Chapter 5

"Please, can you show me around?" Izumi tugged on Shiori's sleeve as they left school.

"Not today, sorry. I'm exhausted after all the hustle and bustle of the school hallways." Shiori yawned and rubbed her eyes. "School on a regular day is exhausting enough, but that was too much."

"Ah, okay. I understand. Sorry for pestering you about it." Izumi looked away, pouting.

"It's fine, just not today. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." Shiori waved and headed off.

"Bye." Izumi's shoulders slouched. Guess I should head home, too. I can finish reading my book! She started walking and stopped. Was it this way? No, it was the other way. She turned around and pulled her phone out.

I should've memorized this before school started.

She stared at her phone as she followed the map.

I hope this is the right way. Wait, was I supposed to turn back there? Ugh.

Izumi turned around at the corner by the crosswalk and ran straight into someone sturdy. "Oh!" she gasped and tilted back.

Their arm wrapped around her waist to stop her from falling over.

"This is becoming a habit of yours, isn't it?" Yanagi gave her a weary smile.

"I-I'm sorry! I can't believe I ran into someone again."

He released her, and she stepped back, bowing as her face burned.

Shiori is right! I'm in my head too much.

"At least your phone didn't go flying this time." He chuckled. "Though you might want to stop looking at it and walking at the same time. Gotta watch where you're going."

"Well, I was trying to follow the map, but it's not like it updates while I'm going, and I missed a turn... I think." Izumi took a deep breath.

"Are you saying you're lost?"

"No! Well, maybe... just a little." She brought her finger and thumb together to show a pea-sized amount. "I'm still new to the area—"

Yanagi held up his hand to stop her. "I get it; you don't need to explain. Want me to show you around? Or if you let me see the map, I can walk you home. I know the area well, so I promise we won't get lost." He smiled down at her.

Her eyes sparkled. "I had actually asked Shiori to show me around, but today sapped her energy too much, so she put it off."

"Doesn't surprise me. It also wouldn't be surprising if she kept putting it off. She hates crowded, noisy areas like the mall, so she'd rather avoid going there. If you're looking for a tour of the town, I'm your man." He pointed at himself with his thumb. "Though most of my free time is spent at the arcade with Kuruma or at either of our houses."

"Where is he, anyway? I thought you two were attached at this point."

Yanagi laughed. "To some extent, we are, but he's busy trying to recruit members for his new game dev club. Of course, I joined, since he's also joining the baseball club for me, but two people isn't enough, and our new coach is totally going to be mad."

"You don't say..."

"Did you find a club?"

"Not exactly." How would I even go about joining theirs? It would expose my otaku side...

"Is that so?" Yanagi stroked his chin. "I know it's a long shot, but any chance you'd join Kuru's club? I don't know if you're into video games, but there's a lot that goes into it. You could write the story, do artwork, or if you're good with computers, you could help him figure out the programs."

Izumi's eyes widened.

"What? Did I say something wrong? Is it too out there? You're not one of those girls that hates all video games, are you? I've run into some of them before. Something about it being childish or whatever."

"No, not at all." Quite the opposite. "I'm just surprised you're trying to recruit people for his club, since you're being dragged into a second club when you want to focus on baseball."

"Hmm? I think you're misunderstanding something here. I want to be in the game dev club, but I also love baseball. I know it'll be hard to manage both later, but I'd hate to quit either of them." He took a deep breath and gazed up at the blue sky. "I didn't know he was going to start a club on day one, but I support him and his dream, just as he does mine."

"What's your dream?"

"Isn't it obvious?" He smiled down at her. "To be a baseball star. To play on an official team. I know my chances are slim, but I have to try. So, any chance you'll join?" He held his hand out to her.

She took his hand without thinking and shook it.

His eyes widened, and he stared at his hand before grinning. "That was a yes, right? If so, I have to text Kuru. He'll be stoked to have a third member." Yanagi instantly had his phone out.

'Got us a new member.' Yanagi texted Kuruma.

'Great! Who is it? Should I greet them? We just need one more!' Kuruma texted back.

Yanagi smirked. "It's so rare to see him excited anymore. I wonder who our fourth will be."

'It's the new girl that ran into you. No need to greet. I'm walking her home now.'

"Sorry for the delay. May I see the map?"

Izumi handed him her phone.

"Okay, I see where you live. Not too far from me, actually. We can make a detour to the mall—an important meet-up spot for teens—and then I'll walk you home. What do you say?"

Bing. His phone went off.

"Sure." I wonder how close by.

He handed her phone back. "I put my number in there too, since we'll be hanging out regularly. I hope you don't mind."

"No, not at all." More like thanks for making it easy on me. Can't believe it's the first day, and I've got two new numbers! This must be the start of a good year. Does this mean I can get Kuruma's number soon? Pink tinted her cheeks.

"You okay? You're looking a little flush." Yanagi asked and touched her forehead with the back of his hand. "Don't think it's a fever."

"I'm okay; maybe it's just the sun causing it." Definitely can't tell him it's because I was thinking about Kuruma!

Grumble.

"Oops, sorry." Yanagi held onto his stomach. "It knows when it's lunchtime, and I worked up an appetite showing off my skills to the coach. Hey, how about we grab a quick bite while I give you a quick tour of the town? What time do you need to be home?"

I was never told... I usually just head home after class. "I should be fine for a few hours." Mom doesn't know it's an early day, but maybe it'd be best to text her.

Yanagi nodded. "Great! That's plenty of time to give you the rundown." He gently placed his hand on her upper back to guide her. "We'll start with the mall nearby so we can grab some grub to quiet the bear. Do you like chicken nuggets? Or how about ramen? Oh, wait, there's a crepe shop nearby that all the girls seem to love." He leaned in close to whisper. "And a lot of guys, though they may not admit it."

"I'm not a picky eater, so it doesn't matter much, but I've never had a crepe before."

"Then let's go for one of those. They're soft and sweet and perfect with cream and fruit. There are also savoury options if you'd prefer."

"I will admit I have a sweet tooth, but I'm curious about a savoury one, too."

"We can try them both, or just swing by another time."

Almost feels like he's implying this will happen more than this one time. Izumi glanced up at him as they walked. His open personality must be why he seems to be popular. Wait, Shiori warned me about him, and now we're hanging out; is this a bad idea?

"The new girl?" Kuruma mumbled to himself as Izumi's face flashed through his mind. "I wonder why she'd want to join a game dev club. Closet gamer? Or is it another reason... To be fair, I don't know her well yet." He sighed and looked around the busy hallways of the school.

Having not had any luck so far, Kuruma headed out of school while planning a flyer for the club in his head. "Ugh, marketing is so not my thing," he grumbled and started on his way home.

A bit further in the distance, he spotted Yanagi with Izumi. "I thought he was already walking her home..." He sped up his walking to catch up with them and came to an abrupt stop when he noticed Yanagi's hand on her back. "So that's how it is. I guess he did take to her fast."

A heavy pressure weighed on his chest. "It's no big deal." He took a deep breath. "Not the first time he's had a girlfriend, and he knows how to manage time with his friends and his girl... so why am I feeling this way?" Kuruma held his hand over his heart. "Must be nerves about the club. It's not like I care if they date."

He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to him. "I have to stop talking to myself like this."

Kuruma shook off his thoughts and decided to head home instead of catching up with Yanagi.