Your Inevitable Deaths Would Disrupt the Class Average

"If train A leaves station B traveling at C kilometers per hour..." My eyes glazed over my math textbook, the numbers dancing in and out of focus. The only trains I cared about were the ones that could take me far away from Gran Gran's iron grip on the last year I had.

Speaking of Gran Gran, breakfast had been weird this morning. No lectures about my posture, no complaints about my 'performance arts' club, not even a single comment about how I'd never find a husband if I kept hanging around Little Shit. She just... ate her rice. In silence. Little Shit had even stolen a few grains of rice from her bowl out of boredom and she barely blinked.

Then there was Sae... I'd tried striking up conversation on our walk to school. You'd think after she helped negotiate that deal with Gran Gran, we'd have something to talk about. But trying to make casual talk with Sae was like trying to convince Little Shit to eat anything besides melon bread - technically possible, but not worth the effort.

Kurumi's phone suddenly materialized inches from my face, yanking me back to reality. The screen was so close I could probably count the individual pixels.

"Ryū-chan! Look at this!"

I squinted at Kurumi's phone screen, trying to focus on the tiny text. It was a DM from Seven Flags, Shibue's one and only amusement park.

--Come visit Seven Flags! The park has been having a tough time since the Daimen incident and the end of the world announcement, but with @LittlePoopOfficial helping to spread the word, we might be able to stay open. You and your friends can get free tickets, and if we make it through, there's even a reward!

My first instinct was to decline. More trouble than it was worth, probably. But then I saw the word 'reward' again, and the promise of actual money made my wallet vibrate with interest.

"Come on, Ryū-chan! We could go tomorrow - all of us!" The way she glanced at Sae made it painfully obvious who "all of us" included.

My eyes drifted back to the math problem mocking me from my textbook. Train A could kiss my ass - my brain felt like it was running on fumes. Between Gran Gran's weird behavior this morning and the pressure to get perfect grades, maybe I did need a day off.

"Ok."

Kurumi squealed and threw her arms around me. "Heck yeah! I'll DM them right now!"

While Kurumi tapped away at her phone, I watched as Little Shit discover a piece of chalk on the floor. True to form, he decided the best course of action was to stomp it into dust. White powder puffed up with each enthusiastic jump, creating a mini chalk cloud around his feet.

At her desk nearby, Toukawa-san lifted her book higher as if the pages could shield her from the chalk assault. Her lips moved in what I assumed was a quiet plea for Little Shit to stop. Not that it would work - Little Shit only listened if melon bread was involved.

Toukawa-san retreated further behind her book. She'd done the same thing yesterday - folded herself into the pages like the world outside didn't matter. Even when chaos erupted around her, like now with Little Shit's chalk massacre, she stayed in her own little world.

Watching her like that reminded me of myself before all the kaiju madness. Back when being alone felt safer. Easier. Like the only way to stay focused on saving up for Tokyo was to keep everyone at arm's length. But those were lonely days. And looking at her now, I didn't want her stuck in that same place.

"Hey, Toukawa-san." I stopped at her desk. "Want to come to Seven Flags with us tomorrow?"

"I appreciate the offer, but I'll pass." Her voice barely carried over Little Shit's chalk-stomping symphony.

"It'll be fun."

"I find reading quite enjoyable."

"Yeah, but wouldn't you rather spend your last year making memories?"

Her eyes widened slightly. Hit a nerve there.

"Besides, it's not like the books are going anywhere. "

Little Shit chose that moment to sneeze, sending a cloud of chalk dust everywhere. Toukawa-san's uniform didn't stand a chance. As she brushed off white powder, I caught another glimpse of that smile trying to break free.

"Fine." She carefully marked her page. "But only because your inevitable deaths would disrupt the class average."

"Sure." I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help grin a little.

"And don't expect me to ride anything… extreme."

"Don't worry." I crouched down, dusting chalk powder off Little Shit. "We can stick to the kiddie rides together."

"You guys! This is basically our first sponsorship!" Kurumi jumped up from across the classroom. "We're like real influencers now! Next thing you know, we'll be living in that penthouse drinking fancy coffee!"

"Seven Flags? That place is still open?" Fujita-sensei had materialized from whatever dimension he disappears to during breaks, coffee can in hand. "Sounds fun. You kids probably need adult supervision though, right?"

Before Kurumi could unleash what I'm sure would have been an enthusiastic 'yes', Sae cleared her throat. "I'll be chaperoning."

"Oh, good. Keep them out of trouble, Himuro-san."

Kurumi didn't seem disappointed at all. If anything, that stupid grin of hers got wider. Great. Now I had to worry about her trying to play matchmaker with Sae all day.

"Where should we meet?" Toukawa-san's said, brushing the last bit of chalk off her sleeve.

"Oh! I just assumed we'd meet at Ryū-chan's place," Kurumi said. "Then head to the station together."

"I can drive."

We all stared at Sae.

"You... can drive?" I managed.

Sae nodded, unfazed by our collective shock. "Standard military training includes vehicle operation."

Of course it does. What else was she hiding? A pilot's license? Submarine certification?

At this point, if she pulled up in a tank, I wouldn't even be surprised.