With the third term coming up soon, Sora's busy prepping. Not just homework, but she's got to be at least one step ahead of the classmates she tutors. Still, there's busy and busy, and homework is always more enjoyable when you can do the work together. So, she's sent a text to invite one of her favourite people in the world.
Jia's not about to admit how she gets cell reception in the weird place she calls home, it's probably best not to ask these things. Still, the text was a welcome thing, one which got her out of her long lasting stupor. Not that she's been spending the time just staring into space or other weird oddities, but it's easy to lose track of everything else and sometimes something more important comes up. Daily sometimes even.
Making her way to Sora's place, she texts when she arrives, waiting out front like she always does. Something about just entering the place without an escort makes her tail's fur stand on end and she figures it's better to be polite all the time, right?
Unfortunately it seems Sora is in the mood to flex today, because the wind picks up and the door opens with no Sora there to greet Jia. Sora's room hasn't changed in the time the two have been together, so in theory there should be no issue finding the witch's room in the sprawling hisakata residences.
Jiaying Maki taps her foot and sends Sora a kaomoji representing the disappointment regarding the greeting. Clearly something of a tease at least. Making her way to Sora's room, she knocks lightly and steps inside, shutting the door behind her before promptly making her way over to hug Sora regardless of standing or sitting. "Your house still makes my hair stand on end" she finally says before detangling at least one arm from her girlfriend. "What're we studying?"
either sitting nor standing does Sora's state as Jiaying enters justice. The lightweight host leaps to greet her guest with hug, "So does yours." She answers , before leaning in for a kiss. Afterwards, she releases, "So I was thinking we'd do Maths." She suggests, "Unless you wanted to do something else, I'm not picky."
Jiaying Maki rubs the back of her head and says, "I guess I could see that. It is a haunted mansion, not counting Meifeng." After returning the kiss that is, of course. "I could see if I could move the doorway maybe. It's easier when I see the place as home, but..." She trails off, immediately pointing to the bag she'd brought. "Maths will be good, I'm starting to get it, but some of the advanced stuff is still uh, not fun. At all."
She might be trying to dodge the suggestion she'd just inadvertantly made. She also successfully resists the urge to scoop and twirl the much lighter of the two of them. It's hard. She might still be tempted even.
Despite looks, Sora has clearly been losing weight. "You don't need to find it fun, you just need to be able to pass your tests, right?" She answers, getting the clue that the suggestion is not one to be followed up on. She gets out her ook and places it on her bed, sitting down on it and opening it up. "Let's start here?" She suggests, pointing at the next chapter in the book.
Jiaying Maki leans forward to look the work over, letting out a slow breath. "Alright, I've been trying to study the previous chapter, I think... I think I've got it." She gently nudges the other girl and asks, "Do I need to burn another book?" Clearly worried about the further lightening.
Regardless, she says softly, "I also brought the manga I'm working on, I'm going to submit it when it's finished. Think you could let me know what you think?" She pauses and adds quickly, "Later, later later. Not right now. Study time first right?" A faint smile sneaks onto her face and she adds, "And... maybe an excuse to spend some more time together still."
"No, no, that's not the Boreal Tome's fault." Sora answers, clearly not worried. "I mean, it kind of is but not in /that/ way. Not the tome's fault if I ignore the warnings." She shrugs, "Anyway, maths and then the best manga in the world." She smiles and gets to work, though for some reason getting to work mostly seems to involve asking Jiaying how to do things.
Jiaying Maki quietly reaches up and gently pulls Sora's ear and asks, "No skipping that part. What warnings?" The math temporarily forgotten for something she's pretty sure is definitely more important. It's not a hard pull to be fair, more a mixture of concern and teasing. She's sure it won't be too bad yet, right? She can still burn the book if it comes down to it after all. Not... that she says that out loud.
"Maths can come after, do I need to.." she hesitates then says seriously, "Do I need to spend more time here making sure you're okay? Don't make me worry so much!" Not that she herself has room to talk to be fair. One might notice that before she interrupts the process, she was answering questions reasonably well though!
Sora winces lightly at the earpull, "Oh you know, the boring ones. 'Don't rely on magic so much.' 'Slow down.' 'You need to pace yourself.'" She answers like it's entirely irrelevant, clearly not at all worried. "It's fine, don't worry about it." Sora has this annoying and/or helpful habit of asking questions about Jiaying's answers, like 'why did you use this method' especially when a mistake is made.
Jiaying Maki glares at Sora quietly. "I want you to be careful. Seriously. I'll tie a string to you like a balloon if I have to." She pauses, then says more seriously, "Please be careful. Even being careful I lost so much so quickly and-... you shouldn't risk it." She looks to the book and taps her finger on it, "More focus on this, less on potentially blowing away in the wind, unless you're suggesting I do... move my room so I can make sure."
As for the tutoring, she does pay attention and add notes in Chinese to the margins.
"Of course I'm being careful." Sora does not sound like she's being careful. "I don't even know if you could move your room that way. Not to here." She shrugs, "Wouldn't want to try without getting approval from my family either way." She shrugs. "So you're being careful, right?" She glances towards the notes and squints slightly. "I should've learned Mandarin instead of ancient sumerian."
Jiaying Maki peers once more, "You yourself said the book's warning you and I've noticed the changes too." She gently pokes the girl's side before returning to her notes. "If you summon Gozer you're putting it back. I've already had to chase down Norie's giant dogs and that was bad enough. Awful awful." She shakes her head quickly to chase that memory off.
"I... wasn't entirely being serious. About moving the room I mean. It's a connection to the other side, to a shrine that held an ancient evil and... you know, almost ate me. Your home would probably eat itself like that one movie if I tried."
Finally she taps the paper near her notes, "How about I start teaching you? It would be a good excuse to spend more time together at least." She hesitates and adds, "We should start looking at our options after school too you know."
"What's there to look for? You'll be an amazing mangaka and I'll be going to college so I can become a teacher." Sora answers the latter seriously, she clearly has zero doubts about that; and conveniently it lets her change the subject away from the topic she's already discussed more than she'd like.
Jiaying Maki glances over and says, "I do intend to go to college as well, albeit for art. But I need to know what school you're going to so I can try and find a school nearby. Maybe find a place nearby or-" She trails off and fills in an answer or two to avoid continuing right now. Clearly she had meant more than just the college course thing persay.
"University of Tokyo, provided I'll get in." Sora answers immediately, "I'll see if I can get us our own appartment in the compound?" She suggests, clearly having assumed she'd live in this place her entire life. "And going to college for art is probably smart." It doesn't sound like she'd even considered that before.
Jiaying Maki nods and runs her fingers through her hair, "I think I can find an art school out here. Tokyo's got a few right? I'll start putting in as soon as I can." She smiles brightly and nudges the other girl, "It helps with the portfolio, teaches good habits and looks good when I apply right?"
"Probably. I admit I haven't looked into it." Sora answers and shrugs, looking back at the maths. "Let's keep working on this for now, and then we'll look into schools together after?" She suggests.
Jiaying Maki glances over and says, "We should apartment hunt while we're in the area too." She says that a touch quickly, maybe getting encouraged by the earlier words! "We should definitely finish. Art schools want my portfolio, but I want to test well too. Look well rounded you know? Helps with the applications."