Kurosawa

Across from Yuta, Kurosawa set a chemistry textbook on the table and sat down in the chair. A slice of bread hung from her mouth. She scarfed down the bread and opened the textbook. “It’s time for our first study session together! Isn’t that exciting?”

“Not really.” Yuta reached down into his bag and pulled out his own chemistry textbook, setting it on the table in front of him. “I was going to study history, but chemistry is fine, too.”

She shivered, staring at Yuta with the most serious expression he had seen anyone give him. “Ichikawa, you’re too cold.”

“Sorry, sorry. So, what did you want to start with?”

“Well, I was thinking we could go over page fifty-six. I still don’t quite understand the concept…” Kurosawa flipped through the pages of her book until she landed on the page she had mentioned. After turning the book to face Yuta, she pushed it toward him.

While he was reviewing the page, he noticed someone standing still in the corner of his eye. Shiori stood in front of the library door, staring at Kurosawa. He waved her over, which broke her long stare. Shiori nervously approached the table, setting her belongings on the floor and taking the first available seat.

Kurosawa noticed her and smiled. “You’re joining us too, Ozaki?”

Shiori tilted her head down and shyly nodded. “I usually eat here…”

“Oh, that’s nice! It’s pretty quiet here.” She opened her mouth to say more, but upon noticing Shiori’s shrinking demeanor, quickly shut it with a glance toward Yuta.

Silence was shared among the three students until Yuta cleared his throat. “Kurosawa and I were about to start studying chemistry. If you want to join us, you’re more than welcome to. If not, that’s fine too.”

Shiori’s response was retrieving her book from her bag and opening it to the bookmarked page.

Yuta internally chuckled. He didn’t know Shiori very long, but he expected her to do that. “Alright, Kurosawa. The first thing you need to do is read what’s on the page. Afterward, we can discuss what it’s teaching.”

“Wow, what’s with this sudden change in attitude? Earlier you said not to ask too many questions, and now you’re suggesting we discuss the material?” Kurosawa blinked in surprise.

“You said it yourself. Teaching someone is a good way to remember the content. If it helps me prepare for the exams, I’m willing to give it a try.” He leaned back and stretched.

…

The final bell sounded. Students chatted with their friends as they exited the classroom, making plans for the rest of the day. Yuta stayed in his seat, looking out the window. “Wednesday… I don’t have to help my family in the restaurant.”

Across the classroom, Shiori stood, gathering her supplies. She and Yuta were the only remaining students in the room.

He left his seat and approached Shiori. “I know this is sudden, but do you want to have another meeting today? I made a lesson plan and I have nothing else to do today besides study, so I figured I’d ask.”

Shiori held her books tighter to her chest. “I’m free after six…”

“Should I come over to your place again, or do you want to come to mine?”

Shiori stared at the floor between them. “I heard your place was a restaurant…?”

“Well, I live on the floor above the restaurant. But our family runs it, so it’s pretty much home to me.”

“Then… we could go to your place.” She looked as if she wanted to say more, but the words never left her mouth.

“My family’s restaurant is called Omatsukan. It’s not too far away from where you live, so you should be able to walk there.”

She pulled her phone out and found the location of the restaurant. On the corner of her screen was the estimated time of travel to the destination from her house. “Fifteen minutes to walk…”

“See? It’s pretty close to where you live. I’ll see you at six.” With a wave, he departed. In the hallway, students still talked with their friends, heading to their clubrooms. He paused in the middle of the hallway, sensing a presence behind him. A glance over the shoulder revealed Kurosawa leaning against the wall, a few inches from the door to the classroom. “How long have you been there?”

“Since I left class,” came her brief reply.

“And why are you standing by the door? Or rather, who are you waiting for?”

“Shiori, obviously. I wanted to introduce her to a club I think she’d like.”

Yuta shook his head. “I don’t think she’s interested in sports.”

Kurosawa rolled her eyes and pushed herself off the wall. “I’m not bringing her to my clubs. I’m going to show her the book club.”

“The book club?”

“Yes, the book club. She always has her face in a book, doesn’t she? Even when we were studying, she was reading the entire time. I figured she’d have a good time in the book club.”

“I think she’d have a better time in the going home club,” he chuckled.

“I’m aware you know her better than anyone else in our school, but you still don’t know her that well. You can’t get to know someone perfectly in under a week. Besides, it’s good to experience new things, don’t you think?”

“I’m not the one you should be asking that question to. All I do is study, remember?” He shrugged and began to leave. “If you want to show her the book club, go ahead. I bet you she’ll get all nervous and want to leave.”

The classroom door opened, and Kurosawa whipped around to greet Shiori. She spoke to her, though the farther away Yuta got, the quieter the voice became.

…

Someone stood next to Yuta as he retrieved his shoes from his locker. He closed the locker after placing his school shoes inside, revealing a serious Hitomura. He sighed and turned toward him. “What do you want?”

“Do you know the combination to Shiori’s locker?”

Yuta furrowed his brow. “No, why would I? And why are you even asking?”

“I caught wind that some girls were going to do something really terrible.”