Shush

Sumiye Suto was waiting at the front gate when Koshiro left, she told him to get in her car.

“How was the meeting?” the woman asked when the car started to move.

“It w…”

“Shhhhhh.” 

“But you’re the one that as…”

“Shhhhh!” she did it again, “I know I asked, but please lower your voice, ok?”

“Oka…”

“Shh, lower.”

“Okay…” Koshiro was whispering now, “I was saying 'it was weird'."

“Hmm... nothing else?”

“Are you sure you’re good enough to drive?”

“Of course... of course.” she assured him, “We just take things...nice, easy… and slow…”

Koshiro looked at his teacher, who was talking slowly and softly, it looked like she could pass out at any moment, due to this, the fact that she was driving super slowly was a bit of a relief, but it was also a source of annoyance since it’d be faster to go home on foot.

“What else…?” Sumiye kept rubbing her head while asking.

“I’m going to kill you.”

“What more…?”

“What did you want to accomplish with your little plan?” Koshiro crossed his arms and frowned at the woman.

“Hmm… I’m pretty sure… I told you before… when I was leading you… to the club room.”

“So, you want to help with my problems or something?”

“Yeah…it is an excuse… for you to hang out with… the rest of the main crew.”

“What about we being in the same class?”

“C’mon Koshiro, get your face out of your ass... the classroom is not that fun of a place.”

Koshiro sighed. “I guess you’re right… I bet that's the reason why they come up with crazy and stupid clubs in anime, manga, and, you know, basically everything.”

“Yes, and here... it isn't different." Sumiye pressed her temple, "So… what do they like to do?”

“Hmm, drawing and playing? Singing? Wearing make-up…? Beating others and definitely not playing something.”

“I see…” the woman pondered for a moment, “And did you happen to come up with something?”

“Nothing concrete.” he looked through the window, “For now it's probably just a rip-off from another rom-com, so I'm still working on it.”

“I see...” the conversation apparently ended with that, but after a moment Sumiye opened her mouth again: “Hmm... by the way… there’s something that I need to tell you…”

“Go ahead.” Koshiro replied nonchalantly while gazing through the window.

“I’m just dropping you by your house today…”

“Huh?” Koshiro turned to her.

“...and then I’ll go back to my place.”

“Ah.” Koshiro’s expression became slightly downcast. “Your mom?”

“Yes… my neighbor is going to travel, so I’ll need to go back.”

“I see…”

“This means I won’t be able to make your obento every day, but I’ll try to give it to you at school someti…”

“Oh! You don’t have to worry about it.”

“But…”

“It’s alright Sumi-nee. I won’t die if I stop eating your food.”

“Hmm…” she cracked a smile, “Does this mean my food is bad?”

“Haha.” Koshiro gave a small laugh, “Quite the opposite, it’s so good that I’ll go fat if I keep eating it every day.”

“Hmm, is that so?” she gave a smug grin, “So, you’re sure you don’t want to eat more of it?”

“No… at least for now.” Koshiro looked into Sumiye’s eyes, “You go and take good care of her.”

“Okay… and… you make sure to let Scar take care of you!”

“Yes ma’am! Wait...”

“And… eat more than just Anpan…”

“Okay…”

“And... and… don’t use drugs! Hard ones...”

“I know that.”

“And... and…”

“And we’ll see each other every day at school.” he concluded.

“Yes…” she glanced at Koshiro and then returned her attention to the street, they had been in front of the Koike’s house for some time now.

“You can stop the car.” Koshiro instructed. He waited for her to follow through with it to get out of the vehicle.

“There’s still some leftovers on the fridge!” Sumiye shouted from the car, “Have it for dinner tonight!”

“Okay!” Koshiro looked at her through the window, “Bye! See you tomorrow!”

“Bye!” she started to drive again.

“Try to drink less!” Koshiro tried to advise her, but he wasn't sure if she heard it.

***

The next morning, Koshiro was late for school.

“Crap!” the boy shouted when he looked at the time, just when he was getting used to being awakened by those two, Sumiye stopped coming to his house.

“Please… just stay… quiet…” Scar, that had been sleeping with Sumiye until that day was now sprawled in Koshiro’s bed, belly facing upward, and eyes still closed. “...and leave... some food for me…” 

“Okay!” Koshiro whispered as he hastily got ready for school.

The boy made his way down the stairs and, after leaving some food for scar, started to run to get to Obaka High as fast as he could. In the meantime, he remembered his conversation with Scar the previous night:

“... which means that she won’t be coming here for a while.” Koshiro explained.

“This means I’ll have to stay alone with YOU again?”

“That’s right.” the boy smiled, “Please take care of me as I’ll do to you Scar-chan!”

“That’s it.” she turned around, “Bye.”

“Hey! Wait just a moment!” Koshiro shouted.

“What is it?”

“How do you feel about going to visit her on the weekends?”

“Visiting Sumiye-chan…” her eyes started to shine, “On weekends...?”

“Yes, we can go by train.”

“Hmm…” the cat seemed to ponder, “Nice Koshiro! You finally came up with something useful!”

“Thanks! I guess…”

With that in mind, the boy arrived at his school, he was panting because of the endeavor made to get there… at the end of homeroom.

“Damn!” he smacked his head while walking hurriedly through the corridors, “I forgot to get my breakfast.”

“Aaah.” someone gave a sigh of disappointment in front of him. “I knew this would happen.”

“Huh?” Koshiro turned his eyes to the person, but before he could say anything, she shoved something down his throat: “Uuauuursasr!! Grrwasdk!” the boy tried to say something as he turned around to see who had just passed him.

“Sadly, that’s the only Anpan I have today!” she said without looking to the boy, “Be sure to appreciate it!”

“Dan… kiu.” Koshiro tried to thank while munching the roll and looking at Sumiye’s long red hair. “Why does she always have to do something like that?”

***

After classes ended, Koshiro was ready to get back to his house. When he was about to take his first step down the stairs, he heard Sumiye’s voice behind him:

“Where do you think you’re going? Why aren’t you making your way up?” the tired-looking woman asked.

“Ugh.” Koshiro sighed and turned around, “Don’t you think you’re appearing too much for a secondary character?”

“Humpf!” she crossed her arms, “That’s your fault for loving me too much! Now you have to go to your club.”

“And why would I do that?? There’s nothing to do there.”

“Yet!” she put her hands on her waist and made a confident pose, “That’s why you have to socialize! Make some new friends! You can’t keep clinging onto me or the Furukawa’s!”

“...” Koshiro hesitated, “I know…”

“So please, just go to your club. You can use this time as inspiration.”

“Hmm…” he hesitated again, but then sighed and finally said: “Okay.”

And with that, he said goodbye to Sumiye and made his way up the stairs quietly until his phone disturbed the hush:

Nobu: Gameplay tonight?

Nyoko-chan: We have some time before it, but what should I get for Sumiyechis’ Birthday? * - *

Koshiro looked through the text. “Just because she mentioned them…” 

Koshiro (replying to Nobu): IDK.

Koshiro (replying to Nyoko-chan): Hmm… something catty maybe?

“Yeah, she loves cats, so she’ll probably like that.”

Nyoko-chan (replying to Koshiro): C-CATTY?? W-WHAT DO YOU MEAN?? Nyoko-chan wants to know!

“Did she just stuttered while typing? Anyway…”

Koshiro (replying to Nyoko-chan): You’re a girl too, so you should know. But if you have any questions, ask Nobu!

After typing, Koshiro managed to get to the fourth floor, a place basically reserved for club activities.

“Hmm… she’s not answering anymore so she probably understood.” Koshiro thought while looking at his phone, he put it in his pocket and…

“Ouch!” he bumped into someone.

“Hmm… Koshiro Koike, is that right?” a girl with an apparent cold voice asked.

“Yes! I’m sorry for that!” Koshiro bowed and then raised his head to see the president of the student council before him. "Aaah!" the boy jumped back.

“Please be more attentive to your surroundings.” Aika Murakami said with her deep voice while straightening her glasses.

“Okay!” he said and then started to walk to the club’s door

“Koike-kun.” she called for him, “Are you here for CLUB activity?”

“Yes…” the boy stopped midstride, terrified of her.

“And are you in the same club of Kazuhiko Hirata, Hayami Takayama, and Erity Yasutake?

“Yes…” 

“I see.” she nodded, and then turned to the boy, “I want you to report to me every day at the student council, IS THAT ALRIGHT?”

“Y-Yes!”

“Is that a PROMISE?” she straightened her glasses again.

“O-Of c-course ma’am!” he bowed again “Why do I keep doing this?”

“Huh?” Murakami looked at the boy bowing in front of her with puzzlement. “If it’s alright, then you can go to your club, don’t be late.”