This Senpai Needs to be my Illustrator

Now… How do I ask her to be my illustrator?

The weekend came and went relatively the same as most—I wrote, Fujioka visited once, and my sister played video games. When she visited it really was the perfect opportunity to propose the idea to her, however, I have zero clue.

Why!? Someone of my mental prowess and intellect, this should be easy! It’s not like relationships or anything. It’s a business proposition.

…

I’ll think about it later… I have to get to school.

It never takes me too long to get ready. I don’t understand how it can take people an hour sometimes, just throw on your uniform and out the door. Simple.

As I stepped out the front door leading to the apartment staircase, my mom called out to me.

“Mako! Is your sister with you?”

“No, why!?”

I stepped back in and found her in the kitchen sipping on a cup of coffee.

“Haa—” My mother’s sigh was long and tired. “Can you get her up please?”

“Wha? Seriously? I gotta go.”

“Mako…”

I can’t say no to my mother…

“Alright…”

Sayuri is a perfect case of someone who takes an hour to get ready. She has to do her hair, styling her uniform, her light (school approved) make-up, catch up on friend-drama, do her hair again and so on… I could probably get ready fifty times in the time it takes her to once.

It’s not like I have bad hygiene, okay? If anything, it’s great. I just have the ability to complete tasks quicker than most.

I knocked three times on her door.

“Sayuri— Are you up?”

No answer.

“Sayuri—?”

Nothing.

“Alright I’m coming in!”

I turn the doorknob and slowly push it open. As I expected, she was sprawled out on her bed snoring with her mouth open—a far cry from who she is at school.

This feels like something I could use… Suzuki-san’s brother or parents wake her up in the morning but she refuses to. She’s struggling to find her place in school early on or something.

Early morning, already late to school and someone comes to wake you up… I like this. Not that we’re going to be late, but the vibe for a scene.

I hurried Sayuri along to get ready and we were out the door in fifteen minutes. Our walk was extremely quick and silent, unusual for us, but nice this time. It gave me good time to ponder how I’d ask Fujioka to partner up with me.

…

How do I ask her…?

                                   How do I ask her…?

                                                                      How do I ask her…?

                                                                                                         How do I ask her…?

                                                                      How do I ask her…?

                                   How do I ask her…?

How do I ask her…?

“Yahallo!”

About an hour after classes had ended, I found myself in the clubroom with Yoshika. Akimoto had peeked through the doorway wearing a wide smile and her blonde hair swaying slightly from the quick entrance.

“Akimoto-san, that isn’t your greeting. You don’t say that.”

“Whaa~? Why can’t it be!?”

“We already steal enough ideas, we really can’t afford to take anymore.”

“Boo~” She pouted.

She took her seat next to me and glanced over to where Fujioka should be.

“Where’s Fujioka-senpai?”

“It’s easy to forget but she’s a paid professional, she can’t spend all her time lounging in the clubroom.”

“Oh, right… Hey, couldn’t you ask her to do illustrations for our light novel?”

“How do I ask her…?”

Akimoto gave me a puzzled look.

“Oh, uh, sorry. Yeah, I’ve asked her before and she said no… But I’ve been trying to figure out how to convince her.”

“Did you try asking really~ nice?”

“What? Of course not. That wouldn’t work. This is a serious commitment, asking “nicely” wouldn’t change anything.”

“You just don’t know the power of please.” Akimoto crossed her arms.

“...Anyway. You got any ideas?”

Akimoto shook her head no with a cute blank stare. There’s not a thought in that head, is there?

We returned to writing without concocting any means of convincing Fujioka. A solid twenty minutes passed when Akimoto broke away from discussing the novel with a question.

“Hey, what’s Yoshi-chan doing here?”

Akimoto and I simultaneously shifted our attention to our junior, who was attempting to remain as inconspicuous as possible. I say this because she nearly jumped out of her seat when we looked at her.

“I-I’m just hanging out with my good friend Kiyotaka-senapi.” Yoshika’s face was flushing red. “Hahahaha—”

I leaned closer to Akimoto. “She’s here waiting for Sato to invite me to hang out so she can tag along.”

“Ohh~ You hang out with Takechi and Sato?”

“Nah not really. They ask me to third wheel them sometimes. They must be having some friendship issues or something because whenever I do the atmosphere is very awkward.”

“Huh, weird… Hey so Yoshi-chan, why’re you relying on Kiyotaka-kun instead of just approaching them yourself? It sounds like he isn’t very close with them.”

Yoshika rubbed her hands over each other, kinda like a fly. A very nervous fly. Or someone very suspicious. Yoshika’s a very suspicious person… She's only here because she likes Tackechi, right?

Hold on, why’s she here so much!? She’s become a regular! This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen!

“Well…” She trailed off.

“Saying “well” isn’t an explanation…” Akimoto said, unamused.

“Well… I don’t wanna be rude and invite myself to go along with Takechi-senpai… So uh—”

“By that logic, isn’t inviting yourself to go along with Kiyotaka-kun still rude?”

“Eh—!”

The first year froze up. That gives me the impression she didn’t even realize the flaw in her logic. Seriously, how can you not realize such a glaring issue? I’ve even told you directly I think!

“You’re not a very smart person, are you, Yoshi-chan?”

“H-hey! I’ll have you know I’m near the top of the first years!”

“People-smart, not academically.”

Yoshika didn’t have a comeback for this—she cast her gaze towards the table.

“Lemme tell you something… I’m a master when it comes to boy’s hearts. Big-sis Kaoru will help you with your love dilemma!”

“R-really…? I mean! I don’t like him! What’re you saying!?”

“Come on, you can be honest here, it’s just us girls right now.”

“What about Kiyotaka-senpai…?”

The two girls lazily turned to look at me—what?

“He doesn’t count. He’s cute like a girl so it’s practically the same thing.”

Akimoto what the fuck are you talking about?