arise from negativity within human hearts until one day they found out that some were raised artificially from Sygns. Then, suddenly, people started questioning the origin of Seeds.”

“Why?”

“Because Seeds are not supposed to be manmade,” Kazu answered, cutting his chicken into chunks and eating one. It was dry and over-seasoned. “But Sygns are.”

A Sygn was the disguise of weapons, a miniature version of tools, or the concrete form of abilities. It usually took the form of a trinket or an everyday item. Kazu’s Sygn was a necklace, holding the true form of his gun. Every Sygn was powered by a magic stone that granted it the aptitude to resonate with ability-users and the capacity to transform on command.

Edwin waved his hand. “That’s what we were told. All the books are written as if magic is a definite set of laws and formulas. Boring. What a lack of creativity. Look, magic has infinite forms, uncontainable and overflowing with endless possibilities.”

His tone emphasized his detest of textbooks.

“That’s why I said ‘supposed.’” Kazu said nonchalantly.

Edwin pointed the fork at him in approval, bits of egg dangling from the tip. “This is why we get along, buddy.”

“It’s hard to believe someone can actually create Seeds.” Maybelle rested her chin on her hands. “They must be formidable.”

“Considering how ridiculous some feats may sound, it’s not impossible for someone to create Seeds and transform them into Sygns. Magic Circles originated from illegal practices of transmutation using human slaves as mediums, and there was a musician with the ability to converse with animals. He managed to conduct an orchestra consisting of cats and dogs, and made a fortune out of it.”

Maybelle gaped. “I would like to know the musician’s name-”

Edwin cut in before she could pursue the matter further, speaking between mouthfuls of eggs. “The point is, magic is like technology: you’re just waiting for people to work their innovations, and boom, a new invention in the air.”

“Can you swallow properly before you speak?”

Edwin obliged, gulping down the rest of his food. “Hence, my responsibility lies in uncovering the endless potentials of magic. I just came up with a new trick last night.” He nudged Maybelle. “Wanna see?”

Maybelle stared at him almost pityingly. “If only you showed half as much effort in your homework.”

“Homework is for the mundane. Also, homework is meant to be copied.”

“That applies only to you.”

“Assignments, on the other hand, are the opposite. They are proof of competency.” Edwin’s eyes gleamed. “We have plenty of rivalries, you know. I checked the board this morning. Thanks to Rin’s toiling when we were gone, we’re still on top. Number two is three thousand, four hundred fifty-two points away,” he said as he glanced around.

Kazu knew he was looking to gloat at the Signon twins, but they were nowhere in sight.

“What do you get for being at the top of the list?” Maybelle asked.

Kazu shook his head. “Nothing, unless you count the prestige of being top of the year and the satisfaction that comes with it like Ed does.”

Maybelle scrutinized him. “Why do I feel like there’s something else in it for you?”

She was partly right. He smiled a knowing smile. “I just like the overall process of it.”

Maybelle sighed. “You do love talking in riddles. But mystery also makes one more attractive. Here, have some of the sandwiches before Ed finishes them all.”

She heaped the remaining sandwiches onto Kazu’s plate before Edwin could touch them.

“I was going to take one!” Ed said indignantly.

Kazu secretly wondered if he was supposed to finish everything on his plate out of manners. “Shouldn’t we leave some for Rin?”

Edwin glanced around. “Speaking of which, where did the stupid cat go? Lunch hour is almost over.”

While they were talking, half the cafeteria had cleared.

Maybelle frowned. “I haven’t seen her much this week. She’s seemed bothered lately -” Her voice trailed away, muttering more to herself. “Right after I told her about the Heart Shop. She couldn’t possibly have -”

Kazu developed an ominous feeling that he felt had very little to do with his lunch.

Edwin nearly dropped the last of his egg. “The heart what?”

“The Heart Shop. A shop that trades hearts for anything you wish for.” She gave them furtive glances, expecting an outburst.

Edwin groaned. “Did you read those bogus stories again? Please don’t tell me you’re planning to trade your heart. Are you saying the stupid cat believed you and went searching for the shop?”

“How sure are you that it’s a bogus story?” Maybelle challenged. She straightened her petite stature as much as she could.

“I haven’t forgotten the midnight bus and the umbrella that changes weather every time you open it, princess,” Edwin retorted. “Tell me, what is the point of trading hearts? How does anyone live without a heart in the first place?”

“You were the one talking about endless possibilities earlier.”

“I was talking about legit magic – purposeful and justified. What do you think, Kaz?”

Kazu busied himself with the sandwiches and carefully declined to answer.

“Also, it is technically impossible to fulfill any wish because wishes are infinite and immeasurable.” Edwin went on like an avid lecturer insisting his point. “Magic does not just create something out of nothing. The magic that grants wishes like a fairy godmother does not exist. If there were, I’ll bet my whole year’s wages that it’s a Seed’s doing.”

Edwin reached for another egg roll.

Maybelle slapped his hand away. “They are not for you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Not. For. You.”

Edwin muttered something under his breath that sounded like, “Preposterous.”

“Did you say something?” Maybelle gave him a smile that reduced him to silence.

Sometimes, Kazu wondered if Edwin and Maybelle found enjoyment in arguing with each other. Perhaps it was an expression of affection.

“Well, you might both be right,” he said in a quiet, meditative voice, ready to pull back the moment they decided to pounce on him. “It might exist, and it might also be a Seed’s doing.”

“If it is a Seed’s doing, then what is the stupid cat doing by going to an unreleased assignment all alone?” Edwin scowled.

Just then, Kazu’s phone saved him. It vibrated, signaling an incoming text.

So did Edwin’s.

He and Maybelle were busy glowering at each other, so Kazu checked his.

His fork slipped from his fingers, clattered over the edge of the table, and bounced off onto the ground.

The noise caught both Edwin and Maybelle’s attention, their argument instantly forgotten.

“I think I have an idea where Rin is,” Kazu said, looking up slowly. “And you two might just have hit the jackpot.”