Chapter 10 - More Introductions and Rooms
"So, you were in a school all this time. That's impressive."
"Yeah! We were doing a School-Life Club too, but Yuu-kun came later and Shuuya-san, Ryuuko-chan and Maki-chan only joined us yesterday," said Yuki, answering the orange-haired girl's question.
Yuki and her friends were currently walking through the corridor, following the trio that they recently met a few minutes ago.
"A School-Life Club huh… we're doing something similar."
"YUP!" The glasses girl stopped in front of a door and faced the others. "Welcome to our Crew!"
"The crew…?" Maki uttered confusingly.
"Yup, yup. We were a bit worried about the name. Something like the Fallen Club, or the Weird Sisters…" she listed out.
"Oh, really? I don't know it's that hard to come up with a name," Yuuri said from beside Kurumi with a sweatdrop on her head.
"No one… could agree on the name," spoke the black-haired girl for the first time.
"Well, after some time we decided to just settle on The Crew," reaching for the handle, the glasses girl opened the door. "Difficult things aside, come in."
When the door was opened, the group stepped inside a small room that has two large beanbags, a stereo system, a television screen, two bookshelves, several game consoles and their game cases as well as a few books and leftovers of food containers scattered on the floor.
The first one to response to the place was, surprisingly, Ryuuko. "Whoa… what a mess! Don't you clean this room, Onee-sans?" Then, she proceeded to crouch down and grab the books lying by her feet before placing it back at the bookshelf.
The glasses girl and orange-haired girl both sweatdropped at the words. "Being scolded by a middle-schooler really does damage to your dignity as an adult."
"Hey, does this work?" Kurumi asked as she held a game controller.
"Of course!" Said the glasses girl before plopping down on one of the beanbags. "Wanna play?"
"See, Kurumi-chan? I know it's not wasteful to bring those games," Yuki spoke as Kurumi joined the glasses girl on the beanbag.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You're right," holding one of the controllers, she said to the girl beside her. "Let's play!"
Sadly, the controller was then snatched from her hands. "Not now, Kurumi-senpai," Miki held the controller above Kurumi's head. "We're not here just to play games."
"Hey, give me that back!" Kurumi tried to reach for the controller but Miki smartly(not) tossed it to the person Kurumi hated the most.
Catching the rectangular thing in her hands, Maki smirked arrogantly. "What a troublesome girl. Do you want it?"
"Give it back," glared Kurumi at the blond girl.
"No," Maki replied with a glare of her own. As the two locked eyes, sparks could be seen forming between them.
While the two definitely immature girls were having a showdown against each other, Yuuri approached the orange-haired girl. For Miki, after she got away from dealing with Kurumi, went to check the titles of the books on the bookshelves as Ryuuko still busied herself cleaning the room with Yuki lying on the free beanbag.
"Um… Do you have working electricity here?" Asked Yuuri.
"That's right!" The glasses girl was the one to answer since Kurumi didn't play with her. "The electricity in this place still works!"
"It worked just fine at our school too," Yuuta informed her.
"Same as with our previous residence," Shuuya added.
"O-Oh? W-well…" she faltered at the response and tried to come up with another positive point. "That's not all… We get hot water here too!"
"We had that too… not that I used it much," answered Yuuta, which lowered the glasses girl's spirit.
"Yeah, there's hot water at our place too, though Maki-chan and Ryuuko-chan tend to spend much time inside the bathroom," Shuuya's words caused the girl's confidence to drop and she collapsed dejectedly with the quiet girl comforting her.
"The girls do that too, spending a long time in the bathroom," Yuuta strikes a conversation with his friend. "Same with Mum and Ruiko. I wonder why they do that anyways?"
"Perhaps to clean themselves better?" Responded Shuuya to Yuuta's question, both oblivious to the situation around them. "They do want to look beautiful after all and it does feel good to shower and soak our body inside the tub."
"I get you, but why the long periods of time? It's not like they worked that hard to equate themselves to an hour of bathing and relaxing? We too spend hours working and enjoy a good bath but in no way we do it like them?"
"Perhaps because they have more extra time than us? Or maybe because they know that we won't spend a long time in the bathroom and that allows them to take their time relaxing?"
"That sounds like a good explanation, but," Turning their gaze to the side, Yuuta and Shuuya stared at the girls in the room and both sighed. "Perhaps we will never know."
"All right then, everyone!" The orange-haired girl clapped her hands to gain everyone's attention. "First things first, let's learn a bit about each other."
"Okay~!" The others responded.
"Well then, have a seat," they all sat… on the beanbags which prompted everyone to relax and drove to sleep except for Yuuta.
"…Maybe we should go to a different room," he suggested.
Moving into another room, the group settled on the floor around a small circular table. Due to not enough space, Yuuta and Shuuya sat a little distance away from the table.
"Hmm, so shall we make an introduction, Rep?" The orange-haired girl suggested to the glasses girl.
"Oh! Ahem," she coughed into her hand before speaking. "I'm the circle representative, Dekuchi Touko. The Rep's job is to make sure that everything is fun, and that we do fun stuff!"
"Fun stuff?" Yuki repeated the word.
"Like 24-hour gameplay… or 24-hour movie watching… or 24-hour ice-cream eating!" Touko listed on.
Yuuta, Kurumi, Maki, Miki and Yuuri stared with disappointing eyes. "That's awfully unhealthy, especially the ice-cream part," Ryuuko helpfully pointed out.
"Does everyone have to follow the activities?" Queried Miki fearfully with the others hoping for a good answer.
"Nah, we're pretty lax about the stuff. You don't have to join if you don't wanna," Touko replied, much to the relief of others.
"And I'm Hikarizato Aki. Call me Aki," The orange-haired girl said. "This is Kirai Hikako, you can just call her Hika," she then introduced the black haired girl beside her. "She's our craftsman and repairman." The girl looked at them in acknowledgement. "You guys were the School-Life Club, right?"
Yuuri nodded. "Yes, we were, though now that we're in university…"
"We should change it to the Campus-Life Club, am I right?" Spoke Yuuta, suggesting a new name for the group.
Kurumi, Yuuri and Miki stared at Yuuta with a disappointed gaze. "Ya know, Yuuta. You really are similar to your ancestors in your naming sense," said Kurumi.
Yuuta looked confusedly at them and Yuuri decided to let the matter go. "Well then, my name is Wakasa Yuuri. I'm the president of the club." She began their introduction and pointed at each of her club members. "This is Ebisuzawa Kurumi," Kurumi shot her hand in the air with a grin. "Takeya Yuki," Yuki smiled and waved her hands energetically. "Naoki Miki," Miki nodded in response. "Kiriha Yuuta," smiling gently, Yuuta waved at them before yawning. "Akazawa Shuuya and Ryuuko," the brother put on a smile on his face while the sister threw her arms in the air happily. "And lastly, Subaru Maki," the girl's only response is an arrogant huff, displeased on being last.
"You guys really have many members, don't you?" Aki commented. "So, did anything happen at your school?"
Yuuri then took out a booklet, the one they found at their school, from her bag. "Well… here's this thing." She then pushed it towards the three older girls.
Reading a few of the pages, the trio gasped at the contents. "Wow… you guys found something really amazing." Remarked Aki as she flipped the pages.
"No wonder everything was so well-equipped," Hika spoke in awe.
"And at our own university no less," said Touko after the shock was gone.
"The Randall Corporation… sounds familiar."
"Should we go there sometime?"
"I don't think you want to go there," Yuuta interrupted Hika and Aki. "We've been there a few days ago."
Touko, Aki and Hika were surprised to hear that. "Really? What did you discover?" Aki questioned enthusiastically.
Yuuta's mood darkened as he gave his reply. "It was… unpleasant to say the least."
Noticing the poisonous tone in Yuuta's words and knowing why he's uncomfortable with the subject, Miki asked another question to distract them. "Excuse me… who were the guys who tried to attack us earlier?"
"Ah… thing is, they're not really bad people either," Touko answered while Aki nodded in agreement. "Started there wasn't any electricity so everyone was getting desperate. People began to get picked off one by one… and it was dangerous to stay that way. So those guys started to enforce strict discipline rules."
"Is that a… survivalist group?" Queried Shuuya.
"Yup… gathered all the people who could fight… but even if you're a little hurt, you were dangerous," Touko continued. "You saw back then, right?"
Kurumi and Miki glanced a little at Yuuta with Yuki by his side(when did she get there?), gripping his sword tightly. "Yeah…" they replied.
"But we didn't like that see," Touko resumed her explanation. "They said that if we had issues we should get out, so got out we did."
"Our group was too small… if it wasn't for Hika we wouldn't be here," remarked Aki.
"…That's not true," the girl muttered.
"Oh, that's right." Touko grabbed Hika's hand. "Once we left we had no food and water. Just when things were starting to get dangerous, Hika here," she lifted her hand and pointed at Hika. "Found the emergency generator and the underground food storage units."
"Is the electricity solar-powered?" Asked Yuuri.
"Yup. Since there are panels on the roof we figured they had to be connected somewhere," Touko answered.
"Anyways, things happened… We secured food, water and electricity… and we can also play games like this," added Aki.
"That's great and all, but can't you invite the other group to live here as well?" Maki complained indignantly.
"Well, that's certainly true… but once you've had a fallout it's hard to regroup," Aki responded.
Maki lifted her head up in pride. "That's because you don't know how to be diplomatic! Well, I shouldn't expect a bunch of misfit peoples to find a peaceful solution among themselves anyway."
Anger marks could be seen on Aki's and Touko's face, along with Kurumi's. "You're starting to get on my nerve, kid," Aki growled.
Quickly, Ryuuko shoved her hands between Maki and everyone. "Sorry, sorry, she's always like this. Don't take it too seriously I hope."
"Well then, now that's out of the way, why don't you peoples tuck in for tonight?" Touko suggested. "It's starting to get dark outside if I'm not mistaken."
The suggestion was met with agreement from the group and they began filing out of the room in search for their own living quarters. Before that, they made a short trip to the RV to move their belongings and supplies inside the building. Once finished, it's time to decide on where they're going to sleep for the night.
"This is mine!"
"No, this is mine!"
Of course, Kurumi and Maki were being their usual self and arguing about who get to have the room they're in front of.
"I picked it first!"
"No, I saw it first!"
"Well, I touched the door first!"
"But my hand landed on the handle first!"
As the two girls were shouting at each other, the other members had already chosen their rooms and currently carrying their stuff into their quarters.
"Alright! This is my room!"
Standing in front of her room, Yuki had just finished writing her name on the board. She also added a heart shape at the end.
"Being in a college is so cool! You get to have your own room to stay in!" Exclaimed Yuki excitedly.
Miki approached her and said. "You know senpai, just because you got a room doesn't you an adult by default."
"So you're… a junior, huh…" Hika came to them.
"Yes," Miki answered. "I'm a second-year and the others aside from Ryuuko-san and Maki-san are third-years."
"I see… how old are those two?" Questioned Hika.
Miki put a finger on her chin to think, but Yuki was the one to give a reply. "They're first-years in middle school."
"First-years… huh…" The older girl muttered.
"How do you know, senpai?" Asked Miki. "Did they told you?"
Yuki waved her hands. "Ah, no. Yuu-kun once said that Ryuuko-chan and Maki-chan are friends with his sister, and since he told me her age, I just assumed that they're of the same grade."
"Oh," Miki nodded after hearing Yuki's explanation. "Though, I'm surprised you can remember such facts."
"Mii-kun, don't underestimate me!" Pouted Yuki.
I'll be leaving now…" Hika spoke as she walked away. "Good night."
"Good night!" Yuki and Miki replied back. Then, they turned to see Kurumi and Maki still arguing about their rooms.
"Why do you insist on following me?!"
"I'm not following you! You asked me to pick another room so I picked this one! I say you're the one who followed me!"
"No, I'm not!"
"I'm not, too!"
Yuuta gazed at the scene and sighed. "Someone should really do something about those two." Inwardly, he continued. 'When Kurumi said that they don't get along I didn't expect it to be this bad.'
The arguing between the two intensifies until Miki and Ryuuko had to rein in their friend to keep them from tearing each other apart. Finally, Yuuri clapped her hands and offered a solution.
"Why don't you two share a room, then?"
Instantly, Kurumi and Maki froze and looked at her. Simultaneously, they shouted. "WHAT?!"
"Well, if you both don't want to relent to each other then I thought why don't two share the same room," Yuuri said with a gentle smile. "It'll also help the both of you to get along, no?"
"Uh-uh, I'm not sleeping in the same room as her!"
"Me too! As if I would want to sit close to this undeserving girl!"
Suddenly, Yuuri approached them and held their shoulders. The two tensed. Opening her eyes, she stared straight at them. "You will stay in the same room, or else. Am I clear?" She said while releasing a terrifying aura.
Kurumi and Maki trembled in fear and quickly nodded their heads. "Y-Yes Ma'am!"
"Good," Yuuri returned back to her usual demeanour. "Now then, why don't we all go to bed now? It's a long day after all."
And with that, Yuuri entered her room along with Ryuuko(they're sharing it, for 'companion' reasons) while Shuuya went into the room beside them. Miki opened the door to her room, which was between KurumiMaki's and Yuki's, after saying good night to everyone. Yuuta's room was opposite from Yuki's own and the two waved at each other before closing the door. Last but not least, Kurumi and Maki begrudgingly moved their things into their room while glaring daggers at each other… but stopped when Yuuri peeked her head from the room opposite them.
Inside The Crew's club room, Touko sat on one of the beanbags, staring emptily at the ceiling. Her mind was on today's events and the peoples that came. However, two knocks on the door interrupted her pondering.
"Yo!" The door opened to reveal Aki carrying a bottle of sake and cups with Hika behind her, several packets of snacks in her arms. Sitting on the floor, the three began to drink.
"I'm telling you, we didn't seem like adults at all~" exclaimed Aki with a hiccup, cheeks flushed. "And to have a middle-schooler clean this place for us…" she looked around her and the mess that they've created... again.
"Those kids must have suffered so much…" Hika muttered. "But they still move on regardless…"
"Yeah! And the fact that we were holed in here playing games is kind of…" Touko trailed off, but the other two knew what she meant.
"So, abolish the 'Fallen Crew'?" Said Aki.
Touko chugged her drink down before slamming it on the floor. "Yep! I'll do my best starting tomorrow!"
"Well… that's what we all have to do," Aki replied.
"…cheers?" Hika slowly raised her cup.
"Cheers!" The other two touched their cups together with her.
Inside his room, Yuuta was currently lying down on his sleeping bag. With eyes wide open, he stated at the ceiling, thinking about the events of that day. The university, that boy who attacked them, his group who chased them, the three girls who helped them, and their current situation generally.
Tossing on the floor, Yuuta realized that he probably couldn't sleep that night. Rising up, he grabbed his sword which lied beside him and inspected it. Taking a piece of cloth from his bag, he began to clean the sheath and blade.
Then, he heard a knock on his door. "Come in," he said, still focused on his sword. The door creaked open and he turned to see Yuki in her night clothes entering. "Yuki, what's wrong?"
Yuki fidgeted in her place before answering. "Err, Yuu-kun. Can I stay with you tonight?"
Yuuta was surprised to hear the words coming from her and immediately asked why. "Why? Is something troubling you?"
"No, it's not like that," she shook her head. "I'm just not comfortable being alone in my room, that's all."
"Oh…" Yuuta nodded in understanding. "Sure, you can stay here."
Yuki brightened at the answer and moved closer to Yuuta. He patted his sleeping bag, gesturing for her to use it. She complied and went inside, wrapping herself up with only her head peeking from the bag. Yuuta smiled at her and resumed the task of maintaining his sword while Yuki gazed at him.
Before long, Yuuta stood up and walked towards the door. "Yuu-kun, where are you going?"
Yuuta turned his head and faced her. "I just want to walk around the building for a while. I figured since I couldn't sleep I should explore the campus grounds a little. This is our new home after all."
"Isn't it dangerous?" Yuki asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, I can protect myself, and I'm not going to do anything dangerous. Just walking around," Yuuta assured his girlfriend.
"But… I'll be lonely here," Yuki said with a sad voice.
Walking back to her, Yuuta crouched down and placed Tamashiha beside Yuki. "Then here, I'll leave my sword with you. Just assume it to be me and you won't get lonely."
Looking at the sword, Yuki stared as Yuuta rose again and went towards the door. "Wait, Yuu-kun," she called to her boyfriend. Yuuta turned around once again and lifted his eyebrow. "Can I ask you for something?"
"Of course. What do you want?" Smiled Yuuta.
"I want a kiss…" Yuki said quietly, but in the stillness of the night, it was heard clearly by Yuuta. Her face turned red as she said that and she covered her face.
"Is that all you want?" Yuki heard Yuuta saying after a few seconds of silence. Removing her hands from her face, she saw him walking to her, face red just like her, and stopped beside her. Kneeling down, Yuuta brought her lips close to Yuki. She closed her eyes and prepared herself for the soft sensation on her lips… only to find none. Instead, Yuuta had kissed her forehead and not her lips which she had intended him to.
After the chaste kiss he'd given her, Yuuta looked at her and smirked. "What? You didn't say where I have to kiss you, right?" When he saw Yuki pouting at him, he whispered next to her ear. "I seem to remember that you don't like me to be in the initiative, so I'll let you start it… if you want of course."
Yuuta retracted his head… but a pair of hands suddenly darted towards him and wrapped itself around his neck, pulling him close to the person. Then, he found himself face-to-face with Yuki who quickly sealed her lips with him.
The kiss only lasted for a few moments before their lips parted away. Yuuta seemed to be in a daze while Yuki was in embarrassment over what he did. Nevertheless, she still found the courage to smile at Yuuta and asked him teasingly. "Do you like it, Yuu-kun?"
Snapping out of his daze, Yuuta grinned like a maniac and replied. "Yep! Now I have more reason to be careful and avoid danger." Patting Yuki softly on the head, he proceeded to the entrance for the third time. "Good night Yuki. Sleep well," he waved.
"Good night Yuu-kun. Be careful," she waved back. When Yuuta closed the door, she sunk inside the sleeping bag, giggling and smiling as she remembered the feeling of being in her boyfriend's grasp. Briefly, she wondered if they can do more than just kissing and holding hands. After that, she closed her eyes and drifted to dreamland.
Needless to say, she slept very well that night.