5 - As sincere as they come

At the school gates, I ran into Yuma, who appeared immersed into his phone.

“What’s up?” Short and sweet.

He looked up from his phone, but quickly looked down again. It’s fine I told myself, I’m used to it.
Suddenly, he raised his head once more, “Oh, it’s you, Komiya-san. Morning.”

That’s the first time someone returned my morning greeting!

“Yeah, good morning.” I slipped up and greeted him twice. “Still repping the class as the class rep?” What in the world am I even saying?

“Yup, nothing but the obligatory work, though,” he laughed, “Glad the speech isn’t of our concern anymore.”

Right, the speech.

Later during the lunchbreak, I hurried over to the library where I found Noriko seated at her usual desk, all teary eyed, “I’m beyond rescuing,” she cried out.

“Is this about the speech?” I asked her.

“Wah!!” She nearly fell off her chair, “Oh, it’s you.” Her wet eyes danced around in an expression I couldn’t read at my level, “To-Tomo… Komiya-kun.”

“That’s me. So, what’s up?” I took a seat across from her.

She picked up the sheet of paper in front of her and shoved it against my nose. “This is my speech!”

“I see, but I can’t really read it.”

“There’s nothing to read!” She slammed the empty sheet of paper against the table. “What should I do?”

A mirror wasn’t needed for me to know my face oozed pity, “Such desperation that you’re asking me for help. Are you no good with speeches?”

Her hand flashed underneath my face, grabbing my tie and strangling me with it, “Isn’t that obvious?”

After a million slaps to her arm, she finally acknowledged that I tried to tap out.

“This is your fault to begin with. If you weren’t distracting me, I would’ve never agreed to doing this!”

I agreeingly nodded, “I’m sorry about that and also about what happened the other day.”

Her irritated face swiftly transformed into an embarrassed one. “Let’s focus on the speech, please.”

Thinking hat: on. “Have you asked what should be in the speech?”

“Yeah, I asked Suzumi-chan—”

“You’re friends with Suzumi-chan?” I mindlessly interrupted.

“Focus on the speech, creep at first sight.”

In an uncontrollable, high pitched voice, I said “Don’t call me that.”

“Anyway, she told me it’s just a generic speech to kind of reassure us students that even if we feel lost, there’s the teachers, clubs and such to confide with.”

“Are you in a club?”

She reached for her hat, then proudly put it on, “Film club.”

“Woah. Movies, huh… Seems fitting. What’s your favourite movie snack?”

She raised an eyebrow, “I thought you’d ask about my favourite movie…”

“I know as much about movies as a shark knows about… movies.”

She uncontrollably laughed, “Did you just remix a Kron line? Anyhow, it’s popcorn. Super salty or super sweet.”

“Hmm, seems fitting.”

With a smile from end to end on her face, she brushed off my remark. “Stop saying that. What does that even mean?”

In the second book about communication, I read that people like being told that something reminded you of them or that something they mention to like seems to be a good fit for them. I genuinely meant it the first time, but I might’ve been overdoing it.

“On second thought, that’s just so not you.”

She sighed, “You’re so weird,” but then, underneath her breath, she added, “maybe that’s why I can relax.”

“So, about the speech. I’m a very lazy student, so don’t copy me too often, but what about finding last year’s speech and giving that your own spin?”

Not without a frown, she went along with it, “I guess I have no other choice.”

“Anyway, speaking of clubs—”

“—That topic has passed,” she tried to block me.

“Do you know which club Suzumi-chan is in?”

She sighed deeply, “Tea ceremony club.”

“Do you think—”

“No,” she interrupted again.

“Well, I think I’ll try regardless.”

A simple shrug of her shoulders told me to do whatever I liked.

* * *

Keep it simple, I reminded myself. Hello film students, I’m here to learn about your club. I bravely opened the door.

“Hello, club, I’m here to learn how to film students.”

Each and every member turned my way with a wide-eyed stare. The worst one of all was Noriko, separated from the group.

“Komiya-kun?!”

Her fellow club members turned her way.

One asked, “Do you know him?”

Instead of answering her, Noriko snatched her bag off the ground, jumped up and pushed me out of the clubroom.

Once the doors behind her were shut, she grabbed me by the collar with both of her hands. “What are you doing here?”

“Club hunting.”

She let go, “Weren’t you going to check out the tea ceremony club?”

I nodded. “I did, but they closed the door on me. Apparently, there were only girl members up until the moment Suzumi-chan joined. Only then a bunch of guys tried getting in, can you believe that? Now they’ve decided to become a club exclusively for girls.”

“You’re making it sound as if your plans were any different from those guys.”

I readjusted my collar, “I’m as sincere as they come.”

“Well, too bad, huh.”

“Not really, I don’t think I could’ve handled myself in a room with Suzumi-chan.”

Her eyes screamed horror, “What do you mean?”

“I would say something ridiculously stupid at least every thirty seconds. I get embarrassed by the thought alone.”

She sighed, one of relief this time, “That’s what you meant.” Instead of returning to the club, she walked in the opposite direction. “Let’s just go home today.”

“Is the film club taking members?”

“Not ones called Komiya Tomomi,” she smirked.

As we walked through the hallways, the beams of the setting sun shone warmly through the windows, all the while her gaze grew increasingly sadder. By the time we were outside at the bike stalls, I couldn’t help but tell her.

“You look like you’re about to cry."

She bit her lip and shook her head, “It’s fine. I wanted to pass by the convenience store, but then I’ll be home when it’s dark, so…”

“My lady,” I patted the back of my bike, “the knight in white shining horse armour at your service.”

“Can I? Really?”

She was cute enough as is, but when those puppy eyes appeared, I would’ve cycled her to the moon if she asked.

“Of course. Let’s hurry.”

Once seated, I gave her a warning, “Don’t hold me on my sides, though, I’m kinda ticklish.”

Why does everyone’s sadistic nature always come to surface when I say that, I wondered whilst I laughed like a maniac.

“Stop, stop, stop!” She respected my white flag. “Hold on to something else, and give me directions, milady!”

On our way—opposite of my own journey home—I asked her, “So, why are we heading there?”

“They have a Camarilla Twelve sticker collaboration with one of the snacks they sell.”

“Cool. Are you planning to drop by every day?”

“I pretty much did, but today is the last day. If they’re not out of stock already.”

“What?! You should’ve said that sooner. Let me pick up the pace.”

Finally in the store, I noticed there were only two of the snacks left. “Down to the wire, huh.”

“Mmhmm.” She pumped her fists. “We can do this!”

Before the automatic doors closed behind us, her package was already ripped open.

“Another Alòr,” she sighed. “Guess I’ll have to look for resellers, but where’s the magic in that?”

“Let’s see how my green fingers will do.” Once opened, I fell for the temptation of nibbling on the snack. Delicious. I took another bite.

“Check the sticker!”

“I’m on it, I’m on it.”

Swallowing my bite, I took a look at the sticker and instantly felt a rush of adrenaline traveling through every vein in my body.

“No! Way! No way!!”

“Who did you get?”

I turned the sticker her way, as we both screamed, “Kron!!” at the same time.

“Good for you,” she smiled, “You got a hit on your first try.”

“I guess you could call me your rabbit’s foot. Did I get that right?”

She peered into my eyes, hers wide open.

Were they always so bright blue?

“What do you mean?”

I offered the sticker, “He’s your favourite, no?”

Instead of taking it out of my hand, she rammed her head into my chest, tightly wrapping her hands around me.

“N-Noriko?”

“Thank you, Komiya-kun. Thank you so much.”

Current status: ???