Chapter 11

After the boys finished eating, Yanagi stole the dessert plate and took a picture. "Maybe it was a tie, considering the exquisite plating on this one, Kuru."

"Nah, it was supposed to be about the cook and flip skills, so you won it fair and square." Kuruma pulled the plate back to cut it up. "Here you go." He handed out the plates.

"Thanks!" They all dug in.

Oh, it's so warm and fluffy! Not as sweet as I expected either.

By the time she was halfway through, Shiori had finished eating and picked up her bag. "Thanks for the food. I'm going to head home now."

"Not so fast." Yanagi rushed over to stop her, waving Kuruma over. "One last thing. A club photo."

"Do I have to?" Shiori cringed.

"Yes, now smile."

Shiori glared at his phone. Izumi smiled alongside Yanagi. And Kuruma stood beside Yanagi, behind Izumi, his head tilted slightly to the side as he gave a peace sign.

"There. Picture perfect."

"Now can I leave?"

"We're all heading out, so wait for us."

"Which way do you go?" Izumi asked her. Hopefully, the guys will walk me again, since I may not remember how to get home from here... Geez.

"The other way from you guys," Shiori replied, tapping her foot as they gathered their things.

"That's only true if you go the long way around. We can go partway together," Yanagi suggested.

Does he know where she lives, too?

"Look, she's a bit different, but it's totally her." A girl from the other table held up their phone and pointed at Izumi. "Way to glow-up. Wonder if they know what she's really like."

Izumi froze. They're looking at me... Do I know them? She shivered and looked away.

Shiori hooked her arm with Izumi's, glared at the girls, and walked her out the door. "Do you know them?" She glanced back to see the girls talking to Yanagi.

"Not that I know of..." Can't say I took a good look at them either.

"Maybe they mistook you for someone else then. Regardless, I don't like them. Just the way they talk makes me want to puke. Ugh. I wish people would finally grow up and mind their own business."

I wonder if that means she's used to dealing with people like them.

"Hey, you guys are leaving without us!" Yanagi rushed to catch up to the girls, nudging Kuruma along with him. "Is something wrong?"

"Nope." Izumi forced a smile.

Shiori glanced at her and finally let go. "Sure there isn't," she mumbled.

"Sorry..."

"You know, it's always felt like you have a past you don't want to talk about, but now is not the time. And wow, since when does knowing someone for a few days make it feel like that?" Shiori sighed, shaking her head. "Whatever. I'm going that way." She pointed off to the side street.

"Why don't you walk with us longer?" Yanagi asked, moving up in between the girls. "Always best to travel in groups, anyway."

"This is a shortcut home."

"Shortcuts generally aren't good; they go through dark, sketchy paths."

"You watch too much anime. I'll be fine. See you guys tomorrow."

Kuruma watched them all from behind, his eyes trailing from one to the next in wonder. "If you're so worried about her, I'll walk her home."

"I was suggesting we go most of the way together, not split up," Yanagi huffed.

Kuruma patted him on the back. "We already spent the evening together; let it go."

"Okay."

"Whatever," Shiori sighed. "You're free to walk wherever you want. See you." She waved to Izumi and crossed the street to head home, with Kuruma a step behind.

He glanced back at Yanagi and Izumi, his jaw tense as he thought back to the heart-shaped okonomiyaki. "Best I don't intervene," he mumbled to himself.

"What was that?" Shiori stopped and turned to him, an eyebrow raised.

"Nothing."

"You were free to go with them; I don't need anyone to walk me home."

"I doubt you'd need me to, but it gives Yan peace of mind." Kuruma shrugged. "It's not a big deal."

"Your face tells a different story."

Kuruma frowned and touched his face, wondering what expression he had on. "I don't know what you think you see, but..." he trailed off, finding her already starting back on her way home. "Wait up. What were you talking about? I definitely didn't have any weird expression."

"Says the guy who had to check." Shiori smirked.

"Tch."

Just us again. Izumi hooked her thumbs into her backpack straps. "So, does Shiori live that far from us?"

"Not really, but I guess she doesn't like travelling in groups." Yanagi frowned, thinking back. "Though I swear she used to. I guess she's changed."

"Doesn't everyone?"

"True enough."

"Change isn't always a bad thing."

"It also isn't always good. So, any idea for our game? I like the way Kuruma's going, but there will be a lot to flesh out."

"Like is he just saving the school? Does the baseball bat have special powers to let him defeat demons? Is there a big bad? Is there more motivation? What about a love interest?"

Yanagi smirked. "I see you've been thinking about it."

"Oh!" Izumi gasped, covering her mouth. I let that all slip out without a second thought.

"What's wrong? I wasn't complaining; I was happy you're showing interest in the club, more than joining because you didn't know where else to go."

Sure, that's why...

"In fact, you seem quite into it. I have to ask, are you a gamer? I never thought to ask before, but I was eager for someone else to join."

"Uh..." Don't tell him! But I also don't want to lie.

Yanagi eyed her carefully. "I'm hoping you are, since this is a game dev club."

"I play a bit." Dammit, that's still a lie... depending on what metrics you use.

"Is that so? What kind?"

All of them. "Visual novels..." Is that a bad one to say? "And RPGs mostly." I even play horror, action-adventure, racing... and anything I get my hands on.

"That so? Cool." Yanagi nodded. "I like RPGs too, along with action games and sports. Kuruma plays all of them and then some." He chuckled. "If you ever want a recommendation, I suggest asking him. So, what else do you do? Any other hobbies?"

Reading manga, mostly shoujo... and horror. I never thought about other hobbies. Who has time for more hobbies?! "Not much. Watch TV like most people, and doomscroll on the internet."

"Ouch, not so sure that second one is a good thing. Maybe you need a project to focus on and keep you away from the endless scrolling."

"Are you saying you don't scroll a lot?"

"I will admit it happens from time to time, but I try not to let it take over. Bad for the brain. Besides, I'm usually too busy with other things to do that."

"What hobbies do you have? Other than gaming."

"Well, as you know, I love baseball, and that takes a lot of time. I study and read whatever manga Kuruma loans me. Hmm... I never noticed how hard that question can be to answer, and that I don't have many hobbies. Oh, I try to cook sometimes, but I don't like messing up the chef's kitchen."

"Chef's kitchen? Are you rich or something?" She laughed.

"Yes, well, my parents are. Me? Not so much. They're kinda strict, which is why we mostly have educational books around. I'm lucky they let me play video games." He sighed, and they stopped in front of her house. "That went fast."

Her front door opened. "Hello!" Her mom waved to them. "Thank you for walking her home again. Would you like to come in for a snack or tea?"

"Mom!" Izumi cried out, wishing she hadn't rushed outside.

"Hello, Mrs. Hashito. I'm Tsueno Yanagi." He bowed to her and glanced at Izumi. "And as much as I'd love to stop in, I have to get going. My parents weren't expecting me home late today, since most of the clubs haven't really started back up yet, so they're probably wondering why I'm late."

"Oh, okay." Her mom sighed. She'd been curious about Yanagi—and Kuruma for that matter—after all of Izumi's gushing. "Maybe another time, then."

"Yes, thank you. Goodbye, Izumi, Mrs. Hashito." He bowed to her again, gave Izumi a quick wave, and headed home.

"Mom, what were you thinking? And why'd you rush outside without a jacket?" Izumi complained as they went inside.

"Why wouldn't I want to meet the handsome young man walking my daughter home? And you worry too much; it's not that cold out. So, tea?"

"Of course."