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[noentry]

At least I did a pretty good job at controlling them. That wasn't half bad...

[So it was completely on purpose...]

[dresscode]

That's true!

[ Did he just die one page ago? It's now fully in the past as Haruaki brightens back up, beaming at Sano with a thumbs up. ]

You did so well, Sano-kun!!!

[noentry]

Thanks...

[Sano flexes his hands a few times, staring down at them, though they're never where his powers have particularly come from.]

I'll have to be careful now. I've gotten used to thinking carelessly...

[dresscode]

[ Haruaki watches his hands too, grin gentling into a softer, more reassuring smile. ]

What can I do to help you with your thoughts, Sano-kun?

[noentry]

I don't know. I'm always thinking about how to... think.

[How maddening that must be.]

I just have to be careful. I can't let my mind wander.

[Ever? That would be impossible, and yet...]

[dresscode]

[ Haruaki reaches over to rest one broad hand atop Sano's head, gently ruffling his hair back and forth. ]

That's too much pressure, Sano-kun. Everyone's mind wanders sometimes. You would have to go meditate underneath a waterfall for thirty years to become that monk-like.

[noentry]

[It's not like he doesn't have the time, but it'll be a hard thirty years. A little knapsack may as well have appeared over Sano's shoulder on a sad little stick. Marshmallow waves him goodbye.]

I'm not going to do that.

[Oh. No knapsack.]

I have to do something, though... When I get angry, I just... lose it...

[dresscode]

[ Oh... Haruaki was ready to go off with him, knapsack of his own over his shoulder... ]

I know what you can do! Whenever you get angry, think of me instead!

[ That... won't help, will it. ]

[noentry]

[. . .]

You can't really think that's going to work.

[dresscode]

It miiiiiiight~

[ Hit him. ]

[noentry]

[Bonk.]

I'll think of Mame.

[dresscode]

[ The puppy dog ears and tail suffer the same fate as Sano's knapsack, gone in a single panel. ]

That's a great idea. Think of Maizuka-kun, and I'm sure you'll feel more centered and calm.

[ Haruaki glances back at the crystal, wondering if he ought to have a talk with it too, but– no, he'll save it for later. Doing it in front of Sano would be embarrassing... ]

Sano-kun. [ Eyes back on his dear friend, Haruaki smiles warm and wide. ] I'm so proud of you.

[noentry]

[For just the briefest moment, Sano feels his eyes widen, his heartbeat pick up in his chest. His face is warm. He glares and clicks his teeth at the ground.]

Don't say such sappy stuff. It's not a big deal.

[It's a huge deal. They both know that. Sano is terrified, blood awake, power radiating from the young god like an overcharged battery.

[Think of Mame...

[Sano is quiet. Quiet. Quiet, and then...]

It's fucked up, but... sometimes I wish he were here too.

[dresscode]

It's not.

[ Really, it's not. Haruaki gets it. ]

I've told you before... sometimes I wish Miki-sensei and Hatanaka-sensei were here, too.

[ Now more so than ever, when he's so troubled by his interaction with Kurahashi that he wishes he could ask Rintarou's advice as a more seasoned teacher, when he has such complicated matters of love on his mind that he wishes he could have an honest conversation about them with Izuna. He misses them so much, it punches holes in his heart every day. Of course he wishes they were here with him. Of course. ]

And if Maizuka-kun was here without you, he'd wish for the same thing.

[noentry]

[Sano feels a knot twist up in his throat when Haruaki says that, but immediately, he nods.]

I know. You're right. Because we're supposed to be together. We should be right now.

killing myself as i type this

[dresscode]

You will be.

[ Haruaki sounds certain of it, and then he brightens. ]

You will be, and then we'll all get to go on our field trip together! I can't wait, it's been on my mind lately...

[noentry]

Huh...?

[The field trip... Sano's heart starts to race.]

Shit. I'd almost forgotten about all that...

[dresscode]

I can't forget about it! I've been dreaming up what sort of silly and slightly destructive antics we'll get up to~

[ His cowlick wiggles as if it could take on the shape of a cartoon dream bubble. ]

It'll be the funniest chapter in a long time, I just know it!

[noentry]

I don't know...

You remember what I told you, right?

[dresscode]

Yeah, you mentioned that we got lost in a kitsune town! Trust me, Sano-kun, the arc I've been dreaming about is really cute. Everyone has ears and tails~

[noentry]

Eh...?

Well, the kitsune did...

[dresscode]

[ Give him a second, he's in his mind palace imagining all of class 2-3 with fluffy kitsune tails! Waaaah, so cute!

But then– ]

Ah! Wait!!

[ He reaches out to smack a palm into the middle of Sano's chest, as if they're both in a car that just came to a sudden stop. Wait! ]

You said you got knocked out!?

[noentry]

Huh? Uh... [Sano scratches at his cheek a bit, embarrassed.] Yeah. Think so...

[dresscode]

Do you know who did it? Maybe I can be on the lookout when we go back, since I haven't experienced it yet!

[ Is... that how it works? Well, he's already changed the future once before. ]

[noentry]

[Does Sano know who did it? Not really, but he has his suspicions. His brow pinches as he recalls the strange fox, frown deepening.]

There was this kitsune... he had black eyes and black hair and...

[Sano puts his hand to his chin, glaring at the ground as he recalls...]

He had this really dorky asymmetrical haircut!