This is a Reunion?

I shut my laptop and slung my bag over my shoulder. Fujioka’s probably in the clubroom waiting for me anyway.

Honestly, it’s impressive. She’s able to do all her work and function happily without needing a single person. I wouldn’t quite call her a loner, more… fiercely independent. She’s able to go through her day completely tuning out all the guys who pester her and focus on her jobs.

What is her current project? I know she’s been on board some pretty big works, but I can’t recall her mentioning anything lately.

“Good luck with your next project, and remember, I won’t be doing illustrations for you… not after last time.”

Right…

I opened the clubroom door and sure enough, Fujioka was there, drawing on her tablet.

“Oh, Makoto-kun. I’m assuming no Kaoru-chan today either?”

“Looks that way.”

I moved to sit in my usual spot across from her. Without saying anything more we fell into our usual routine of quietly drawing and writing respectively.

Almost half an hour of time past when Fujioka and I perked up simultaneously.

“Do you hear that…?” She cocked an eyebrow.

“I think so…?”

There were thuds growing louder and louder—meaning something might be headed towards the club room.

“It’s getting really close.”

“Whatever it is must weigh a lot.”

Woosh— Bam! Wobble-crash! Ah! Wha!?

“I’m so late! Sorry!”

The clubroom door was slammed open with such force two of the tallest book towers collapsed. The combination of that and the door flinging open caused Fujioka and I to jump.

Who entered was—

“Kaoru-chan. There was no need to enter so aggressively.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I had to get here quickly. It couldn’t be helped.”

While the two of them quickly fell into back-and-forth banter, I couldn’t muster anything. I silently looked on at the two with my mouth slightly open.

She came back, and so casually too. She’s acting like she didn’t drop coming to the club for a week… I’m not upset with her, it’s just a bit foreign to me. Extroverts are really something… No special moment to convince her to come back or continue working on our project, she just… has a life.

Ha—haha—hahahaha—!

“Oh, Kiyotaka-kun, I’m sorry for not showing up! I really am! I was catching up with a lot of people!”

Before I could respond Fujioka answered her apology.

“Does saying sorry really make up for a week's worth of contribution lost?”

“Ahh I’m sorry, I know. If I could’ve been here I really would have!”

I still feel a bit paralyzed. And did Akimoto just apologize?

She moved to sit in her regular seat next to mine and leaned close to my shoulder—trying to get a better view of the laptop screen of course.

“That doesn’t matter though, right? Lemme see what you wrote, Kiyotaka-kun.”

I angled the laptop toward her and she skimmed over some of the content. All I could do was stare at her as she did.

“Oh! This scene here seems really cute!” She pointed at the screen.

“O-oh yeah… Thanks…”

The scene she was referencing depicted Suzuki-san practicing guitar in her room, while her little sister held the sheet music, the day before she tried out for the school band.

“I really like this scene too… Your ideas have gotten more creative since I’ve last seen.” Akimoto rested her hand on my shoulder.

Over the next twenty minutes I caught Akimoto up with the progress I made. As I explained I constantly glanced to gauge her reaction—I couldn’t shake the feeling she was just pretending to be interested after disappearing for a week.

Despite everything though, she seems just as into the story as before. I’m overthinking it…

***

Eventually we said our goodbyes to Fujioka and departed from the clubroom. The time was almost six thirty—buildings did their best to conceal the sun behind them. However, light still spilled over the pristine glass edges.

We descended the main stairs and were walking across the courtyard to the main gate.

“Hey, Akimoto-san.”

She stopped a few feet ahead of me.

“Hm?”

“Are you doing okay?”

“Hahaha— What kinda question is that? It’s so random.”

“I mean, about the break up with Katsuki. Are you doing okay?”

Akimoto turned towards me wearing a massive smile.

“I’m over that, remember?”

“...You apologize to Fujioka-san. That’s not like you at all. It was to change the topic quickly, wasn’t it?”

“What? What kinda stretch is that? Haha—”

“Akimoto-san…”

I approached her and she turned back towards the school’s gate with her hands behind her back.

“You’re usually so dense… What’s up with this?”

I didn’t have a good angle on her face but her voice sounded a little choked.

“Akimoto-san… Who were you catching up with last week…?”

She used the back of her left hand to wipe her eyes. “Kiyotaka-kun, please don’t suddenly not be dense. That’s the reason I like hanging out with you.”

We lingered in silence for a moment after she said that. It was my turn to say something, right? Why can’t I think of anything? Shouldn’t a writer know the perfect thing to say in situations like this?

Why am I not able to find the words?

After realizing I wasn’t going to say anything more, Akimoto began walking again. I naturally hurried to catch up with her.

We silently walked for a block with each other until we parted ways at an intersection.