------------- Carla's Point of View -----------
[[[ASTRAD!]]] —we shouted in unison as he crashed into the nearby vehicle. And, immediately, we all ran towards him.
["Please be okay, please be okay."]
I climb onto the half-wrecked car, pleading in a low voice as I press my ear to his chest.
["He's breathing. He's breathing."]
["Thank God."]
["Quick, we have to go."]
I signal to the girls to help me move him. Although we managed to cross the pillar of light, there's a giant octopus literally right next to us. We can still hear the commotion—the screams, the gunshots, and the rumble of the bridge falling—on the other side. But there's no guarantee that after it's done over there, it won't come for us.
["Is he heavy?"]
["Is he made of lead?"]
To our bad luck, we soon ran into another problem. Astrad is too heavy, and I don't mean the normal weight of a teenager.
["What the hell?"]
I can't help but curse as I open his coat: Rifle, harpoon gun, harpoons, ammunition, knives, various items, and some smoke grenades. He was also carrying that rope before. Although it's thin, it must be at least thirty meters long; it's definitely not light.
["Where did he get a grenade?"]
["I have a better question: where did he get so much strength?"]
["That doesn't matter now! Help me get his coat off!"]
Together with Jennifer and Sophie, we remove Astrad's coat and weapons, while Ana cuts the rope that saved our lives. Then, Jennifer and I take each side of Astrad and begin to drag him, while Ana and Sophie divide his things between them.
["Oh God, I think his shoulder is dislocated. If we carry him like this…"]
I understand the implications Jennifer is mentioning. On this side, his shoulder's situation doesn't look much better. But the crunching sound of the bridge's remains falling into the water continues to echo like a sinister warning.
["There are no options. It's this or risk becoming giant octopus food."]
Astrad is always the first to say "move or die." And we don't have a tarp or anything large enough to make a makeshift stretcher. Besides, none of us are exactly unscathed. We'll just have to think about the consequences later.
["Sophie, you have the keys to your father's house, right?"]
["Yes."]
I sigh in relief at her nod. Her father's building is near the bridge; it is, definitely, our best option for shelter.
["Are you guys okay?"]
["He's still so heavy."]
["Can't Mister Cat help with his magic?"]
["…Huh?"] —at Ana's idea, I look at the cat on my chest to consult it, but it remains motionless, clinging to my bra between my breasts.
["Isn't this a bad time to be sleeping?"]
["No… I think it fainted…"]
["Did something happen to it?"]
["Well, I don't know…"]
["Maybe… the whole magic thing isn't as simple as it seems."]
[[[…]]]
After thinking about it for a bit, we nod at Ana's opinion. In fact, even in games, there's a limit to how many spells you can cast before resting.
["Goodbye to our plot-device trump card…"]
["Don't be like that, we can still use him when he recharges, right?"]
["Though we don't even know how many shots he has."]
["Now that's ugly."]
[[[[HAHAHA!]]]]
Before we knew it, we were joking in the middle of a clearly inappropriate situation.
Astrad, you are definitely a terrible influence.
["We'll switch off carrying him every hundred meters,"] —I finally say, resigned to our fate.
I don't even dare to think something like, "I hope there are no problems on the way," because that just attracts more problems.
[[[Yes.]]]
.........….
------Astrad's Point of View--------
["Guuu… It can suck it…"]
The first thing I feel when I regain consciousness is the son-of-a-bitch pain all over my body, especially in my shoulders.
["The rat kid hates it here."]
I complain as soon as I open my eyes and notice I'm in a room that looks, and stinks, like a divorced man's.
["…The rat kid knows this smell…"]
["Ah…"]
As I was trying to remember where the familiarity came from, a choked gasp catches my attention.
When I turn my head, the police girl is there, with a stupefied expression.
["What? You like me? Suck it."]
I provoke her a little, but all I get is her face distorting into a sob as her eyes get wet.
["You idiot… sniff…"]
She insults me before coming closer and collapsing onto my chest.
["You idiot… sniff… I hate you… you idiot… Why weren't you waking up?"]
I have a better question for you: why the hell are you crushing the rat kid's already shattered ribs? You're hurting the fucking patient. I want to complain, but the damn girl started crying.
["Waaaaa…"]
["Carla, did no one ever tell you that police girls don't cry?"]
["Sniff… I knew you remembered my name. WAAAAA!"]
["Yeah, yeah, you caught me. Now stop crying and move aside a little."]
I think my rib just cracked. Damn troglodyte.
["Astrad!"] —possibly drawn by the commotion, another girl comes into the room and, before I can ask for help, she throws herself onto my chest. It hurts…
["ASTRAD!"] —and now another.
["YOU'RE OKAY!"] —and another…
This does not make the rat kid happy. The rat kid is dying… again…
........
[[[[I'm sorry!]]]]
["That's how the rat kid likes it. That you're sorry."]
I nod with satisfaction at the girls, who are now on their knees, being punished in front of the bed. Why is girls' first reaction to reuniting with an injured person to squeeze them? Do they even know what "injured" means?
Nom, nom.
By the way, I made Carla feed me while she knelt beside me. Her face, now redder than her hair, puts a smile on my face. Suffer, bitch, for almost killing the rat kid… again.
As I enjoyed my revenge, I had them fill me in on the situation. It seems they got worried because I didn't wake up all morning, and it's almost noon the next day.
The shitty playboy cat is also passed out and hasn't woken up yet. Damn it, I was hoping to use it as a plot-device trump card. Why does this damn universe have to have logical rules? If you're going to give me a mage, make it a complete one, with unlimited magic.
["Well, I've wasted enough time. Time to go."]
I finished the meal the girls prepared for me. It's time to leave.
[[[HUH?]]]
The girls make a stupid sound, apparently unconvinced.
["Hey, wait, wait."]
["There's no way you're going out in that state."]
["You're all messed up."]
I'd say something to them, but they're absolutely right. Still, I decide to ignore them. I have a bad feeling. My bad feelings are rarely wrong.
["Hey, don't ignore us."]
As always, Carla is too good at reading me.
["First of all, what part of 'shoulder dislocation' don't you understand? Wait, you're not going to…"]
"POP!"
"CRACK!"
Her words are interrupted by the impact of my shoulder against the doorframe.
[[[Hiiiick!]]]
The girls scream in fright, but I don't have time to enjoy it. I use the momentum before the pain sets in. Gritting my teeth, I slam my other shoulder.
"POP!"
"CRACK!"
["Tsk…"]
Pain shoots through me like a lightning bolt.
["Ahhh, damn it. Auntie, you'd better treat the rat kid to a delicious dinner."]
I deserve no less… Oops, my vision is getting a little blurry.
No fainting, no fainting.