𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓

chapter seven.

Birds chirped loudly, crickets following. The sun was shining bright, hurting Seiko's eyes whenever she looked up.

It was a pleasant day, and Seiko was wearing a black tight sleeveless hoodie and black sweatpants. As usual, her hood was up, protecting her from the violent sun.

Nobara groaned slightly, pressing a button on the vending machine. A cold drink fell to the bottom, and she reached down to pick it up.

"Couldn't they put in a few more vending machines?" she asked, annoyed with the options.

"They can't," Megumi replied. "There are only so many workers allowed onto the campus."

Nobara only sighed, popping open the drink. She held it up to Seiko. "Want a sip?"

Seiko shook her head. "It's all yours."

;;

"Hey," Panda said. "Where are the first years?"

"Errands," Maki replied.

"Bonito flakes."

"Are they safe?" Panda asked.

"Salmon," Toge agreed.

"They can handle an errand run. They're not three years old," Maki answered. "Plus, they have Seiko with them."

"No, that's not what I'm saying," Panda said. "I'm saying today's the day Kyoto's principal comes here, to go over the plans for the Exchange Event, right?"

"Tuna."

"Satoru's fighting with the Higher-Ups because they arranged for the first-years to get dispatched on that Special Grade case, right? And Kyoto's principal is one of those Higher-Ups, isn't he? So if the two of them run into each other..."

"Look," Maki said. "The first year they were targeting, Itadori, is dead. I doubt the principal plans to do anything to the other two," she said. "Plus, it'll be in broad daylight. The old man from Kyoto won't wanna make a scene."

"Salmon," Toge said.

"An instructor might have his position to worry about, but that's not the case for students," Panda said.

Maki stopped walking, turning around. "You mean Mai is coming? Speak up."

"I'm only guessing," he replied. "Students aren't usually invited to these meetings. But still, they do seem to love harassing us, don't they? Both Toudou and Mai."

;;

Seiko, Megumi, and Nobara stared at the two new figures, ones that Megumi seemed to recognize.

"Zen'in Mai?" Megumi said. "I'm surprised to see you. What are you doing here?"