Missing Note

"Hey, did you hear? Kuromoto Nishi and Tanto are working on another manga!"

"For real?! The first one was so charming! I hope Kuromoto-senpai hurries!"

"Still, I wonder who this Tanto person is."

"It's probably Sakai-senpai, right? I mean, those two are, like, best friends."

The gossip around campus was spreading like wildfire. Everyone from first-year to third-year was placing bets on Tanto's identity, simultaneously pondering what kind of manga Nishi would be gracing them with this time around. As the days turned to nights, the manga club became the hype of the school; revered as amateur geniuses by just about anyone who read their first submission. But for the humble members of the Shishigami High School manga club, each day was a struggle to make ends meet. The familiar late night WcDonald's booth made its grand return, this time, a new face gracing the leather seating.

"How are you holding up, Meguro-kun?"
Nishi shifted closer to his underclassman, glancing at his bandaged fingers as he skillfully sliced thin layers of screen tone around the paper.

Makoto let out a sigh, drooping his head.
"My fingers are numb... Kuromoto-senpai."

Minami's hand made a thunderous crack as it came down on Makoto's back.
"You'll get used to it, Mako-chan!"

"Ow... Yamaguchi-senpai... it hurts..."
Makoto endured his lashings as Minami continued energetically slapping his back with her Amazonian strength.

"Looks like Tanaka-san is out cold, again."
Akinari gazed up at the small girl sitting across from him, who was now drooling on Nishi's arm. He gently set a clipping of screen tone on her cheek.

Nishi did his best to suppress a laugh, but watching Akinari cover his girlfriend's face with screen tone was hilarious. His voice shook with unspilled laughter as he whispered to Akinari.
"Dude, put one on her nose."
To which he obliged.

The atmosphere carried a lighthearted comfort. Occasionally, the group would take a break to refill their coffee cups and use the restroom. By the end of the night, the manga club parted ways, saying their goodbyes as they each took a separate path home. Nishi carried Tan-Tan on his back, gently cupping her bottom between his palms; her head resting on his broad shoulder. She was ridiculously light, almost as if he was carrying a large grocery bag rather than a human. Nishi was sure if there was a hurricane, Tan-Tan would get whisked away with the wind; much like from the popular 1939 film about a Wizard.

Upon arriving at his house, Nishi gently removed Tan-Tan's shoes, placing them neatly next to his at the front entrance. He carried her upstairs to his room, slowly laying her across his bed. Tan-Tan stirred a little bit, but didn't wake from her dream. Instead, she snuggled deeply into his blankets, letting out a soft yawn. The early autumn evening outside the window turned into a gentle rain shower; the sounds of droplets tapping against the glass lulled Nishi into a peaceful exhaustion. He scooted closer to Tan-Tan under the covers, kissed her lips, and fell asleep with her in his arms.

The early morning sun created a vibrant orange glow through the curtains, landing directly on Tan-Tan's face. She let out a whine of disapproval, slamming a pillow over her head to block the light.

"Wha- Tan-Tan... that's my pillow."
Nishi blinked a few times, not too thrilled by the rude awakening.

"Too bad. The sun is, like, burning me to death."
Tan-Tan yawned against the fluffy fabric, scooting deeper into Nishi's embrace.

He chuckled softly, caressing her hair with his free hand.
"You're so cute in the morning."

"Shut up. You're cute all the time."
She peeked at him from behind the pillow, her rosy cheeks barely visible from behind the memory foam.

Nishi gently tugged the pillow from her face, studying her cute blush. He traced her bottom lip with his thumb, playfully pinching her squishy cheek simultaneously.
"Do I get a good morning kiss?"

Tan-Tan rolled her eyes, but a hint of a smirk flashed across her lips. She pressed her mouth against his, occasionally adding a bit of teasing flick of her tongue. This, of course, stirred Nishi's hormones into overdrive. His hands instinctively began caressing her body, only for her to slap them away from inching too close to her small chest.
"Not until we're married, remember?"

Nishi let out an exaggerated sigh.
"You can't slip some tongue in and expect me to stay still. I'm a growing teenage boy."

Tan-Tan smirked, playfully turning her head away with a mocking pout.
"My ideal shoujo boy is well-mannered and respectful of his girlfriend's boundaries."

Nishi shot back with an equally playful remark.
"My ideal seinen girl is tall with a busty chest."

Tan-Tan's smirk faltered for a moment, but she quickly burst into laughter.
"That's so hurtful, Nishi-senpai!"

Nishi laughed alongside her, pinching her stomach with his index and thumb
"You know I'm joking. I love you just the way you are."

She let out a surprised yelp at the pinch, immediately slapping his hand away from her tummy.
"Manners! But, I love you, too."

Nishi helped her out of bed, brushing her hair with the comb she left over at his house from previous nights she had spent there.
"I think we should have a change of pace today. Let's invite the club members to the library to work on our manuscript."

Tan-Tan let out an almost feline-like purr at his gentle brushing.
"The library sounds fun. Definitely less crowded than WcDonald's. But, don't you think Minami-chan will be loud?"

Nishi giggled, imagining Minami getting them kicked out for causing a ruckus.
"I'm sure it will be fine. Aki will be there to keep her in check."

Following their breakfast with Nishi's mother, Aoi, the two walked hand in hand to the local public library. They found a quiet corner and set up their workspace for the day, already grinding away at the manuscript. Tan-Tan wasn't too thrilled with the idea of writing Nishi's story rather than the one she wanted to create, but her love for him was too deep to deny. She ensured to pour every ounce of creative energy into the new manga, making sure the audience would have something to look forward to.

Entering the library, Meguro Makoto spotted the couple, already deep in concentration. He quietly took a seat beside Nishi, pulling out his screen tone.
"Good morning... Kuromoto-senpai..."

Nishi smiled at his underclassman, handing him a page to start working on.
"Glad you're here, Meguro-kun. We have a few pages you can start applying screen tone to while we wait for Aki and Minami."

"Good morning, Makoto-kun! That's a really cool coat!"
Tan-Tan leaned into view, smiling cutely at her friend. It was true, Makoto was wearing a loose jacket with the intricate designs of Nakamu Yusuke sewn into the fabric.

"Th-thank you... Shina...It's merch of my... favorite band..."
Makoto hid his creeping blush by draping his long hair over his cheeks.

"Ajiko, right? I'm a fan, too. You have good taste, Meguro-kun."
Nishi pulled out his smartphone, showing his underclassman pictures of his CD collection.

"Wow!... Kuromoto-senpai... you must really love them as well..."
Makoto leaned closer, admiring the moment of camaraderie between him and the man he revered as a manga god.

A couple holding hands sat down at the table across from the gossiping club members. Akinari and Minami had arrived, and Minami was already starting to cause chaos, just as Tan-Tan predicted.

"Tan-Tan-chan! Your hair looks so cute today! Those buns are adorable!"
Her loud voice echoed through the library, causing frustrated onlookers to give the teenagers an irritated once over.

"Gah! Minami, keep your voice down."
Akinari quickly covered his girlfriend's mouth, muffling her excited shouts.

Tan-Tan couldn't help but giggle, using Nishi's arm to mask her own loud laughter.
"What did I say, Nishi-senpai? I told you she would be loud."

Nishi flicked Minami on the forehead, playfully grinning at her.
"If you don't want to spend another day at WcDonald's, I suggest you listen to Aki."

"Ouch! Okay, okay... I'll whisper like a good girl, happy?"
Minami crossed her arms with a pout, her cheek puffing in frustration.

Nishi, Tan-Tan, and even Akinari all patted Minami on her head, cooing at her as if she were a dog; saying things like

"Good girl, Minami-chan."

"Who wants a treat?"

"Minami, shake! Paw!"

Makoto, who was watching from the sidelines, found their behavior absolutely hilarious. He let out loud exhales from his nostrils, his unique laugh sending Minami into another frenzy.
"Makoto-chan, you laugh so weird!"

Makoto wiped tears of laughter from his eyes, using his hand to project his soft whispers toward the crew.
"At least... I know how to whisper..."

The day at the library passed by in a blur of fun and excitement. The five teenagers worked tirelessly as they created their latest masterpiece 'Makeinu no Tōboe'. It was an effort that could not be taken lightly, yet they laughed and joked without a care in the world. Some could chalk it up to having no pressure from a manga contest to stress them out, while others assumed it was simply due to their friendship transcending all boundaries. Whatever it was won't be known for certain, but at the very least, they had each other.