This is a Stupid Conversation

“I’ve at this point accepted that Akimoto-san will find a way into my apartment. But for you, the only way I’ll let you be a part of this, this weekend, is if you agree to do illustrations for me.”

Fujioka blinked rapidly a few times—she wasn’t expecting me to play that card at all. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting it either.

“Excuse me…?”

“That’s the deal.”

She slowly panned to Akimoto who was triumphantly smiling. Don’t act so cocky now just because you wore down my patients!

There was a long break in between my proposition and her final answer, I know this is a big thing for her but… It was almost three minutes of silence.

“...I can’t do it.”

“Really? No snide remark or counter-offer?”

“Yes. I cannot do it… Just please get as much done as possible this weekend. I would rather not watch you horrifically crash, burn, and utterly fail this time… and I’d like to not be part of it if you do.”

“I-it wasn’t that bad last time! You’re exaggerating!”

***

I shouldn’t accept her answer… I committed myself to getting Fuka-sensei to work on my project with me. Didn’t I want to work with her as a business partner and not ask her in some stupid way…?

Splitting the prize money would be the easiest way forward… But she doesn’t believe in my and Akimoto’s abilities.

“Makoto! Dude we asked you this question like ten times, pay attention.”

“Hm? Oh sorry, what was it again?”

“Haa—” Takechi sighed. “If you’re inviting people out, even though you’ve individually invited everyone else, it’s still safe for your closest friend to assume they’re invited too, right?”

“No… That’s not how it works.” Sato snapped back. “I-it’s polite to wait for an invite no matter what. So how can it be their fault for not coming?”

“Well it’s then their fault for leaving the inviter with a group of hungry girls.”

“W-what’re you saying?”

“Makoto! What’d you think!?”

Sato and Takechi both spun towards me.

The three of us were walking home, we all lived generally in the same direction, however we never went home together. Namely because I was at the writing club for a few hours everyday.

“I—”

“...!” Their stares intensified.

“I think going out is a waste of time.”

“Ahhh! You’re useless.”

Sato threw his arms up and the two returned to their hypothetical.

Tomorrow’s Friday… meaning Akimoto will be coming over… I’m sure mom and Sayuri will be happy to see her. But all this means for me is reduced work efficiency and no time to think about convincing Fuka-sensei…

***

“Akimoto-san… I’m wondering, what’d you say to your parents this time? Are you still using that fake boyfriend excuse?”

Her and I were side-by-side walking down a hallway, looking to leave the school. I had waited outside of our classroom’s door for about ten minutes as she said her goodbyes to friends for the weekend.

They took so long! How many things do you need to bring-up in a goodbye? Don’t you just say “bye” then leave? Why talk about all those different boys and goofy news stories.

“Oh… Right! I’d completely forgotten about that, and honestly I think they have too.”

“What? Seriously!? If I were a parent and my daughter got a new boyfriend I’d be pestering her constantly!”

Akimoto lowered her eyebrows and gave me a displeased look.

“I know for sure who I’m not going to have kids with then. It’s important to give kids their space.”

“Me!? Have kids with you!? Our kids would have an IQ lower than ten because of you! No way I’d let my potentially high IQ kids be ruined by you!”

“You have a high IQ!? Hah! Okay. Spell… Spell uhm…”

She’s proving my point! Akimoto can’t even think of a word to test me with!

Akimoto hit her flat palm with a fist. “Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.”

“...Why do you know that word?”

“Because I have a high IQ.”

“AH! We’re getting off-topic!”

My glasses almost fell off my face but I scrambled to push them back up.

“We never had a topic…” Akimoto said quietly.

Okay… Okay… Recenter myself… Focus. Ignore her stupid aura.

“The topic was, what are you going to say to your parents to go to writing-camp this weekend?”

“I’ll just say I’m going over to Kiyotaka’s apartment, duh.”

“And they’re fine with that!? Why didn’t you say that the first time!?”

Akimoto shrugged.

“Haa~ Talking to you is harder than trying to talk to the customer service at the LTO.”

We simultaneously went quiet and angled our heads up to the sky—just a bit.

“...W-what’re we waiting for?” Akimoto asked.

“I— I don’t know, it just felt natural to look up to the sky after saying that.”

“Anyway! I have it all figured out, easy. I’ll be over around six, alright?”

Side-by-side we descended the school’s main stairs. Once we reached the entrance Akimoto twirled around and clasped her hands—her skirt and golden hair picked up in the wind. Her smile really is something…

“Kiyotaka-kun.”

“H-hm?”

“You have something.” She pointed to her upper-lip. “I think it’s food, it’s been there all day I meant to tell you sooner.”

“What!? It takes less than a second to tell me!”

As I yelled back at her she was already walking off in the distance.