This Girl is Joining the Club!?

The first sight out of my front door is an arbor over a pedestrian walkway. It’s a cute site that punctuates each time the walkway crosses a street. It runs down the entirety of Kiyotakigawa Street and acts as sort of a garden.

This begins my walk to school everyday.

My family’s apartment is directly on a corner of that street and a connection road. All located in Kagoshima, the largest city in Kagoshima prefecture.

Not the prettiest apartment building, but it’s where I’ve always lived. So if you ask me, I’d say it’s a great place.

That always makes me think though, what would a girl think? You know, hypothetically in some world, that’s honestly not to far removed from ours because if I tried I could get a girl, if I brought home a girl… would she be put off?

Would it be the fact that it’s above a restaurant? Or that it has a massive powerline clumping in front of it.

Now that I give it more thought, if anything, it should be more attractive! Isn’t it romantic? The narrow streets? Sitting under a light? Meeting by a vending machine after your feelings begin bubbling to the surface?

This! This is what girls don’t get! I don’t believe any have read even half the light novels I have! They don’t understand real romance!

Ahem… Besides, in places like this you get to know your neighbors. Like the sweet old couple downstairs, or the florist shop across the street. And yes, unfortunately, Fujioka in the apartment across the alleyway.

The high school I’m soon to arrive at is Kagoshima Prefectural Central Senior High. A good school for what it is, but there are better in the area. I had the option to attend one of the better ones but I chose Kajiyacho because it’s close to my home.

I’ll let you decide what that says about my character…

***

First, second, third period—all light work. It’s easy to stay focused, you get to school early and you have a sense of purpose. You’re there to learn, it’s the best way to get far in life.

However, as the fourth, fifth, sixth and last part of the day comes around… I start to seriously space out.

What’s really important? Huh? A dream, something that can take you to impossible heights in the world? Or Hasegawa-sensei’s English lecture?

The last bell of the day chimes and again I’m the first student out. It’s time to get some new ideas down.

I can really feel it! This time! This time I’ll come up with my golden ticket idea!

I entered the clubroom in almost record time. As I slam the door behind me some of the book-towers wobble and dust jumps from shelves. Both quickly settle as I take my usual spot at the table.

“What took you so long?”

Hm? A female voice? Am I hearing one of my characters talk to me? Was I that excited to write?

“Kiyotaka-kun.”

They even know my name… I might blush.

“Ow!”

A paperback book made an impact with my face knocking my glasses onto the floor. I scrambled to get them back on.

My vision refocused and sitting across from me, resting her head on a hand, was a girl.

To my horror, it wasn’t just any girl. Maybe it could have been someone lower in the social hierarchy looking to join the club, or maybe someone got lost… but it wasn’t.

It was Kaoru Akitmoto.

With her shoulder-length golden hair she was the most popular prettiest—

No… I’m over-exaggerating… Plus I’ve already explained who she is.

“Kiyotaka-kun, are you feeling alright? You’re making a face…” Akimoto looked wary of me as she finished her sentence.

“Maybe don’t throw a book at me!”

“Then don’t ignore me.”

“Ignoring you is no reason to—”

“Kiyotaka-kun.”

Akimoto cut me off. She sounded serious… What's up with this atmosphere?

“Y-yes?”

“I came to join the club.”

Her dead serious cold tone sent one emotion washing over me—dread. I could feel my heart rate increase a tick, my blood-pressure rise, and any sense of hope dissipate.

I think my time has finally come. I’m about to start getting bullied. My classmates have finally had enough of me.

“A-are you sure you weren’t looking for the film club next door”?”

“I’m sure. This is the writing club, right?”

“Y-yes. It is.”

I’m not detecting any ulterior-motive behind her words… is she being serious?

“Great, I’d like to join,” She said with a smile.

“The writing club…”

“Yes.”

“This one.”

“Correct.”

I’ll just ask bluntly. “Are you messing with me?”

“Why would I do that?”

She responded too quickly… Was she trained to do that?

“Ah— never mind… You’ll just need to fill out a form. I can grab it for you.”

I once again navigate through stacks of books to a small cabinet in the corner of the room. I don’t recall application forms being used at all… Did I fill one out?

“You’ll need to sign your name and fill out some general information.” I handed her a pen as well.

She began diligently filling out the form and I quietly returned to my seat.

What do I say now? Should I say something? I have never really had to talk to people like her before. I don’t think we share anything in common… She probably doesn’t get the superior idea of reading and writing light novels. If I had to guess, Akimoto has ridiculed them all her life, just as all her “friends”.

I got it.

She most likely did mean to join the film club, but walked in here by accident and is too ashamed to admit her mistake. So she’s playing along until she can leave, and then will never show up again.

It took a few minutes of awkward silence but Akimoto gleefully handed the form over to me.

“Done!”

I took it from her hands and pushed up my glasses.

It was almost a guarantee that she got in. All I want to do is check one little section—her favorite genres.