This Clubroom is Too Crowded

I feel like I’ve been sighing a lot lately. Whether it be getting up from my seat after a class, changing my posture, or opening a door.

I’d like to muse that I don’t know why, but it feels sorta obvious—it’s all the writing I’ve been doing. My brain always wanders to the story whenever I have a moment of downtime, or even when I should be focused in class.

You’d think that’s a good thing, right? In theory, yes, but when I don’t have a notebook or something to jot down those ideas, my brain gets stuck, repeating them over and over, as if it can’t fully grasp what I just thought. I end up trapped in an infinite feedback loop, cycling through the same ideas in slightly different ways.

Resulting in no new ideas.

So is the woes of a writer…

As if I’m a “writer”...

In the process if slide open the writing-club’s door, I a drawn out sigh escapes from me.

“Kaoru-chan, you really are one of the most unintelligent girls I have ever met. It’s incredibly simple and obvious why Nisio-sensei included all of those themes.”

“Themes!? You call them “themes”!? There is no reason Arararaji has to act that way towards his little sister or those younger girls.”

I remained in the doorway with my hand on the door. The conversation at hand was between ice and fire—Fujioka and Akimoto. What were they discussing? Well it seems Fujioka is trying to defend the honor of the greatest light novel ever from being besmirched by the slop lover.

“Hmhmhm… Kaoru-chan… Mayoi, Shinobu, and his sister are all simply plot devices. I mean seriously, what it is, is Nisoi-sensei using his catalysts in humorous ways. Do you really know that little about humor and writing to not see that?”

Akimoto produced a pair of glasses and pulled out a small notepad with some writing on it. Did she have notes prepared for this argument!?

“So, the scene where Arararaji sneaks up on Mayoi and begins groping, including her chest, is a “humorous way to use a character acting as a plot device”?”

“Yes,” Fujioka replied with utmost confidence.

“Here’s a lovely quote: “Let me see your panties”.”

“Kaoru-chan, again, you sound uninformed and unintelligent. She’s actually twenty-two, despite her eleven year old appearance.”

Akimoto stared at her opponent with an open mouth.

Okay, enough of this. Fujioka clearly won the argument.

“Ahem.”

The two girls turned towards me.

“While I’m all for having deep discussions about literature, I’d like to get some writing done today.”

“We can’t simply end it now!” Akimoto cried. “Fujioka-senpai is close to folding!”

“Quite the contrary. Kaoru-chan was nearly out of talking points.”

I was forced to take a seat next to Akimoto as Fujioka was in my usual one. I set my laptop on the table and logged in.

I took a quick scan over my document to jog my memory of where I left off. As I did I could feel Akimoto scanning over it with me.

“Wow~ You got quite a bit done this week.”

“I’d like to tell you to not be surprised, but I am too.”

“What clicked?”

“A little help from Fujioka-san.”

Akimoto quickly shot her a glance then looked back at me.

“Are you sure you wanna trust her advice?”

“It’s better than yours.”

“Is not!” Akimoto lightly slapped my shoulder.

“You’re right. Your advice wasn’t bad because you never gave me any!”

She offered no rebuttal. I took this as a chance to silently announce I’m focusing on my work and began writing.

Akimoto frowned and rested her head against her hand with her full tricep on the table. She used her other hand to sequentially tap her fingers on the hard-oak table.

What? Don’t be frustrated with me because I’m right.

The clubroom’s atmosphere felt normal to me after our conversation ended. This feeling seemed to extend to Fujioka, as we peacefully worked in silence. I tapped away at my keyboard, filling the air with clacking, while her drawing accompanied my sounds with gentle scritching.

…

……

………

“Hmm~”

The noise came from my right.

“Haaaa~”

There it is again.

“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh~”

“Yes, Akimoto-san?” I turned towards her.

“I’m bored.”

Fujioka’s pencil lead snapped—we both flicked towards her.

“Did you really let this girl in your club?”

“I had to…”

“You didn’t have to do anything. You have to breathe. You have to sleep. You didn’t have to let Kaoru-chan into the writing club.”

“Hey!” Akimoto stood up and hit her palms on the table. “You don’t have to be so mean! What’ve I done to you!?”

“You destroyed a year of hard work.”

“...What?”

Akimoto took a more passive stance in her confusion.

“I meant you’re distracting Makoto-kun from doing his best work.”

“Ah… I-if it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t even have this idea for his book.”

“Alright, you gave him the initial idea. Now what’re you doing for him?” A smirk grew on Fujioka’s face.

“C-cheerleading…?”

“You sound unsure.”

“W-what I’m doing is… focusing on my own work that’s required for every member of this club!”

“Oh-ho? Is that so? How’s that coming along then?”

“Very well, for your information. I completed the rough draft last night.” The blonde girl huffed while folding her arms.

“Let me read it then.”

“You’re just gonna make fun of it. Once it’s good and published in the school-magazine you can look.”

“Would you two please quiet down just a little…?”

I should’ve asked this sooner, I don’t know why I didn’t. They seem like the type to argue themselves into an unending cycle.

“See Kaoru-chan, he’s fed up with you.”

“He just told you to be quiet!”

Look for me in the news tomorrow.

Without having to say anything their new argument died before it started. I must’ve been making an expression like a crazy person for them to take notice like that.

A little peace and quiet… finally.

*Tap—tap*

What?

*Tap—tap-tap-tap*

*Tap—tap-tap-tap-tap—tap-tap-tap-tap*

What the hell is that?

*Tap—Thawp!*

“Ow! Damnit!”

Fujioka pulled her foot up onto the chair and clutched her ankle. I glanced over at Akimoto and she was smirking confidently.

One more… One more distraction and I’m crashing out. I swear. I swear to god.

The clubroom’s door slammed open.

“K-Kiyotaka-senpai! I need to talk with you in private!”