Third Semester

It was nearing the end of winter break, the weather became harsher with the snow piling down all over the city. I laid in bed with my flip-phone in hand, my legs were crossed by the ankles with my arms above my head.

My family visited the shrine to celebrate the first day of the year. I didn’t go because I couldn’t be bothered to wake up so early, so I stayed in bed. Yuri-chan went to Italy for the rest of the break, and Mitoma-kun and Natsu-chan went with their respective families.

Nevertheless, we still wished each other a happy new year through email. I spent most of post-Christmas looking for what could be the perfect present to give to Yuri-chan, but with my lack of experience with friends, I’ve been moving at a snail’s pace.

➼ ➼ ➼

The third semester of the school year was distinctly different from the first two. It started in mid-January and ended in mid-March, so in terms of content to learn and duration, the third semester was shorter. That was beneficial for students, who simply wanted spring break to arrive quicker.

Another plus was that there were no midterm exams in the third semester, just a final one at the beginning of March. That meant that school was ordinary, without worry. That’s how it was for me, and the other members of the Environmental club. I guess the only downside was how many plants had finished their cycle, hibernating for the same spring break.

We were nearly two weeks into February. I arrived at the shoe lockers with my scarf around my neck. I considered it a good luck charm, since I never caught a cold from the freezing mornings.

"Good morning, Kiyoshi-kun!" spoke a familiar source of happiness.

"Mornin’ Yuri-chan," I replied.

"I must say, I’m still not used to seeing you with the scarf. I feel like I’m seeing it for the first time every time. How do you do?"

"Maybe I’ll wear it every day until you get used to it. I’m fine, another day in this paradise of a school."

In all honesty, our work on Operation Sprechchor took multiple detours from when we first initiated the plan. That was not to say we didn’t make much progress, but we were slowing down. In order to get back on track, I offered a plan to Yuri-chan after school.

I entered the clubroom and saw her drawing at the table. We were the only two present.

"What’s the masterpiece this time?" I asked.

"A flower design. I figured if we’re going to create new meanings for the butterfly weed, then maybe a, sort of, painting would be nice."

I sat down across from her.
"Oh cool. How are you goin’ to do it?"

"I think I want to incorporate the school’s hedge into it. I think it’ll be a nice little touch that references how we met, and it’ll look nice as well."

"A cute reference that only the two of us will know? Sounds great."

She paused her drawing to look at me. No words were exchanged, but we shared a similar feeling of content. She continued her drawing while I worked on homework. A quarter of an hour passed when the club door opened and two more members entered.

"Soiya! I absolutely dominated the boys’ team!"

"You still lost t’us."

"Maybe so, but ya lost dignity when facing me."

"You’re give’n yourself too much credit. Hey Verano, Rossi."

"Yurichin! I need a lap pillow! I’m tired."

Natsu-chan gave Yuri-chan a nickname upon the discovery that I had also begun using her first name. She was always competitive.

"A-Actually, Hanamaru-chan, can I ask you a question…outside?"

The three of us crinkled our noses and raised our eyebrows, exchanging the same look of confusion.

"O-Okay, sure thing. I better get that pillow later."

The girls left the room, and Mitoma-kun laid down on the tatami mat.

I said, "I take it you’re not up for a match today?"

"You’re damn right. Luckily we don't have any more club practice this month, but the tournaments are go’n t’be brutal next month."

"At least you got time to relax here before goin’ home. The four of us can always chill here everyday after school."

Natsu-chan bursted through the door and exclaimed with glee, "Alright ya guys! The four of us won’t be together ever again!"

Mitoma-kun immediately sat up with perfect posture, whilst I nearly slipped off my seat to join him on the mat. Our mouths hung open in shock as if a breeze had knocked down our tower of cards.

"Huh?!" we gasped in unison.

"W-Wait a second, Hanamaru-chan. Let’s not scare them like that."

"Hahaha! I just wanted to give ‘em a little scare. Look at Atsu-idiot over there."

"You’re ask’n for trouble, Dumbmaru."

"S-So what’s goin’ on?"

Natsu-chan became firm, letting the fun side of her take a back seat.
"Listen up. Atsui, ya know the class project we got assigned?"

Mitoma-kun affirmed.

"Yurichin’s gonna help me with my project for the next several days. We’re gonna be going to her house after school to work on it.”

Yuri-chan bowed apologetically.
"Sorry for this, Kiyoshi-kun, it’ll only be temporary. Take care on your way home, and say hello to Muku-chan for me as well."

To reassure her, I spoke in an uplifted tone.
"No need to apologize, it’s completely okay. Good luck on the project, you two."

Our smiles towards each other spoke for themselves.

"C’mon Yurichin! We gotta stop at the store first."

She stuttered, "R-Right, for the supplies we need…for the project."

They left, and Mitoma-kun rested in the room while I continued my homework until the school closed.

For the remainder of the week, the interactions between Yuri-chan and I had seemingly reverted to our periodical confrontations in the flower garden. We spent the time in class together talking and working together, but the majority of our chemistry was built on after school, which had ceased.

I hadn’t noticed how much she spent living inside my mind until Thursday, when I was on class cleanup duty after school. I swept the floor, ready to clear the interactive board, when I felt a buzz in my pocket. It was my flip-phone.

Yuri-chan emailed me sayin’ she’s arrived at her house with Natsu-chan. I didn’t think they needed so much time together for a project that they’d be sleepin’ together at her house. I-I didn’t mean it like that… Ugh, stupid mind. Anyways, at least the week is almost done.

On the front of the board, I glanced at the time…then the date.

TOMORROW IS VALENTINE’S DAY?! I shouted within my mind. H-How did I not notice that? I-In Japan, girls give guys somethin’ for that day…but it’s not a bad thing for a guy to give somethin’ to a girl… Should I get her a gift? Is she goin’ to give me one? No, I shouldn’t expect one. Ugh!

I gripped my hair from frustration as I sat down at a random desk.

I muttered, "I still don’t have a birthday present for her either."

My soul nearly left my body when my back suddenly felt a hand connecting with some force. Frightened, I turned around, but then became relieved at the person who stood behind me.

"Why would you scare me like that, Mitoma-kun?"

"I heard you speak’n gibberish t'yourself…again. You good?"

"Yeah, I just––"
An idea sprung in my head.
"A-Actually, Mitoma-kun, you’re popular with girls, right?"

"Oh?"
He appeared intrigued.
"Have you taken a like’n to someone? Let me guess, it’s––"

"Ahblahblah!" I interjected rather rudely. "A-Ah sorry, but I just need advice on a birthday present."

"Okay, then tell me about this girl."

"W-Well, she has plenty of items in her room already, and I already gave her a materialized present for Christmas."

"You did? How come you didn’t tell me about it?"
He seemed heartbroken. I took a mental note to make it up to him eventually.
"My bad, continue."

"I want to take her somewhere that relates to her interest, but I don’t know where that could be?"

"Have you been around the hot spots in Kyoto?"

"Not all of them, yet. I do plan to take her to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, but that isn’t really connected with her interests. I don’t think there’s many places here that relate to it."

"Why stop at Kyoto?"

I slouched my posture and furrowed my brow.
"What?"

"Well, if Kyoto isn’t the right place to find a present, then go somewhere else. What does she like, snowboarding? Take her to Hokkaido. Apples? Aomori has everything there."

S-So I should find a place popular with flowers? Flowers are rather vague, so perhaps many places will have flower stuff. I’ll have to do thorough research.

"Thanks, Mitoma-kun."

"Hey, when’re you go’n t’call me Atsui? Or should we create nicknames for each other?"

We gave each other a specific stare. The longer we stared, the more our mouths formulated the same, dynamic smile.

We chose nicknames.