Kotori's Plan

“I know social interaction isn’t really your thing, but have you checked out the manga club?”

Shiori blinked. “Manga club?”

“They read and share manga, and discuss the ones they are currently reading. There is usually a monthly theme, like romance or magic. I’m certain you’d enjoy it.”

Kurosawa raised a brow. “There’s a manga club? I thought manga was included in the book club.”

“Manga and novels are hardly the same thing. When all you want to talk about is manga, book club meetings tend to end up fairly boring.”

“Understandable. Novel fans and manga fans are widely different after all.”

Shiori shook her head. “I haven’t checked it out, no…”

Hitomura pushed himself up and pointed upward. “Then we must check it out! I’ll show you the club after school. They meet in 2-B.”

“That’s the room next to ours… right?”

“We’re 2-C, so it’s the one right before our classroom.”

“Excuse me!” Kotori raised her hand. Once she had everyone’s attention, she continued. “Why won’t we all go somewhere together tomorrow?”

Hitomura exchanged glances with Kurosawa. “I was going to buy and play School Spirit II - Final Exams! since it comes out tomorrow, but I’ll make time.” He turned around and cried tears of joy. “A 3D girl finally invited me to something!” An elbow to the ribs disrupted his celebration.

“She invited all of us. I doubt she’s interested in you in the slightest. Right?” She tilted her head to stare at Kotori.

“Glad you can come, Hitomura-oniichan.”

He sank to his knees, defeated. “She sees me as a brother…”

Kurosawa rolled her eyes. “I’m free tomorrow, so I can make it.”

Shiori fidgeted and avoided eye contact with everyone. “I can come…”

All eyes turned on Yuta. “Well, I’m not going. I have to study.”

Kurosawa narrowed her eyes. “You can study afterward.”

“I’ve been wasting enough time lately. I don’t have any time to go on a trip.”

“You’re Ozaki’s tutor, aren’t you?”

“Yes, why?”

“Then you can think of another lesson while we’re out and teach her when everyone leaves.”

Once again, Kurosawa’s logic beat his. It would be a good opportunity to learn more about Shiori so he could make her lessons more personal. He sighed, giving in. “Fine, I’ll go.”

“Yay! Yuta is coming!” Kotori danced around happily.

He put his forehead to the table. “Where should we go?”

“We should probably go somewhere everyone would enjoy. Since we have a large variety of people, a shopping district would be best.” Kurosawa looked at everyone for agreement.

Hitomura smirked and pushed up his glasses, stretching out his arm for extra effect. “We meet at the Yuzari Shopping District at two.”

Everyone checked their schedules and agreed to the proposed time and place.

Kurosawa turned to Kotori. “By the way, what is your surname?”

“Itsuka!”

Hitomura suddenly looked as if he was relaxing in a really nice hot spring. “She really is a little sister…”

“We haven’t been properly introduced, Itsuka. My name is Ayame Kurosawa. This otaku,” she elbowed Hitomura to bring him back to reality, “is Hitomura.”

“Kazuya Hitomura! Please call me Kazuya.”

She motioned to Shiori. “And this is Ozaki.”

“So…” Kotori pointed to each person as she said their name. “Kurosawa, Ozaki, and Kazuya–”

Hitomura whipped around and cried more tears of joy. “A real girl called me by my given name!”

“I mean Hitomura.”

He collapsed to the floor. “Rejected again…”

Yuta lifted his head. “Can we please get back to studying?”

Kotori put her hands on her hips. “Why would we do that? Studying is boring!”

“Then you can leave us alone. Some of us actually care about our grades.”

She pouted. “Fine. Anyone who wants to have fun, follow me!” She marched out of the library.

Hitomura gave a nervous laugh. “Sorry Yuta, I’ll be taking my leave now.” He ran to catch up to Kotori.

Shiori started to get up, but Yuta stopped her. “You’re the one that needs to study the most.”

She nodded and quietly sat back down.

“Now, let’s continue where we left off, before Hitomura and Kotori interrupted.”

…

The following day, Yuta got ready for the trip. He grabbed his bag and made sure he had his textbooks, paper, and a writing utensil inside. Determining he was ready, he searched up the directions to the shopping district.

“Twenty-minute walk…” He looked at the time. “It’s one-thirty right now. I better hurry if I want to get there at a good time.” He said goodbye to his sister who was behind the counter and exited the building.

Kotori waited for him outside. “Yuta! I’m ready to spend some time with you and your friends!”

“They’re not–” he stopped himself, knowing that he would never be able to convince Kotori that they were just acquaintances. “Let’s get going, then. We don’t want to be late.”

She walked beside him. “How’d you meet them all?”

He answered without looking at her. “I became Ozaki’s tutor not long after she transferred to our school.”

Kotori’s eyes shone. “Fate?”

Yuta sighed. “No, I’m just her tutor. Hitomura was always my partner whenever there was a group activity. I never picked him, though. Kurosawa just wants to be Ozaki’s friend. She has no interest in being my friend.”

“Regardless of whether or not you all wanted to be friends, you get along well!”

“Is that so?” Yuta didn’t care about what Kotori was saying but didn’t bother changing the subject.

“I wish I had friends like yours. Maybe that’s why I’m butting into your friend group!” She began to giggle.

“You should really act your age. You act more like a fifth grader.”

“There’s nothing wrong with acting childish! I’m not going to change just because you tell me to.” She pouted and refused to look at Yuta the rest of the way to the shopping district.

When they neared the location they were going to meet at, Yuta spotted Shiori sitting on the edge of a fountain that was in front of the shopping district. “Hey there, Ozaki.” He stopped in front of her with Kotori directly behind him. “You’re here early. Are the others not here yet?”

She shook her head. “Not yet…”