Chapter 16. Picture perfect

I hold a girl's book in my hands while she lays on the floor.

"Oh, now you really did it, Hibana!"

"And what are you going to do, huh? Sermon me to death?

"Nozomi, just... stop it, okay?"

The girl holds Nozomi's raised fist, she glances at her and stops.

"She just pushed Dejima and stole her book!"

"I have no purpose in having this thing with me"

I slam the book on the floor.

"That's the class president, you dip-"

"Nozomi, I don't think you should speak like that. Besides..."

She goes and carries Dejima on her back, they start walking.

"Hibana didn't do anything"

"She what?!"

"Yeah, notice she fell on a corner. If she was pushed, she wouldn't be leaning on the wall. Besides, by the position of Hibana, the book was just a few steps from her. Meaning that she tripped, the book flew some steps away from her and she twisted her ankle. Left one, because that was the one she was putting the least pressure on. That's why I'm carrying her. And Hibana, well, she lifted the book and was about to return it."

"She what now?!"

Nozomi turns around, but I already left.

I hate everyone who threatens me as a delinquent. And even worse, that the most delinquent girl at school must stop me for something I didn't do.

That Dejima... for being the council president she should speak more.

I get into theater club. Alone, again.

"I'll take assistance. Shimada, Daria."

No one answers.

"Not here. Again. Hibana Ai. Here. Done"

I drop the list on the table.

I hate this.

A knock rings on the door. It slides softly, on the other side, that girl stands with a notepad.

"Am I... interrupting something?"

"No, not at all..."

"I came here to ask about the play you're-"

"It's Hamlet. The guy dies. The end."

She sits on the table.

"Look girl, I'm really grateful you saved me, but I have no time for any of this."

"...There's no one here"

"Am I no one?"

"I'm not saying that. It's more like, you're the only club member present besides Shimada."

"Oh, you heard. Yep, the girl hasn't showed up since the beginning of school. I mean, it's kind of a big deal given this is only first year AND she's supposed to be the theater club president but hey, what can we do."

I stand up.

"Anyways, I think you should leave now so go, chop chop"

She takes my hand and looks at me in the eye.

"You don't have to go through this alone, you know?"

What kind of cheesy line is that?! She's even touching me.

"What kind of question is that? You don't even know me!"

"Your hand, it's trembling. Also, you're limping. You have a hit mark on your right leg-"

"Wait. No. How are you doing so?"

"Uhm... I kind of notice stuff on others?"

She doesn't look special in any way. She's basically just your regular pretty girl. Almost one of those dumb shoujo manga protagonists I hate. But... Is it true?

"So... what happened? Go ahead"

"It was your mother"

We stay in silence

"In which club are you?"

"Newspaper..."

"Well, that's fitting"

I sit back down.

"Well, go ahead, ask away. I promise I'll be honest from now on"

"Okay, which play..."

Look at her. All pristine and clean. Her black hair, her neatly arranged uniform, the way the pen touches the paper by almost gliding on it. Her writing is even neat.

Should I fight and push her? Or should I just go on with it and accept her?

"I think fighting would be bad..."

"Pardon?"

"Yeah, you were thinking about fighting me or accepting me, right? Well, I'm not a fighter myself, but your status as bully does not help you."

"How in the-"

I'm about to hit her, but I remember. This is not who I am. Not to her, not to anyone. The only person I owe is Uzuki. I'm not that evil.

"...fine, okay. But... can you come here more often?"

"Sure. Just answer and I'll get here from time to time."

Months passed. Houraiji began visiting the club every day. Just hanging around in interviews. From day-to-day Nozomi attempted to frame me on something, but most of the time it never happened. An entire year passed, and Hikari became the head of the newspaper club. Of course, it was expected for someone like her.

One day of autumn, it was pouring like crazy. She came to the club again, being playful.

"So... what do you think about setting all of this down?"

"With Hoshino? That'd be wise of you"

She smiles, taking some pictures of her bag.

The baseball team, basketball team, and another one with Uzuki.

"You see, memories are everything. We are nothing without them. So, it's best to treasure and take care of them.”

She takes another picture. A policewoman is in it. Short hair that rests just on her shoulders, a cute hat and a super neat uniform.

"...mom used to say that all of the time. And to this day, I still hold her memory. Because that's the most important thing to me."

"So, remembering the good things in life instead of focusing on the bad? Not doing it"

"Well... I think that's what Hoshino wants."

"And that's cool. But I ain't doing that. It's going to turn out horrible and I know it. You know it."

"Oh... ok..."

We stay in front of each other, not saying a word. And it's fair, what she said is something I can never tell her. Not only because I could never forgive what I did, but because what I did had a reason. Something so ridiculous I know Uzuki won't ever understand.

"Hibana, have you ever had friends? Like, real friends here?"

"Well, I want to say you but... I don't even think we are. I mean, we have chatted all this time, but I don't think we have ever done friend things."

"So... you're alone. Alone at home, alone here. It'd be fine if... well, I don't think I need to say it."

If I enjoyed my own company. Being by myself...

"...you know what? I don't really have many friends except for you and Nozomi. Sure, I have some fans at school but it's not like I'm super close to them. The only two people that I can actually speak to are...well, you two."

She stands up and walks to the door.

"Can you forgive yourself, Hibana? Judging what you did was justified"

"I don't think so... I think..."

She smiles.

"You will. I bet you will, and you'll learn just how much valuable you are. Anyways, gotta go. Good luck talking to Hoshino."

She walks out. I'm alone, again.

Be honest with my feelings...

...I think I'll contact Hoshino. But...

"Houraiji, wai-"

On the hallway, I see Houraiji walking, she doesn't notice...or so I think.

she spots something. As I walk towards her, I see a hairpin. A regular, ordinary hairpin, on her hand. Nothing odd or special about it. She places it on a windowsill instead of pocketing it or doing anything to it.

"Someone will come back for that"

"Pardon?"

She smiles faintly.

"Hibana... every item tells a story. Even if it is just a single hairpin, this can be an incredibly important thing for someone. An even small things can make a big change if you believe enough in them."

We look at the hairpin together, like drawing our sight.

"Sometimes, people ignore what's right in front of them. More than waiting for a sign, they wait for something big. Something important. But again, the course of the world can change just because a hairpin staying on the floor or finding its way back to its rightful owner."

She has been weird. Totally weird. But she has never said something so utterly odd like that.

"Uh... thanks?"

"So... about what you were going to ask. No. Just be honest with your feelings to her. She may do something that you think is bad but... I'll be there afterwards. Maybe for an interview."

"I'll keep that in mind"

She walks away. On the hallway.

The hairpin remains there. Undisturbed. Waiting.