Later in the day, John met up with Nagisa and Tomoya in a reference room, which was set up as the same fashion matching the library only, the book selections were far less than that of the library, and there was a couple pieces of cooking equipment such as a kettle, coffee machine, and a small gas stove.
"So are we preparing for the presentation of the club?" John asked.
"Furukawa needs to practise the briefing session and since she doesn't really handle speeches easily, I thought I'd find a book with a tutorial in it for giving speeches." Tomoya explained.
"So you really think we'll find something here?" Nagisa asked.
"Welcome."
The trio turned their attention to a female student walking into the room. She appeared to be a junior student. She had blue eyes, and dark long brown hair, which a part extended further down below shoulder level, and a couple strands of hair that went stretched down to her chest.
"Is there anything I can do for you today?" The girl asked. "Or would you like me to serve you something?" She then offered.
"I'll take a cup of coffee." Tomoya said.
"Me too please." Nagisa said.
"Sure." John shrugged.
"Please have a seat right here." The girl said, pointing to one of the tables. "I'll make some right away."
They sat down on the table while the female junior went over to the coffee machine and began to prepare the coffee. When she was done, she poured the coffee into three cups and placed it in front of them.
"Thank you very much." Nagisa said.
Tomoya took a sip of the coffee then said, "It's good."
"I'm glad you like it." She smiled.
John then took a sip of the cup of coffee. "Wow, this tastes excellent! Kind of reminds me of…"
"Reminds you of?" The girl questioned.
"…Forget it, it slipped my mind." John lied, followed by a sigh, and he continued to sip slowly. This tastes almost as good as Jennifer's coffee. Why couldn't she had just said, "I love you John, I'll miss you." instead of "Good luck."? And here I am in Japan…And she's still over back in California…
John put his cup down and the girl spoke once more.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Miyazawa Yukine, a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm Okazaki Tomoya of 3-D." Tomoya said.
"My name is Furukawa Nagisa of 3-B." Nagisa said.
"Hello my name is Key John of 3-D."
"Oh yes I...uh…"
Yeah, she knows it too. Who the hell doesn't by now? John thought. "I guess you already know who I am partially huh?"
"I understand that you have emigrated from America." Yukine said. "May I ask which state you came from?"
"I'm from California." John answered.
"What was it like living there?" Yukine asked.
"I'm a bit curious too!" Tomoya jumped in.
"Me too!" Nagisa said.
"Hmm…Let's see." John began. "The vast open desert landscape is really beautiful. People were nice…Uh… The beaches were amazing! And the weather was warm all year 'round! I mean don't get me wrong, I really like this school and town but I still have friends over on the other side of the world that I hope to talk to again in the future."
"Sounds like a lovely place!" Yukine nodded.
"Would you ever want to go back home?" Nagisa asked.
"Of course! Who wouldn't?" John responded. "When you've travelled across the world away, stripped of the opportunities and life you could have had, then who wouldn't miss it? But don't worry, I'm beginning to adapt and enjoy my life here, creating new opportunity."
"That's great to hear!" Yukine smiled.
"Alright, enough of me, we need to uh…get back to business." John said.
"Oh by the way, is this your first time in this room?" Yukine asked.
"Yes it is." John responded.
"It's our first time as well…" Nagisa spoke up. "But I do remember that this was once the library."
"It still is. All unwanted books are kept here for safe keeping." Yukine told her.
"Well we're here to find Furukawa a type of tutorial book for giving speeches." John said.
"Oh alright, I know just the thing. Give me just a moment."
Yukine went over to the shelf to go and get the book that Nagisa required.
"If you want my advice," John turned over to Nagisa. "It's not WHAT you say it's HOW you say it."
"Funny…My Dad told me something like that but I'm not sure how to really do that." Nagisa said.
Yukine came back and placed a book in front of them that read the title, How to Catch People's Hearts in Speech.
"Alright, let's see if we can find anything useful for you in this book." John said to Nagisa.
After taking a look at the book for advice, and thanking Yukine for the coffee, the three went out of the room.
"So you think you're ready for a club introduction?" John asked.
"I think so…" Nagisa responded, hesitantely.
"Really? You don't sound like it." Tomoya pointed out.
"Just give it your all and make it sound like you like your job." John suggested. "Just like we discussed, ok?"
"Ok…We'll try." Nagisa said.
They all went up to the Drama Club room. John and Tomoya sat down in front of Nagisa, who was standing in front of the chalk board.
"Alright, so let's run through this." John said. "Tomoya?"
"Oh yeah! So, pretend we're here to check out the club. Just keep calm, breathe, and say your words carefully." Tomoya instructed.
"Ok." Nagisa complied.
"Just remember to sound serious about it." John added.
"Ok…here it goes…" Nagisa stood firmly in front of them. She maintained herself then began to speak and run through the briefing exercise. "Welcome everyone, I'm Furukawa Nagisa of Class 3-B, thank you for coming today! I hope that you'll enjoy your time."
"Yeahyeahyeahyeahyeahyeahyeahyeah, good start. Just keep her going." John said.
"Uh…Here is why I want to revive the Drama Club…Uh…"
"IS?" John questioned, dramatically.
"…Uh."
"SO, what you mean to tell me, Furukawa Nagisa-san of 3-B is, you want to revive the Drama Club because "Uh." Is that WHAT I'M HEARING?!"
Nagisa was shocked of the amount of emphasis he was putting into his words. She couldn't tell if John was upset, or doing what he had said before about talking.
"Why are you-"
"SO WHY AM I HERE TODAY?!"
"W-What?"
"That's all you're going to say? Are we here to do SUPER FUN DRAMA CLUB ACTIVITIES? Or are we sitting around here to say "What" all the time?!"
"…"
"IS THE PLAY WE'RE PERFORMING CALLED "WHAT"?!"
Nagisa looked to the ground in shame and began to think negatively about her attempt at being leader.
"Sorry did I scare you two?" John asked.
"OK! WOW! When you said to put emotion in your voice, you're not fooling around!" Tomoya admitted.
"Sorry…I just…Don't have what you have." Nagisa stuttered.
"I'm not saying to be like me but…at least be meaningful to your words. Make yourself sound convincing enough to tell everyone that YOU are in charge and YOU have the experience needed to pull the club through." John said.
"Uh about that…" Nagisa muttered.
"Oh so, you have zero experience yet you want to lead a Drama Club?" John questioned.
"It sounds weird I know…" Nagisa responded.
"I think this puts us in a very good position." John said.
"How?" Tomoya asked.
"There's a difference between someone with experience and no reason, and someone with a reason and no experience." John explained.
"Wait, what are you talking about?" Tomoya asked.
John looked straight into Nagisa's eyes. "Looking into Furukawa's bright, sad, somewhat intimidated eyes, I see someone with a desire and reason. Even without the experience, I know that you shall discover yourself in due time just out of will and desire alone."
"Yeah…Wow, you're right, thanks a lot…Key." Nagisa smiled.
"No problem Furukawa." John responded.
"What do we do now?" Tomoya asked.
"Well…We could describe the play we're doing." John suggested.
"Well, it's kind of a funny play…" Nagisa explained.
"Funny as in comedic, awkward?" John asked.
"It's kind of comedic…"
"Is there anything touching about this comedy or is just pure comedy?" John asked.
"Well it could bring you to tears…" Nagisa responded.
Tomoya raised his hand again and pretended to be like a new participant in the club. "What was on the poster?"
"The Big Dango Family!" Nagisa answered immediately.
"That was fast…" John said, widening his eyes.
"The Big Dango Family, recognized by any Japanese and really popular all over the world-"
"OK STOP!" John exclaimed.
Nagisa stopped talking as John requested.
"I like the fact you're putting some emphasis and explanation into the Big Dango Family but in time, we gotta use this same passion for the Drama Club! Ok?"
"Oh…Ok." Nagisa said, walking over to them and sitting beside them.
"So what's the true reason you want to do this?" John asked.
"Well…because I like it." Nagisa answered.
"I know that much but I'd like to know what it is about Drama that sparks your interests." John said.
"Well I just thought it would be so much fun to pull off something like this. To be part in a play, to be part in something artistic and beautiful. When I was little I missed all the school plays because of my sickness. That's why I want to do a play now, in High School."
"This only proves my point and this is the sign of a true leader," John nodded, smiling. "Wouldn't you agree Okazaki?"
"This is what should be said in the briefing. I thought it was good. It sounded like she was speaking from her heart." Tomoya said.
"Well this was fun," John stood up and walked towards the door. "I'm glad that we got this opportunity to meet and settle our reasons. It's the only thing that's going to prevent us from falling."
"Thanks for helping today…Bye John!" Nagisa waved.
"NO! Thank YOU! For giving me this opportunity to assist you." John responded.
John left the Drama Club room and began to make his way to the stairwell. He decided it was time to make another entry in his notepad so that's exactly what he did.
Ok so, a couple things I need to mention.
A junior girl named Yukine Miyazawa serves us coffee in the reference room, and assists us in finding a book on presentations for Furukawa.
Yukine reminds me of Jennifer a bit…Kind, very open, helpful, caring, and understanding. And that was DAMN good coffee. Almost pretty equal to Jennifer's…
Alright so Nagisa's presentation and love for the Dango Family is rather interesting but irrelevant for the Drama Club. She was able to take the same amount of emphasis and put it into the reason on why the Drama Club needs to be revived. This is true potential I see in her. She, like myself, is trying to re-grasp lost opportunities and dreams, and turn them into realities once more.
"Dango…Dango…"
John sighed as he heard the same singing inside his head just like the night before then turned the page to make a separate entry.
On a side note: My mother's voice doesn't go away. The song doesn't go away. Why here? Why now? WHY THIS TOWN?!
John continued to walk down the stairs and looked outside to the somewhat dim sunlight. He sighed again and when he continued down the school hall, he caught eye of someone putting their hands on the poster that he set up before.
"HEY!" He shouted.
The student, who appeared to be a female junior student, held the poster on her side.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO MY POSTER?!"
"Oh this?"
"YEAH! I helped her put it up, and now you're taking it down?! Who gave you the authority to do that?!"
"The Student Council."
Those word's surprised John. "WHY WOULD THEY-"
"Come with me."
Nagisa and Tomoya discovered the same thing that John did not too long ago and noticed that their sign for the Drama Club was missing on the bulletin board down the stairs from the floor where the Drama room was.
"Didn't we put a sign here before?" Tomoya asked, confused.
"Yeah, I'm sure we did." Nagisa said.
Yukine came behind them and began to explain that someone from the Student Council had taken it down.
"But why would they take it?!" Nagisa asked.
"It's probably because it hasn't received approval." Yukine responded. "Both of you didn't put them up by any chance did you?" She then asked.
The PA system rung then the voice of a female student spoke through the microphone.
"Furukawa Nagisa-san of Class 3-B, please come to the Student Council room. I repear, Furukawa Nagisa-san of Class 3-B, please come to the Student Council room."
In the Student Council room, John sat down and was confronted by the girl on the Student Council, and she, along with the rest of the Council, sat down explaining to him why the Drama Club was unable to recruit due to its "Hiatus" status.
"I see, so you have a problem with us trying to get this practically dead club going again?" John asked.
"I'm sorry but that it is how it works. As we have already stated, the Drama Club is on Hiatus, and we cannot allow you to recruit members without the club getting approval."
"OK LISTEN! I respect your position, and I know that you like to do it by the book. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. This doesn't change the fact that I'm going to try everything in MY power to get this club going again. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"
"Do whatever you want however, we can't approve of any more clubs unless you do the following: You need a teacher adviser for the club, and Student Council elections are happening soon. So until then..."
John nodded in understanding then got up and left the Student Council room. "Council, thank you for your time. I really appreciate it."
He walked out of the room and began to head home.
"Dad..." He called out as he entered the house.
Nothing...
