This is... Solid Advice?

NOTE: Sorry for lack of chapters, I fell into a bad rut and finally made it out. We're so back

“Ahem—” Fujioka quickly responded. “I apologize, but I’m not doing any autographs or signatures at this— Oh, Ohashi-san.”

Standing at the end of our table was the newest member of the writing club—Ohashi Junko. She wore a soft-beige colored one-piece dress with a pleated plaid skirt—holding a few books to her chest she gave us a small wave. “Hello~ Do you mind if I join you two? Or am I interrupting your date?”

“Hah— Please, this is no date, it’s a rigorous bootcamp to get Makoto working.”

“Oh, I see… So I cannot join you?”

“Ah— W-whatever, yeah you can.” Fujioka was not expecting the innocent energy Ohashi replied with. There’s something here… Ohashi is like the anti-crazy. You’d think Kaoru would counter balance Fujioka because of their vastly different characters, but they’re both crazy. So in reality they just work eachother up. Ohashi though, while I don’t know her well, might be the mellowing-agent I’ve needed.

“Are you two working on Kiyotaka-kun’s light novel?” She asked, taking a seat next to me—Fujioka let out a simultaneous sigh.

“Yes! You get it! While of course the whole writing club is helping… It’s my heart and soul! My genius! Ow! Hey!” A sharp pain radiated in my leg—I was kicked by my illustrator's dress shoe. “O-o-of course my illustrator, the one and only Fuchi-sensei, has contributed more than an immense amount.”

“Oh, I see… Does this Fuchi-sensei work at our school? I’ve never heard of her.”

“N-no… Uhm—” I-I never thought about explaining who an illustrator is to a normie… If I said, “They’re famous because they draw picture books” she’d be all like, “that’s a bit childish don’t you think?” No! No it’s not childish! It’s an incredible medium to tell a story through! Thank you, they mean very much to me! She’s a famous artist I could say? “Fuchi-sensei is Fujioka… She’s a famous artist.”

“Woaaah.” Ohashi’s exclamation didn’t match her tone, which was quite flat. “I didn’t know Fujioka-senpai was famous. I’m assuming that’s why she’s popular, no?”

“I don’t believe many people at school know about my illustrating career though.”

“Ohh, so you are popular and famous separately? That’s so impressive.”

Okay-okay, calm down, you can quit stroking her ego. It’s been big enough for years. “Fujioka, we came here to focus.”

“A-ahem, correct… I do not mean to sound rude Ohashi-san, but Makoto really does need to focus. You’re more than welcome to join us, as you’re a member of the writing club. But please refrain from distracting him.”

Ms. Professional over here… “She really doesn't mean to be rude… heh…”

“No need to worry.” She faintly smiled. “I just enjoy watching.”

“Uhm…” Fujioka and I hummed in unison. “Alright…”

I slowly turned back towards my computer screen and tapped a few characters out. I glanced back at Ohashi and she was blankly looking at my screen too. She’s making me feel like I’ve already done something wrong… With shaky hands I scrolled down the document—Ohashi cleared her throat. I DID SOMETHING WRONG!? DIDN’T I?!

“Excuse me,” She said softly.

I refocused on my screen… Ahhh it’s so difficult to do while people are watching! When it’s just Kaoru watching it’s not bad, usually she helps me and even does it for me at times. With Fujioka I don’t mind her watching either, she’s mostly distracted and doesn’t pay attention anyway. I’ve done it a few times with Sayuri in the room, it’s the complete opposite. She never helps but always bugs me and makes fun of me—especially how slow I am.

Of course I’m referencing writing.

“Uhm, Kiyotaka-kun—”

“Y-yes! I— I mean, yeah?"

“I don’t intend to insult your process, but you’ve only corrected one verb tense and have done nothing else.”

“Yes… Yes, my process… Well the thing about my process is that it… takes time. You know? All about getting in the right headspace, getting warm, warmed up, figuring out the characters each time and really being in the story.”

“I see. Sounds very impressive.” Ohashi continued to look on with big innocent eyes.

“What our friend meant to say,” Fujioka interjected with a clear throat. “Is he’s completely lost.”

“Is this true, Kiyotaka-kun?” What do I say? Something believable? The truth peppered with a bit of exaggerated truths? Someone famous generals have done before to keep the faith of their soldiers in hard times? Be brutally honest!? Potentially lose credible as captain of this ship!? Look dead into Ohashi’s big beady eyes and tell her, “Yes… as your leader… I am no different but a man, I am lost.” No. That’s not the way— “Ah, Kiyoyaka-kun, I see a massive issue.”

“...?”

“Here—” She leaned over me to point at my laptop screen. The document suddenly jittered and scrolled away from the point she was trying to show me—touchscreen. “Oh, oops.”

I scrolled back frantically—did she have some magic answer!? “Here? W-what is it?”

“It should be obvious, no?”

No, no it shouldn't be obvious because obviously I would’ve found it! “I-I don’t see it.”

“Look at how Suzuki-san acts in this page versus a situation just a few pages later. This is around the beginning of the novel, correct?”

“C-correct…”

“Here, Suzuki-san is asked to perform with the school’s ban in a week's time even though she just joined the club. She responds with what feels like inherent confidence. Earlier, about seven pages ago, she responds to the idea of joining the club how an introvert would—a bumbling mess.”

“...” I was making a very stupid expression I guess, as Fujioka smirked and Ohashi added more to her explanation.

“It’s one or the other. I can see someone faking confidence in a situation like this, but there’s no indication of falseness, it comes off as Suzuki-san being an inherently confident person.”

“B-but what if she found her confidence… or something?”

“That wouldn’t make for a very compelling story, now would it? Having your main character accomplish a potential overarching, relatable storyline within the first thirty pages?” Ohashi stood from her seat leaning over me from the side—adding notes to my document. The side of her body was well pressed against my chest.

“Well… I guess.” I pushed up my glasses.

“And I say, it’s important to make Suzuki-san find her confidence rather than simply have it. It’s more relatable that way, don’t you think?”

“Confident characters can be relatable…”

“This isn’t that sort of story, Kiyotaka-kun. Tell me, who do you believe the target audience for this type of story is?”

“Shy band nerd…” “Shy band nerd.” We answered in harmony.

A hand gripped onto my shoulder, then Ohashi was pushed away from me. A second presence filled the spot between us—Fujioka. “Very impressive, Ohashi-san. I’m assuming you write often?”

“I did join the writing-club after all.” Her lips curled up ever-so slightly.

Man… For someone so mono-tone, she speaks more than enough… But I needed to hear that, I’d… never have… seen… that… It’s the truth! We’re all learning everyday! Or something!