The sun started to drop low, painting the sky with orange and violet as the students gathered near the buses.
Groups were chatting, slumped, or dragging their feet like zombies. The teachers checked attendance with sharp precision.
Daiki stood with Jimmu at the edge of the crowd. The last of the eventful day had finally been settled. Ranta was getting brought back home safe.
Daiki stretched his sore shoulders and let out a long, tired breath. "...Well. That was a day."
Jimmu blinked slowly. "All days are days."
Daiki stared. "What....? That's not even a sentence."
"Exactly," Jimmu said, completely unbothered.
Daiki laughed and slapped his arm lightly. "Anyway... thanks, man. For earlier. You're a lifesaver."
Jimmu tilted his head, expression unreadable. "I don't need thanks for doing what I was supposed to do."
"That's... a weird way to say you're welcome."
"I wasn't trying to," Jimmu said.
Daiki decided to take it as if he were. He smiled and headed for the bus.
Inside, you think it would be quiet, but it was far from it.
Everyone was talking.
Ren was talking loudly at Taiga, Taiga was yelling back, but in a "this is how we bond" kind of way, and Daiki immediately decided not to sit ANYWHERE near that vortex of noise.
He spotted Yui sitting alone by the window.
He slid into the seat next to her. "Yo."
Yui looked up, startled but happy. "Oh! Hey. You okay?"
"Oh yeah." Daiki waved casually. "Beat two Yurei. Saved a kid. Learned that my partner's brain works in mysterious ways. Standard stuff."
Yui blinked. "...I don't think that's standard."
"It is if you're me."
Yui giggled softly, then her expression dimmed a little.
"My investigation wasn't that exciting."
Daiki nudged her shoulder. "Something go wrong?"
"...No. Not exactly." She fiddled with her sleeve. "I just... I don't think my partner liked me very much."
"What? Why"
"She said I asked too many questions. And that I was too quiet. And that I walk too slowly." She pouted. "It was like my natural existence was an inconvenience to her."
Daiki laughed a bit. "Yeah, okay, that's on them. You're fine."
Yui smiled lightly. "Thanks..."
The bus engine rumbled to life. Students gradually quieted. Even Ren and Taiga shut up eventually. Someone's head kept on loudly thumping against a window. The hum of the road lulled the bus into a peaceful silence.
Yui eventually drifted off too, head leaning lightly against the window.
Daiki looked out the window at the passing lights, letting the calm wash over his body.
The distance between the Shinyo Institute and Mushin City wasn't that far from the grand scheme of things. After a little while, they finally arrived back home. Students began to pour out of the bus with varying levels of enthusiasm, some clearly upset that they had to be woken up from their nap.
Daiki approached Instructor Masataka, Jimmu already standing and waiting for him.
Masataka looked them over. "Alright. Report."
Daiki side-eyed Jimmu and immediately noticed he had no interest in saying anything.
Daiki sighed.
"There were two Yurei. One was hiding in an arcade game pretending to be... a machine spirit or something. The other was some ugly puppeteer... thing. It held that kid hostage, but we were able to kill it."
Jimmu added, "Collateral damage minimal. We almost made the arcade crash down."
Masataka pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's not minimal, Ayanami..."
Daiki shrugged. "It worked out."
Masataka sighed. "I'll file the report. Good work, both of you. Next time, try to be more discreet."
The duo both saluted lazily. "Yes, sir."
The two boys headed toward the dorms, splitting off as students scattered into different hallways.
"See you later, Jimmu," Daiki said, tossing him a grin.
"Later," Jimmu replied, his voice calm but not unfriendly.
Daiki chuckled. "Don't make that sound like a threat."
"It wasn't," Jimmu said, deadpan, but there was a hint of something warmer underneath.
Daiki shook his head, smiling as he went toward his dorm.
Jimmu was an odd guy, but not a bad one.
And he was really strong.
Soon enough, he reached his door. Upon touching the doorknob, a shocking pain rang out throughout his entire hand.
Daiki had completely forgotten about how... fucked up his hand was.
His fingers felt numb, and his knuckles had dried blood on them.
He was too lazy to walk to the infirmary right now. He would handle it tomorrow.
He turned the knob tomorrow and stepped inside.
Jin was already lounging on his bed, a book in hand, protein bar crumbs on his tank top.
Without looking up, Jin said, "You look like you got into a fight with a pitbull."
Daiki took his uniform off and tossed it into the closet before putting on nightwear. "Fought a couple of Yurei in an arcade. Almost died. Just another Monday."
Jin closed the book with a soft thump. "That actually explains your face."
"Oh shut up. My face is fine."
"Yeaaaa, sure."
Daiki flopped onto his bed dramatically. "Everything hurts. Again."
Jin glanced over. "...Proud of you, though."
Daiki blinked. "For what?"
"For not dying yet." Jin shrugged. "You're annoying, but impressive. A lot of kids like you give up by now."
Warmth bloomed in Daiki's chest. "...Dude, you're being weirdly sentimental today."
"I'm just tired," Jin said flatly.
"Uh-huh. Sure."
The lights began to dim as Daiki's eyes became heavier.
As Daiki drifted off, Jin muttered one last thing.
"Glad you made it back."
Daiki smiled.
"...Me too."
Sleep pulled him quickly.
Quiet.
Heavy.
Peaceful.
Tomorrow would definitely bring new problems.
Every day did, at this point.
But for tonight?
He survived once again.