Collection 2

Guest of Honor

“Kubo-senpai,” said Shuka handing over the monthly club report to the Student Council President. "This one’s for April. I’ll get you the May one tomorrow.”

“This was the first time you were late, Uchida-san.”

“Eheheh. We were quite busy with the concert.”

“What an alibi. How many minutes does it take to put down details on paper?”

Another awkward chuckle. “Gomenasai…” she mumbled bowing. Sigh. “I guess we can’t have you over now, can we…?”

“Have me over for what?”

Shuka bowed again, lower this time. “Please pardon us, Kubo-senpai! I solemnly promise never to be late with our reports ever again!”

Arisa only got more perplexed. “P-Pardon? Well… being remiss with the papers won’t exactly get you suspended…”

“But we need you for something really really important!” She suddenly pounced on the desk. “Please be our guest speaker at the club anniversary this week!”

“Wha—”

“You talked at the Ikebana Club!”

“Uhhhh, y-yes?” After all, it was one of the responsibilities of the Student President to promote lawful student activities. “But…”

“You can’t be that busy this week, right Miss President? It will only take, thirty minutes, maybe even less!”

How to put this? “Well, Ai...” will pester her to join the club if a strand of her hair is detected in the clubroom. And her sister’s eyesight is really, really sharp. She was not a photography buff for nothing.

Come on, Arisa-senpai. What could be the consequences of joining a stupid club?

The talk at Aquasports that Wednesday ended in a photoshoot, where everybody had animal costumes and the blank-faced Arisa had a polar bear’s. Ai sat happily in her lap, a baby polar bear, clinging to her. “Alright guys!” beamed Shuka. “Guts pose!”

Ai will definitely have a copy for the old shame album.

Shuka and Tie

“Dad’s birthday is coming up. Today I’m making him a tie, and it’s a special tie with a special design courtesy of yours truly! Eheheh. It reminds one of the waves of the ocean, having stripes of indigo, white, and teal. I’d like to put in more of the teal, because I want him to sail over a summery sea.

“But don’t mistake me, he had captained a container ship before, and boy those were some of the toughest weather I’ve ever seen! His North Atlantic videos were about twelve in all. He can manage absolutely any type of sailing condition, though I’m glad he’s with the cruise now, not because he got weaker, no, I just want him to kind of rest after so much hard work.

“And if he tells me again that he doesn’t intend to rest, I’ll keep up with my maritime studies so at least he’ll always have a helping hand.

“What did you say? A relationship? Me?! Cut that out, will ‘ya?!”

“Hmmm, what do you think? Does it fit a captain’s uniform? Eh!? It’s too gaudy? Hahhhh~ Come on, I guess it’s OK… It’s a birthday! Besides—a cruise is a fun place, so the captains should also look fun. Hah?! I said look fun, not funny! Mohhhh…

No Pets Allowed

“Bummer,” muttered Anju as she finished the crepe she bought with Yoshiyuki. Even outside the gates of Izu Mite Sea Park booths lined the walkways. “Is there really no place else to go out here in the islands?”

He was blissfully oblivious to her complaint, savoring the icing on his own crepe.

“Speak up, will ‘ya? Hahhhh!” She then counted off of her fingers the places she knew. “Izu Mite’s all sea stuff even if we’re in the middle of the ocean already. Nanan-chan’s place is the same. And we can’t go flying or cruising too often.”

“Learn a hobby,” he said offhandedly. “Maybe cooking.”

“Uegh. I already have more than enough ‘hobbies’ at the ryokan, all day long. Is that all you can think of?”

He shrugged. “What do you want, exactly?”

“See something new! Like in Tokyo.”

“There’s nothing but maid cafés in Tokyo.”

“You don’t say? Nothing else, for real?”

“I find the dog cafés more interesting.”

“Oh…” she said hanging her head. And then, “That’s it! Maybe I just need a pet to break the monotony. I never had one… But I want a low-maintenance one.”

“Low-maintenance? Sure! I’ll be glad to lend you Enokitake.”

“Whoa! Where is it?”

He tousled his hair. “Come close. Put your head next to mine, maybe you’ll catch some.”

“Eugggh! Quit messing with me!”