414 Prologue, 1993 (2/2)

”Ladder?” Mitsuo asked breathlessly when they arrived.

”Just get your bike! You'll find out,” Tadao said and grabbed both his and Natsumi's bikes. They probably had less than half a minute.

They sprinted across the gravel in the direction of the gates. Behind him Mitsuo gasped for breath. 'Good thing you're tired, or you'd understand. Damn, he's going to hate me for this,' Tadao thought and grinned.

”No way in hell! You didn't!” Mitsuo wheezed.

'Ah, he found out. Can't be helped.' Tadao rushed up the ladder Natsumi had left like a ramp from the ground to atop the gate. He still carried a bike in each arm.

”Catch!”

Natsumi obediently caught first one bike and then the next.

”Mitsuo, your bike, quick!”

Behind them teachers came rushing out on the school yard. 'You're too late!'

Tadao had to help Mitsuo across the gate, but with Natsumi ready to catch both a third bike as well as their best friend things went as planned.

”Don't you dare!”

Tadao didn't pay the roaring teacher much attention.

”Now my heroes, history is best learned where it occurred. Today we're going to Kamakura.” He straddled his bike, and waited for Natsumi and Mitsuo to do the same.

When a teacher finally got the gate open they were already half a block away. Another day turned into a field trip, another magic high school day and another day he spent with the woman he loved above anything else and the best friend anyone could ever hope for.

Life was wonderful, living was wonderful, and anything wonderful was worth exploring. What did it matter if they built a less than stellar reputation with the staff back at Himekaizen?