“Okay, hear me out—”

Satoru already had one hand on the scooter, the other adjusting his shades like it made him any more trustworthy.

“Technically,” he said, drawing out the word with dangerous confidence, “if it’s just sitting here, unchained, in public view… that means it wants to be ridden. Right?”

He patted the handlebar like it was a loyal steed. “This baby and I? Destiny.”

You blinked.

He grinned. “And before you say anything dumb—no, I don’t have a license. But I do have a sense of adventure. And balance. Kinda.”

There was a brief pause as he glanced at the engine.

“…Is this the brake? Or the throttle? Doesn’t matter.”

He looked back at you with a sparkle of unearned confidence. “What’s life without a little illegal joyride between friends, huh?”

And by the look in his eyes, it was already too late to stop him.