I LIKE TO TAKE IT SLOW (ROLL THE KATAMARI) (1)

"God, do we really need to do trainin'?" Wa- ...I mean, er, Mizuki-sensei whines out. "It's soooo boring."

"I'd rather we have a boring day or two to train than one bad day fighting Anxi..." Fueko-sensei remarks. "I don't disagree with you, Mizuki-- I'd just rather not risk it."

Today's going to be a long day. Fueko-sensei's been understandably on edge, so she's decided to get back to training all of us at the abandoned parking lot the three used to frequent. ...Man, we really do hang around abandoned places a lot, don't we? I've only just noticed.

Anyway-- there's a part of me that admittedly feels bad that I'm actually kinda excited for training, but how could I not? I get to hang out with some badass magical girls~

"We'll start with some stretching, and then push-ups-- as usual."

...But I can see why there's a lack of enthusiasm.

I'll be the first to admit, I don't exercise as much as I should. Sure, I try to jog sometimes, I've been wanting to get Fueko-sensei to do that with me more, but other than that not much. ...Never really felt the need to, given how freakishly strong being an earth witch seems to make me. I could work on my endurance, sure, but I've still got immense strength where it counts. Kinda need to, given I wield a giant-ass warhammer.

"Hey... F-Fueko-sensei." I ask between push-ups.

"Huff... yes... huff... Chisaki...?" She's... more winded (pun unintended) than anyone else here.

"T-this is nice and all... but are we going to do any combat training, too?"

Asahi-sensei laughs a bit, keeping up as well as me in her push-ups. "That... comes later. We've got to get the boring warm-up out of the way... first."

"Something something, veggies before dessert... blah blah blah..." Mizuki-sensei huffs out. "I always hate this part-- I can work out on my own damn time."

Fueko-sensei stops, looking at her incredulously. "When was the last time you worked out?"

"Yesterday, asshole."

"...Sorry."

Mizuki-sensei sticks out her tongue, as if to imply that she's not actually that mad.

For some reason, Asahi-sensei's smirking at her, much to her dismay. Ah... maybe I'm overthinking things, but it seems like she's also... blushing. I'd ask her why, but... I-I just get the feeling it's something best kept between the two of them.

In any case, after push-ups were done, we moved on to squats... lunges... jumping jacks... common, boring stuff. Asahi-sensei was the one who managed to keep from running out of breath the longest, me and Mizuki-sensei in a close second, and Fueko-sensei... lagging decently far behind. I-I think I'll have to be more forceful in getting her to go on jogs with me. Just because she's a sniper doesn't mean she shouldn't try to be more in shape, I think.

"I think... that will be enough for today." Fueko-sensei wheezes out, lying down on the ground. "We'll take a break, then pick up with combat training."

"Jeez, Fuetchi. How long has it been since you last worked out?" Mizuki-sensei asks with a mix of annoyance and genuine concern.

"It's been a rough year."

"...Fair enough." She crouches down, patting poor Fueko-sensei on the head with a sly grin. "We'll get ya back on track, then." She stands up, looking around for a moment. "...I forgot my water bottle. Dammit." Her gaze looks off to the streets, as if trying to remember something. "I'm gonna get a soda. Asahin, Chisa-tan, y'all come with."

"W-what about Fueko-sensei?"

"I know her favorite, I'll get it for her."

I look to Fueko-sensei, who nods in acknowledgement.

"I'll just slow you all down, heheh... I'm more out of shape than I realized. It's not too far off, anyway-- our usual vending machine."

Nodding, the three of us set out for refreshments.

"So, uh... how does combat training usually go?" I meekly ask the two.

"Nothing special." Asahi-sensei answers. "Just practice fighting, making sure we're good without our weapons."

"W-without our weapons...?"

"...Fue-chan has a gun."

"I-I-I-I don't expect her to shoot at us!! I just... thought it would be something more than that. Like, team tactics. Making sure we're proficient with our weapons. That kind of stuff."

"Fair. We don't really have much to be able to train with that, though. If we had some training dummies, then maybe..."

"You'd probably flatten any of them though, Chisa-tan~" Mizuki-sensei chuckles.

"True..." I lower my head contemplatively. "I guess most of our real practice has to be in the field then. Kinda scary..."

"I was without my chainsaw for part of the fight in the hotel. Training without your weapon's still real practice. Sometimes all you've got is your body. ...And the magic coursing through your veins, but that's besides the point."

"Besides, we've made it this far, yeah?" Mizuki-sensei nods. "We ain't invincible, but we're doing well fer' ourselves. ...If yer' worried about fitting in with the rest of us, we can 'prolly go monster huntin' or somethin'-- get some practice that way. Beats fightin' Anxi all the time."

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" Asahi-sensei muses. "Since we did a regular hunt. Chii-chan here hadn't joined us yet." She sighs. "Anxi weren't even a thing yet."

"Ahh, I see." I smile a bit. "That'd be nice-- I haven't hunted in a while, either. It was kinda fun doing it on my own. ...I-I'm glad to be working with y'all, though!"

"...Ya know, you need to lighten up a bit, Chisa-tan." Mizuki-sensei smirks, chuckling to herself. "It ain't like we're gonna bite yer' head off if ya don't glaze us every second."

"She still likes being glazed, though."

"T-that's besides the point, Asahin!!" She barks at Asahi-sensei. "Anyway, my point is that ya worry too much-- We're all friends here."

I nod nervously. ...It's not that I disagree, I-I just don't really know if I'm ever wording things right or not. I'm... just a chronic overthinker like that. And besides... both of you kind of intimidate me, as much as it makes me feel bad that I even think that way. You've both got your own dynamic already, it's... It's just not something I know how to get over.

"...Maybe you need something from Asahin's special machine." Mizuki-sensei muses, presumably noticing how I've screwed up my face in self-reflection. She chuckles as Asahi-sensei elbows her.

"Huh?"

"Ah, this one." She points to an alcoholic vending machine. "See? It's even got her name on it."

Ahhh, I get it now. I chuckle. "I've never had alcohol before, though."

"Keep it that way." Her expression darkens. "It ain't worth it, trust me." Then, she resumes her usual mischievous demeanor as she looks over the other machines. "Anyway, whaddya want? My treat."

"Oh uh, t-thank you! Let me see..." I move beside her to look over my options. "Hmmm... maybe... uh..."

Wait, is that......? In the reflection of the vending machine...

I turn around... Fuck me for being right. "There's an Anxi, over there. A monster one, too. I-is it coming for us...?"

"Shit. I'll get Fue-chan...!" Asahi-sensei takes off like a jet.

"Well-- ...at least we'll get some of that team practice you wanted, eh?" Mizuki-sensei adds, unenthused by the situation. "...Chisa-tan?"

"Ch... Chisaki?"

I don't respond. I've... mentally frozen up.

That "hat"... and its "hair". It's all made out of sludge yet still... wavy, just like mine... right?

And that "necklace"... that awful fucking necklace I'd always thought looked tacky, but always had to be polite over whenever she asked me if it looked good.

It can't be...

Yet, through her vacant gaze, she's looking right at me. Directly into my soul.

I can't move... I- I- I can't... move.

This whole time, I-I thought you were dead..!!

...Slowly, but surely, I regain control of my lips, forcibly curling them with an uncomfortable familiarity as I panic to acknowledge the monster standing before me.

"M... mom...?"