The Second Task, Part Seven
The next day Yuki had gained a little of his energy and tried to remember what had happened the night before. He couldn’t. There was a string that was attached to a tree nearby. Yuki thought it was threatening and tried to ignore it. Then, noticing a Co-op sandwich wrapper, the memories of the previous night came flooding back. This rope was his salvation! Determined to make it, he obediently followed the red rope along. To his relief, he didn’t encounter any creatures or hurdles. It was almost as if the path had been completely cleared out for him. Within ten minutes, he had reached the tallest, most majestic tree he had ever laid eyes on. With a trembling hand, he reached out and touched the trunk. What was he supposed to do? Climb it? How was any mere human supposed to find their way up? If only Yuno was here she’d have carried him up. His eyes welled with tears. He started hyperventilating.
Two days passed. Yuki was still frozen on the spot. Shanks dropped by once more, swinging a bottle of Sake behind him. His patience had long worn thin. He couldn’t get through these visits without alcohol anymore.
“Hey Yuki,” he said through gritted teeth. “I can’t help you at this stage but why don’t you ask your FRIENDS for help?”
He glanced up where, high in the sky, Chuuya and Sanji were floating around, drinking expensive wine. They had decided they enjoyed the solace of their own company and also watching Yuki as a form of entertainment, so using their anti-gravity skills and Sanji’s kicking abilities they got drunk and hovered in the sky.
“They-they’re not my friends,” Yuki hiccoughed through tears.
Shanks tossed the bottle to the side where it smashed into bits and pieces.
Grabbing the boy by the collar while also trying to maintain his composure, Shanks repeated, “Why don’t you just ask them?”
With that, the teacher turned around and disappeared into the trees.
Yuki looked up to the pair who were now quite drunk due to day drinking. Yuki could hear their laughter from however many meters away they were. They were hovering around the middle of the World Tree.
“G-guys?”
They knew he was trying to get his attention – Shanks’ appearance was a cue for them, and they were also watching Yuki for fun – but decided to ignore him.
“Guys?”
Yuki’s desperation was mounting. Sanji wondered whether Yuki could cry or not. Shanks had thankfully given him water so his body had the moisture to produce tears, which he then did.
Yuki sat on the ground and sobbed. He wanted Yuno but Yuno wasn’t there!!!!!! :(
Sanji and Chuuya dropped down to the soil. “Hey Yuki.”
“S-S-S-S-Sandwich?”
“It’s Sanji.”
“Can you – can you – Professor Shanks said you can – you can help me.”
Chuuya watched on in silence.
It was clear Yuki wanted to get up the tree.
“Yeah just stand here for me,” Sanji adjusted Yuki’s position before kicking the boy up. There was more aggression and force used than was necessary, perhaps as revenge for calling him ‘Sandwich’.
A branch obstructed the path which, had Yuki hit it, would have probably smashed his head in. Chuuya jumped up and used his anti-gravity powers to guide him through safely. Yuki getting injured for life was the last thing Oxbridge needed.
Upon reaching the top, Yuki spotted a flip-phone, which he touched out of curiousity. In actuality it was the required Portkey. Touching it, he was transported back to the finish line. The only ones waiting for him were Trelawney, who after being introduced to Sake by Shanks, had had one too many bottles, and in her drunken state was shouting something about a ‘Grimm’, Fukuzawa who was arranging for an ambulance, and Deus, the only one to congratulate him, though the congratulations fell slightly flat upon seeing Yuki’s desperately lacking state. There was also a shaking wooden crate by Deus’ feet, which Yuki initially assumed contained an energetic animal.
“Where’s Yuno?”
“Yuki? Yuki, my love?” he heard the screams from the wooden crate, slaps of wood being punched. “Yuki, my love, is that you?”
“Let her out,” Fukazawa waved his hand dismissively, still on the phone, notifying the other competitors and schools of the good news. After all, it had only taken 437 hours and 69 minutes for Yuki to emerge from the forest.
-
Tomoe was added to the group chat.
Tomoe left the group chat.
Tomoe was added to the group chat.
Dazai: Who is this Tommen anyway
Kakashi: the new zoology teacher
Soma: welcome Tomoe!
Tomoe left the group chat.
Tomoe was added to the group chat.
Fukazawa made Tomoe group admin.