It was a bright and peaceful morning. Birds were chirping, the sky was blue, and somewhere, a squirrel probably just found a nut. Meanwhile, we were all hiding behind a dumpster, breathing like we just ran a marathon.
"Okay," Kazuki wheezed, bent over with his hands on his knees. "Can someone explain why the entire police force is after us?!"
"Well..." Crimson started, his voice way too casual. "It might have something to do with us pretending to be teachers and giving out test answers to literal children."
"You gave out test answers?" Kai asked, horrified.
"No, I gave them fake test answers," Crimson grinned. "Like, I told them the capital of Japan was 'Pizza Town.'"
"You're a menace," Leon sighed. "A funny menace, but still a menace."
MJ peeked over the dumpster. "Uh, guys? I think they saw us."
Five cop cars. Sirens blaring. Officers shouting. One of them had a megaphone.
"WE KNOW YOU'RE BEHIND THE DUMPSTER. COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP."
"Damn, I thought we were stealthy," Kazuki said.
"We're dressed like teachers, Kazuki. Crimson still has a bra on his head," Kai pointed out.
"Wait, you still have that on?" MJ blinked.
"It's comfy," Crimson shrugged. "Also, fashion statement."
Leon grabbed a nearby pizza box lid and screamed, "SHIELD UP!"
We booked it. Kazuki grabbed MJ by the wrist, MJ was still trying to understand why his glasses kept fogging up in panic. Crimson somehow had a skateboard and started skating down the sidewalk like a chaotic Tony Hawk.
"WHERE DID YOU EVEN GET THAT?!" Kai shouted.
"I always have one on me! CHAOS ON WHEELS, BABY!" Crimson yelled as he zoomed off.
Kazuki looked at Kai. "Split up?"
"Split up."
And just like that, we all scattered in different directions like headless chickens.
MJ's Run (a.k.a. "The Stealth Nerd")
MJ ducked into a library. Of all places.
"Maybe if I hide behind knowledge, they'll ignore me..."
He climbed a bookshelf. Then immediately fell off it. A stack of encyclopedias crashed down like dominoes.
"SHHHHHH!" screamed the librarian.
"Sorry ma'am! Just... researching escape plans!"
Crimson's Run (a.k.a. "The Pipe-Wielding Goblin")
Crimson somehow ended up in a Home Depot. No one knew how.
He grabbed a metal pipe from the shelf, looked at the camera above, and said, "You know who I am by now."
Then he started hitting the floor with it like a maniac.
Security: "Sir—what—what are you doing?!"
"Summoning the cops so I can skate away dramatically."
Which he did. Again. Right through the garden center.
Kai's Run (a.k.a. "The Lover Boy Gets Caught")
Kai tried hiding in a flower shop. He looked around, saw roses, and muttered, "Damn, these would look good if I wasn't running for my life."
A cute girl working there smiled at him. "You okay?"
"No. But you're very pretty. Wanna go out after I survive this?"
Then three cops burst in.
"Welp, nevermind!" he screamed, jumping through a window.
Kazuki's Run (a.k.a. "Why Me")
Kazuki ran into a gym. Mistake.
A buff dude saw him and said, "Hey, are you the kid that told my little brother that Saturn is flat and runs on pizza energy?!"
Kazuki blinked. "...Crimson did that."
The buff guy cracked his knuckles.
"I'M NOT CRIMSON!" Kazuki shouted, diving into the treadmill section and slipping instantly.
Leon's Run (a.k.a. "The Almost Smart One")
Leon went full spy mode. Ducking into alleyways, hopping fences.
Until he saw Crimson skating by with three cops behind him and a fourth one on a Segway.
"Leon! Get on!" Crimson yelled, tossing Leon the back of the board.
Leon hesitated for one second too long and missed. Face planted. Badly.
The Reunion
Somehow, after two hours of absolute chaos, injuries, and MJ being locked in a janitor's closet, we regrouped in Kazuki's house.
Everyone looked like they just survived a hurricane.
"Is anyone hurt?" Kai asked.
Crimson raised his hand. "I think I bruised my pride."
"You have pride?" MJ blinked.
Crimson smirked at the camera. "Not anymore."
Kazuki lay down on the couch. "Never again. We are never pretending to be teachers again."
"Agreed," Leon nodded.
Kai sighed. "So what now?"
"Ice cream," Crimson said, pulling one from his pocket.
"How long has that been in there?"
"Since the police chase."
"Dude... what?"
TO BE CONTINUED...