They get to the school

When the train pulled up, Ann and Makoto boarded. The car was mostly empty, and the two took the first available seats. Makoto anxiously bit her lip, lost in thought.

“You know, we have a little while before we arrive,” Ann said. She almost couldn’t believe she was suggesting it. “Now might be a good time to give me that quiz you were talking about before.”

“Oh, right! That almost slipped my mind,” Makoto said. With that, the girls entered a routine of Makoto asking questions, Ann answering them, and Makoto letting her know whether she was correct or not, providing an explanation for why an answer was correct or not. The two kept it up, even after the train arrived at Aoyama-Itchome station. When they did, Makoto commended Ann, who surprised even herself, on her studying.

They idly chatted about it as they walked, making their way to the school on autopilot as if it were a normal day. Soon enough, they turned down the alley way that led to the school. Neither of them expected to see a beat cop leaned propped against the entryway to the school, playing on his phone, evidently slacking on the job. Makoto couldn’t help but to slow down for a moment as they walked past him, trying not to appear suspicious.

It didn’t go unnoticed. “Aye, nothing to see here, keep walking.”

“Sorry,” Makoto said, giving a slow bow before picking up the pace. Ann locked arms with her, pulling her along. The two slipped into the small alcove by the vending machines nearby. The girls peeked their head around the corner to see if he was watching them. When they found he wasn’t, they slipped back out of his sight into the alcove.

“Well, what are we going to do now,” Ann said. “We can’t go in over the gate with sergeant slacker over there.”

Makoto’s head was already trying to figure it out, her hand clasping her chin while she looked around. It didn’t take her long to devise a solution. “I just need to scale the fence,” Makoto said as she pointed above the vending machines, where cement turned to grass and chain link. “And hope he doesn’t notice me, of course.”

“Are you serious?” Makoto’s face gave Ann her answer. “How are you even going to reach the fence?”

“That’s easy,” Makoto said. “I just need to climb on top of the vending machines.”

Ann’s eyes briefly scanned the surrounding, trying to see if Makoto saw something she didn’t, such as a stool or anything that could be used to give them a boost. She didn’t find anything. Her eyes returned to Makoto. “How’re you planning on…” She saw a hopeful yet apologetic look on Makoto’s face, and she knew, letting out a groan. “Makotoooo.”

“Please, Ann? I just need a little boost,” Makoto said, giving her puppy-dog eyes. Ann felt any resistance she had waver before it crumbled.

“Fine,” Ann relented with a sigh, kneeling down and cupping her hands together.

“Thank you so much, Ann,” Makoto said. “I mean it.” Makoto put a foot in Ann’s hands and reached for the top of the vending machine. At that moment, something seemed to click in Makoto’s head, and she hesitated. “Oh, I almost forgot… Please don’t look up my dress.”

“Just get moving already, Buchi-Butt.”

Makoto seemed to lose her voice at the nickname, her cheeks getting a dusting of pink, but she nodded. The two moved in unison, and soon Makoto’s found herself struggling to pull herself atop the machine, grabbing the bottom of the chain link for help. Meanwhile, Ann was trying to help her down below, pushing wherever she thought would help get Makoto’s bottom half on top of the machine. Ann heard a sharp intake followed by a quiet “Ann, watch where you’re touching.” Ann ignored it, and soon enough Makoto was perched atop the vending machines, looking down at Ann.

“I’ll try to make this quick,” Makoto said.

“And what should I do while you’re gone?”

“Just wait for me here,” Makoto said. “And if he starts to look around while I’m still on the fence, can you try to distract him?”

Ann nodded, giving her a thumbs up. “Can do!”

Makoto nodded, hoping her friend wouldn’t have to rely on her “acting” ability to distract the cop if it was necessary. She turned to the fence, beginning her climb. It went smooth, and she found herself at the top in no time. She worked her legs over the top, seeing the grass below on one side and Ann, watching the officer, on the other. Right as she cleared the top of the fence and went to move, she felt a sudden and jarring pull of resistance toward the fence. At that moment, Makoto felt her grip slip as well. Reflexively, Makoto’s eyes snapped shut as she braced herself as she fell away from the fence. She felt a moment of resistance, hearing a faint tear, before she found herself disoriented before hitting the ground, landing on her back. Makoto winced a little on impact, but she was okay. Feeling the grass beneath her, Makoto was thankful she fell while on this side and not the other. Makoto’s eyes fluttered open slowly as she laid there on the ground, wondering what happened. It didn’t take long for her to have her answer. Straight above her, at the top of the fence was-