Collection 13

Gotta Name ‘em All

“So we just finished the poll on the kind of English vocabulary you want to learn about,” announced Shuka, “and I already made flash cards for our review.”

“Finally!” said Kanako jumping to her feet. “Hey guys listen! I can spell ‘parfait,’ zura! P, A, R…”

“No-No! It’s not about food.”

“Eh?!” Looking around at the others, “You voted against me? Why? Even you, Ai-chu?”

Ai giggled. “We’ve just been to Izu Mite last weekend, so all of us are interested in animal life!”

“That’s right!” affirmed Shuka. “Hora,” she beamed taking the cards out of her bag and showing them, “what can you say? Pretty neat, huh?”

The illustrated side faced them whilst at the back side facing Shuka the names were printed. Everybody closed in curiously. “Ooh…”

“The pictures you can see have no labels and I got the answers, so make sure you know your animal at first glance.”

Ai was the first to answer. “It’s a pengin!”

“Bzzt,” said Yoshiyuki. “My turn.”

“B-But… It’s a pengin! Look, a black-and-white bird that waddles instead of flies. Isn’t it?” Everybody eyed her. “Am I actually wrong?”

“It’s obviously a menguin, zura.”

“Nope,” corrected Rikako. “It’s penguin, not pengin. P, E, N, G, U, I, N.”

“Hah? Is that you, Onee-chan?! It’s just one letter off!”

“We’re trying to learn a foreign language here.”

“We’re not even into spelling. Urrgh, t’s your fault, Kan-chan, you started it with ‘parfait.’ ”

“Guys,” reminded Shuka, “we won’t get ahead if your keep arguing. Hora, identify this next creature.”

A look of surprise came over them. This time they pressed even closer, obviously having a harder time. “Wah!” blurted Anju. “I forgot what that one is called.”

Perplexed, Shuka checked the printed answer... and gaped. She yelped seeing the illustration. She quickly inspected the rest. “Who did this?!” Everybody’s eyes now turned to Anju. “An-chi…” she said flatly.

“Eheheh.”

“What did you mix in here?”

“Well, you also outvoted me on the category, so I kinda hit back. Eheh…”

“Wow!” Kanako grabbed Anju by the arm. “Those are Dokimon, right? Right?! Come on, let’s memorize them together, zura!”

And the rest of the gang stared at them… one last time.

The door of the clubroom slammed shut on them as they stood outside in embarrassment. “You know,” suggested Kanako, “if only we bribed Yoshiyuki-kun with an actual parfait we could have tied the vote. Ne?”

Custom Workout

“Kan-chan,” panted Ai trying to catch up to her. They were doing laps down the coast road in their P.E. uniforms. “Wait up!” She finally sank to her knees breathing heavily.

Kanako jogged back to her. “Ai-chu we’re not even halfway done.”

“I… I… I can’t keep up to you. I just can’t!”

“Aren’t you worried about your weight?”

“Well… I don’t know. I guess my weight is pinning me down. I can’t run any great distance when I’m too heavy. But… I gotta run to shed pounds. Wahhhh… Kan-chan, what shall I do?!”

“Simple,” she said with a wink. “I’ll dig up a beetle and stick it into your pants, that’ll get you running.”

“Kan-chan!”

Laugh. “Kidding…” She sat down to her level. “Looks like we must make a program suited to you. Say, you remember those barbell guys on YouTube? You must do something only heavy guys can do.”

Ai pouted. “I’m not like that, Kan-chan, I’m not that heavy.”

“Hora,” she said standing up, “carry me on your back and let’s go back to the dorm.”

“Eh? Can I really do it?”

She went behind her and clung to her back. “You won’t find out if don’t try.”

With a determined look, Ai began to stand up whilst lifting Kanako. She made slow progress wailing through gritted teeth.

“Show no mercy, Ai-chu!”

“Ahhhh!”

“No prisoners! No mercy!”

“Aggggh!”

“Life is a box... of... chocolates!”

“Arrggggh—”

“The... mito... chondrion.... is... POWER!”

With a final furious roar Ai finally got to her feet—to her surprise. “Huh? Wow, Kan-chan you’re actually pretty light.”

She chuckled embarrassingly. “It’s more like you’re stronger on your feet. I should have just used the seawall so you didn’t have to lift me from the ground…”

Ai laughed and spun around with her delightedly. “Come on, cutie pie, I’m taking you home with me!”

Never Giving Up!

Anju’s mind went blank as she walked up the road that branched out from the coast and rose uphill ahead of her to the ryokan. She must be extra-tired today. But all she did was sit dejected on that crate the whole day, first, waiting for anyone to come up to her, join her Drama club, and later as the school emptied itself of students, wallowing in disbelief. Not one of the classmates she had easily gathered to herself back in the classroom came for her, caught up in the other booths. She might have come home much later if Yoshiyuki hadn’t found her. And yet she had the nerve to promise him something. That they’ll still have a club.

“…”

Was a sore loser like her in a position to promise anything?

She stopped in the middle of the road and fixed her gaze at the row of lampposts by the road that lined up like people waiting for her to pass through. Like waiting fans.

“…”

They were probably the only fans she’ll ever have.

These—These were the members who should have populated her defunct and useless club. Yet now they just stood there. Waiting.

She gritted her teeth in despair.

All of a sudden, a laughing Shuka from middle school dashed right past her and up the road, and on her heels chased Anju’s own middle school self, who caught up and pulled back her buddy by the arm. “Teach me to dance! Please!”

“I told you! Not this week. I have a schedule on the cruise for a whole week.”

“Grrrr. Take me to the cruise! I’ll rehearse with you!”

Warm smile. “Don’t you worry, An-chi, I promise. Next time, I’ll talk to Dad. Next time I go aboard I’ll take you with me.”

Next time…

Suddenly Anju was all alone again.

Promise. She had waited and waited and waited. Even now, she was still waiting for Shuka to take her to the same stage as her. Is she going to make Yoshiyuki wait on her, too?

What’s she even doing there standing like an inanimate rock?

She began to step forward, and forward, and then broke into a run. No. I can’t make anybody wait. I can’t make myself wait! I’ll do this!

Shuka ran way way ahead of her through the dazzling city lights. She chased her again through the sparkling streets and all the jazz. Hah! I’ll catch you Shuka. You’re playing hard to get. But I’ll catch you! You watch out for me!

Delightful giggle.