Chokotto's Deflation

It was real late.

A thunderstorm had hung over the foothills for the last few days. Chokotto didn't mind. She loved the rain.

But as for her husband, Sakura D. Justin, while he also enjoys the rain, he really prefers to not be out working in it.

Justin personally hates working out in the rain. He and his older brother Perseus normally get soaked because the cab of Engine No. 3 is open in the back, not fully enclosed like Shay No. 2. The fire from the engine's firebox kept them nice and toasty warm, but what good is that when you're getting soaked from behind nonstop?

Justin and Perseus were assigned that day to take the passenger and supply trains high up the line to towns like Ikaros and Silver Falls. To Justin, that meant being out in the freezing rain and golf ball-sized hail for hours on end.

"Cheer up, bro!" Perseus smiled as they backed the coaches into the car barn. "At least we're not out on track inspection."

But then a call on the radio from the dispatcher's office changed that. Perseus answered, then turned back to Justin. "Do you want the bad news or the bad news first?" he asked.

"You had to open your big mouth." Justin groaned.

"Look on the bright side." Perseus said as the two walked to the Employees' Quarters to get some dry clothes. "At least the hail isn't so bad."

But while the two brothers went back out to patrol the line for any damage, Chokotto was at home, dressed in her white tank top and fuzzy pink shorts. She figured Justin would have a rather bad day at work, so she decided to use one of her temporary gigai. She went into the closet and pulled out the little package. She had spent an hour inflating the gigai by mouth, and when she was done, she swapped out of her body and into her inflatable gigai.

By the time Justin got home, Chokotto was watching TV while the angeloid placed his sword on the shelf in their bedroom. He came out dressed in his nice, dry t-shirt and gym shorts and sat beside Chokotto on the couch.

"How was your day, Justin?" Chokotto asked.

"Soaking wet and hit by hail that went from the size of marbles to one the size of a minivan." Justin groaned. "A fully-loaded minivan."

"Oh, that doesn't sound too good." Chokotto said. She took his hand in hers and placed it behind her back. Justin felt something out of place there.

It felt like...an air valve.

Chokotto was already tired and ready for bed, but Justin was still curious. Had she used her magic again? He felt it a little more, running his fingers along the strange object, until he accidentally pulled it open.

Chokotto smiled, and walked over to the door. She was deflating fast, but didn't seem to care. "Hurry up," she smiled, leaning against the doorway to stay up. "I don't plan on staying up much longer."