[b][colour=gold]“Oh, it’s not that. I'm just not used to shooting at things that shoot back,”[/colour][/b] Jäger said jokingly as Aaron patted her comfortingly on the shoulder. She turned toward him and smiled at him appreciatively before returning her gaze back out of the window. She was not particularly interested in seeing Eika’s little trick. The younger members of her club, especially the girls, would often try to impress her with such sleight of hand tricks. And each time Jäger would smile and laugh and praise them. She was too lost in her thoughts to offer Eika the same consideration. 

So many things could go wrong with this operation from the get go. And that was assuming that they weren’t simply walking straight into a trap. Jäger envied Eika her obvious courage, or oblivious mentality. What she wouldn’t give to stop her own hands from trembling in anticipation. Kageta’s excited clamouring did not help either. She tried to find the eye of the storm, as Aaron put it. Which was a good idea in principle, except that in her mind she was at sea and she couldn't swim. The mental image of herself splashing about helplessly made Jäger smile and laugh to herself.

But Kageta was right, they needed to get ready. She grabbed the tube and carefully unscrewed the lid. She reached inside and withdrew a complicated looking piece of equipment, a combination of smooth lines, mechanical joints and wire. In the centre there was a grip made especially for her hand. She gripped the centre and with a strong flicking motion caused the bow to open up, like a crabs pincers recoiling. As the bow unfolded fully the joints automatically locked into place. She tested the tautness of the bowstring, nodding to herself in satisfaction. 

Jäger turned towards the others and nodded. [b][colour=gold]“Ready as I’ll ever be,”[/colour][/b] she said as she began to fold up the mechanical bow. [b][colour=gold]“Let’s all try to die on our first day of school,”[/colour][/b] she said, only half-jokingly.