Chapter 19:

The Dorayaki side of things

Having Trouble Coming up With a Decent Story


Koshiro was once again eating in the stairs behind the main school building.

“Just get off from behind the b… from behind Kuma-chan.” Koshiro uttered when he noticed the girl.

“Hmm.” the girl sulked at him, “You’re spoiling the fun!”

“Yeah, yeah, just come here.”

“No!”

“Don’t you want to eat? Isn’t that the only reason you’re here? To steal my food?”

“No! I don't steal!” Sawada exclaimed, “Not anymore!

“Not anymore?” “C’mon.” Koshiro got up from the stairs and started to walk towards the girl. “I know you're hungry.”

“No! Don’t get any closer!”

“But…”

“If you get closer I’ll scream at you and tell everyone how idiot and perverted you are!”

“Ugh.” the boy made a disgusted face, “If you’re s…”

GROWL the loud growling of Sawada’s stomach decided Koshiro’s resolve.

“Okay, that’s it.” the boy said as he strode to the girl.

“Nooooooooooooo!” she screamed.

“Don’t give me that n…” his voice died when he looked at the girl. Sawada’s hair and school uniform were a muss covered by dirt. She was completely disheveled, “What the hell happened to you?”

“Nothing!” she took a step back, her eyes forming tears.

“Nothing? But look at you! You look like an old pros…”


“I know! Koshiro idiot!” she started to cry.

“...” the boy stared at the ground, hearing the weeping of the girl. After several seconds he finally remembered what he wanted to do before, “Here” Koshiro murmured while handing the girl a Dorayaki.

“Huh?” the still crestfallen Sawada wiped her tears and looked at the food with curiosity.

“It’s Dorayaki.”

Dolaaki…?”

“No, it's Dorayaki.” Koshiro corrected her.

Dolaki?” Sawada tilted her head in confusion.

“Argh.”Koshiro sighed. “I guess there's no helping it... “Yes. I prefer Anpan, but this is not bad.”

“Hmm…” the little girl slowly approached the edible and sniffed it.

“Oh my god, how can she try so much to be 'elegant' at tea parties, and here...” Koshiro watched Sawada sniff the Dorayaki again and then, finally grab it from his hands, “...be basically a savage animal?” he observed her start eating.

“Ohh! It’s tasty.”

“It’s good that you enjoyed it.”

“Hmm… didn’t you have counted money for food? Why did I get an entire Dolaaki?”

“I bought two this time. It was not much more expensive than that Anpan.

“Hmm…”

“Looks like you really liked it.”

“Yes.. but I was actually thinking about how that crappy Anpan can be more expensive than this.”

“Argh.” Koshiro frowned and opened his mouth to rebuke “L…” but stopped. He was hypnotized by the little girl (who was his senior) munching the Dorayaki: “Well… maybe she’s a domestic animal after all… since... she’s kind of cute…” it reminded him of familiar faces...

“What?” she looked at him, “Pervert…?”

“Why do you always say that?” Koshiro sighed, “It’s not that. I was just wondering… don’t your paren…” Koshiro hesitated. “Don't your family give you food or something?”

“...” Sawada didn’t answer, instead, she kept munching the food.

“It looks like I won’t be getting an answer…” Koshiro thought, but then, Sawada opened her mouth:

“Don’t you have a job to do?”

“Huh?” Koshiro looked puzzled, “What?”

“Koshiro idiot!” she stated, “You were supposed to follow Yasutake-chan, right? You’ve been postponing it for ages!”

“...” “What about your family??” “What…?”

“Idiot!” Sawada jumped with the Dorayaki in her mouth. “Good for you that I know where she went!” she started to run towards the school building.

“Hey! Wait!” Koshiro followed her.

The two ran to the second floor where Sawada started to slink in a, not at all, suspicious way.

“What are you doing??” Koshiro asked.

“Shhhh! They’re going to hear us!” the girl uttered back.

“Hey! You’re the one yelling!’ the boy whispered. “Seriously, what are we doing here?”

“We’re obviously following those two!” Sawada pointed at Shimizu and Yasutake, who were turning a corner. “Be glad I’m helping you!”

“With the way you’re screaming, it’s more like you’re in my way! Besides, are you sure our actions are actually in sync with last chapter’s?”

“It’s fine! No one cares about that! Let’s just follow the plan!”

“Which plan??!” “We don't have one!”

“C’mon.” Sawada ignored him and started the stalking.

“Aargh.” Koshiro sighed but followed her.

They discovered that the two girls were going to the library, there, they hid behind the door and listened to their conversation with the librarian of the place. Sawada and Koshiro waited for the conversation to end, and for the woman to be absorbed by her book, to sneak through the aisles and hide behind a bookshelf.

“Can you hear them?” Sawada asked.

“No, I…” Koshiro was interrupted by his phone:

Nobu: Did you see the link? Underrated song, right?? BTW it looks like someone is improving at the game! I mean, you got destroyed by that AKUADO this time, but you played better anyway! Keep up the good work!

“Hey! It’s no time to be messing with your phone! Give me that!” Sawada took the phone from Koshiro’s hands.

“Wha… Wait!” Koshiro tried to stop her.

“...WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THIS TO FEEL ALL THIS PAIN! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” the girl accidentally clicked on Nobu’s link.

“Aah!” Sawada stifled her scream and let the phone drop to the ground.

“Shhhhhhhhh, be quiet in the library.” the librarian uttered.

“If you can’t use a phone, don’t mess with it.” Koshiro rebuked Sawada.

“Just stay quiet. Let’s get closer.” the girl started to get up but stopped and looked at the boy to murmur: “His phone is kinda old, but seems to be enough… maybe if it ‘disappeared’ I could...”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, nothing! I was just spacing out…”

“Hmm…” “Not suspicious at all.”

“Anyway, let's go!”

“Hey, stop.” Koshiro grabbed her hand, “We should call it a day. Maybe come back when Shimizu isn’t here.” he whispered.

The girl broke away from Koshiro: “We can’t let this opportunity pass by!”

“What? We already know she isn’t going on a tryst with Hirata. Isn’t that what we wanted?”

“Shut up, Koshiro idiot! Idiot! Idiot! They are coming this way!”

“You are the one shouting! Shut up, please!”

“I’m hearing their steps! Run!!”

Run? What do you mean, run...? Wait, she’s really running.” Koshiro darted out from behind the bookshelf, following Sawada, and seeing her collide with the girls they were following. “Shit.”

“Hey, Sawada! Are you alright?” the boy helped her get up.

“Ouch… my head hurts.”

“Well, it’s your fault.” “Of course! You shouldn’t bolt like that!” Koshiro turned to the other two girls and helped them get up: “I’m sorry for that…”

“What…?” Shimizu stood up still groggy.

“I remember now…” Yasutake murmured while looking at Sawada.

“W-What..?” Sawada stared at Yasutake with widened eyes. “Y-You rem...?”

“What?” Koshiro looked at Sawada.

“It’s nothing! It’s nothing!” the girl replied abruptly, “Let’s go!” she then pulled Koshiro by his sleeve and ran away from the library.

***

“Sawada?” Koshiro called when they were far from the library.

“Bye!” she let go of Koshiro’s sleeve and started to run away but… “Ouch!” she bumped into another person.

“Hey girl, you shouldn’t run like that on the corridors… wait...”

“Huh?” Sawada shook her head and looked up to see the lucky one she had bumped into.

“Aren't you Umiko Sawada?” Sumiye asked the girl.

“...” Sawada didn’t reply, she gazed at the woman with trembling eyes and then ran away, disappearing from their sight.

“Do you know her, Sumi-nee?” Koshiro asked the teacher.

“Kind of… I might be one of the only ones… since she doesn’t come very often.”

“Huh? What do you mean? I see her almost every day.”

“Really? Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“I told you! It's the Senpai behind the bear!”

“What?”

“She's the one to inspire my Old game? rip-off.”

“Oh. Great that you're admitting it.”

“Just shut up.” Koshiro frowned, “Anyway, I didn't see a reason to tell you about that little food thief.”

“Hmm… so she’s asking for food…” Sumiye mused.

“Hey! Sumiye??! Sumi-nee? Are you listening to me?!”

“Hmm… can you take her home today?”

“What?” Koshiro jumped back, “Take her home? You mean... to my place?” he pointed at himself with indignation.

“Now that you mention it, it isn’t a bad idea…” Sumiye pondered, “But I meant for you to accompany her home.”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT’S NOT A BAD IDEA?!”

“Alright, I’ve to look into this.” Sumiye ignored him, “Take good care of her!” she turned around and left.

“Aargh.” Koshiro heaved a sigh and smacked his head, “Only because your food is good!” he shouted to the empty corridor.