This is Why I Write

I felt the presence of her face pull back and I opened my eyes. I was met with Akimoto’s smile and still teary eyes.

“Thank you for being my friend, Makoto.”

“W-w-w-w-wha— ah- ah- ah -ah!”

“Are you okay…?”

That’s way too much! Even for friends!

M-my first name?

A k-k-kiss!?

Was that my first kiss!?

Does that count!?

What does this mean?

I’m overreacting…

Is my face red? There’s no way it’s not.

I’m not overreacting! This— this hasn’t happened before it’s— it’s—

Akimoto poked my shoulder.

“Helloo~? Earth to Makoto.”

“D-don’t do that.” I adjusted my glasses by the frame.

“Yeahh— Sorry about the kiss on your cheek I guess that might’ve been a bit forward, heh…”

“I-I’m talking about calling me Makoto!”

Akimoto looked back at me blankly—was she confused?

“Isn’t calling me that like… what couples do?” I said timidly.

“W-what? Hahahaha no way! That’s what friends do. And we’re friends, idiot. Are you saying you’re not my friend?”

She punctuated her sentence by giving me a playful shove. This would’ve been fine but combined with the slick rock of the pier—

***

“You didn’t need to push me that hard…” I flicked a little water from my hand towards Akimoto.

“Maybe you shouldn’t question our friendship! Or be so weak!”

I had my shirt off and was using it to rub my hair dry with little effect.

“Yeah, mhm, okay. What kind of friend pushes someone into the sea!

“...Pff— Ha…” Akimoto attempted to obscure her face. “Hahaha— hahaha”

She held her stomach and leaned forward

Her laughter was undeniably contagious. Despite just having been almost drowned by her, it was almost impossible to stay mad.

I felt my lips curl upwards no matter how much I didn’t want them too–-and before I knew it I was laughing with her.

“Hey, K— Akimoto?”

“Hm?”

“We need to clean up all those pages, you know.”

“Wha— N-no! I was having a main character moment! C-cleaning up isn’t part of that!”

***

Akimoto and I both returned home soaking wet.

***

If she found out I recorded whatever that was last night she would hate me? It’s possible… But I think it’s for the best that I did this, no? We both got something important out of it.

Mm… I’m kinda like a super cool light novel character, scheming and reaching the ends with morally-grey means. I’m just like a light novel protagonist actually! Just a nonchalant guy who works in the shadows.

“Ow!” I held the side of my head.

“I had to flick you ‘cause you were making such a stupid face. You were thinking something really cringy just now, weren’t you?”
“Wha? No, not at all.”

Akimoto and I were back in our uniforms walking the halls of Kagoshima Municipal High School. It feels like an eternity since we were here… even though it’s only been two days…

Hm.

We reached the clubroom door—I let my hand linger on the handle. I’d say it was just long enough for Akimoto to consider asking if everything was alright.

I heard her take a breath in to ask exactly that, however I slid the door open before she could.

The two regular non-club members were in their usual spots—Fujioka and Yoshika.

“Hm. It seems the womanizer Makoto-kun is back.” Fujioka stood up.

“There’s no need to call me names, I just got here.”

“Exactly my problem. Just getting here means you two could’ve been up to who knows what beforehand.”

“Right…”

I shuffled around Fujioka and took my seat.

“Hey-hey Kiyotaka-kun.” The junior sitting to my right tapped the table with her finger tips. “Have you talked to Takechi this weekend at all?”

This clubroom used to be a safe space. Away from all the evil and annoyances of this world. A fortress of solitude! A place where I could relax!

“Kiyotaka-kun, have you? Huh?” She asked again.

“Ah, you know I thought I saw him by the shoe-lockers. If you hurry you might catch him.”

“Seriously!?” She bolted up.

“Yeah, he was on his way out though.”
“Thank you!”

Yoshika darted out of the room at an honestly impressive speed.

“Hey, Akimoto-sensei, I think your disciple might need your help.”

“What’re you talking about?” Akimoto replied cautiously.

“You’re whole love-school bit you did with us! You’re her “love-coach” or whatever you called it!”

“...”

“You even tied me to a chair!”

“Ooh yeah! I remember that! Sure, I’ll go be her wingman.” Akimoto grinned and stood up to go after our overzealous junior.

Her leaving brought the room’s occupancy down to two—and the other was just the one I needed.

I got a sense Fujioka knew I was up to something as the entire time she had her eyes trained on me. Unnerving honestly.

“Fujioka-san, there’s a video I wanna show you.”

“Very well.” She moved to my side of the table. “It better not be you doing a weird dance naked though. I’d have to report you to the principal if it was.”

“W-what kind of person do you take me for!?”

“A scoundrel and a womanizer.”

She folded her arms under her chest.

“I play Otome games and read light novels, you’re giving me too much credit.”

I angled my cell phone towards her and let the video play.

For the first minute or so she was visibly confused—her eyebrows were furrowed and she was incredibly close to the screen. Did she think this was a trick?

“This is you and Kaoru-chan, correct?”

“Yeah.”

Her expression remained curious as it continued to play.

“Spoken just like a light novel protagonist. You’re so corny.”

“W-wha…?”

Fujioka relaxed her posture slightly—her eyes widened. Her usually meticulously composed expression faltered as her mouth was left open.

I paused the video a second before the part where Akimoto kissed me on the cheek occurred.

“Why… Why did you show me this?” Fujioka asked.

“To show you what I see.”

“...I’m not following.”

“What did that video make you feel?”

Fujioka hesitated for a long moment, but answered candidly.

“I felt a bit inspired to be honest. Whether it was her actions or just the lighting, this video made me want to illustrate.”

I almost fainted. There’s no way.

“Now you see what I see. Why I write… and why—”

“Don’t say it, Makoto-kun.”