My stomach lurched.
This... reindeer cart or whatever—why was it zigzagging so much?
Couldn't it just fly in a straight line?
Was that too much to ask?
Wind whipped past me—whoosh, whoosh.
Meanwhile, Nikky chatted away, completely unfazed.
"Tel, you've gotta help Alek and Sasha."
"…Excuse me?"
We're on a flying cartoon cart in the sky, and now you want a rescue mission?
I turned my head instinctively—pure reflex.
He was dead serious.
"Alek got caught trying to rescue Sasha."
"What are you talking about? Weren't all three of you just in the counseling room with me?"
"Oh, that?" Nikky grinned. "That was in your world."
"…My world?"
"Yup. Thanks to your world, I was able to figure out where they are in mine."
What the hell is this kid even talking about?
Also—more pressing matters: I was about to puke my lungs out.
"Nikky, I know this is urgent but…"
"Yeah?"
"Could we please fly straight for like… ten seconds?
Why are we constantly turning? At this speed?"
"If we fly straight, we'll get tracked.
They'll trace our movement."
"…They?"
"RED Union. The bastards who captured Alek and Sasha."
Bastards, he says. In front of his teacher.
Although… that wasn't even the weirdest part anymore.
"You hanging in there, Tel?"
"…My insides are doing backflips."
I was about three seconds from throwing up.
But come on, I'm a teacher. I've got dignity.
Nikky glanced at me with a pitiful look.
"…Okay, okay. Reducing spin velocity.
No use bringing you along if you're gonna faint from motion sickness."
He fiddled with a panel in front of him—like it was a real cockpit or something.
Even this ridiculous flying vehicle had fine-tuned controls.
And did he just call me someone "about to faint"?
That stung a little.
"Tel."
"Yeah?"
"Our situation's bad.
But your time's almost up, too."
"…What?"
"You're a guest. You only get two hours."
"…Two hours?"
"Yeah. After that, you'll automatically be sent back to your world."
Inside, I let out the most relieved mental scream of my life.
Thank god. Just hold it together for two hours.
It doesn't matter if this is a fever dream—I'm going home.
"…Well, you'll get summoned again tomorrow night, though."
"…WHAT?"
My brain stopped.
Like… lightning just struck my spine.
Hey.
HEY.
WHY.
Why do these kids keep dragging ME into this?
Just because I'm a teacher doesn't mean I'm some kind of—
What is this nightmare?!
I threw up.
Tried not to. Really did.
But it just came out.
Nikky gently patted my back.
"You'll get used to it, Tel."
…Great. Just what I needed—a motion sickness arc.
"I don't want to get used to this," I muttered, wiping my mouth.
Nikky, always the optimist, added cheerfully, "I've reduced the spin speed. Still a bit risky, but better than dragging around a passed-out teacher."
Risky? What does that even mean?
Whatever.
At least I could breathe again. For now.
I stared over the edge, hoping I didn't just barf on someone's head down there. Probably did.
...Even here, my conscience nags me.
"You feeling better, Tel?"
"Somewhat. Yeah."
"Good. Can I explain now?"
"Sure. Go ahead."
Nikky took a breath.
"Sasha was on a mission—to repair part of the system."
"…Repair?"
My brain stalled.
I didn't think I was dumb. Or slow.
But none of this was computing.
"Oh, right. You wouldn't know," Nikky said. "Me, Sasha, and Alek—"
A siren wailed.
WEEOO WEEOO WEEOO—
The inside of the cart flashed red.
"RED presence detected. Approaching at three o'clock. Arrival in 60 seconds."
Nikky's face turned pale.
"Damn. I slowed down too much. They found us."
"What?!"
He slammed his hand onto the control panel.
The cart spun violently, zigzagging even harder.
"Tel, listen. You take the cart and go to the coordinates. Now."
"What? What about you?"
"I'll distract them. Keep them from finding you."
"I—I don't know anything! What am I supposed to do?"
"It's okay. Just remember that guy we talked to through the crow? The one on the translucent screen? Find him. He'll help."
And before I could protest—
Nikky hurled himself off the cart.
"WAIT—!"
He was already gone.
Plummeting. Fading into the distance.
And then—
A crimson phoenix-like figure erupted from the clouds and charged toward him.
Lightning crackled.
They clashed mid-air.
Nikky vanished from view.
And that's when it hit me.
I'm alone.
Above an alien sky.
On a spinning cartoon cart.
With zero clue where I am or what's happening.
Awesome.