Jealously from an Unexpected Source...

Toshiko, Kazuki and Hiroshi all sit at a wooden table, reading manga with snacks all around the table in the cluttered room full of memorabilia. Toshiko looks around the room as he sighs. "So like, what do you guys do here again?" He asks. "Glad you asked! Our work here holds the school together! We use our powers of vast imagination to bring forth things your head couldn't even process!" Kazuki shouts. "In reality, we JUST read manga and talk. That's really it." Hiroshi replies.

 "Huh. We did that where I'm from too, except it wasn't a whole club.." Toshiko says. "Right, I heard you're from Matsukawa! I'm actually in the same boat as you, I'm from Hanaoka!" Hiroshi proclaims. Toshiko's face lights up. "Wait, seriously?! They're our neighbors! It's so good to see I'm not alone!" He turns to Kazuki suddenly. "Does that mean you're-" Kazuki shakes his head. 

"Nah. Unfortunately, I'm like the rest of those losers. My family's full of stuffy rich people, but I don't let that stop me! It's always been "you'll ascend the ranks, Kazuki!" but screw that! I wanna reach the stars and fulfill my ultimate goal!" He shouts. "And that would be..?" Toshiko asks. "An ASTRONAUT! or a manga artist. Whichever one comes first!" He responds confidently. "I don't really have a plan for the future. I don't think I want to know what the future holds anyway, that's way too scary for me! I just wanna enjoy the time we have now." Hiroshi adds. Toshiko nods in response. "I get it.. being here was so weird. But you guys seem pretty fun!" Kazuki chuckles a little. 

"Of course, our club is the best! We're on top of the WORLD! Nothing will tear us down!" He shouts, slamming his foot on the table and stretching his arm out dramatically. Suddenly, the door to the clubroom slams open as a girl with long dark brown hair with a strand of hair sticking out walks in. Toshiko immediately notices the silver crescent moon hairpin on her head mixing with the white and gold Hakuryu Academy uniform, before noticing the red band on her arm. "How many times have I told you, you need to get your act together!" She shouts. 

"Ah, there she is! Miss Student Council President!" Kazuki exclaims. "...Those are real?" Toshiko says. "Of course you're here. I wouldn't expect anything less from the village transfer student.." the girl responds. "Our club's important Haru! We do real work here!" Kazuki proclaims. "My name is Haruka Sakamoto. Please don't act like we're friends. Regardless, Hakuryu needs productive clubs that further our education. You use your club as an excuse to laze about!" Haruka yells. "Name ONE thing about our club that's lazy!" Kazuki proclaims.

"You have crumbs around your face. This place is literally with snacks, you have THREE members, you never turn in your report documents, need I go on?" She retorts. Kazuki scoffs. "All superficial! Listen, don't worry about it! Our club's legit!" Haruka hangs her head in her palms out of frustration. "Look, there's going to be a shift in clubs. New students want to build their own clubs, and we're basically at our limit. I'll have to forcefully disband this club." She responds coldy.

 "WHAT?! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Kazuki yells, slamming his hand on the table. "Yes, in fact I can." She replies. "We can't lose this club, Kazuki! We won't be able to see each other again if we do.. you know that!" Hiroshi exclaims. "Why's that??" Toshiko whispers, covering his mouth with his hand. "Me and Kazuki have completely different schedules, we barely get to see each other.. this club is the only thing holding me together. Everyone in the school is so cruel, you know? Kazuki is my hope, that's why I don't want to lose it all now.." Hiroshi explains. 

Toshiko nods in understanding before an idea strikes him like a lightning bolt. Toshiko stands up, facing Haruka head on. "Let us prove it to you then! Let us prove that we're legit!" He exclaims. She thinks on it for a bit, before sighing loudly. "...You know what, fine. I'll give you 4 hours. If you can prove to me that you can creatively express yourself in this club in an interesting way, I'll let you keep it." Toshiko lights up almost immediately. "Great! We'll make sure you aren't disappointed, Student Council President." 

Haruka smirks a bit and chuckles with confidence. "Good luck then, I'm looking forward to seeing it." She turns around and exits the room. "Toshiko, you saved us from destruction! That's my man!" Kazuki exclaims. "Heh, I didn't save you from nothin' yet. We need a plan. Preferably something creative.." Toshiko says while thinking heavily.

 "You got that girl right, Emi Wataherface or something right? Call her up, we need more people!" Kazuki proclaims. "Toshiko, you know Emi?! We can't-" Hiroshi exclaims, before Kazuki grabs his arm. "C'mon Hiro, we're gonna brainstorm something good!" The pair rush out of the room. "Toshiko! Don't do it!" Hiroshi shouts as his voice fades from earshot. Toshiko stands in the middle of the room confused. "...I only have a good feeling about this! Only problem is I have no clue where she is.." he whispers. Suddenly, the club room door opens once again as Emi walks in. "Are you stalking me?" Toshiko asks. "NO! I just thought you'd be here! And it's... empty." Emi responds. "Speaking of that, can you give me your phone number? I need it." Emi flinches, caught off guard by the bold request. "Y-You..!" Ultimately, she sighs. "Okay.." The two quickly exchange numbers. "Perfect, now the second thing, basically our club might shut down but we need to prove we're creative people to do that! That's why I need you to help me come up with something!" He explains. "I see... I don't know how much I can help, but I'll try. What could we even do?" Emi questions. Toshiko suddenly recalls his and Emi's first meeting. 

"... Kinoko-chan." They both say in unison. "I guess we agree then! It's time to write our own Kinoko-chan story! We have four hours, so let's get cracking!" Toshiko shouts with a smile. Time flies as him and emi begin to write page after page, paper littering the floors. "No, no! Kinoko-chan wouldn't say that!" Emi shouts. "How would you know?! It's up to the reader's interpretation!" Toshiko exclaims. "If the reader was 12!" She interjects. "They ARE, Emi! That's the audience she was made for!" Toshiko retorts. 

They continue to write and go through stacks of paper, until the final page is fully written. "The End... That's it! We're done! With a little time to spare too, come on!" Toshiko shouts. "I better get writer's credit." Emi jokes. A small jog later, the two of them arrive at the gymnasium to be greeted by Hiroshi and Kazuki. "Hey, Toshiko! You and Emi over there cut it real close, eh?" Kazuki jokes. "Can't rush perfection!" Toshiko retorts. "Expect you can when you have a time limit." Emi interjects. 

"Anyway, we have our scene ready! Now we just need to wait for Haruka-san!" Hiroshi proclaims. "...Wait for WHO." Emi yells as the door to the gym slams open to reveal Haruka. "This is like the third time you've done that. Can you just open the door normally please." Toshiko whispers. "I had a feeling you'd be involved, this is just like you Haruka!" Emi says. "Oh, look! If it isn't the famous daughter of the Watanabe fortune. Reduced to hanging out with villagers and a traitor... How far are you fallen?" Haruka responds. Kazuki clenches his fist. 

"DON'T call me a traitor! I ain't like you guys to begin with! Don't even pretend I was ASSOCIATED with you guys!" Kazuki yells. Emi puts out her arm to stop him. "It's okay. She's just antagonizing me. Don't give her the pleasure. C'mon, we'll give her a show she'll never forget." Emi explains. The rest of them nod. "Fine, then by all means. Please start." She responds, intrigued. Kazuki and Hiroshi jump on stage, Kazuki wearing a long flowing red cape with a sword strapped to his side. "Hiroshi, we have to pierce the veil of the heavens!" He exclaims. "You're so cool, Kazuki!" 

As they act out their scene, Emi and Toshiko sit next to each other and laugh periodically. Emi and Toshiko's closeness begins to irritate Haruka. After Kazuki and Hiroshi finish their scene, Emi and Toshiko go up and sit across from each other. They start to read the pages. "Once upon a time, there was a mushroom girl named Kinoko-chan. One day, she met a boy named Akira. Akira had a life full of hardship, crushed by the pressure of pleasing his parents, crushed by the weight of expectation. He felt as if his life wasn't his own." Toshiko narrates.

 "At first, Kinoko-chan tried reaching out. "What's wrong, Akira?" She asked him. "You seem like you're troubled." The boy had little response for her." Emi adds on. "I don't see a point in helping me, I fear I'm too lost already." He responds to her. "My life already has much hardship." Toshiko reads out. "I'll help you no matter what, that's what friends are for! We stick together, just like spores!" Kinoko-chan bravely shouts." Emi exclaims. 

"Over time, Akira and Kinoko-chan grew closer and closer. The two felt like they could share anything with each other, even though they had met a short time ago. On one particular day though, where cherry blossoms fell, new discoveries were made." Toshiko looks up at Emi as Emi stares into his eyes, blushing furiously. "Akira.. I have something I'd like you to know.." Emi reads out. "What is it, Kinoko-chan?" Akari pondered." Toshiko continued reading. 

Emi looks at Toshiko, barely being able to hide her embarrassment. "I.. I love you, Akira. You were cold hearted, but showing you the light made me want to share the light with you.." Emi says, in an obviously embarrassed tone. This strikes a cord with Toshiko, who not to his knowledge, begins blushing a little bit too. "A-anyway! The lesson of the day is.. eat your vegetables kids! Ahaha!" Toshiko shouts, launching out of his seat. 

"...Acceptable. Fine, keep your club.." Haruka proclaims, immediately leaving the gym. "...Well, that was anti-climatic." Kazuki says. "You could say that again..." Hiroshi responds. "Well, that was anti-" "NOT LITERALLY!" Hiroshi shouts. Toshiko and Emi glance at each other, before turning their heads embarrassed. 

Chapter 5 - The End.