Chapter 6

"I'll see you tomorrow in class," Yanagi said as he stood in front of Izumi's modern, boxy house.

Izumi nodded. "Thank you for showing me around." She bowed to him.

"It was my pleasure. I had fun. We should hang out again sometime. Well..." He tilted his head to the side and smiled. "I guess we will hang out a lot as long as the club forms. You know, once practice starts, you could always come watch us play. First-years probably won't get into the real games, but we will have practice games."

"Sure, sounds like fun." I wonder how much I've learned from the SD baseball games I used to play. Never watched a real game, though.

"Cool. Always good to have a cute girl cheering you on; makes me try harder." He winked at her.

Cute? Me? A blush crept up her cheeks, and she cleared her throat. "I-I'll see you tomorrow. Bye."

"Bye." Yanagi gave her a small wave and waited for her to enter her house before leaving.

"Oh my, who was that handsome young man?"

Izumi jumped as her mom came out of the kitchen. "Yanagi, one of my new friends. Oh, and I brought you something. I went to this crepe shop with him, and I bought an extra for you." Izumi pulled a banana cream crepe, saved in a baggie, out of her backpack. She cringed. "Looks like it squished a bit, but it should still taste good."

"You didn't have to do that. Thank you, honey." Her mom took the baggie and immediately opened it to try. "Mmm... Not as sweet as expected, but in a good way."

Izumi's eyes widened, and she giggled. "Mom, you have cream way over here on your cheek." She pointed at her own. "I don't even know how you got it way over there."

"It's the bag! It's making it hard to eat. Besides, you're one to talk; I've seen you with cream on your forehead before."

"Because it was on my hand and I rubbed my head."

"Excuses!"

They both laughed.

"You know, this is the first time in a long time that I've seen you happy after school. So, tell me all about your first day, and that Yanagi boy."

"Yanagi? He's not the one I'm crushing on." Izumi sighed, her eyes widening as she covered her mouth with her hand.

"So there is a boy! And it's not one from your manga or anime this time?"

"No." Izumi's face burned brighter.

"But it's not the boy who walked you home?" Her mother frowned.

"It's Kuruma, his best friend. He's handsome, kind, and has a unique look with accessories. He also loves video games and manga," Izumi gushed about him, holding onto her warmed cheeks. So cool.

"Oh, so you two bonded over it already? I was sure you wanted to hide your hobbies this time with what happened in middle school."

Her body tensed, and her expression dropped. "No, he doesn't know about them. But listen, this is how I met him..." Izumi told her mom about her day, starting with running into Kuruma, and making sure to include Shiori.

"Are you sure this Yanagi boy isn't the one into you? That was super nice of him to show you around and walk you home like a proper gentleman."

"That's just who he is. From what I hear, he's nice to everyone. It's also part of why he has fangirls."

"But he didn't walk all of them home."

Izumi's expression fell. "I think you like Yanagi a little too much, Mom."

"I just like that he's treating you well, but you clearly have your sights set on his friend. Either way, a good start to the year with three new friends. I'm happy for you. Feel free to invite Shiori over; she seems to be quite the character."

Three more than I had in middle school. "Oh, right, and I agreed to join his new game dev club."

"Doesn't that... go against hiding your hobbies? Not that I thought that was a good idea to start, but if you join, won't people assume you're into video games?"

Actually, they might think I'm after Yanagi, if what Shiori says is right. "I guess so, but he needed members, and I needed to find a club to join. They didn't say mandatory, but it sure feels like it is." Izumi shuddered. "Anyway, maybe things are different here, and I don't have to hide it."

"Whatever you want, honey. This is your new start." Her mom stroked her head. "I just want you to be happy, and I don't want to see you like that again."

"I don't think it will be, even if I join, since it'll be with people who like it as well. Maybe that was my issue in the first place; I didn't find the right people. Then again, that was only part of my problem... Say, what would it be like for me to join the baseball club?"

"I thought you just said you were joining the game dev club?"

"Yes, but I've been invited to check out their practice already, and..." Kuruma is also in that one.

"Don't overload yourself, and I imagine it depends on the school. If there are enough girls, then they probably have their own, but if not, they just act as managers or helpers to the club."

"I see."

"Oh, the look in your eyes. I miss being young and having your heart flutter with the first throes of love." Her mom sighed.

"Mom! Can you not talk about it so openly?"

"Why not? No one else is here to hear it. Wait until I tell your father."

"No! Don't tell him. It'll shatter the illusion of his precious little daughter. I don't want to be grown up in his eyes yet."

She patted Izumi's hand on the table. "No matter what you do, you'll always be our little girl, so don't worry about it."

"Fine, don't tell him because I don't want another person teasing me over this. Can't believe telling you is backfiring on me."

"Okay, okay, I'll stop. I'll only mention it if he asks, otherwise, my lips are sealed."

Izumi pouted.

"Fine, I won't tell him. Such juicy details to keep to myself, though."

"Just like how I'll keep that you ate the entire crepe yourself, not saving him any."

Her mother gasped. "I thought it was mine."

"But you usually share!"

"Oops."

They both laughed.

Bing. Izumi got a text.

'Hope you didn't get into trouble for staying out so long.'

'Nope, everything's fine.'

"Oh, who was that?" her mother asked, peeking over at her phone.

"Yanagi, making sure he didn't keep me out too long."

"You could've stayed out longer if you wanted to, just make sure you're home for dinner, and we're good."

"Well, clubs might end up running a bit late..."

"I'm sure you'll make it home in time. If you're ever late, text me so I don't freak out thinking something happened to you."

Izumi nodded. Surprised he texted me already.

"Okay, I'm going to get dinner ready. You should talk to your friend and think about what you want to do if the club comes together."

And I can finish my manga from earlier! "Okay, thanks, Mom." Izumi rushed upstairs and flopped onto her bed, reaching for her book. Can't wait to see how this ends. She giggled, kicking her feet in excitement.