Double negatives

Staring at the clock, I can't wait not to go home after class.

Today I met the weirdest girl. I can't think of her as a person. She's more like a concept, more like a wet beast to me. I can't stop thinking about her, and it's driving me insane. All I know is that she goes to this school, but it's not to this classroom.

I tried to get to her in the recess and then again between classes but no luck. Between Naoto being convinced he hallucinated the whole thing 'No way Asuno of all people helped us!' And the other two idiots jokingly gaslighting me into thinking I'm going insane; it was impossible to search.

The second the bell rings I'm jumping out of my seat and sprinting as fast as my lungs allow me (it's not very fast.). I have to get to her before she leaves and I open that door and.

She's there.

And we collide.

I'm sure we look like a pair of octopuses. Maybe like one of those ecchi anime scenes? In the split second of recognition I tried to sidestep however, I only managed to trip and fall before taking her down with me. My legs part instinctively, trying my best to cushion her fall. And cushion I do, her hands find their way to my chest as support.

Hand on white fabric.

Making a squishy plush sound.

Her legs make an awful thwap against the tiled floor when they land to the side of mine. Hm. I'm the girl in an ecchi scene. This is not ideal.

Oh, she's again sweating it looks really gross from here this angle doesn't do good for her chin. Is this what anime girls see from below in these scenes? No wonder they're always high pitched screaming.

"Hey, Mia, I've been looking for you." Scooting, scrapping myself off the floor. She makes some screeching sound when I wiggle out from below her unmoving arms. "Is your clumsiness contagious? Hahahaha." That was my worst fake laugh to date. Ahh— why did I even want to talk with her, every time I've tried has been the absolute worst.

The class is leaving for the day, walking around the pitiful little spectacle we're making. I feel some side stares so I get up to my feet and start patting down my clothes. I realize it'll probably be bad optics to leave this girl on the floor and woah! She's shaking like pudding. I'm craving some now... I extend my hand.

She doesn't look at me when I help her up.

"I was told I could find the Anime Club spokesperson here?" She asks to the floor.

"Oh yeah," I look back stupidly at the mostly empty classroom."That'd be me."

I start walking towards The Club. I expect her to follow me, but she's just making another of her weird trembling chihuahua acts, do chihuahuas sweat that much? I think dogs do it by the tongue. I immediately picture her panting, but it looks a ton more inappropriate from a girl than a dog.

"Please, then. Follow me there?"I start walking again and this time I hear her stumbling steps behind me."It's a bit weird to get new members outside signings but it's early enough in the year you haven't missed anything you won't be able to catch up to."She isn't responding, but I can still hear her footsteps."The advisor for the club is great, it's the computer labs supervisor. Mr. Nakamura? Awesome man… Awesome…You'll love him, really."

Please say anything. I can't carry this conversation. I'm terrible at this please please please say something. "So, anime club. I love that place. I didn't like anime that much but I've grown to really enjoy it. Mu favorites are action packed ones and uh comedy I suppose. Anything fun and lighthearted you know. What shows do you like?"

No response.

I'm begging you. I'm begging God. This is far too much for my poor heart. Please don't let me hanging I will actually die.

"Hahaha so, uhh yeah. This morning I was really surprised at what you did. I don't think I even got to thank you. So uhh Thank you. That was very nice of you."We're just a few steps away from the door to the club, but I won't let this suffering go to waste!

I hear a small squeak behind me.

"I was wondering, for how long have you and big-and-scary Hiroko have been friends? I heard she didn't have any" A 'I heard you didn't have any' sticks to my throat.

"This is it." She replies with a tone more firm than anything I've witnessed of her. I look back at her and then at the sign on the door she's pointing.

I nod and she opens the door.

"Hello, Mr Nakamura. I am Mia Asuno. I'm coming as a representative from the student council. I'm here to further discuss the details regarding the future of the present club."

I see Mr. Nakamura motioning Naoto to come closer before doing the same for me. His wedding ring apparently catching all the possible light from the window and the LED bulbs. Hell, all the impossible light too.

"Boys." A pause. "And miss Mia too, of course. I have the most wonderful news. My wife and I are welcoming our first, hopefully of many, child into this world."

There's a small confused celebration of mostly claps and saying "congratulations" a bit too many times. But the assessor picks it back up fast.

"So, I'll be taking my parental leave."
There's another, smaller, confused cluster of claps and congratulations.

"That means, I won't be able to be you kids' sponsor anymore. Or until the 12 weeks are over. Or after that since the Directive didn't actually grant me parental leave."He mumbles out the last sentence.
Naoto shifts his eyes at me.

"Sorry, so what does that mean for the club?" I spoke out in the now too quiet room.

Mr. Nakamura doesn't seem too keen on responding, but I can already tell—

"It means it's closing down." Mia responds.

She doesn't look at me when she does.