The Culture & Travel Club

As we walked, I saw the graceful student council president become an ever loud degenerate. Almost an instantaneous switch. Both Sayako and Yusuke must be used to this now but I’m sure the first time they saw the switch, it must’ve been confusing. For me, it was the opposite. I couldn’t ever foresee my devilish onee-chan, who isn’t actually my real onee-san, even being responsible or competent at administration. This is the same girl who once stole a wooden plank and smacked a wall. Same girl who leads biweekly assemblies on public order.

She’s literally dancing in her school uniform.

Regardless, all of us talked away. Random topics here and there. Yusuke quiet but maybe making a few jokes or light-hearted comments. In comparison to me? I said really nothing.

Iijima Aya walked with a particular serene style. Her posture was great. It certainly surprised me that she wanted to walk with us. I don’t think I see my social circle as a rather inclusive one but… I guess it is. Although, she’s really walking with us more because of Kazumi-senpai. As for Kazumi? She’s a model with higher intelligence than probably me. Yet she’s moving erratically as if she’s a forest ranger looking for someone lost.

Aya looked at me. She had brown chestnut hair. I don’t know if it was dyed or natural, but it was certainly distinct. It was shoulder length. I was getting intimidated by her! A 5ft 2 skinny girl. Her eyes were quite stunning, and she had no blemishes or anything. This is without makeup, by the way. She gave a quick smile. Guess I’m about to fall in love with another girl.

“By the way, Aya-chan wants to start a club, would any of you be interested? Honzo, Nakanami-san or Yusuke?”

‘Nakanami-san’ took slight offence to that. “You know I would rather you call me Sayako…”

“Sorry Sayako-chan!” She clapped her hands to apologize.

Sayako waited on my response. I asked Aya-chan “What are you thinking of doing?”

Aya, all too happy, said “Fukaze-san, I’ve been waiting for someone to ask that.”

You know Aya-chan, we were only just notified of this club. Sounds like you’re going to say a few lines you’ve performed. An actor.

Aya-chan, similarly to Kazumi-senpai, puffed her chest out. She seemed very proud. The words she said next… perhaps a bit strange.

“I’m planning on making a Culture & Travel Club!”

Woah, woah, woah. That sounds more like a society in university than a high school club? I hope we aren’t actually spending money to go around the world. It would be nice, obviously, to travel the world, hell I have plans to visit Los Angeles, but I’m 16 going 17 - I’m not going to waste my time in a part-time job just to spend so much money. I had to let her know.

“That sounds nice Aya, but, well… I have a few questions. Are we doing any trips? Do we pay anything? Who would be our advisor? Do you already have a few members lined up?”

Aya, looking at me with her fingers on her chin, responded. “Tough questions, Fukaze-san.”

She started to answer my questions.

“Firstly, we are going to do trips! In Nagoya. We’re just going to be entering the cultural community centres. By paying, I assume you’re talking about transport? Yes, you are paying for the subway and bus. I don’t think I could get our advisor to ride a minibus to the centres. Speaking about our advisor, I’ve gotten your Tuesday homeroom teacher, Tateishi-sensei, to be our advisor once we have enough members. And that transitions to ‘do I have members lined up?’ We have two, 1st years already! Kimura-san and Sakura-san. Have I been succinct in answering your questions?”

She stood there. Yusuke was dazed but his eyes were wide open. I can see Sayako caressing her chin. Is everyone just going to do that when they’re thinking? I’m going to that as well.

I need to give it a deep thought. I told Aya that I had my responsibilities, and I had something coming up every Friday. It was also the first time I told anyone about the upcoming meetings. To be fair, they were literally decided only a day ago.

You know what. I’m sick of lying to myself. I do want to be more social. It’s not like I’m incapable of making friends and connecting with others - I’m literally doing that right now. I just want to learn how to value others instead of seeing it as a transaction. Like a trade. I trade my free time to talk to people to satiate the demand of my social meter. That’s not how it should work. I should just be enjoying people’s company regardless because I, as in me, myself, should personally value it. Sadly, I hate myself. I detest the fact that I make up random terms. What next? I hold a belief that I term ‘Island Survivor Syndrome’, which means that I’ve survived on my own and I don’t know how to communicate with others. But that’s false! Demonstrably. If this was a paper, it would have an impact factor of 100.

I’m going to force myself to learn how to juggle responsibilities. You know what? I will do the meetings with the Minetaur and with Minoru-san. I will also be a club member with my own real kouhai! I hope it all goes swimmingly well. This is the next thing to an epiphany. What next? I am above the needs of everything? That would be nice.

I gathered all my inner strength, which was little, and said the words.

“You know what Aya. I’ll join the Culture & Travel club.”

Everyone seemed to be slightly shocked. Even Kazumi didn’t expect it. She later confided that she was only going to pop in the club, and she couldn’t be a full-time member. That left Yusuke. He, likely due to some code of honour, agreed to being a member. Only giving appearances from time-to-time. That left Sayako. I expected her to agree but she said she was already a member of her swimming club. So much for looking over me. Although, she told Aya that you could always invite her to events and even the clubroom and she’ll probably pop in. Does that mean she's a member? She is a member, basically then. I assume that was just to watch me as if she was my guardian angel.

So that left me with three new people to talk to. What a risk to myself. I don’t particularly want to change, but even I can notice that huge discrepancy between my internal thoughts and my actions. Plus, maybe this is what will cure my depersonalization issues? A new leaf has been turned.

We still had a few minutes to walk. Sayako and Yusuke parted ways with us. They were heading north on this massive intersection. Sayako gave me a strong goodbye hug. I felt like I was getting crushed. I also didn’t really reciprocate. I just kinda stood there.

“Honzo, I’ll see you later tomorrow.” Sayako seemed to lament.

But enough about that, my rock, Yusuke, was going home too. I gave a fist bump to him as he walked off. The ever so quiet Yusuke seemed to enjoy himself on this walk. I was left with the two senpai.

We walked past the river. It was nearly time to arrive home. The busy street reminded me of an artery, the way so many cars were driving fast and out. I was slightly scared that a car would lose control, but I just chalk that up to just me being paranoid. I loved the deep colours of the blue sky. Their ultramarine tones touching my heart. I felt as if I was one with the light. Do you know that everyone could be considered a wave? We’re all wavefunctions. How funny is that! Your life is controlled by randomness. It would be like a gacha roll deciding who you were going to marry. Or what job you get. You can improve the odds, yes, but my view is that everything is inherently random. You just played the game and made it in your favour.

Aya was there smiling. She seemed to be a stringent senpai. Kazumi was talking a lot, hell, even more than to her family probably. They seemed to be great friends. I’ve actually seen Aya around, but this is the first time I’ve really spoken to her. I decided to butt in. I wanted their thoughts on the ‘Big Glass’. I had to wait for some silence to arise.

I struck.

“Hey, what do you two think about Block D? Is it really that good?”

They both stared at me. I just changed their conversation about cute dogs to a school building.

Aya was the first to say something.

“Why are you asking?”

I said, “Someone told me every classroom has air con. It’s starting to get unbearable in our concrete block, I fear that I will pass out of heatstroke. Look, my dear Kazumi, student council president, surely you can do something about that?”

Kazumi, giving a slight laugh, responded.

“Actually, I don’t really have the power for that. To answer your question, we don’t have an aircon except for the new IT room and the assembly hall. Sorry to break your heart.”

Damn.

“I guess we’re going to struggle in the concrete complex then.”

Kazumi quipped.

“You know we had to go through that too for two years? You guys are the lucky ones. We had to fight for future generations. Matter of fact I was thinking of you, in 1st year, when I campaigned for them to add fans.”

I was taken aback. That’s very nice of you Kazumi. I’m not even being sarcastic too. That’s why you are my favourite senpai.

“My dearest thanks, mother.”

“You’re welcome, son.”

Aya just stood in disbelief. She said, “Don’t roleplay in front of me, keep it to yourselves.”

Kazumi gave a rather hearty laugh. I was actually embarrassed I even said that. It... just happened.

The walk had come to its natural conclusion. My house was just over by the side, and Kazumi was basically next door. I noticed my older sister in the kitchen and decided to go straight home. I gave both of the senpai a goodbye nod and went to assist immediately.