The four-limbed zingai currently lurking in one corner of the ceiling only made the scene even more unnerving. Zingai weren’t particularly rare, from Tobi’s perspective, but Shizukudani’s was both unusually large and upsettingly humanoid, its four eyes aside. There was something unique about it, and Tobi had to admit that it creeped him out a little.
Of course, even if a zingai like that was right next to someone, it could only disturb them if they knew it was there. Tobi glanced at Asahi. If she couldn’t see it, then to her, it might as well not even exist.
“…Mnh?”
Suddenly, Tobi heard a new voice—one that didn’t belong to Asahi or Shizukudani. One of the beds in the office had its curtain drawn. Tobi heard the sound of someone moving around inside in a fluster, and a moment later, the curtain was flung open.
“Oh no! I really fell asleep…!” said Ryuuko. Her buns had spared her from bedhead, but her face was brightly flushed. It wasn’t hard for Tobi to guess that she’d just leaped out of bed and thrown on her shoes. She hadn’t done a very good job, either. They were still only halfway on. “Wha—huh?! T-T-Tobi, why’re you—? Agh, and Asahi, too?! Why…?”
Tobi was curious about Asahi’s motives as well. Why had she come to the nurse’s office? She’d definitely been racing him, even if he hadn’t really meant to participate. What would she have done if she’d beaten him there?
“Feeling all better, Shiratama Dango?” asked Shizukudani.
“Whuh?” Ryuuko pointed at herself, her voice cracking slightly. “Ah, I mean, yes! I slept very well, and I feel much better now!”
“Good,” said Asahi. She was the first to speak up—again, much to Tobi’s confusion. He wanted to question her, but before he could, she shot him a look and added, “Right?” as if prompting him.
“Uh… Yeah,” said Tobi. She’d put him on the spot, and he’d agreed automatically.
“Umm…?” Ryuuko was probably more confused than anyone. She clutched Chinurasha’s pouch to her chest and cocked her head at a distressingly sharp angle.
“We were worried,” Asahi said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Then she glanced at Tobi again. “Right?”
“…Right,” Tobi agreed. What do you mean, “Right”? he thought. The simple truth was that he had been worried about her, but that didn’t mean he could just admit it, least of all under these circumstances.
“You came all the way here for me, of all people…?” Ryuuko’s face was already flushed, and now it turned an even deeper shade of red as tears began to pool in her eyes. She was obviously overcome with emotion. She bowed so forcefully and deeply, it almost looked like she was trying to slam her head into the floor. “I’m truly honored! Thank you both so much! I can’t believe you’d do that for me, Asahi, even though it’s only your first day at school and we haven’t been properly introduced to each other!”
“Oh, right. Now that you mention it,” Asahi said, scratching her head. “I already know all about you.”
“Whaaa—?!” Ryuuko squealed. Her head shot up and she looked at Asahi, while her body remained bent a full ninety degrees at the waist. It was a very weird pose.
Asahi covered her mouth with her hand. It looked like she’d been about to burst out laughing. “You’re a lot more unique than I thought you’d be, Ryuuko,” she said.
“I’m…unique? Wait…Ryuuko…?”
“It a problem if I call you that?”
“N-no, of course not! Not in the least!”
“…How long are you going to keep standing like that?” asked Tobi. Somebody had to point it out.
“ Standing like what?” Ryuuko muttered. Realization seemed to set in a moment later. She finally righted herself, then covered her face with her hands, looking profoundly embarrassed. “…I entirely forgot. Well, not entirely. I guess I should call it a moment of carelessness…”
“I think ‘careless’ might be your middle name,” Asahi said before sitting down on the nearby bench and crossing her legs. “Anyway, you can call me Monika. It’s hard to remember to react when people call me Asahi.”
Ryuuko cracked her fingers open slightly and peered at Asahi through the gaps. “…M-Miss Monika, then?”
“Drop this ‘Miss.’ I’m not your boss.”
“So, Monika…?”
“That works. Same goes for you two,” she added, turning to glance at Tobi and Shizukudani. “We’re all middle schoolers here, so might as well keep it casual, right?”
“Sounds good to me,” said Shizukudani as she pressed the cap of her pen into her chin. “Yes, I like it! And I also happen to like you, Monimoni. It’s so nice to be around a girl as candid as you are!”
“Thanks, I guess,” Asahi replied. She seemed to be looking at Shizukudani, but upon closer inspection, her gaze had shifted slightly away.
At some point, when Tobi wasn’t paying attention, the four-legged zingai had moved from its corner of the ceiling to directly above Shizukudani’s head. Most likely, it had entered Asahi’s field of vision. Assuming she could see it, that is.
“…You seein’ what I’m seein’?” Baku muttered.
Before Tobi could react, Asahi looked over at him. “Hey,” she said, “school’s out, right? Shouldn’t we be leaving?”
“Oh! I need to go back to the classroom and collect my bag!” Ryuuko exclaimed. She set off toward the door, then let out a yelp as she nearly fell flat on her face. She’d never bothered to put her shoes on properly.
Asahi stood up from the bench, and Shizukudani started packing her things up as well. They seemed to be getting ready to go home—and why wouldn’t they? School was out. Tobi had to leave as well.
Are we all going right now, though? Together? Why…?