The next month or so ended up being pretty uneventful compared to those first few weeks after I transferred to Paulownia Academy. I ended up getting a new landlord once Saito was found dead. Apparently Saito was a fraud, so the new landlord let me keep my nice apartment for the same rent for my trouble.
Saenoki started texting me a lot after the night I brought her to Kibiki's house. We didn't actually meet during the rest of the term, and instead I delivered the notes to Kibiki who gave them to Saenoki. I started wondering why Saenoki started avoiding me, since she seemed perfectly fine talking to me on the phone. I suspected she might still be recovering from the ghost thing, but I didn't know enough about the occult to be sure that was the case.
Eventually the term-ending exams before summer break came around. For the first time in my life I felt like I might actually get a half-decent grade on the exam thanks to all the notes I'd taken this term. I noticed that Saenoki and Ooue, conspiuously absent for most of the term, arrived for exams week on time.
The last day of exams came around and I breathed a sigh of relief as the tests were collected by the students with day duty. Inumaru tapped me and smiled. "We're finally free from classes for a few weeks! What are you planning on doing, Kishinuma?"
I shrugged. "I'll probably need to find a job. The rent doesn't pay itself."
Inumaru chuckled. "So independant of you! Maybe I should get a job too." He stood up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to make sure my notes were helpful to my Sayaka."
I shook my head slowly as Inumaru walked away to find Ooue. So that's why his notes were so detailed. I should have guessed.
While I was packing my bag to leave I noticed someone was waiting next to my desk. I looked up to see Saenoki waiting for me. "Kishinuma. Are you busy this afternoon?"
"Err… no." I closed up my bag and stood up. "Did you need me for something?"
Saenoki adjusted her glasses and nodded. "I'd like you to come with me to that cafe we visited a while back. I'll treat you to something."
I rubbed the back of my neck and nodded. "Alright. What's the occasion?"
"Is summer break not enough of an excuse?" Saenoki sniffed. She seemed more amused than annoyed, though.
"You have a point there…" I nodded for her to lead the way and followed her out.
I expected the walk to the cafe to be a quiet one, but Saenoki started talking about exam questions and we started a conversation about how we felt we did on them. Saenoki seemed pleased about her performance, and I let slip that I felt good about my exams for the first time in years.
At the cafe, Saenoki ordered the same strawberry drink she had the last time. After looking over the menu I decided to get the same thing just to avoid looking like an idiot when it came to this kind of place.
After some time had passed, Saenoki put down her drink and looked at me. "I heard you're looking for work over the summer break?"
I nodded. "Have to pay off the rent somehow."
Saenoki adjusted her glasses. "I might have something you can do. How much do you know about cameras?"
"Not very much…" I replied, looking down into my drink.
"Well, I'm sure you could learn it pretty quickly. My mentor's cameraman is a total slacker and still knows how to do his job." Saenoki smirked as if she were making an inside joke.
"So… you want me to be your cameraman?"
Saenoki nodded. "You'd be handy to have around when I investigate haunted locations."
Realizing the extra duty of being Saenoki's backup in case of problems, I nodded. "I think I see what you mean."
Smiling, Saenoki slid a card toward me. "You already have some of it, but here's my contact information. We should dicuss this in more detail after you've had a chance to think about it."
I nodded and took the card. "I'll consider it. Thanks, Saenoki."
Saenoki stood up and moved closer to me. "You can just call me Naho if you'd like."
Before I could respond she pressed her lips against my cheek. I barely registered the kiss before she drew away and smiled at me.
"Keep me in mind, Yoshiki."
I sat in my seat, stunned, as Naho walked out of the cafe. I looked down at the card and tucked it safely into my pocket. I resolved to call Naho the next day and accept her job offer.
