Club Outing

I looked up at Yuasa in shock. He looked down at me in my seat. Then he glanced over at Kishi.

“You were the one stuttering. Have you finally figured out what you wanted to say to me?”

Kishi looked surprised too. “Oh! Um… Uh… I… Uh…” His face grew red.

I felt like I had to turn Yuasa’s attention away from him quickly. “Why do you want to know who Rose is…?”

Yuasa looked at me again. “Why else? It bothers me that I don’t know who she is. She wouldn't even tell me.”

“Then… Shouldn’t you respect that…?”

He furrowed his brow. “It’s stupid that she’s hiding her identity. You realize that, right? What does she think I’m going to do if I know who she is?”

“Didn’t you threaten her…”

“Threaten?” He had to think about it. I really can’t believe him… “Hold on, you mean when I asked if she was a part of the press club? I was just making sure she didn’t write any strange articles about me. She said she wasn't, so that so-called threat doesn’t count anymore.”

Before I could say anything else, he quickly took a seat across from me at Kishi’s and my usual table. He pulled out his phone and kept talking. “Did she just tell you that I threatened her? Did she even show you our entire conversation? Take a look before you make any other comments.”

He slid his phone across the table. I questioned what was wrong with him in my head as I grabbed it and read our text conversation. Then I slid it back over to him while he stared at me.

“So?” he asked.

“So… what…?” I replied.

“So she didn’t show you the whole conversation, did she?”

I don’t even know what to say to him anymore. I didn’t know he could be this bothersome.

“Is that all…?” I asked, grabbing the book in front of me as a hint.

“No answer means that’s a yes. But that’s not all. I still don’t understand why she’s hiding her identity and you’re helping her do it.”

I put my book down again. “She’s just… uncomfortable… She would like it if you respected her feelings of not wanting to show herself to you.”

“It’s absurd. We go to the same school, yes? Wouldn’t I have passed by her at some point? She can do that, but not talk to me in person? I don’t understand at all.”

“Well… I guess you don’t need to understand… You can just leave her alone now.”

Yuasa stared at me. I looked away, feeling uncomfortable. Then I heard him stand up.

“Fine.” Then I watched him walk away.

“Saki…” Kishi caught my attention. “Why don’t you just tell him who Rose really is…?”

“Why do I have to do that…? We’ll never talk again, so it won’t matter.”

“Maybe… But won’t it be easier to clear up the misunderstanding? Kitahashi-san seemed upset…”

“I’m sure he’ll just leave me alone now. We don’t have to care about him anymore.”

Kishi still looked concerned. “Alright then… Whatever you say…”

I tried to focus on my book so I wouldn’t have to think about Yuasa or Kishi. Why do I have to tell Yuasa that I’m Rose… If we never talk again, it won’t matter in the end. He’ll forget about both of us and we can move on… I’m not sure why Kishi is so insistent on revealing that truth.

It didn’t take long for the last of the four hotties to give us an answer. Kishi decided to text and ask Yorikane about the announcement board, getting a friendly reply in return. Kishi told me that Yorikane had actually liked what Akemi did. This event got his name and face out to the new and returning students, helping them find him so that he could gather more friends. Three out of four are more upset about what Akemi did, but maybe I should have expected Yorikane’s reaction, him being so obsessed with making friends and all.

“Miya-san is very kind…!” Kishi said while he relayed this information to me in the library. “I know what he did to you was unfair and he shouldn’t have… But I’m relieved to see that his messages are kind.”

“Yeah, he is kind, but his actions went a bit too far with me… I’m glad your conversation went well though.”

“Is it… alright if I keep talking to him sometimes…?” He looked sheepish as he asked.

“You don’t need to get my permission for that… You can talk to and be friends with whoever you want to.”

“I just didn’t know if you’d be uncomfortable with that…”

“It’s alright, I’ll forgive him eventually.”

“Okay…” A small smile spread across his face as he looked at the phone in his hands.

Now that I’ve heard how the four hotties felt about that announcement board, I have a more unfavorable opinion of Akemi. From what Shoji said, she might know that her decision wasn’t a good one. But I just hope she doesn’t do anything like this again.

When I joined the library studies club, I hadn’t joined a club before at all so I wasn’t sure what to expect in that aspect. Although I could guess what the main club activities might be, I wasn’t sure about anything beyond that. But our club leader decided to introduce something new.

“Library studies club members, please come gather around the door to the library! I have an announcement to make!” The club leader raised his voice to get our attention.

I shared a look with Kishi before we both stood up from our seats. We headed toward the door as the rest of the members followed. Once we were all gathered, I only now realized how many of us there were. When I happened to see a glimpse of Yuasa, I quickly looked away and focused on the club leader.

“First of all,” he began again, “hello, you can call me Ono. Second of all, I gathered you all here to tell you that each club is required to go on an outing occasionally. This outing has to be club related. I’m requiring all members to join me tomorrow as we study the nearby public library. And with the club's budget, we can get a meal together afterwards. If you have any questions, speak now.”

A member raised her hand. “I have cram school after school.”

“This outing will take place during our club time. If you need to leave to go to cram school before we finish our outing, you can.”

Another member raised his hand. “Will we have to provide our own transportation?”

“I already talked to the student council and they’re letting us borrow a school bus. A teacher will drive us.”

After a couple more questions, the outing for tomorrow was set. Now I’m even more glad that Kishi is a part of my club. The outing would have been awkward if I was alone…

The day came and Ono ushered us into the school bus he borrowed. The teacher driving us was very bright and friendly. She smiled at each of us while we passed by. Kishi and I shared a seat and we were soon on our way to the public library.

The library was very large and grand with multiple floors. The entrance was very open with a desk on one side and shelves on the other. I looked up and could see the second floor behind a railing. Sometimes I can’t help but wonder what the architects who made these libraries were thinking… Our school’s library is like a maze and this one is far too ambitious.

While I was admiring the view around me with Kishi, the other members had already scattered to “study” the library. Except for one.

“I hope you won’t try to steal the book I want here either.” I already knew who it was from just those words. But I glanced over at him anyway.

“How about I go to the second floor and you can look around here on the first floor, Kitahashi-san…?”

He looked at me. Then he looked away. “Fine. I’ll stay here then.” After saying that, he headed toward the shelves.

I turned to Kishi. “Is that alright…?”

“Yes, I’m interested in the second floor anyway!” He looked excited.

We found some stairs and went up. We then split up to look for interesting books to read. Once we had our books of choice, we went back down to the first floor to find open seats. Others had already taken the seats on the second floor. I understand why… The second floor seems cooler somehow.

We managed to find an empty table so we hurried over to it. And when we did, a third person was going for the table as well. It was Yuasa Kitahashi. Of course it is…

Yuasa frowned. “You don’t steal my book, but instead my table?”

“These tables are for everyone…” I reply.

“There are other free seats though.”

Does he think he owns the world or something? That he can do whatever he pleases and get whatever he desires? It’s so irritating that the fire in me wants to fight back.

“Let’s sit here, Ki-chan,” I tell him as I pull out two chairs.

“Um… Right…” Kishi glances at Yuasa, his face a little red as he sits down in one of the chairs. I sit next to him and open my book casually.

I hear Yuasa sit down across from us with a “hmph.” I just try to ignore him.

After a few minutes of silence, I begin to get into my book, my surroundings fading away. Until he speaks.

“Can you even read with those glasses? I still don’t understand their purpose.”

I could only sigh from the very core of my soul. Why does he always have to try to start things?