Karasuno's Mangers: Little Ukai and The Runaway

25: Safety First, Wear Your Masks

Emiko slung her bag over her shoulder. "Peace out losers, I'm going to Tokolala."

"Yokohama."

"Yokohama," she corrected, "see you next week."

"Tomorrow."

"Why do you have to be like this?"

They bid their goodbyes and walked outside. Mirae's grandmother was sitting in the car. "Come in, come in," she unlocked the doors. "It's only a few minutes' drive to Tokyo station."

"Grandma, this is my friend Emiko."

"Suzuki, right?"

Emiko was sitting in the back seat. She leaned forward and nodded her head.

"You and Mirae were in kindergarten together. Oh I remember you now, the closest of friends."

"We were?" both girls asked.

"Yup! I've got an entire photo album of you two. It was one wild school year- your mothers had to tear you two apart every day when school was done. You two and another boy, the closest friends, were intent on finding the fairies lurking in the gardens of your school."

"That's crazy!"

"That's not possible."

Mirae's grandmother laughed. "Surely you remember, Mirae? The day that you came home crying because a little girl tried to cut your hair? That girl was Emiko."

"I do remember that." She turned to Emiko and glared. "I don't forgive you."

"I was a child!"

"Emiko, Mirae, and Tsutomu. The Sensais tried to separate you three but that little boy crawled out the class, ran and got you two, and then you three left the school to get ice cream from down the road. When the store owner called the school and when the Sensei found you three, you had ice cream all over your faces and were sleeping on each other. I have that picture too!"

"Why the hell do I remember this?"

"Um, why the hell don't I remember this?" Emiko smacked her forehead. "Grandma Ando, can I see these pictures one day?"

A short while later, the girls bid Grandma goodbye and grabbed their bags out of the back. They had their tickets in their hands as they walked towards the train.

"Emiko," Mirae called. "Wear this."

She turned around and frowned at the sight of her friend who was wearing a face mask and was holding another one out for her.

"No thank you."

"Put it on. We're in Tokyo city, this air is the dirtiest."

"No thank you."

"Do you want to be breathing in car fumes, factory chemicals, and whatever sickness everyone else is exhaling?"

"No thank-"

Mirae caught her by the back of her shirt and spun her around. She hooked the elastic bands around her ears and snapped the mask across the lower half of her face. Then, she led them past the crowds of people.

"I can't breathe! I'm dying!"

Onlookers gave her dirty looks. Mirae ignored her and boarded the train. They found a pair of empty seats and sat down.

"You know, I noticed something."

Mirae looked up. "What's that?"

"Grandparents are nicer than parents. Well, I don't know about yours but they're a heck of a lot nicer in my experience. I've been living with my grandparents and Uncle for a few months and they're more attentive and kinder than my mom and dad have ever been."