I LIKE TO TAKE IT SLOW (ROLL THE KATAMARI) (EPISODE END)

"S-stoooop... pleaaaase...!!" I burble out, forcing myself to speak before it's too late.

Asahi-sensei stops. "W-what...? It can speak...?"

"It's me... guys, it's me...!!" It's... very hard to speak. I'm not used to having a snout. Or being made out of goo.

"C-Chisa-tan...?" Mizuki-sensei walks over, concerned. I nod, whimpering for my life.

"Oh... m-my god...!! I'm so sorry I'm so sorry I'm so sorry..." Fueko-sensei practically shoves Asahi-sensei off of me, pulling me into a tight hug. I'm scared to return the hug, lest I ruin her clothing, or worse.... She keeps repeating her apologies, words choking through tears. "I've... failed you..."

"I'm... s-still alive... aren't I?" I try and laugh it off, instead awkwardly making a low gurgling noise. ...I rest my snout on her shoulder. "That's a success in my book."

"...How are you feeling?" Asahi-sensei faintly asks, kneeling beside me. "Aside from... the gunshot wound, I mean."

How do I even answer a question like that? I'm made out of sludge, for god's sakes! I guess the gunshot doesn't hurt, because of that, but still. Aside from that, I mean... I'm fully capable of thinking, which is nice. But yet, right about now, that feels more like a curse than a blessing.

"G-gross. I'm feeling gross."

Asahi nods, before lowering her head.

Mizuki looks me up and down, perplexed. "Seems like ya didn't fully turn. Not that I ain't glad fer' that, but I wonder why...?"

"We need to get her to safety first." Fueko-sensei stiffly interjects. "We can figure the rest out later."

Helping me up, we all realize my newfound height at about the same time. I'm now, with confidence, the tallest person here. This is uh... not going to work out. I don't exactly think I'm going to be fitting Fueko-sensei's car.

"Just ah... just sit between the seats. Can probably fit there if you bunch yer' knees together."

I look to Fueko-sensei. "...Are you sure? I-I don't want to uh... gunk up your car."

She laughs a bit, faintly smiling. "I've spilled drinks all over the damn thing, Anxi sludge is nothing at this point." ...There's a slight tinge of uncertainty in her words-- as though she's not actually sure of herself here.

Regardless... I slip awkwardly in the back of the car, wedging myself between the seats.

The ride to Fueko-sensei's apartment is awkward and uncomfortable. No one really knows what to say, so we all choose to sit in silence. ...I'm overcome with a sense of guilt. Today was meant to just be a nice, fun day trying to better ourselves, and here I am making everything worse.

...No, I can't think like this. Just because I haven't fully turned doesn't mean I won't. So, for now-- ironically --I choose to stop thinking.

Once we make it to the apartment proper, the others comb the area to make sure the coast is clear, before awkwardly helping me out of the car. This is going to take some getting used to-- provided I'm not holed up in Fueko-sensei's apartment for the rest of my days, I mean...

...I have to lower my head to fit underneath the doorframe. This really sucks, y'know?

Whatever. We've made it back. Back to me and Fueko-sensei's home. Mizuki-sensei immediately wafts towards the fridge, looking for something to drink, while Asahi-sensei feebly creeps over to the couch, turning on the TV. At least they're making themselves at home.

At least someone feels at home.

Fueko-sensei and I, on the other hand, stand awkwardly at the door. She's... resting a hand along my arm, like a child holding onto their mother's leg. There's an irony here, isn't there? She's like... seven years older than me, at least. Yet, she's looking at me, as if to ask something.

..She realizes she's staring. "S-so, um... Is there anything you'd like to do, Chisaki? We could... play something together, like you've been wanting to?"

I look down at my hands, which were resting against the floor. ...They're, awfully big, aren't they? I hardly doubt they'd be able to use a controller comfortably.

...........

"S... sorry." She lowers her head, having come to the same conclusion as me.

I grit my uneven teeth. I'm not mad at her, more... frustrated with myself. Frustrated at the thought that I'll just have to adjust to living like this.

....Nnnngh. I can't help but let out a growl. The others turn to face me, nervous. I catch myself, as surprised as the others that I was able to make such a low noise. "...Sorry. TV's fine, I guess." I sigh, moving to sit beside Asahi-sensei.

"-hese demons, these... 'witches'... Sure, they're taking out the Anxi, but they're just doing that in a failed attempt to get in our good graces. If you ask me, they're the ones creating those ugly-ass monsters in the first pla-"

Asahi-sensei scrambles to change the channel, as I hang my head in disgusted frustration. She places a hand on my shoulder... and something in me just snaps.

I shove her away.

"W-wh...?"

"D-don't pretend like you care. You've been staring at me the entire ride. You all have been...!" I stand up, nearly bumping my head on the ceiling. "We're all just trying to pretend like everything's okay... but it's not, is it? You're all worried if I'm going to turn, right? RIGHT?"

One of them tries speaking up; but, in my anger, I don't know who-- I cut them off before they can say anything. "Y-you're all just... preparing yourselves to cut me up into little p-pieces so I can't come back, right...?" I sniffle. "P-poor Chisaki... we gave her a chance, but she was just too far gone... yeah? Maybe we should just cut the crap and kill her alrea-"

I'm interrupted by a sudden thud hitting my torso. It's... Fueko-sensei... and she's pulled me into a tight hug.

"Stop it...!! Stop it... We all care about you, Chisaki." She pathetically buries her head into my chest, horns... comedically poking into me. "I just... we just want to let things be normal right now, even if you're different. Killing you is the last thing on our minds... Sure it'll take some adjustment, but we'll make it work. Trust me... we'll make it work..." She trails off into incoherent babbling. She... really does care about me.

I look to the others. Neither of them seem sure of what to say, but they're trying their best to smile, as if to show agreement with Fueko-sensei. I feel like... I feel like the biggest asshole right now. Not wanting to make things any worse, I sit back down, gluing my vacant eyes to the television. I'm not actually absorbing any information, I just need to do anything other than exist right now.

Thankfully... that works, and the rest of the day goes without incident.

"We'll be off for now." Asahi-sensei awkwardly mutters, as the sun starts to set. "Mom likes to be told... when we're hanging out at someone else's place..." She trails off awkwardly, realizing her words. "We'll be back tomorrow. I'll... tell my family I've got a sick friend who needs company."

I almost interject, but decide against it. Instead, I nod, and Fueko-sensei and I see the other two off. ...Mizuki-sensei can't help but sneaking guilty glances at me.

...

"Do... do you want to have dinner now, or...?"

I laugh a bit. "I-I don't have an appetite right now, sorry. You can eat without me."

She looks at me, concerned, before figuring it best to play along. I sigh, lying flat on the ground.

...Hey. Fueko-sensei. If I start losing my mind... nah. We've been through a lot today. I don't feel like asking her that, just yet.

For the next few hours... I zone out. I think she tries a few times to make small-talk, but I barely notice. I feel bad drowning her out, but I just don't have the energy to speak all that much. So, I sit here staring vacantly at the ceiling.

Fueko-sensei clears her throat, uncomfortable. "It's time for bed... are you coming, Chisaki?"

I glance at the clock. It's... actually a few hours past our usual bedtime. I guess she was stalling...?

"I-I uh, don't think I'll f-fit in that bed anymore. I-I'll be fine here..."

"Are you sure...?"

"Uh-huh. I'll... just get a blanket, or something." I force a crooked smile. "G-goodnight, Fueko-sensei..."

She stands there, staring at me, before sighing. "Alright then. Goodnight."

...

..........

I can't do this. Th-this... this isn't going to work out.

I don't trust myself to make it to the end of the night, let alone survive days on end like this. Truth be told, I feel like I'm already as good as dead.

I'm sorry. I-I-I'm...

...

I close my eyes in silent contemplation. Taking in some deep breaths, both to confirm to myself what I'm about to do, and to make sure that Fueko-sensei has actually fallen asleep...

...I stand up, look around one last time, and slip out through the front door.