Chapter 11: The Club Fair

The university campus was louder than usual.
Colorful banners hung from every building.
Music echoed through the courtyard.
Students laughed as clubs competed for new members.
...
"Club Fair Day!"
Aiko spread her arms dramatically.
"The greatest day of the semester!"
Kenji raised an eyebrow.
"You said that about lunch yesterday."
"That was also true."
...
Reina looked toward Shadow.
"You've never been to one before?"
"...Not really."
"Then today is your lucky day."
"I don't think that's how luck works."
"We'll decide that later."
...
The four wandered through the crowded campus.
The Music Club performed on a small stage.
The Robotics Club demonstrated a tiny drone.
The Art Club displayed paintings beneath colorful tents.
Every few steps...
Someone tried handing Shadow a flyer.
"Join the Chess Club!"
"The Debate Club is recruiting!"
"How about Basketball?"
Shadow politely accepted every flyer.
His hands slowly filled with paper.
Aiko burst into laughter.
"You look like a walking bulletin board."
"...I noticed."
...
Kenji suddenly grabbed Shadow's shoulder.
"Come on."
"What?"
"The Basketball Club."
"I don't play basketball."
"You'll learn."
"I'd rather not."
"Exactly why you should."
"No."
"Please?"
"...No."
Kenji sighed dramatically.
"I tried."
...
Nearby...
A familiar voice called out.
"Reina!"
The group turned.
Mika jogged toward them with a camera around her neck.
"There you are."
She smiled.
"I've been looking everywhere."
Aiko grinned.
"The celebrity photographer."
"I'm not a celebrity."
"Not yet."
...
Mika held up several printed photographs.
"We're displaying student life pictures."
She handed one to Reina.
It showed the four of them laughing beneath the cherry tree.
"That's actually nice."
Kenji smiled.
"I look surprisingly normal."
"You usually don't."
"Thanks, Aiko."
...
Shadow quietly looked through the photographs.
Then...
One picture caught his attention.
It showed him and Reina walking through campus.
Just the two of them.
He frowned slightly.
"...When was this taken?"
Mika looked at the photo.
"...Huh?"
"I didn't take that one."
Everyone laughed.
"You probably forgot."
"I don't think I did..."
She turned the photo over.
No photographer's name.
No club stamp.
Nothing.
"...That's strange."
Professor Watanabe walked past.
"Is something wrong?"
Mika showed him the picture.
He adjusted his glasses.
"It wasn't submitted through the club."
"...Then how did it get here?"
Nobody had an answer.
...
The conversation slowly moved on.
But Shadow quietly slipped the photograph into his notebook.
Without anyone noticing.
...
Later that afternoon...
The fair finally ended.
Students began packing away their booths.
The campus slowly became quiet again.
As Reina and the others walked toward the university gate...
She smiled.
"Today was fun."
Aiko stretched.
"My legs disagree."
Kenji laughed.
"Worth it."
Shadow looked back toward the empty courtyard.
"..."
For just a second...
He thought he saw someone standing near the photography building.
By the time he looked again...
They were gone.
...
That night...
The mysterious photograph rested on Shadow's desk.
He stared at it.
Then placed it inside the black notebook.
Before quietly turning off the light.