Collection 11

The Heirloom

“Shuka-chan,” said Rikako one Saturday after class in the clubroom. “Look at all these boxes in the closet. We must do something about them.”

“I’m not sure about this. Somebody might come back for them.”

“But who will? They look pretty old. Back in my Tokyo school a new club has the right to dispose any and all leftover material from the previous tenant from one year or older.”

“I don’t think that’s right. But I guess we can clear space for own stuff. Let’s put them out to the shed. If somebody complains, then let the Student Council decide what to do with them.”

Surprisingly, the boxes weren’t that heavy. One of them was left unsealed, and when they opened it, they found layers and layers of cloth. “Curtains?” mused Shuka. She took them out and found a rug underneath. “Did they put all of this all over the room? That must be pretty stuffy in the summer!”

“They probably got better AC.” She noticed something tucked into the side and pulled it out. “Oh!” A logbook. The two gazed in wonder as she flipped it open and saw photos and scribblings of the old clubs—three of them. The first club occupied about forty leaves. There were still plenty of blank pages. At the back cover was a handwritten note.

This book is the property of everyone who calls this room home. And so are the furnishings and stuff in the boxes. Feel free to use them as you please. And do leave a record in the following pages. We are all one club.”

Courtesy Call

“Ohayou gozaimasu, Hatase-san!” said Shuka cheerfully bringing with her a large box of chiffon cake. “The sea is so fine today.”

“Ooh, is that for Yoshiyuki-kun? I didn’t know he’s a ravenous beast already.”

She chuckled. “No, it’s for the both of you! They decided to pay me for my cruise gig, so I just wanted to share a little treat with everybody!”

“And your clubmates? You should have called them over, as well, I’m sure they’ll complain.”

“That’s alright, Granny,” she said with a wink. “I have a different treat for them. It has to be ‘cause the dessert must be in truckloads.” And they shared a hearty laugh at this.

“It’s only Kan-chan who wants that much,” she could already hear Anju grumble at her in her head. “She’s an absolute disgrace to Aquasports.”

“Heh…?” sneered Kanako. “If I’m a disgrace, then you’re a hidden landmine, zura. Look at that waistline. It’s gonna blow up on us!”

“Ehhhhh?! What? Where? Nooooo!”

I do wish I had Kan-chan’s metabolism, admitted Shuka.

“Well then,” said Granny taking the box, “where do we put this? Shall we get down to the fight at once?”

“What’s this about cake I’m hearing?” said Yoshiyuki coming into the house from behind Shuka. “The fallen take only the darkest and blackest chocolate, mind you.”

Shuka snickered. Pretending to be dark and all, whilst actually craving choco like any girl would. “We can have that later!” she beamed. “Let feast on this one first!”

“I’m not too hungry right now.”

“Come on, Yoshi-kun, don’t spoil the fun. Granny’s game and so should you.”

“And I am Granny now?” he mumbled. Yawn. “Do what you want.”

Giggle. “Now where can we have a proper picnic?”

“I’ll get the porch ready,” smiled Grandma. “You two get us the dishes.”

“Hallo, hallo!” greeted the lovely Professor Albright coming in behind Yoshiyuki. ”What’s this about porch I’m hearing?”

The three of them blanched at the sight of her and Granny quickly put the box behind her. They can see the truckloads coming. “Ahahaha! We’re going to, er… nap on the porch! Right guys?” They nodded hastily in reply.

“Napping on the porch at nine A.M.? You’re acting weird today.”

“Well, uh, no! We were just surprised because we thought you’re still staying over at Nankaisei.”

“Is there anything off about a little courtesy call to the beloved mother of our islands? Here,” she said pulling in a cart with four of the same cakes on top of each other. “I was afraid one box won’t last me, so I got one for each of us!”

Flower Power

“Ne, ne, Onee-chan,” said Ai, “aren’t these the same stuff from the dorm?” She was talking about the pieces of furniture as well as urns that stood all over the Student Council room.

“Ai,” she chided, “can’t you focus on your lunch for now?”

“Uh… hai…” she said downcast.

They ate in silence for another fifteen minutes until she timidly broached the subject again. “It really feels like I’m at home, in your study.”

Arisa wiped her lips with a scented napkin. “They’re not from the dorm, not at all, but I do tend to pick items of the same quality and the same purpose, from the same trusted sources.”

Ai gazed over the room as she finished her own meal. “I do wish it was brighter at the dorm, though. Say, Nee-chan, let’s put tulips on those vases!”

“They’re not vases,” she sighed. “And who needs flowers? All I want for the Council Room is some minimum decency.”

Her face fell. “Onee-chan…” she began to plead. Arisa grew a wee bit uneasy and closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure she could outlast her sister if she used that tone of voice. “Onee-chan… Let’s try it… Even just once…”

“A-Ai… Stop that… will you?”

“…”

“Don’t you know how costly those blooms are… these days…?”

The following Tuesday, however, while Ai lunching with Kanako and her classmates, Arisa did put in the flowers, feeling stupid that she did it without her sister to see it—but at least she won’t be bothered anymore, maybe.

That Friday, a delegation from the school board and an accreditor from Tokyo paid a surprise visit to Nankaisei. Arisa had to appoint her usual peace corps as her stand-in student council for that whilst she accompanied Director Ito. The guests were impressed by Miss Kubo’s unique taste in decoration.

After everybody have left she closed the door and cuddled Ai happily. “You’re a life-saver. I can’t thank you enough.”

“I-It’s nothing,” she said in a voice now trembling with delight, letting herself sink into Onee-chan’s arms.