The next day, all was not peaceful in the Sket-dan clubroom as the three members hung around waiting for requests.
"I'm telling you," announced Himeko, slamming her teacup down on the desk, "if those obnoxious exchange students come here begging for help, I ain't giving them a damn thing. I'm not gonna be bothered licking their high and mighty boots for them!"
"Jeez, calm down, Himeko," groaned Bossun. "I'm trying to have a nap here."
"Yeah, cause that's really helping right now!"
"Himeko," put in Switch, "you could use this time to prepare for the school dance, if you wish."
"Prepare for the dance?" scoffed Himeko. "What am I supposed to do, practice the steps or something?"
"You could try finding a partner to take you, for a start."
"I'm not going with a partner," said Himeko. "I'm just going with Captain and the girls."
"Are you not aware, Himeko," answered Switch, "that almost all the girls in our year have already been asked out? Even Captain has been asked out by some of the exchange students."
"She what?" spluttered Himeko, in shock. "Oi, Switch, you're not serious-are you…"
"I am dead serious," Switch went on calmly. "In fact, a large percentage of the students in our year have found someone to go with, with the exception of the three of us, of course…"
"Hey, Switch," said Himeko, a little hope blossoming inside her, "you aren't going with anyone, are you?"
"I am not, (blush)" replied Switch, "and therefore I have been considering asking…"
"Yeeesss?"
"Momoka. (blush)"
Switch turned back to his video game, totally oblivious to the death glare that he was being given.
"Perhaps you could ask Bossun?" suggested Switch, finally deciding to acknowledge it. "Bossun, how would you like to take Himeko to the school dance?"
"Eww, he's asleep," groaned Himeko. Bossun's mouth was wide open and he was drooling a little. So these are the creatures I am fated to live with, thought Himeko despondently. An insensitive otaku and a drooling bug.
"Don't…that's scary…" murmured Bossun through a mouth full of foam.
Himeko snapped. "OI, GET THE HELL UP, YOU FREAKING VAGRANT!" she yelled, swiftly sloshing Bossun across the ribs with her hockey stick. He yelled and attempted to punch back, earning another slam on the head. He flew through the clubroom and landed in a heap on the bench.
"WHAT THE HELL, WOMAN?"
"Bossun, Himeko wants to know whether you'd like to take her to the school dance," came Switch's impassive voice.
"SWITCH, SHUT UP!" cried Himeko desperately.
Bossun snorted. "What, take this lunatic to the dance? I doubt we'd get much dancing done if she's gonna be sloshing me with her damned stick all the time! What's come over you, eh, Himeko? Going all Iron Man on me and then putting on the cute little please-acknowledge-me to get me to take you to the dance? Is this some really weird way to confess your feelings or-"
"Oh, shut up!" cried Himeko. "What's wrong with the two of you, seriously? Stop talking to me, Bossun. People like you aren't fit to talk to girls!"
"Oi, chill, woman," yawned Bossun.
"I AIN'T GONNA CHILL! I'M GONNA QUIT WORKING WITH YOU LOT, THAT'S ALL! AND DON'T CALL ME A WOMAN IF YA DON'T KNOW HOW TO TREAT ME LIKE ONE!"
Himeko stalked out of the clubroom, slamming the door behind her. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall, rage and humiliation doing the rounds beneath her eyelids. That was it- she wasn't going to go out of her way to accommodate insensitive, immature warts again!
"Maybe I should just go join the softball team now?" mused Himeko. But somehow she felt like doing something rebellious-something that would totally make Bossun feel the loss.
"I gotta do something to totally piss him off," she said out loud. "Maybe I should work with someone who really pisses him off? But then, he gets on with pretty much everyone, right? He'd probably just end up not noticing me-"
And then it hit her.
"That's a swell idea! I'm gonna go work with Tsubaki."