Work Text:
“Do you think aliens do weight training?”
“I’m not sure.”
Mob was finally nearing the last set of repetitions to that day’s workout plan, and while Tome was both familiar and fun company to have around while working out, she wasn’t sure if she could answer that. Normally, she would have just suggested writing it down on her ever growing “Questions To Remember For The Next Time I See The Aliens” list, but focusing on ignoring the sting mixed with burning that her training brought currently overtook most of her brain’s capacity.
“How do dumbbells even work? They’re too tiny to be so heavy-”
That one was easier. Once, back when she was not yet the Body Improvement Club vicecaptain, one of the first tasks Captain Musashi had given her to start preparing was creating one workout routine. Of course, that meant she had spent an entire week researching various exercises and materials.
“I read it was because of the material they are made from. It’s often metal covered with rubber, so that way they’re more durable and weigh what they should.”
“Do you think aliens have their own equivalents of dumbbells? As in, alien dumbbells.”
Tome felt silent for a second, obviously thoughtful. Suddenly, an idea struck her and she quickly pulled out her phone, frantically typing.
“I bet Maki-chan could use this for one of her stand-up answers!”
“I think next time we see the aliens, if you ask them about dumbbells, I could ask about workout ideas.”
Tome’s eyes shone with curiosity.
“Oh, I wonder if they have different exercises, or if they work out at all! Do you think they have different body structures?”
“They were thinner than us, so I would guess so. I don’t know how their muscles would work, now that I think. I’m not even sure how they stand up, since their legs are so thin. Maybe they need different exercises.”
“Oh, you’re right. I wonder if Inukawa remembers seeing anything.” After a second in silence, Tome shot up from her seat. “GRAVITY!”
Mob stopped the exercise set she was doing. “Gravity?”
“YES! I just remembered I learned more about it at least a year ago! The only math-ish lessons I did well on were the ones on space,” Tome announced proudly.
“I almost failed physics,” Mob remembered with a light blush in embarrassment. It had taken many cram school sessions combined with every single one of her friend’s efforts to help her not fail the entire year.
“Bah, what would you even need those for?”
“I don’t know,” Mob replied honestly.
"I don't know why we have to learn all that, I'm pretty sure Inukawa didn't have to use anything like that and she did stay with the aliens. We went into their spaceship and we both almost failed! Anyways, maybe they’re so thin because gravity is different in space!"
“We didn’t float in their spaceship, though.”
“Do you think they can regulate gravity in their ship?”
“I would think so, but I think we would have to ask Inukawa-chan about their planet.”
“You told me once there was a psychic who could manipulate gravity, right?”
“Yes,” Mob said. Tome had been… enthusiastic to say the least, to learn about Ishiguro’s powers.
“I wonder if there are aliens with psychic powers- Would that even be possible?”
“I’m… not sure,” Mob answered honestly.
Tome sat down, a look of annoyed defeat overtaking her features. She slipped a hand in her pocket, extracting a small package that looked like a crumpled up piece of fabric covering something.
“What do you have there, Tome-chan?” Mob asked curiously.
Tome simply extended the small pebble towards her friend, who immediately recognized it as the friendship token Tome had received from the aliens. It was small, but unlike any other rock any of the pair had seen elsewhere. Mob had realized Tome had taken the habit of carrying it everywhere as of lately.
The evening sun illuminated the stone with an almost ethereal glimmer, as if it had an aura of its own. The warm tones briefly reminded Mob of Hanazawa-chan’s aura, while it appeared more like the sun itself to Tome.
Suddenly, realization struck Mob as she realized only the late evening could bring that kind of glow.
“Tome-chan, don’t you have to go to the office today?” she said, panicking for her friend. She didn’t want Tome getting in trouble because they had been chatting too long.
“Nah, Reigen-san gave me the evening off. She has been giving me many evenings off lately, even now I’m done with my exams.”
“That’s good,” she replied.
Tome sighed heavily.
“Do you think Reigen-san only wanted me out of the office?”
“I think she genuinely wants you to hang out with your friends, Tome-san. At least she’s not calling you in without telling you in advance.”
“I mean, we don’t always have life-threatening curses arriving at the office! That was one time!”
“I couldn’t go with you and the Telepathy Club to the karaoke that one time, but I’m glad Shishou doesn’t call you in as much.”
Tome gave her a slight side eye, as if saying “right…” to herself.
“You know I don't have any powers to get called in for!” she spat out, perhaps a little more aggressive than she intended it to sound.
Mob blinked. Had she made a mistake with her words again..? This was Tome though, so it was probably more badly delivered humor than actual hurt she said it with.
After a few seconds of staring at her friend blankly, she spoke.
“If the power ever goes out, I think Reigen-shishou would have to call you.”
“Why? Serizawa-san’s powers or yours could make way more light than I could. Even your sister's, and he doesn't even work with us!”
“Because if she’s with a client, her computer goes out and her phone is dead, I don’t know if she would be able to do the math to charge the client. Serizawa-san might, but out of all of us, you’re probably the best at math right now.”
Tome stared back, before breaking into laughter. Maybe having the evening off wasn't as bad as she thought.