Three One Zero (Saize)

I ready the Focus Pistol in my hands, looking straight ahead at the targets in the range. Given the right timing, I can shoot all three down at once like I've always done.

I channel the Current flowing through my body from my core, to my fingers, and into the gun. It feels like a weak electric current is running its course into my extremities. Never a pleasant feeling, but I'll have to get used to it. I let it build up in the chamber while I track the moving pieces of wood before me. The barrel dislodges slightly, an easy reminder that it's charged, thought it's easy to tell with how much Currrent I've already transferred. Infusion bullets are a lot more lethal, but I'd wager this is still plenty dangerous.

My hands tingle as I place my finger on the trigger.

Three... two... one. 

Bang!

A small beam goes through a single one of the three targets, missing the rest entirely. A timing issue? Or maybe my aim was off...? Before I could tell, my vision goes blurry, giving me a massive headache. I collapse onto the floor. leaving the rest of the marksmanship club to hoist me up against the wall. 

Agh, now I can't even shoot a single beam without losing my head? 

I rest for a moment, and before I knew it, 15 minutes had passed.

As I open my eyes, I see both Captain Sana and our underclassman Naru sitting at my front. Have they been watching over me this whole time? I feel like trash making both a first year and a girl worry.

"What the hell were you doing, Saize...?" Sana says, lightly hitting me on the head with a clipboard.

"Hah, nothing different... I think I'm just slightly off my game today."

"You call this slightly?! Maybe lay off on using your Current for the time being. I know I have terrible control, but you're a different matter altogether."

Naru chimes in, jabbing at Sana, "Yeah! The captain losing her breath over a couple of rounds is one thing, but I've never seen you faint before, boss."

The captain glares at him before continuing, "I'd take you to the doctor, but it's been weeks since any school staff attended. If it weren't for the student council, I'm sure we wouldn't even be able to keep this place running."

"...Alright alright," I reply, "I'll be more careful."

"Do you have a Monopyriac injector with you? I think you need a dose."

"I have one, but I doubt I need a dose after one shot. Hand me my bag anyway, though."

"Aye aye!"

Our underclassman heads over to the corner of the room, throwing me my rucksack with a hup. It almost misses. I barely catch it with my left hand and open a zipper with the other. Can't even pass it properly? Come on, now.

"Remember to keep a stock at home?" asked Sana, "We don't know when the administrators are going to come back, and I doubt any of the third-party companies are going to give them out for free. I can live without using my Current, so I should be good for some time."

Imagine if they never come back. I shudder at the thought, wondering what would happen to someone like me that's become dependent on them. In silence, I pull out an injector, but before I could use it, I hear audible gasps from Sana and Naru. 

"What?"

"Boss..."

"Saize, your hands..."

"What about my..." I freeze up as I take a look at my hands. Between my fingers are flaps of skin. No wonder it's been so hard to grip. They're webbed like a frog's. I grimace, avoiding both their gazes as I quickly unlock the mechanism, emptying the dose into my body. In moments, my hands return to normal, and yet I look up to see the shocked faces of the other members have not. They take a few steps back each.

"...you think I'm disgusting or something?"

"No, not at all, boss, we're just worried for your..." 

Right from my palm, I fire a blast of water at him, sending the student careening through the room and smacking across the wall. He loses consciousness immediately. You're looking down on me again?

"Saize... stop..."

The webbings on my hands return, quicker than I expected. Somehow, I feel stronger. I don't remember being able to fire out something that concentrated before. Sana looks at me in horror as I reach out at her. I open my mouth to tell her it's okay but I can only speak in garbled tones. Without bothering to understand what I'm trying to say, she picks up the pistol I dropped on the ground and aims straight at me.

What, you too?! Both of you ingrates learnt everything you know about Current marksmanship from me! 

She dodges both shots that I fire at her, forcing me to leap at her before she can make another move. 

"SAIZE STOP IT!" she shouts.

Bang!!

I'm forced back as a fiery explosion engulfs my body. The flames on my body feel like hell, tearing my body apart as I burn up into a crisp. 

My last thoughts are of my failure to be a supportive senior. 

And I wish I could've been a better friend.