[Mushball Universe, Dark!Shinkengers plot]

[interpolate]

After my up-close-and-personal encounter with Messiah's lieutenant, I found myself waking up in a world of pain, back at base, and sure of exactly one thing: I have to save him.

I let Takosawa mother-hen at me for three days, which is three whole days more than I want to put up with that kind of behavior, and is about six months less than Takosawa bargained for. It'll be a while before the octopus in question forgives me for undermining his authority by going directly to the commander and requesting to be placed back on active duty as soon as possible, which, considering there's only four of us equipped to do this job, is basically guaranteed as soon as I'm capable of standing.

Of course, I'm still not combat ready, what with this limp, and the semi-frequent headaches, and the still healing bruises. But I'm well enough to return to deep cover at the High School, which is precisely what I want anyway.

Comments

[surprisingwolf]

I'm aware of both Mio and Kaoru-san trailing me. I'm glad they're there, because I know- or at least I've figured out - that I'm not cleared medically to go back to school.

And I don't want to collapse. Part of the reason I was all too willing to go back to school was that beds give me nightmares. My mother dug out the guest futon for me so that I can sleep.

I give both of them a grateful smile. Maybe I'll get theough the day.

[closingcreditsaremine]

The new music teacher, Hibiki-sensei, floats past and says hello to all of us. I greet him back politely but keep my eyes mostly on Leo-kun.

I don't like this at *all*. He should be in bed.

Heroes, heroes everywhere...

[surprisingwolf]

Finally, we make it to my classroom without anything happening to us or anyone else. And my seat's near the front, at least. I smile at Mio and Kaoru-san. "I'll be okay," I tell them.

Hopefully I won't crash into any more walls. I don't want to spend time in the Nurse's office. I suppose I'd be all right if I don't have to lie down.