Chapter 2.1
The chorus of cicadas rained down relentlessly.
The second period the next day was PE under the blazing summer sun. After finishing class and shoving the last hurdle back into the equipment shed, I wiped away the sweat trickling down my face.
I've thought about this for a while now: the rule that students with attendance numbers matching the date have to clean up is way too advantageous for number 30 & 31.
"This is so unfair~"
Grumbling, I brushed the dust from my hands.
Right, I need to hurry and change. Being the only one left, awkwardly pulling off my shorts after everyone else is done, is not how I want to spend my break-
Clatter. The sound of the storage room door slamming shut. The area was plunged into dim shadow.
…Wait, am I locked in? Is this bullying? Am I really being bullied?
Panicking, I spun around.
Standing there in the dimly lit shed, with an almost shy expression, is Remon Yakishio. The sweat-soaked gym uniform clinging to her body made the toned lines of her figure all the more noticeable.
"…Yakishio-san?"
The scene before me is like something straight out of an anime, and I can't help but catch my breath.
With downcast eyes and her hair stuck to her cheek, Yakishio brushed it aside and took a step toward me.
"Hey, Nukumizu. I need to talk to you for a second."
"Okay…?"
Typically, this would be the sort of moment where you would expect something dramatic- or maybe even romantic. But unfortunately, I'm not naive enough to fall for that.
In rom-com terms, there just isn't enough buildup between me and Yakishio for some kind of gym storage room event to happen.
"Hey, what happened with that thing we talked about?"
"Uh, what thing?"
In other words, this isn't a love-related event at all. It's just a case of me overthinking things. Knowing that, there's no reason to feel flustered.
"You know, about Mitsuki borrowing those books from the Literature Club. Has he come by to get them yet?"
Oh, that. Nope. I haven't even told Ayano that he can borrow them.
Yakishio clasped her hands behind her back and, with a shy smile, started tapping the floor with the tip of her shoe.
"If you want… I could, like, deliver them to him for you or something?"
"They are an entire collection, so carrying them all at once is going to be a pain. It would be better if he came to pick them up himself-"
Seeing Yakishio fidgeting like she wants to say something, even I finally caught on.
"Then how about you tell him for me? Let him know I gave the green light, so he can come by anytime."
"Got it! Leave it to me! I'll make sure he knows!"
In the dimly lit gym storage room, Yakishio's sunny smile practically lit up the space.
The way the light streaming in reflected off the dust particles made it look like they were sparkling around her, adding a kind of magical glow.
"Okay, I'll tell him to swing by after school today!"
"Wait a second, hypothetically speaking..."
"What?"
Yakishio tilted her head, her smile not fading an inch.
We have known each other since middle school, so I feel like I owe her a bit of advice.
"What if, for example, he comes by on a day when you don't have club practice?"
That's right. If I could finesse the situation just right, she might end up tagging along to the clubroom with him. Depending on how things play out, I could even leave the clubroom to the two of them for a couple of hours-
"My club practice? Why does that matter?"
Yakishio blinked her wide, round eyes, tilting her head in genuine confusion.
"Uh, like, maybe on that day you could casually drop by the literature club for a visit? I don't think anyone would mind, Yakishio-san."
If I lay it out this clearly, surely she must understand what I mean.
"A visit… me?"
Wait, hold on. You get what I'm saying, right?
"I mean, if you just pass the message to Ayano, that's where your involvement ends, right? But if it's on a day when your club is off, you could tag along with him. Even if you can't invite him smoothly, you can just use it as an excuse to visit the clubroom. You would still run into him there."
Yakishio widened her already round eyes even further, then clapped her hands together as if struck by a revelation.
"Ohhh, I see! Nukumizu, you're smarter than I thought!"
Her face lit up with a bright smile, and she gave me a hearty slap on the shoulder. Ouch.
"Nukumizu, you're actually a pretty good guy. Guess I had you all wrong!"
This class is absolutely riddled with misunderstandings about me.
"But, uh, don't get the wrong idea, okay?! I mean, it's not like that for Mitsuki and me! We're just friends-"
"Now? You're going to say that now? Isn't it a little late for that?"
Even the lively, queen-bee-like type Yakishio, who rules the top of the social ladder, is still just a kid when it comes to romance.
Pouting to hide her embarrassment, Yakishio stuck out her lips.
"Anyway, it's hot in here! Let's just get out of this place already. How long are we gonna stay in here?"
She flapped the collar of her gym uniform to cool herself as she spoke. Like I'm the one who decided to hang out here.
Yakishio reached for the door.
"Huh? That's weird…"
"What's wrong?"
We tried opening the door together, but it wouldn't budge. Yakishio turned back toward me, looking puzzled.
"...Um, maybe the door's locked from the outside or something?"
"What?! Hey! Somebody! We're still in here!"
"Nukumizu! Don't yell like that!"
Yakishio suddenly wrapped her arm around my neck in a tight hold, pulling me back. Her arm is slick with sweat, and something soft pressed against my back-
Wait, no. That's not important. What's more pressing is how uncomfortably sticky her sweat is. How is she sweating this much?
"I-I can't breathe!"
I tried to push her off, but she had way more strength than I expected. No chance of escape.
"C-Can't… breathe…"
I frantically tapped on her arm with my hand, hoping she would let go.
"Ah, sorry! Are you okay?"
"W-were you trying to kill me...? Why did you stop me from calling for help?"
"Well, you know how our PE classes are combined with Mitsuki's class, right?"
"...So, should we call Ayano then?"
"No! That's not it! If Mitsuki saw me alone with a guy in the gym storage room…"
Yakishio fidgeted, nervously twisting her fingers.
She looks kind of adorable all of a sudden- but, seriously, this isn't the kind of situation for that.
"But if we don't hurry, everyone's going to head back to the classroom."
"When the next class comes in, they will open the door. Just hang tight for a bit."
"Then everyone will know we were stuck in here together."
"Well, uh, maybe you could dress like a girl or something…?"
"Wouldn't it be faster if you dressed like a guy, Yakishio-san?"
This conversation is going nowhere. Meanwhile, it seems like everyone else has already left. The only sound now is the relentless chirping of cicadas outside.
Yakishio grabbed the window frame near the ceiling and pulled herself up effortlessly to take a look outside.
"Huh? Why isn't anyone coming?"
"…Yakishio-san, could it be that the next PE class…is in the pool?"
"What?"
The bell for the next period rang.
"Wait, then why weren't we in the pool?"
"The teacher said the pool was booked for the second-year swimming tournament until the second period."
"Ohhh, right! So, it's back to the pool in the third period. No wonder there's nobody out on the field…"
The cicadas droned on, their chirping growing even louder in the quiet.
"Hey! I'm still in here! Somebody!"
"Help! We're stuck in here!"
After a while of shouting for help, we both slumped to the floor in exhaustion.
The weather forecast this morning said the high today would reach 35 degrees- the first official scorching day of the summer.
The temperature in the storage room keeps climbing relentlessly. My sweat, once streaming freely, started to slow down. It's not that I have gotten used to the heat- it feels more like I'm running out of sweat altogether.
"This isn't good. When do you think help will come?"
"The track team will probably come by lunchtime…"
Wow. There's literally a puddle forming around Yakishio from all her sweating. Her metabolism must be on overdrive.
"Hey, Yakishio-san, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm more of an impala than a Thomson's gazelle, after all."
"Wow, so Yakishio-san is an impala, huh."
…What is she even talking about?
"Yeah, so running on all fours is faster, you know? Which means sprinkling water works on spotted hyenas..."
"Wait, hey."
This is bad. She's definitely not okay.
I need to do something. Looking around, I notice the windows are near the ceiling, fitted with security bars. Escape through there isn't happening.
Alright, then. Something that can make a loud noise. Maybe there's a megaphone or a whistle in here…
As I rummaged through the shelves, I pulled out a dusty sports bag from the back. Opening it, I found some women's clothes and towels mixed in with an old, half-empty water bottle.
For a split second, I had hope- but the bottle's contents were covered by a thick layer of mold. Gross. Giving up on that, I put the bag back, only to find a can of cooling spray at the bottom.
"Yakishio-san! Look! Cooling spray!"
Yakishio, who had been staring off into space, lit up at the sight of it.
"Nukkun, you genius! Quick, spray me!"
...Nukkun? Is she calling me that now?
Yakishio turned her back to me, peeling off her sweat-soaked gym uniform in one swift motion. She's wearing a sports bra, but her pale, glistening back stands out starkly in the dim light of the storage room.
"Whoa! Wait a second!"
"Hurry! Up!"
I never imagined a day would come when a girl would be begging me for something like this.
Trembling slightly, I sprayed the cooling mist onto her back. She let out a noise somewhere between a gasp and a moan.
"My front next!"
She spun around to face me. Wait, hold on- isn't this kind of a lot? Her stomach's fully exposed, and those tan lines are… distracting.
As I sprayed her, her abs twitched, and she made another weird sound. Look, I swear, anyone would feel a little weird in this situation. I'm not to blame here.
"Feeling better now?"
"A little… starting to cool down…"
She murmured, collapsing to the floor with a blissful expression.
"Wait, wait, wait! Stop! Don't take that off!"
"What's the big deal? We're both girls, aren't we, Nukkun? I'm all sticky from the sweat- just hand me a towel already."
Huh!? Does she think this is the locker room or something!? She has completely lost it.
Keeping my gaze firmly averted, I grabbed a towel from the bag and handed it to her just as she was about to pull off her bra.
"P-Put your clothes back on once you're done wiping!"
"...Huh, wait. That's the old bag I lost ages ago. So it's been here this whole time."
Still drying herself off, Yakishio peeked inside the sports bag.
"Hey! Yakishio-san! Clothes! Put on your clothes!"
"Oh, there's a drink left in here!"
Wait, drink? Don't tell me it's that bottle.
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, and sure enough, she was about to put her lips on the moldy, disgusting water bottle.
"Hey! You can't drink that!"
"Hey, Nukkun! What are you doing?!"
She lunged at me, trying to wrestle the bottle back.
"Whoa! I-I'm not looking! I swear I'm not looking!"
"It's mine!"
Hey, there's something soft pressing against me! There's really something soft pressing against me now-
"Hey, is someone in there?"
A familiar voice cut through the chaos. It's our homeroom teacher, Konami Amanatsu.
"Sensei! We're here! Please open the door quickly!"
The door rattled and then slid open with a loud clatter.
Finally, freedom. Amanatsu-sensei looked inside, her expression freezing as her jaw dropped.
"What on Earth are you two doing?"
…Actually, maybe we aren't saved, after all.
Yakishio, still half-naked, is pinning me to the floor. It's a scene that isn't just "on the line" but has clearly crossed it.
"...Well, I'll just come back when you're done."
"Don't close the door! Don't close it! Sensei, help me out here!"
"You know, back in my day, we were a bit more open about these sorts of things, but even we didn't-"
"Sensei, I don't need your commentary! Just do something already!"
I managed to push Yakishio off me, and she flopped onto the floor, completely out of energy.
...Let me say this loud and clear one more time. I didn't see shit.
*
Oral rehydration solution, a mixture of salt and glucose dissolved in water, is used for emergency treatment of dehydration.
Our school's infirmary always keeps a supply on hand.
"Phew, OS-1 is crazy delicious…"
"Yeah, it really hits the spot..."
Even idiots like us are given it generously.
Amanatsu-sensei crossed her arms, gazing at us with a look of exasperation.
"You two can skip the rest of your classes and rest in the infirmary. As for you, boy, I'll let your homeroom teacher know. What's your class and name?"
"I'm Nukumizu from your class, sensei."
I have already given up on her remembering me.
"Really? Oh, well. Konuki-chan, I'll leave the rest to you."
Taking her place in front of us is the school nurse, Konuki-sensei.
I always thought the idea of young, attractive school nurses was just an urban legend, but Konuki-sensei shattered that assumption. She crossed her long, slender legs with a fluid motion, radiating an aura that could only be described as dangerously charming. Her mischievous smile made my heart skip a beat.
"How are you two feeling?"
"Uh, w-we're fine now. Thanks."
I couldn't help but fumble over my words. Why is Konuki-sensei so unnecessarily seductive?
"Sensei, can I have seconds?"
Yakishio, as spacey as ever, held out her empty bottle toward Konuki-sensei.
"Of course. Here you go. Drink it slowly."
"Yay!"
With a childlike grin, Yakishio eagerly started on her second bottle of OS-1.
Suddenly, Konuki-sensei's expression turned serious.
"Heatstroke is no joke. It's life-threatening, and it can leave you with permanent damage."
"Yes, we're sorry."
"It's fine. When you're young, these things happen. Sometimes, the more something burns, the harder it is to stop…and restrictions just make things more intense, don't they?"
"…Sorry, what? What do you mean by that?"
"Ara, ara, no need to spell it out."
She placed her index finger gently against my lips, smiling playfully.
"Whatever you two were up to… it will stay our little secret, okay?"
It feels like she has completely misunderstood the situation. Explaining it would just be a pain, so I decided to change the subject.
"Uh, Konuki-sensei, are you close with Amanatsu-sensei?"
"Yes, I am. We were actually classmates here at this school."
"So, you're our senpai. What kind of student was Amanatsu-sensei?"
"It's probably hard to imagine, but she was a bit clumsy and reckless."
…Nope, I can totally imagine that.
"We used to come to this infirmary together all the time. Mostly because she was always tripping over something."
Konuki-sensei chuckled softly as if recalling fond memories from her school days.
"…I never thought I would end up working in this school, in this very room."
Konuki-sensei said, crossing her stocking-clad legs and gazing nostalgically at the ceiling.
"Sensei, is there something on the ceiling?"
"The stains on it- they are just the same as they were back then."
"You remember something like that?"
What is this, some story about her being sickly and always lying in the infirmary? Then she grows up, becomes a school nurse, and comes back here to work? That would be a nice little story.
"Well, it's only natural. From that…position… the ceiling is always in view."
...Correction: This person is definitely insane.
"Now, once you've finished drinking, go lie down on one of the beds for a while."
She said, pulling back the curtain that separated the beds.
Konuki-sensei helped the drowsy Yakishio onto one of the beds, then took the empty bottle from my hand.
"Alright, you rest too. You're probably more worn out than you realize."
"Thank you. I'll take a short rest."
I lay down on the bed, and my eyes were drawn to the same ceiling stains Konuki-sensei had mentioned. For some reason, the image of her in our school uniform flashed through my mind. Shaking off the thought, I pulled the blanket over my head.
…Sensei, seriously, I don't need that kind of information.
*
As the echo of the bell faded away, I turned over in a half-asleep daze.
How long have I been out? Judging by the faint chatter coming from the hallway, it's probably already lunchtime.
Through a gap in the curtain, I can see Yakishio sound asleep. Her shirt has ridden up, exposing her stomach. I wonder if she's gonna catch a cold, but going in to pull the blanket over her seems… inappropriate.
"Ahh, I don't feel like eating lunch today."
And as the words left my mouth, I realized they were true. Yeah, lunch just sounded like too much effort. I didn't have much of an appetite anyway, so I decided to just stay put until the break ended.
As I was savoring the soft texture of the sheets against my cheek, Konuki-sensei suddenly yanked the curtain open with gusto.
"Nukumizu-kun, you have a visitor."
Behind Konuki-sensei stood Yanami, waving at me cheerfully.
"Huh? Yanami-san? Why are you here?"
"I heard that you and Remon-chan got carried to the infirmary. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, thanks for checking in on me. Yakishio-san seems to be sleeping soundly, too."
I said as I sat up on the bed. For some reason, Konuki-sensei was looking at me with eyes full of anticipation.
"Yanami-san brought you your lunch, Nukumizu-kun. Ara, ara, your hands are pretty full, aren't they?"
"Uh, sensei, I think you might be misunderstanding something here."
Konuki-sensei nodded sagely as if confirming her own conclusions.
"Right, I understand. I'll leave you two alone. Yanami-san, you're welcome to use this room for a while."
"Thank you, sensei. Let's eat, Nukumizu-kun."
With a cheerful smile, Yanami held out a bag containing my lunch.
Konuki-sensei grinned mischievously, not even bothering to hide it, as she left the room.
"It locks from the inside, so take your time."
She added as the door clicked shut behind her. How did someone like her even become a teacher…? The same goes for Amanatsu-sensei, honestly.
"Hm? What's that?"
I noticed something behind the stack of books on Konuki-sensei's desk: the lens of a smartphone camera.
…What is it trying to record? I quickly reached over and stopped the video recording.
"Nukumizu-kun, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Alright, let's dig in."
Yanami and I sat facing each other, and she pulled out a large plastic container. It seems she has given up trying to fit both of our portions into a regular lunchbox.
Inside is a big, fluffy yellow mound.
"Omurice?"
"Yep! I'm pretty confident about this one. I managed to wrap it perfectly, too."
She stabbed a spoon into the center of the omelet and began cutting it into pieces.
…So, how are we supposed to eat this? Surely, she doesn't mean for us to take turns eating from the same container. No way, right?
As I hesitated, Yanami handed me a small white plate.
"I borrowed it from the home economics room. Here, hold the plate."
With minimal care, she tipped the contents of the container onto the plate, where it landed with a sloppy plop. Couldn't she have done that a little more neatly?
"Alright, hands together. Let's eat."
"Ah, yes. Let's eat."
It has been ages since I last had omurice. As I took my first bite, a familiar taste filled my mouth. Ah, yeah, this is precisely how omurice tastes.
"It's good, right? So, how much would you price it at?"
"Let's see. 400 yen…?"
"400 yen? Not bad at all."
Yanami nodded to herself, spoon in hand, as if she had just made some grand conclusion.
Well, it's not like I was wrong. If I went to the local supermarket and bought a bento, 400 yen would be just about right.
"This is what they call 'sontaku', right?"
Yanami suddenly said something obnoxious.
"...Uh, what does that mean?"
"You know, the unspoken consideration. Giving a low price feels disrespectful to the person who made it, so you hold back. But at the same time, you don't want to seem stingy, so your pride gets in the way. On the other hand, giving it a high price feels like you're getting ripped off, which you can't justify to yourself."
She's not wrong. I had no comeback, and apparently, no need for one, as Yanami continued with a smug look.
"And so, the compromise of 400 yen… Am I wrong? Huh? Am I?"
You're not wrong. But let me remind you. I'm being considerate of you here.
"Nukumizu-kun, let me ask you this: That 400 yen. Was it really the amount you wanted to give?"
Alright, then. Let me humor Yanami's impassioned speech.
"Okay, then. I won't hold back. 300-"
"No, no, no! Not that way!"
Wait, how is that wrong in this context?
"Sheesh, you scared me. That's why I don't like this part of you, Nukumizu-kun."
What do you mean, Yanami-san?
"Don't worry, I'll shatter this 400-yen barrier for you."
Bang! Yanami dramatically pulled out a thermos.
"Ah, I see. You're trying to boost the value with soup."
But just because there's soup doesn't mean the value automatically increases. In today's cutthroat food industry, free soup with lunch is practically standard. Some cafés even throw in some coffee and toast in the morning.
Yanami opened the lid of the thermos and poured its contents over the omurice.
"When did I say this was soup?"
"Wait, is that…white sauce?"
So that's why she hadn't put ketchup on the omurice. While I prefer ketchup, the extra touch of white sauce adds sophistication. It's the kind of thing a man with refined taste would appreciate. I have no choice but to revise the score.
"450-"
No, wait. Knowing her, she's probably planning to stack even more toppings to inflate the price further. I can't jump to conclusions yet.
"Huh? Did you say something just now?"
Nice try. I'm not falling for it. I stayed silent and took a spoonful.
"…What is this? It's amazing!"
"Hehe… I used a special white sauce made by the Imperial Hotel, an end-of-year gift that had been sitting around unused. Now, tell me, how much would you pay for this taste? The Imperial Hotel's flavor!"
…Damn, I've been cornered. Once the name Imperial Hotel is dropped, there's no way I can suggest a half-hearted price. If I did, I would be ridiculed as someone either ignorant of fine cuisine or too poor to appreciate it.
"5-500 yen."
"500 yen, sold!"
Yanami smirked, one corner of her mouth curling upward.
I have been completely played. But still, considering how things unfolded, I would say I kept the damage to a minimum-
"Wow, you guys seem to be having fun over here."
Yawning broadly, Yakishio emerged from behind the curtain.
"Ah, Remon-chan! Morning! Feeling better?"
"Yep, totally fine. Just needed some rest, now I'm good as new."
"Yakishio-san, I'm glad to see you're okay. For a moment there, I was really worried about-"
My mind flashed back to her barely dressed state in the gym storage room. My thoughts spiraled, leaving me flustered. Yakishio gave me a puzzled look as she plopped into a chair.
"Hey, Nukkun. I don't really remember what happened after a certain point. How did things turn out?"
"Uh, w-well! Amanatsu-sensei came to rescue us!"
"Oh, I don't remember that at all. So, Amanatsu-sensei also helped me get changed?"
She tugged at the collar of her gym uniform as she spoke, and for a brief moment, the image of her pale skin resurfaced in my mind.
"Yes! Amanatsu-sensei helped you change! I didn't see anything! Definitely didn't see anything!"
"Obviously. What kind of guy would look at a girl while she's changing?"
"Nukumizu-kun, that's a little creepy, you know."
The two girls shot me cold stares as I floundered. Please, stop calling me creepy. It makes me want to die.
"Anyway, what's that? It looks delicious."
"Right? I made it! Here, say ahh."
Yanami held out a spoonful to Yakishio, who took a bite with a delighted expression.
"Whoa, this is amazing! What's this sauce? It's incredible!"
"Right? It's the Imperial Hotel's special sauce. Though Nukumizu-kun didn't quite grasp its value~"
Yanami grinned at me mischievously as she fed Yakishio another bite- from my plate, no less.
"Here, one more bite for you!"
"Excuse me, is Remon here?"
Clatter. The door slid open, and poking his head inside was none other than Mitsuki Ayano. He caught sight of Yakishio mid-bite, her mouth wide open, and couldn't help but let a small smile creep onto his face.
"M-Mitsuki!?"
Yakishio immediately sat up straight, her back stiff as a board. Even under her tanned skin, it's obvious her face has turned bright red.
"I heard you collapsed from a heatstroke. Looks like you're doing just fine."
"N-No, I'm totally about to faint! Mitsuki, you came to take care of me, right?"
"Here, I brought you something. Thought you could eat this."
He said, holding out a bag containing jelly packs and apple juice.
"For me?"
"Though, if you're this lively, maybe you don't need it."
"I do! I wasn't feeling well enough to eat earlier, so this is perfect. Thank you!"
"Yeah, I can see that."
Ayano reached out and lightly touched Yakishio's cheek.
"M-Mitsuki…!?"
"You've got rice stuck to your face. Your cheeks can't eat, okay?"
He chuckled, plucking the grain of rice from the corner of her mouth.
"T-Thank you."
"Alright, I'll be heading out then."
"Wait! If you would like, why not stay for a bit? Yana-chan made this omurice, and it's delicious!"
Yakishio said quickly, trying to stop him from leaving.
"Omurice, huh?"
"Mitsuki-san, there you are."
Another voice came from the open doorway. A cute, cheerful face peeked in. It's Chihaya Asagumo, one of Mitsuki Ayano's cram school friends.
"Chihaya? What's up?"
"I know there's no cram school today, but I thought I would head to the self-study room. Want to come along?"
"Sorry, I have to head home early today. I'll see you tomorrow at cram school."
"Got it. I'll text you later tonight, then."
Chihaya Asagumo said with a breezy wave as she left. Ayano let out a light laugh.
"Jeez, I already said I'll see you tomorrow, didn't I?"
He's not too displeased despite his words.
…Wait a second. These two? The vibe between them feels… different from back when I used to go to cram school with Ayano.
"Alright, I'm heading back to class. Don't push yourself too hard, Remon."
"Y-Yeah. Thanks a lot!"
Yakishio watched Ayano's retreating figure, her face completely overtaken by the expression of a girl in love.
"...So, there's definitely some love vibes radiating off Remon-chan right now."
Yanami said, nudging me with her elbow as she had somehow appeared at my side.
"Yeah. It seems like Yakishio-san has a thing for Ayano."
"Really? That's kind of an unexpected pairing."
"I've known them both since middle school, but I think the two of them have been together since elementary, maybe?"
"They are childhood friends, in other words."
…Childhood friends, huh? So that's how Yanami sees it.
Noticing my lack of reaction, Yanami sighed and shrugged dramatically.
"Listen, Nukumizu-kun. There are two kinds of girls: childhood friends…or homewreckers."
That's a bold classification, to say the least. Yanami, her expression suddenly serious, turned to me.
"So, who was that girl earlier?"
"Asagumo-san. She's been in the same cram school as Ayano since the third year of middle school, I think."
At that moment, as if snapping out of her dreamy state, Yakishio suddenly leaned forward over the desk, nearly causing the plate to bounce into the air.
"Hey, what do you guys think about Mitsuki and Asagumo-san?"
"Hmm, they seem close, but they just met recently, right? They're probably just friends."
"Right?! Just friends, totally just friends!"
"...But didn't they give off kind of a couple-esque vibe earlier?"
"Ha?" (x2)
The energy from the two of them made me flinch involuntarily. Scary.
"Huh? W-What?"
"Nukumizu-kun. Do you seriously think a fleeting year could ever compare to the long history of childhood friendship nurtured from elementary school on?"
"Exactly! Yana-chan totally gets it!"
I'm pretty sure I just saw a ten-year veteran lose to a recent two-month newbie, but okay.
"You know, Remon-chan, I can't help but feel like we're kindred spirits. I'm rooting for you."
"Thanks! That really cheers me up!"
Well, it's good she's feeling better. That's nice and all, but-
"Uh, Yakishio-san. That's my lunch, by the way."
"Huh? Oh, is it? It's delicious, Nukkun. You should try some, too."
"Yakishio-san, the spoon you're using is mine…"
"Hmm? Go ahead. Take it."
Yakishio wobbled the spoon up and down in her mouth like some kind of invitation.
With a mix of resignation and irritation, I pulled the spoon out. It slid free with a slightly slick, unsettling sensation that somehow felt… Nope. Nope. Just my imagination. Never mind that it's completely covered in her saliva.
Feeling my mood drop further, I shoved the spoon back into her mouth.
"Ugh!"
"I'm not really hungry, so go ahead and eat more if you want."
Come to think of it, I've always been bad with sharing drinks or utensils. I have forgotten since I rarely find myself in those situations.
"Nah, I would feel bad. I'll at least leave you a little."
Right, a little. Thanks.
"Oh, by the way, Nukumizu-kun. Komari-chan left a message for you. She said to come to the clubroom after school no matter what."
Yanami said that mid-bite. What now? Did the student council find something else to scold us about?
I glanced across the table at the two munching girls before me.
Yanami and Yakishio. Both are undeniably cute, but their personalities are a bit…much. There's also something about Yakishio that radiates a losing heroine vibe, which somehow feels similar to Yanami's energy.
As I pondered these things, Yakishio suddenly shoved a lukewarm spoonful of omurice into my mouth. The mix of sauce and egg spread across my tongue.
"Huh!?"
"I left some for you, see?"
She said casually, standing up with a burst of energy.
"Alright, I'm heading back to class. Tell sensei I'm grateful!"
Wait, hold up. Did she seriously just do that? A spoon from her mouth into mine? Who even does that? Does she think she can get away with this just because she's cute? Well, she is cute, but that's not the point.
While I sat there frozen, Yakishio walked out. Yanami, watching the whole scene unfold, gave me a mischievous grin.
"Huh, someone's looking a little red."
"No! That's not true!"
"Indirect kiss, huh? Tsk, tsk. Don't go having weird thoughts while at school."
"I-It's nothing like that!"
I grabbed the plate and shoveled what was left of the omurice into my mouth, trying to drown out Yanami's teasing.
"Oh, by the way, I'm going shopping with a friend today, so I won't be dropping by the Literature Club."
"Got it. Thanks for letting me know."
Wait, does that mean she plans on visiting the Literature Club regularly? I thought she didn't even know what we did there.
"Are you sure you can go to the Literature Club alone? Won't you get lonely and cry?"
What's that supposed to mean? Is Yanami teasing me again?
When I glanced up, however, she was looking at me with an expression of genuine concern.
…Wait, is she seriously worrying about me?
"I can go to the club on my own, no problem."
"Really? That's a relief. Well, good luck!"
Yanami's tense expression relaxed into a smile, and she scooped up the remaining grains of rice with her spoon.
…Just what kind of character am I in Yanami's mind?
*
That afternoon, in the Literature Club room, Tsukinoki-senpai cast a serious gaze over me and Komari.
Komari, who had been nervously fiddling with her fingers, quickly hid her hands under the table when she noticed me looking at her.
"So, the reason I've gathered you two here today is…nothing less than a major announcement regarding the future of our Literature Club's activities."
With an exaggerated flourish, senpai raised both index fingers dramatically.
"There's a troublesome matter and a fairly troublesome matter. Which one should I start with?"
"Is there no 'not troublesome' option?"
"If you insist, I could go with the long, dull, soul-crushingly tedious matter."
"...Uh, no, thank you. Please start with the troublesome one."
Nodding grandly, Senpai lowered one finger and began.
"It's time to graduate from the days of simply reading books. We're venturing into the realm of writing as well!"
"Wait, so the Literature Club wasn't writing anything before this?"
"Hey now, we used to write! Back in the day, we even published club magazines. There was even talk about a member winning the Minister of Education's Award- though that turned out to be a rumor. Or maybe not. Actually, definitely not."
So, it was definitely a rumor.
"Then why aren't we writing now?"
"You just don't get it, do you?"
Tsk, tsk, tsk! Senpai wagged her finger dramatically and smirked.
"Claiming we'll write but never actually doing it- that's who we are."
Komari nodded earnestly in agreement. Is this some kind of Literature Club inside joke?
"To be honest, the student council called us out at the last club presidents' meeting. They pointed out that while our stated activities include writing, we haven't been producing anything at all."
"I see."
"I thought we had cleverly hidden that part, but somehow they found out. I wonder how…"
A certain ominous student council member came to mind.
…Shit, I need to change the subject.
"So, we're going to make another club magazine?"
"No, printing costs and distribution are a hassle. That's why…"
With a triumphant expression, Tsukinoki-senpai held up her smartphone.
"We're setting sail into the vast sea of the internet! We're going to post on
Clap, clap, clap. Komari inexplicably began applauding. Tsukinoki-senpai raised her hand to silence her like this was a rehearsed act. Suspicious.
"It doesn't matter if it's a short story or just the first chapter- what's important is that we upload something."
True, using a website eliminates the hassle of printing and distributing. For a school club, it's a pretty reasonable idea.
"And now, onto the fairly troublesome matter."
Oh, right, there's still one more. I instinctively straightened my back.
"In line with our new goal, we'll be having a Literature Club training camp this weekend!"
"Huh?"
"I managed to reserve two rooms at the Youth Center in Tahara. We're going this weekend."
"Hold on a second. This weekend? That's the day after tomorrow."
"The modern publishing industry demands speed! Momentum is the key, and I'm not letting you younger folks outpace me. Can you two keep up?"
Komari, overwhelmed by senpai's enthusiasm, almost started clapping again before stopping to type on her phone. She showed us the screen.
Yeah, I'm not exactly thrilled about this either.
"Hmph… you two just don't understand. But will you still feel that way after hearing this word?"
Tsukinoki-senpai's smirk deepened, and for some reason, her glasses glinted ominously.
"Kanzume."
Huh? She doesn't mean tuna cans, right? Oh, wait, she must be talking about the writer's term for being confined to a hotel room to finish a manuscript. But so what?
"O-Ohh…"
Komari, looking starry-eyed, gazed off into the distance. Wait, what's that reaction?
"Doesn't it sound thrilling? Stirring?!"
"Y-Yes! Kanzume! S-So cool!"
Komari nodded furiously, her neck almost a blur. Really? Is it? Honestly, I don't get it.
"You can write on your phone, on paper, whatever works for you. I'll bring my laptop so we can handle uploading during the camp."
"But we haven't even decided what to write yet."
"Writing can wait until the weekend. For now, just come up with a plot for whatever you want to write."
I have always had a few vague ideas in mind for something I might write someday, but this is way too sudden.
"Do you already know what you're going to write, senpai?"
"Well, since it's
That was…unexpected. I didn't take her for someone who followed trends.
"The story begins with Mishima committing seppuku and reincarnating into another world. Dazai, unable to bear being apart from him, drowns himself in the Tamagawa River to follow him. That's the hook."
…Senpai, could you at least try to lean into the genre's conventions a little?
"Um, isn't the timeline backward? Didn't Dazai die first?"
"Ah, trivial details like that can be ignored when crafting fiction. What matters is the love they share for each other."
"Komari-san, is that normal?"
I whispered to her.
Komari didn't even look up as she typed her response on her phone.
"Besides, in the version of reality I'm using, getting hit by the Yamanote Line train can be cured with a quick trip to a hot spring. Sadly, though, my story's R18, which means I can't share it with you."
Wait a second, isn't this supposed to be a club activity?
"R18… not good…"
Wait, what? Who said that just now?
"Whoa!"
Looking toward the bookshelves, I spotted a shadow blending into the dim light- it was Shikiya-san, the second-year student council secretary. Unlike my startled reaction, Tsukinoki-senpai only spared her a brief, knowing glance.
"Shikiya, how long have you been here?"
"Who knows… I was waiting for someone…and fell asleep for a bit…"
Shikiya tilted her head with an air of lethargy, staring at me with her melancholic gaze.
"At least…you're doing…activities. Impressive…"
Without looking at her notebook, she scribbled something down and then collapsed into the chair next to her with a nearly inaudible sigh.
"Tsukinoki-senpai… if you're doing a training camp, submit the form…"
"Got it. I'll have the club president bring it in by tomorrow."
"The student council…is always watching…"
It's okay if you're watching, but could you at least blink once in a while? Now, even Komari has hidden herself behind the bookshelf.
"Shikiya, does the student council have it out for us?"
"No… we're targeting… all clubs… cutting costs… shutting down… annihilation…"
That's a terrifying thing to say.
After a while, Shikiya-san left the room without another word.
What's her deal? I still haven't figured out how to process that person.
"Um, senpai. Do you know Shikiya-san?"
"Yeah, we had a bit of history back in the day. Normally, she's even quieter than that. She basically doesn't move at all."
"How does she even manage high school life like that?"
"Surprisingly, she's got great grades. I heard she ranked in the top ten of our year on the last test."
No way. A gal but also a high-achiever? That's way too appealing a character setup for me. If she weren't so terrifying, she would be perfect.
"Senpai, you also seem like you would be good at studying."
I barely finished the sentence before Komari kicked my chair.
"N-Nukumizu! T-Tsukinoki-senpai's grades are f-forbidden territory in this club!"
"Wait, senpai, are your grades bad?"
I stopped short of saying, but you wear glasses…
"Let's just call them full of potential. What about you? You took the midterms recently, didn't you?"
"Uh, yeah. I think I ranked 37th in our year."
For a moment, both of them fell silent in surprise. Do I really seem like I would do worse than that?
"That's…not very inspiring."
"Y-Yeah, so m-mediocre. R-Reflect on it."
Wait, what? Why am I suddenly getting roasted here?
"What we're saying is, there should be something. Like, you could be a top-tier cool honors student, locked in a rivalry with the number-one guy in class. Or, on the other end, struggling to avoid failing and secretly taking lessons from a sadistic class president. There's gotta be some potential there."
No thanks. I don't need that kind of potential.
"Honestly, s-senpai's situation, r-ranking, like, 222nd might actually be…more interesting."
"Well, I do have a certain charm when it comes to that range."
Why is she getting embarrassed?
If I remember correctly, our school has six classes per grade, with 38 students in each. That makes 228 students per year…
"Are you okay, senpai? Isn't this your last year before exams?"
"I'm fine. I'm fine. I've got decisiveness, after all. I've already decided on my target schools."
"...Uh, you know it's the schools that do the deciding, right?"
I have been fooled by the glasses and her beauty, but this person is kind of a mess.
"Uh, s-senpai, what s-should we do on Saturday?"
Prompted by Komari's question, Tsukinoki-senpai began searching on her phone as if she had just remembered the trip.
"Let's see. We'll take the Atsumi Line, head south until it feels right, and get off somewhere. There'll probably be a bus or something. Yeah, I'm sure there will be."
…This plan sounds very not okay.
"Alright then, let's meet around 7 or 8 in the morning at the Aidaimae Station gate."
Senpai said with a cheerful smile.
Yeah, this is definitely not okay.
*
On my way home from the club room, I made a detour to the Seibunkan Bookstore's main branch in front of Toyohashi Station. It's the largest bookstore in the city and perfect for checking out new releases.
Since we're posting on
I have already checked out the site's popular works and trending keywords, but web novels turned into books are often released in large formats. They are shelved separately from paperbacks, so I want to see the in-store situation.
"As expected, isekai dominates…"
Isekai has often been likened to comedy skits or period dramas, with its endless attempts to differentiate itself while simultaneously building a shared genre framework. It's fascinating how this ecosystem has developed.
"Looks like this is the target to aim for."
"N-Nukumizu, you're in the w-way."
A small girl suddenly shoved me aside.
"Huh? Komari-san? What are you doing here?"
"R-Research. I d-don't really understand light novels, so I thought I would study up."
Komari gazed at the colorful covers with curiosity.
"R-Recent light novels…are r-really big, huh…"
"Yeah. The large-format section mostly consists of books adapted from web novels. Most of these are just your average trash isekai with overpowered MCs."
"I-It's that, right? R-Reincarnation and stuff?"
"Pretty much. The genre has seen recurring themes over the past decade: reincarnation, cheat abilities, and slow-life stories. These two seemingly contradictory elements, overwhelming power and a relaxing, peaceful life, actually have a common origin in the desires of people worn out by the harshness of the real world."
"C-Common origin?"
"It's full affirmation. A world where no one gets hurt. A gentle, forgiving place."
"I-Isn't a wholesome, feel-good theme e-enough?"
"It's not bad, but you need cheats or an awe-inspiring skillset. The main audience, the adults, know that even in an idyllic isekai world, a laid-back retirement isn't attainable unless you have something extraordinary."
"B-Being a grown-up is h-harsh…"
Komari sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping.
"Victory and praise through battles, peace and love through a slow life, these two elements are fundamentally the same. It's just a matter of using different frameworks. Lately, there's been a rise in female-targeted genres, like doormat heroines or stories branching out from broken engagements into variations of exile narratives-"
"…T-too long. So, um, even t-titles that seem similar h-have reasons behind them?"
Reincarnation, cheats, and now long explanatory titles? I've answered that question in my head countless times.
"A title is essentially a product description aimed at readers. Like,
"W-Wow. So, do you a-already have a t-title for what you're going to write, N-Nukumizu?"
"Of course. The ultimate, optimal title would be
"T-That one's already h-here."
"Huh?"
Ah, she's right. There it is. And it's already up to Volume 5.
Ah, great. Turns out it's already been done. My mental draft even had the protagonist marrying his sixth wife by the latest volume.
"H-Hehe…"
Komari couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Y-You were so confident, but it already e-exists!"
Damn it. I can't argue with that.
"Well, how about you, Komari-san? Do you know what you're going to write?"
"I…I'm not interested in i-isekai. Mine's more like…this."
She led me to a corner of the general paperback section. The shelves are filled with romance novels and supernatural-themed stories, including books that have been adapted into dramas and movies.
"A-Actually, I've already s-started writing s-something…"
"Wait, seriously?"
Shoot. She's ahead of me.
"So, uh… do you have a title yet?"
I tried to sound casual, but I was ready to shamelessly steal her ideas if they were good.
Blushing slightly, Komari held out her phone.
Judging from the title, it seems to fall under the category of character-driven light novels. Unfortunately, I don't know much about that genre. Curious, I glanced at the nearby shelves to see what was popular.
"Huh, there's a book with the same title here."
"N-No, look closer. That o-one says Case Records. M-Mine's Case Files."
"...So, does that make it a different title?"
"O-Of course."
Komari puffed out her chest proudly.
"So basically, you're saying not to worry about overlapping titles, huh?"
"Y-Yours was blatantly overlapping! M-Mine's completely different!"
"Yours is basically the same thing, Komari."
"D-Don't just call me by my n-name!"
Komari shot me a glare that was supposed to look intimidating but came off more like she was sulking. Wait a second.
"You're the one who started calling me by just my name first. Besides, adding -san all the time is a hassle."
"I, well, I guess that's t-true, but…"
Grumbling to herself, she fidgeted with the hem of her uniform, clearly not satisfied but unable to argue. As usual, she's a handful.
"Alright, I'm going to grab a book and head home."
"P-Please wait! I…Is Y-Y-Yanami coming t-today?"
"Huh? No, she's not. Why?"
"T-That's not what I meant! Is Y-Yanami…going to join the club?"
"I don't know. She seems interested in visiting the club room, but why? Are you worried?"
Maybe Komari just wanted another girl in the club. It would make things less awkward for her.
"Y-Yanami is…cute."
"Well, yeah, Yanami's cute. What about it?"
"C-Cute girls aren't supposed to be in…L-Literature Clubs."
Hold on. Apologize to every literature club girl in the country right now. Do it.
"Come on, that's not true. Look at Tsukinoki-senpai. She's beautiful, isn't she?"
Wait, hold up. Praising one of the only two female members in this conversation makes the other one…
"S-She doesn't count. I'm just… I'm like this…"
"No way. Don't put yourself down like that."
As expected, this is turning into a headache. Time for damage control. Maybe if I focus on her good points, I could salvage this.
I glanced at Komari's profile out of the corner of my eye. Her pale lips, trembling slightly, are subtle but delicate. Her eyes, partially hidden by her bangs, are big and striking despite their understated double eyelids.
"You've got a nice face too, Komari. There's nothing for you to feel bad about."
"U-Una!?"
Her bag slipped from her hand, and she practically jumped away from me. Blushing furiously, she muttered in a strained voice.
"#MeToo…moment…"
"What!? No, no, I just said what I thought! There wasn't anything weird about it!"
Why am I being accused of this just for giving a compliment?
Komari glared at me with trembling indignation, and I sighed inwardly. Well, if she dislikes me that much, there's nothing I can do about it.
"You're right. Talking about someone's appearance, even as a compliment, was out of line. My bad."
"I-It's fine, as long as you understand…"
I'm only going to the club because I was asked to, and yet I'm being treated like this?
"I'll smooth things over with Yanami-san, and I'll cut back on how often I visit the clubroom."
"E-Eh? Hey, h-hold on…!"
Ugh, this has become such a pain. I'll just buy a book and get out of here.
As I turned to leave, Komari suddenly smacked the back of my head with her palm.
"Ow! What now!?"
"I-I mean… no! That's not what I meant!"
Komari stammered, looking flustered as she stepped closer, still angry for some incomprehensible reason.
What even is this? Is she mad at me or mad in general? This feels like I'm being yelled at for no reason.
"I-I'll get senpai to s-scold you! So you b-better show up to club t-tomorrow!"
"Fine, fine. I'll come tomorrow, okay? So stop getting so worked up."
Still not satisfied, Komari typed furiously on her phone and shoved it in my face.
And with that declaration, she turned and sprinted away.
What the hell just happened? I seriously don't understand. Not one bit. She even spat a little while yelling.
Feeling drained, I wiped the droplets off my face.
*
It had gotten pretty late by the time I left.
Though peak summer was over, the evening sun still painted the city in a faint reddish hue. Soon, the sky would darken with hints of blue, and daytime would fade away completely.
With an inexplicable sense of unease creeping over me, I quickened my pace on the way home.
Ahead of me, I spotted a familiar figure in a school uniform. Illuminated by the vivid evening sun streaming diagonally through the gaps between buildings, it's my younger sister, Kaju, walking with heavy-looking shopping bags in hand. Somehow, I felt a slight sense of relief and grabbed the bags from behind her.
"You scared Kaju! Onii-sama, are you just getting back now?"
"Yeah. You're out late too, Kaju."
"Mom and Dad said they would be home late, so Kaju ended up chatting with friends for a while."
Peeking into the bag, I saw fresh udon noodles, green onions, quail eggs, and yam... No doubt, she's planning to make our family staple, Toyohashi-style curry udon.
Suddenly, I noticed Kaju glancing up at me with a slightly upward gaze.
"What's up?"
"Onii-sama, Kaju will be away from home this weekend. Is that okay?"
"I don't mind. Why are you asking, though?"
"Well, Kaju thought you might feel lonely. You won't cry all by yourself, will you?"
Why does everyone assume I'm some kind of needy, lonely guy? Seriously, it's getting old.
"I'll be fine. Besides, I'm heading out this weekend, too, for an overnight club training camp."
"Eh!? So you've finally made some friends, onii-sama?"
"Wait, no, it's not like that-"
Before I could finish, Kaju darted off with quick, excited steps and burst into a dried goods store nearby.
"Excuse me! Could Kaju have some of your best adzuki beans? Kaju is making celebratory red rice!"
"Oh my, Kaju-chan. Did something good happen?"
The shop owner asked as he came out, wiping his hands on his apron. Kaju, of all people, seems to know a surprising number of folks around here.
"Well, Kaju's onii-sama has finally made his first friend! Kaju thought it would be great to hand out celebratory red rice to mark this occasion."
"Well, that's great news. You're the older brother, right? We've all been worried about you at the shopping district meetings."
Wait, what? Since when did this become a topic of discussion? Does this mean I can never show my face in this shopping district again?
"We were even thinking of making you a checkpoint for the stamp rally. But I guess that's unnecessary now, huh?"
Please don't. Seriously, stop.
"Anyway, it's such a happy occasion. Kaju-chan, I've got some glutinous rice here too. Take it as a gift for your celebration."
"Thank you so much, sir! By the way, onii-sama, what kind of friends are they? They must be wonderful, just like you, right?"
Kaju's eyes sparkled as she pressed me for details.
"Uh, well, um..."
"Wait, could it be...a girl!? What should Kaju do!? Kaju guesses it's Kaju's duty as your sister to interview her personally-"
"No, I didn't exactly make a friend. I just joined the Literature Club, so there are senpais and classmates there..."
"Wait, so you didn't make a friend…?"
"Uh, no…"
The store fell utterly silent. The motion-detecting lights clicked off with a faint clack. Dark.
"On second thought, please make it soybeans. Kaju will simmer them gently with kelp."
"...Ah, yeah, sure. I'll throw in some barley for free, too."
The atmosphere turned funeral-like. Did I do something wrong?
"Uh, um, I'll try a bit harder from now on."
"...Alright, but please don't push yourself too much, okay?"
With that somber mood still lingering, we headed home.
"Even so, joining a club and going on a training camp, it's your first time doing something like this, isn't it?"
"The last time was probably that Boy Scouts trip I was forced to go on in fifth grade."
That summer vacation is still a trauma for me.
"Joining a club, going on trips like this... Onii-sama, you're taking small steps forward, aren't you?"
"Hmm, maybe. Feels more like I'm just going with the flow, though."
"Even so, isn't that fine? Sometimes, it's good to ride along with a positive current."
Kaju gave a gentle smile and reached out to pat my head.
"You've been working so hard, onii-sama. Yes, good job."
Then she firmly grabbed one of the shopping bag handles from me.
"What's this? You're helping me carry them now?"
"Yes. Today, Kaju is going to spoil you as much as Kaju can, onii-sama."
Illuminated by the evening sun, Kaju's smile seemed to glow in the twilight streets.
I couldn't help but give a wry smile as I slowed my steps to match hers.
Still, having my own little sister spoil me like this feels... well, a mix of embarrassing and undeserved.
...Alright, your brother will try just a little harder.
*