Arthur walked through the hallways on his way to the literature club.
Takashi flipped through the notebook where Arthur had written Matilda, frowning with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
"Arthur… how did you come up with this?" he finally asked. "A little girl with mental powers, cruel parents, and a principal who seems like a monster… it's very different from what we usually write here."
Arthur smiled without looking directly at him.
"I guess it just came to me all at once. I thought… what if a little girl were so smart that the world didn't know what to do with her?"
Takashi laughed.
"That sounds like a science fiction story."
"Not exactly," Arthur replied, resting his elbows on the table. "It's not about the powers—it's about how adults underestimate children. The idea came from seeing how some people treat those who think differently. Matilda is special because she doesn't use force… she uses her mind."
Takashi watched him, intrigued.
"It's like you already thought it all through. Even the message."
Arthur looked down, fiddling with his pen.
"Sometimes ideas just… arrive. As if someone else already thought of them, and you're just remembering."
Takashi nodded slowly, not fully understanding.
"So… you're saying this story already existed in your head before?"
Arthur smiled, a strange glint in his eyes.
"Let's just say… it hasn't been written yet."
Silence filled the classroom for a moment. Outside, the sound of rain hitting the windows filled the space. Takashi looked back at the manuscript, running a hand over the pages.
"Arthur… if this is just the beginning, then you're going to change the way stories are told."
Arthur didn't respond. He simply stared at the fresh ink on the paper, as if he knew that these words would be remembered long after he was gone.
He looked out the window at the students enjoying their day—some getting soaked in the rain, others running from one place to another. Takashi noticed his thoughtful expression.
"What's wrong, Arthur? I always thought women in Japan would be delicate or reserved, but that ended with Emiko. She's not reserved at all. I remember she was the first to speak to me—or at least try—and stayed to teach me Japanese. I just realized I said something that upset her."
Takashi simply watched Arthur.
"You know, Mika was in the literature club, but because of a problem with me, she left the club."
Arthur stared at the rain-soaked windows.
"And then?"
Takashi stayed silent, watching the rain.
"Well, she told me my novels aren't perfect. You know, Arthur, I tried to make a name for myself as a writer, but every publisher rejected my stories. I gave up."
The other club members looked at Takashi in surprise, but he ignored them and looked back at Arthur.
"Now that you know, Arthur, you can laugh if you want."
Arthur shook his head.
"Maybe they didn't see your potential, Takashi, but I know someone who can help you. I just can't tell you yet."
This gave Takashi hope, but when he heard the last words, he was astonished. He then just continued to watch the rain.
Arthur looked at Takashi.
"So… you and Mika?"
Takashi let out a short laugh.
"I'd rather not talk about that."
Finishing his words, he went to put away the notebook of new club members.
"Well, Arthur, let's go get Emiko," he said, heading toward the kendo club. Arthur hesitated but eventually followed.
At the kendo club, Emiko practiced with Mika, both fully focused. Emiko noticed Arthur and Takashi. Her gaze lingered on Arthur for a moment, then she practiced with even more intensity, forcing Mika to pause.
"What's up with you, Emiko? That was a very strong strike."
Mika looked at her red hand from the hit of Emiko's bamboo sword. Emiko just smiled mockingly.
"Didn't you want a more diligent practice?"
Emiko walked to the changing rooms, Mika following. Arthur and Takashi saw and heard everything, but neither spoke.
"So I guess Emiko is still mad at you, Arthur."
Arthur shrugged.
"Maybe I said something. I don't understand women."
"Then there are two of us, Arthur," Takashi laughed.
Emiko and Mika noticed, which angered Emiko even more. Mika looked at Takashi, surprised, since he wasn't someone who laughed often. Emiko walked past without acknowledging Arthur but greeted Takashi. Mika was stunned by this. Arthur followed her.
Takashi smiled. Mika approached him.
"What happened between those two?"
Takashi still smiling, said:
"Who knows? Don't you want to go together, Mika?"
Mika was shocked by the strange question, looking at Takashi suspiciously.
"This cowardly man… does he finally want something?" she thought. She just nodded, curious to see what Takashi was up to.
They left the kendo club together. Arthur tried to speak with Emiko, but she ignored him.
"Come on, Emiko, forgive me if I said something wrong. I know I made a mistake,".
Emiko kept walking until they reached a traffic light. As they stopped, she punched him on the shoulder. Arthur endured the pain and looked at her with confused eyes.
"You know what annoys me the most, Arthur? That you don't notice anything around you. You live in your own world. I read your novel Matilda. I found it very interesting and was impressed from the start. You seemed interesting. I tried to get closer, but you just acted like an idiot."
Arthur, confused, looked at the green light.
"Emiko… are you in love with me?"
Hearing this, Emiko punched his other shoulder.
"What are you talking about, idiot?"
Arthur, feeling the pain in his shoulders, watched Emiko walk away. Takashi and Mika observed silently, seeing Emiko leave.
"I suppose the foreigner already found someone to love," Mika said to Takashi.
Mika then looked at Takashi.
"Why aren't you like him?"
She tried to punch Takashi on the shoulder, but he quickly stepped back, realizing her intention.
"I'm not like Arthur, Mika, and you know it. I don't like pain either, so let's leave it at that," he said.
With that, they continued on, avoiding Arthur's gaze.
Arthur remained thoughtful in the rain, feeling like he had lost something, though he didn't know what. In his melancholy, he remembered a novel and a song: Kitchen and Plastic Love. On his way home, he began to hum the song.