"Pervert!!!" the girl screamed.
I'll save you the details of what happened next. Needless to say, I got my ass handed to me.
And if you were wondering, the person that was changing was Matsumoto Yuno.
"Mhm Mobby(I'm sorry)," I managed to squeeze out.
"Heugh," she sighed. "It's ok, it's my fault for changing in the clubroom."
"But why didn't you just change in your room or even the toilet?" (My mouth was still swollen, I'm just translating.)
"I didn't want to come later than anyone since I basically begged everyone to join."
"Then why change?"
"I have something to do after this."
"What about the toilet?"
"It was full, also enough with the questions."
"Sorry. Anyway, what's the club about?"
"Huh? If you don't know then why'd you join?"
"It's kinda of complicated—"
"Wait, did you join because of Aiya-chan?" She glared.
Aiya-chan? She must be referring to Suzuki as Aiya is her first name.
"Well, yeah but—"
"Get out."
"Huh?"
"I said get out. All of you guys are just joining because of Aiya-chan and it's annoying, if that's your only reason then leave."
"You don't understand—"
"Understand what?"
This girl really has a bad habit of cutting people off while they speak, you can't understand because you never let me finish.
"I don't need to understand anything, you don't care about calligraphy and just came because of Aiya-chan," she glared.
"…" I kept quiet, staring blankly at Matsumoto.
"You think calligraphy is dumb, right? I'm not surprised, even my friends say it's useless and boring. So feel free, say it."
This girl is just coming to conclusions—Maybe she's reiterating what people have told her.
"…" I kept the same expression.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" She asked almost about to cry, her face down.
"…I don't think it's dumb."
"Huh?" She looked up.
"Calligraphy is a wonderful art that I adore. Although I've never tried it before, I really respect it," I spoke the truth.
Even before coming here, I always adored it and wanted to attempt it, even just once.
But I was unable, because of circumstances surrounding how I lived my life.
Such distractions were shunned but I wanted to still try it despite that, and that was why I expressed my true emotions to Matsumoto—I wanted them to reach her.
"You're just saying that so I won't get hurt, if you don't want to leave then I'll leave," she turned to leave until—
I caught her hand, holding it gently yet firm enough for her not to leave.
When she stopped trying to leave, I let go of her hand.
"I really do want to experience calligraphy, and I do not find it boring or uninteresting. Matsumoto, will you help me too? All I want is to be welcomed aboard," I said looking at her lavender eyes.
They shook at my word because she wanted someone to say that—maybe not those exact words but I was sure it was something similar.
Though it was precisely I knew she wanted those words that I said them–it was the only way I knew she would allow me to stay here.
Hmm…
"…Only if you really focus on it."
"Sure, as long as you're diligent enough to teach me," I grinned warmly, it was a true grin from my heart.
"…Is that so? Then welcome aboard," she grinned, stretching out her hand.
I shook it, keeping a kind grin. I did so as I understood what happened to her, everyone discouraged her for loving something—adoring it.
While no such thing had happened to me, at least not to that intensity or at all in fact, I could sympathize.
"So why'd you join in the first place?" she asked.
"I was bored, and I lost my chance to join a club on the first day," I lied.
Well, I can't exactly tell her my reason, can I?
"Oh, well as you can tell, this isn't exactly your standard club."
"Yeah, why are we way out here?"
The building we were in was a 5-minute walk away from the school block.
"We would normally have a standardized building, but my club lacked male members and couldn't be considered a real club, so I wasn't given a real clubroom—actually we are kind of an illegal club."
"Illegal club?"
"Well, we aren't recognized by the school as a real club, but I know we will when we get male members—I mean, you're here after all."
Yeah…except I'm just here to find Miyamura a girlfriend.
"I guess that makes sense. Also, Matsumoto, I know you're passionate about calligraphy, but why make a club?"
"To be honest I was surprised there were no calligraphy clubs, so I thought why not make one. I wanted to make one in the first term but…"
"But?"
"Anyway, thanks for joining, I really appreciate it," she sat beside me, changing the subject.
She suddenly changed the subject, avoiding it all together. Though I didn't think much of it and didn't rather mind it.
"Yeah, no problem."
She's really close, I can smell her perfume. It has a citrus scent, quite an amazing brew.
"So Nakamura, do you wanna—"
"Yuno-chan!"
A girl ran towards Matsumoto and hugged her, the other club members finally arrived.
The people that came were Suzuki, Miyamura, and some other people from our class that I didn't know their names.
With everyone gathered I sat beside Miyamura to fill him in, though before now I told him by text about the club.
"So did you find anyone you like?" I asked, in a tone like that of a whisper.
"Uh what happened to your mouth?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Sure. Anyway, I already know everyone here," he said. "And I don't particularly like anyone."
"Huh?"
"Are you surprised?"
"Well, I thought you said as long as a girl is cute, she's alright."
"That only applies to people outside our class, everyone knows that."
Unfortunately, I didn't know that, and I was sure many didn't also, it was possible that only Miyamura knew what it was.
"Why is that?"
"Dude, you're going to see her every day until graduation. If you're dating her, then you have to date her for real. No takebacks," he lectured.
His logic made no sense, for one there was no way you could hide from someone in this school even if you weren't classmates, at least not forever.
Also, what he said sounded a bit weird, he said until graduation—as if implying we don't change classes.
Did he mean it another way? Or did I mishear?
He said his words quite too quickly so I couldn't be sure as the words 'sotsugyō made' (until graduation) and 'sotsugyō made in' (by graduation or before graduation, but the latter in this case), sounded quite similar.
I was about to ask when—
Matsumoto came to the podium to say something.
"Thanks for coming—this is the calligraphy club, today is just for introduction so feel free to whatever," she grinned.
She said we could do whatever, so we did, almost everyone broke into a conversation or played around with their phones.
I sat silently, I didn't have any games on my phone, and I didn't have anyone to talk to—Miyamura already started to talk with girls, he left me to revel in my solitude.
What an amazing friend. Like at least try to include me in a conversation.
I sat there until—
"Nakamura-kun~"
"Huh?"
"Come over, here."
Matsumoto and her friends were calling me over to sit with them.
I joined them subsequently, as I had nothing else to do. I sat amidst them as they scoped me like I was an alien from another planet.
"So, Nakamura, how are ya?" a girl asked, she was a gyaru like Suzuki.
"Oh, I'm fine," I replied.
"Hmm? What happened to your mouth?"
Both I and Matsumoto shivered at her words but kept calm expressions.
If they knew what I did I would be skinned alive so I kept calm, it also seemed Matsumoto didn't want to tell them what I did.
"Uh don't worry about it."
"Kay'," the girl replied. "So, what do you think of Yuno-chan over here?"
"Hey, l-leave me out of this," she said.
"What do I think of her?" I asked. "Well, we're friends, at least that's what I think."
"Is that all?"
"Well, yeah."
"Hmm. Is that so?" she looked suspiciously at me. "Then it seems like she was telling the truth. Well, that's all we wanna ask."
I left and went back to where I was sitting. I knew that talking with gyarus would drain me—in fact, only one gyaru didn't drain me of energy—Suzuki.
I was about to search for her with my eyes, but didn't need to because of what happened next.
"Suzuki! Why?!"
A lone voice shouted, while we weren't exactly quiet, that voice was still an annoyance.
"Ugh, she's so loud."
"She's even like that in malls."
Some people were exasperated, me included. But as the murmurs grew louder, Suzuki spoke to Yoshida.
"Hey, Yoshida, chill you're making too much noise," Suzuki said.
"Huh? Oh, sorry guys," Yoshida apologized.
Everyone subsequently forgave her; it seemed she was familiar with most of them.
Wait a minute. Cute, loud and even obnoxious—she's the perfect fit for Miyamura.
She seems like she's friends with Suzuki, so I should meet Suzuki.
I walked to where Suzuki and Yoshida were then sat beside Suzuki, though she didn't notice as she was still playing a game with Yoshida—a mobile game.
"Yo," I said.
"Huh? Nakamura?" Suzuki was shocked as she didn't see me come.
"Surprised to see me?" I asked.
"Yes. Actually, I think this is the first time you've ever come to talk to me, it's always the other way around."
"Really?"
I hadn't noticed that I almost never initiated a conversation with her.
"Y-Yeah," she blushed.
Suzuki blushed? I didn't think gyarus could do that—especially her who teases me.
"Oh Nakamura, right?" Yoshida looked up from her phone. "What's with your voice?"
How many times have I heard that question? I suppose it's not their fault; I sound like I got dropkicked.
Which I did get dropkicked, surprisingly.
"I messed up my mouth."
"I see. So…" she said, clearly bored with my existence. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just kinda bored, y'know," I said. "Anyway, what game are you guys playing?"
"Battleground 3," she said, going back to her phone; she gave up on the conversation.
"Oh…"
I've never heard of that before, though it must be fairly popular among my peers.
"Well to be honest, I've never heard of it."
"Is that right?" Yoshida smirked, looking at me suspiciously. "You're telling me you've never heard of Battleground 3."
"Yeah?"
"Cut the shit, what are you trying to do? Tryna flirt with Aiya-chan?"
"Uh—"
"Don't lie, I know what you're trying to do. You slit—"
"Hey, Yoshida, leave him alone," Suzuki cut her off.
"But…"
"Don't worry Nakamura isn't like that."
Though we had a rough start, we eventually diverged into a conversation—mostly small talk, occasionally bringing up things about school.
"I actually happen to enjoy Maths class," Yoshida retorted while still playing her game.
"You enjoy being taught by a robotic dictator?" I was referring to my one and only homeroom teacher.
"Yeah, she's endearing. I'm sure she's just doing that to motivate us."
"Nah," Aiya added. "Probably just hates our class."
"Who knows?" I said.
Our conversation continued for a little while with our conversation ending when Suzuki and Yoshida talking about Battlegrounds 3 with Suzuki joining her in a match, and me staring blankly at them before Matsumoto came up to the podium again.
"Would you look at the time, it's already 5 PM. Well, if anyone wants to leave, they can," she said. "Also thanks again for coming."
With that, most people stood up to leave—I was one of them until—
Suzuki held my hand. "I thought you would ask but do you want my acc."
I was surprised at her question. Of course, I wanted it, what boy wouldn't want a cute girl's number.
However, I already planned on getting it—though I planned to get it from Miyamura.
"Y-Yeah."
"The name is Aiya-chan."
"W-Well, s-see you later," I stammered, I still couldn't believe a cute girl like her would ask if I wanted her account name—of course I would.
Though I wondered why she gave it to me now, after all, we were neighbours–rather seat mates.
I immediately left the room and headed for the bathroom as fast as possible. It was because I needed to text Suzuki.
[Me: Hey, it's Nakamura.]
To be honest, I was anxious. I needed a favor from her, and I wasn't sure she would answer soon. Luckily, she did.
[Aiya-chan: Heyyyyyy, you texted really quickly.]
[Me: Yeah, I have a favor to ask.]
She agreed shortly after, and I filled her in.
[Aiya-chan: Alright, I'll tell her to meet Miyamura at the back of the school.]
[Me: Thanks, see you tomorrow.]
[Aiya-chan: No prob. Also, Nakamura, you owe me a favor.]
[Me: Ok. I'm willing to do anything.]
Well, not anything.
[Aiya-chan: I'll hold you to your word, kay? Well see you later.]
After texting Suzuki, I texted Miyamura—I wanted him to meet up with the person I set up.
[Me: So, no one caught your fancy today, right?]
[Miyarito: Yeah, and you owe me one cuz I missed volleyball practice. Wanna pay me Rp?]
This guy really is something, huh?
[Me: Alright, I will but only if you let me try one last time.]
[Miyarito-kun: I'm not coming for another club meeting.]
[Me: You don't need to; all I want you to do is confess to this one person and that's all.]
[Miyarito-kun: Someone in our class?]
I wasn't sure if Yoshida was my classmate but I guessed so.
[Me: Yes, it's a problem but only if you break up so if you ever feel like breaking up I'll handle it and even compensate with Rp.]
[Miyarito-kun: Alright but if I get rejected, I will need a consolation prize again, I hope you know that.]
Consolation prize? Is he expecting to be rejected?
[Me: So you're in, right?]
[Miyarito-kun: Yeah.]
While my plan was doomed to fail, that was expected, as it would still give me the desired outcome.
In fact, the whole point of the plan was to fail, so you can imagine my shock when Miyamura texted me this.
[Miyarito-kun: We started dating.]
***
Author's Note:
So even the great Eiya can't get everything right? Well, he is human, anyway, I don't have much to say so you know the drill.
Please comment, share, and leave a review. Thanks for reading the chapter and see you in the next one.