Chapter 8 – Clubtastrophe (Part 1)

"Hahaha! Wow, so that really happened?! If I knew such a thing was going to happen, I would've put up with all the negativity before then! Hahahaha!"

"Y-Yeah…I-It was really confusing. A-And uncomfortable."

It was the next day and I was telling Yoshikawa-san what had happened yesterday at the volleyball game. She was the first person to actually take enjoyment in the disaster it ended up being. Probably because it pissed off Rukia so much.

She really doesn't like my cousin, huh?

"So, what did you do afterward? Went home?"

"W-Well, not exactly. I-I went to a café with one of the team members. Sugiura-san."

"Oh. Sugiura, huh?" Yoshikawa-san suddenly grew an annoyed look on her face.

"Y-You know her?"

"We went to middle school together. Though, we weren't friends or anything like that. In fact, she was a rather pain in the ass."

"R-Really? H-How?"

"She was part of the student council for all three years. And on her third, she became president. She and I would often butt heads over the stuff that did or didn't do."

"O-Oh. S-So, you were a delinquent in middle school, too?"

"I-I'm not a delinquent! She just wouldn't lay off!" Yoshikawa-san began to blush. "You totally got the wrong idea!"

"S-Sorry." I gained a sweatdrop.

"Alright, girls. Settle down." Azuma-sensei said as she came into the classroom. "Now then. Before we start, I have to remind you all that tomorrow is the deadline to sign up for a club. You're all required to spend at least an hour a week in club activity. So no, you can't escape it."

"R-Required?" I asked myself.

"Tch. Damnit. They're really forcing this club thing on us." Yoshikawa-san said while sounding annoyed.

"Now as for the clubs that are currently established, we have…the Gaming Club, the Anime Club, the Literature Club, the Manga Club, the Earth Science Club, the Cheer Club, the Basketball Club, the Track Club, and…the Light Music Club."

Wait…she didn't mention Volleyball, did she? I wonder why…

"You'll have all day today and tomorrow during homeroom to make a decision. And you can't switch out, either. So, choose wisely."

"Yes, Sensei." We all said before the school bell rang again for 1st period.

When classes were over for the day, Azuma-sensei had called me over to the teacher's office. And based on what was said this morning, I kinda figured out why.

"S-So, I have to join a club?"

"It is school rules, Toshinio-san." Azuma-sensei said to me.

"I-I don't know. E-Even though it's been a week already…I-I'm not sure I can be around a group of people. I-I don't think…m-my damaged mind can handle it."

"Toshinio-san…if you truly want to start moving on, you got to be comfortable around other people again. Not everyone is like…that person."

"That person…" I said while hanging my head down. As I was being reminded of that traumatic experience.

"S-Sorry. I didn't mean to bring that up so casually."

"N-No, it's fine. Y-You are right. N-Not everyone is like…that person."

"I see. Well…seeing as how you're a special case, you may need some help with this."

"S-So, you're going to help me?" I asked.

"Unfortunately, I can't. I have a meeting to go to after this. But I do know someone else."

"R-Really? Wh-Who?"

Azuma-sensei didn't answer. Instead, she started giggling and looked at the door behind me.

"I know you're there…Yoshikawa-san."

"Y-Yoshikawa-san?"

"Tch. Damnit. You and your sharp senses." Yoshikawa-san said as she came out of hiding and into the room with us.

"Y-You followed me here?" I asked.

"L-Look, I didn't…w-well, it wasn't my…wh-when you got called down here, I was curious as hell. So, I waited a few minutes and came down to see what was going on. But to think it would be about the club thing again…"

"You know you can't skip club activities, Yoshikawa-san." Azuma-sensei said.

"Wanna bet? I'll just find a place to hide out for an hour. Like I care about being in a stupid club."

"A-Are you sure you're not a delinquent?" I asked with a sweatdrop.

"Well, if you're that adamant on skipping, then I guess I can turn a blind eye. In return, you must help Toshinio-san find a club to join. Is it a deal?"

"Is that all? Then this will be a piece of cake! Come on, Toshinio-san! I'll help you find a boring-ass club to join in no time flat!" Yoshikawa-san then grabbed my arm in a fit of excitement and pulled me towards the exit.

"H-Huh? W-Wait, Yoshikawa-san! Th-This is way too sudden!"

"Good luck, girls." Azuma-sensei said. Causally waving us goodbye.

*30 MINUTES LATER…*

"Ugh. This is total bullshit. We went to every freaking club here and they were either full or rejected you completely."

"S-Some didn't even want to talk to me. A-Am I really that weird?" I asked.

"*sigh* No, you're not. In fact, I think the reason we keep getting slammed off is because of me. For a moment there, I forgot that this place hates me."

"Y-You were dead set on helping me find a club that…y-you went and talked to the people who treat you badly. Th-Thank you…Yoshikawa-san.

"Tch! W-Well, I…I was just helping out a friend. Nothing to it." Yoshikawa-san blushed a little.

"I-I see." I said with a smile.

Nothing much was said for a little bit. We just kept walking around the school as a way to waste the time required to be in a club. This is something Yoshikawa-san does a lot, apparently. I'm honestly surprised that she's never been caught.

Maybe she is a delinquent…

"So, uh…Toshinio-san. Even though I didn't mean to earlier, I heard you and Azuma talking about something. Something other than the "club" thing."

"O-Oh. D-Did you now?" I tensed up a little.

"Toshinio-san…who is that person you were talking about?"

"U-Uh…"

No, no, no, no! This isn't good! Rukia told me not to tell anyone about my past! And not only did someone overheard it, but this person is Yoshikawa-san! A person she really doesn't like or trust!

…

B-But…I like her. A-And I trust her, too. Despite her nice girl/tough girl personality.

Maybe I should tell her…

"Y-You know what? N-Never mind. If you don't want to say it, I'm not going to force you."

"R-Really?" I asked with a shocked look on my face.

"I may not look or act like it, but I'm not the type of person to squeeze information out of people. Especially my…well…m-my friend." Yoshikawa-san blushed again as she grew a small smile. A second coming for me. As I'm now realizing that smiling isn't something she normally does.

"Yoshikawa…"

*STAB*

"Ouchie!" I yelled in pain as I held my throbbing foot.

"Wh-What?! What happened?!"

"M-My foot! I-I think I stepped in something…"

"Stepped in something?" Yoshikawa-san then looked at where I stepped in. "Huh? It's an old-looking key."

"A-A key? Wh-What's it doing sticking out of the dirt like this?"

"Who knows. This thing looks like it's been here for a while. It's all rusty and shit."

We both continued to look at the old key. Attached to it was a just as old keychain. Even with all the rust, it looked like it was one of the characters from Onegai My Melody.

I love that anime. It's so cute.

"H-Hey, Yoshikawa-san. D-Do you think this key opens something here?" I asked.

"You mean here at the school?" Yoshikawa-san thought for a moment. "Well, it is possible. Though, with this big ass school, it might take us a while to find such a place. Talk about a pain."

"I-I see."

…

…

…

"You wanna go look for it?" Yoshikawa-san asked.

"D-Do you want to?"

"Well, it'll kill a lot of the time we have left. Plus…the thought of there being a room here that's possibly been abandoned for years and nobody knows about it does pique my interest a little."

"Y-Yeah. I-It does for me, too." I said with a smile. "S-So, where should we start?"

"Hmm…let's start with the third-year floor and work our way down. There aren't that many empty classrooms up there."

"Uh…Y-You're a first-year, right? H-How do you know that?"

…

…

…

"Cl…Classes get boring sometimes…" Yoshikawa-san looked away from me.

"Y-Yoshikawa-san…" I gained a sweatdrop.

"N-Never mind that. Let's go find this key's locked door before we get caught. You are with me, right?"

"Mmmhm. Lead the way, Yoshikawa-san." I said with a small smile. I was actually really excited to find out what this key unlocked. And I was going to find it with my friend, too. It's super exciting. I can almost forgive it for hurting my foot earlier.

…

Almost. My foot still hurts a little.

Ouchie…

Author's Note: And so, the search for the mysterious abandoned room begins. The two girls seem excited. But with the school being so huge and the key being so old, it really will take a while for them to find it. But that's not going to stop them from trying.

Thanks for reading. Later.