Chapter 29

"You okay, Izumi?" her mom asked as she handed her the bento she made for lunch. "If you're worried about your coat or uniform, don't be; I'll get you new ones."

"I'm fine." Izumi smiled widely. "And thanks, Mom."

"Of course." Her brows furrowed as she watched her head out for school.

Yanagi turned, waiting on the sidewalk like always, and waved. "Good morning."

"Good morning..." He didn't come with him.

"Ouch." Yanagi cringed. "Kuruma... he went ahead to talk to his brother about something."

"I see." He's fully avoiding me now. Her shoulders slouched.

"Don't worry." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I'm still here."

"Is he... okay?"

"He will be. I'm not too sure what's going on with him, but it can't last."

Izumi nodded. I hope so...

By the time they got to class, Kuruma was sitting at his desk reading manga. Shiori was at her desk, arms crossed and leg shaking as she glared at the back of his head.

That can't be good. Izumi glanced at Kuruma as she headed to her seat, but he kept his head down, reading, and his hand froze mid-reach as he went to turn the page as she passed, but he didn't bother looking up.

"What's with you?" Yanagi nudged him and sat at his seat.

Kuruma waved him off and kept reading.

"Are you okay?" Izumi asked Shiori.

"I'm peeved," Shiori grumbled, gritting her teeth as she glared at Kuruma.

Uh-oh... "What did he do?"

She tilted her head to the side. "Seriously? He's acting like this?" She shoved her hand towards him. "He won't listen to reason, and for some reason has it stuck in his head that he should..." Shiori leaned in to whisper. "Avoid everyone."

Is it everyone or just me? "I see..." Her shoulders slouched. I doubt he even had to talk to his brother this morning. "What should we do?"

"Nothing. He's a blockhead. What would be the point? Let him wallow in self-pity."

"But... what about our club?"

"Who knows? I guess we'll have to see later." Shiori shook her head again, mentally cursing him.

Something more must've happened. But I doubt she'll let me know what it is...

Lunch rolled around, and Kuruma dropped an onigiri on Yanagi's desk and took off.

"Hey, where are you going?" Yanagi asked, picking up his food.

Kuruma shrugged, brows furrowed, but kept going.

I knew he was trying to put distance, but I didn't expect this behaviour.

Shiori glared at him. "Tch, that brat. How dare—"

"It's okay," Izumi said, pulling her bento out. "You said he's just down and needs time to work through things, right?"

"Yeah, but he shouldn't act like this. I don't get it. I mean, I get feeling like you failed, but he shouldn't take that out on everyone else."

Yanagi looked at the girls, holding his breath as he tried to figure out what to say.

"Go." Shiori waved him away.

Yanagi let out a deep breath. "Fine." He grabbed his food and took off after Kuruma.

Izumi stared at her cute animal-shaped food and poked at the bear. I'm not even hungry today.

"You should really eat," Shiori said and took a big bite of her sandwich. "Can't let a stupid boy ruin the meal your mom so carefully made for you."

She's right. Izumi nodded and took a bite, but the flavour barely registered.

After eating, she slumped back into her chair and glanced at Kuruma's empty seat, his backpack lying open on his desk.

Hey... is that... She sat up. My favourite shoujo manga? Her heart skipped a beat. No! You're not allowed to like him more than you already do! He already made it clear. So... Izumi bit her lip, hand over her heart. Stop it, please.

Right before the bell chimed to start class, Yanagi came in with Kuruma behind him. Yanagi flopped into his seat with a huff while Kuruma shoved his backpack off his desk and lay his head down on his arms, staring at the front.

And now it feels like I'm causing a rift...

Izumi could feel eyes boring into her and turned to see the girls at the front staring back.

"Look what she's done."

"I knew she was trouble."

Shiori tilted her head to look past Izumi at the girls and pointed at them, then slid her hand across her throat.

They yelped and turned back to the front.

"Ignore them. You didn't cause this. There's probably more going on than we know; problem is getting him to talk," Shiori said and looked at Yanagi, who was tapping on his desk, mouth in a thin line. "Somehow..."

At the end of the day, they headed to game dev club, trailing behind Kuruma.

At least he's joining us... She sat in her usual seat beside Shiori, as Kuruma talked to Takumi, and he took the seat near the door across from theirs. Izumi stared at him, stunned. He won't even work with me? What did I do?

Yanagi nudged Kuruma. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to focus," he replied.

"But why aren't you sitting with the girls?"

Kuruma's jaw tensed as he went silent, working on the game.

Yanagi sat beside him and leaned in close. "Come on, man; you can't go solo in a club."

"I'm not."

"Oh yeah? Then why are you sitting over here? We work together. Never mind this crappy attitude you've been pulling all day."

"Just focus on your own work."

Izumi turned away, facing her computer as she tried to tune them out. I don't even know what to do for the game right now. Last time, I was working with Kuruma on it directly... She looked at Shiori's screen as she worked on more artwork, completely ignoring the boys.

As far as I know, I've finished the story part and what NPCs say, so it's not like I have anything to do there unless more characters are added. Maybe I should've gone home. They probably could've worked together properly if I wasn't causing a rift.

Shiori nudged her. "Whatever you're thinking, remember there's a difference between fact and fiction, and you don't know all the facts yet."

What's that supposed to mean?

Yanagi sat beside Izumi, leaning his arm on the back of her chair. "Hey, could you go through all the sound files and let me know what you think? Make suggestions, if need be."

"Um... I guess." Not sure I'd have much of an opinion on it.

"Great. Thanks."

Clatter. Kuruma's chair fell back as he stood. "I can't concentrate; I'll work on this at home. I'm going to baseball practice," he muttered and took off.

"Tch." Yanagi watched him go and turned to Izumi. "I'll deal with him." He plugged headphones into the computer and placed them on her head. "We'll talk tomorrow." He patted her head and took off.

Does that mean he can't even stand being in the club with me? She swallowed hard, her hand shaking as she opened the first audio file. Do I... No, I should focus on this. It's the least I can do.

Boom! Izumi's shoulders jumped. I should pay attention to what the file is called...

Shiori patted her on the back. "Hey, does this look good?"

"All of your work does."

"Thanks, but I prefer people to look before making any comments."

Shiori had the NPC sprite of Izumi done, along with the pop-up version during the baseball game.

"Looks perfect." Better than the real thing.

"Really? Don't think I should go with a different colour?"

"Nope. I would've expected a blue jacket, but I like the soft pink."

"Figured it'd suit you more."

A small smile formed as she thought about her yukata. I guess my mom thinks the same thing. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"Trying to distract me?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm trying to make progress." Shiori smirked and kept working.