Chapter 21 – Kyouko's New Hobby

"*quiet meep*"

"*slightly louder meep*"

"Reeeeeeeeeeee~."

…

…

…

"I…I think it's working." I quietly said as I felt my throat tingling a little.

"Haha! I knew it! I knew using cough medicine would work somehow!" Rukia cheered.

"Yeah, but you can barely hear her. It's just her whispering." Tsu said.

"Well, it's better than being mute for three months. Honestly, when the doctor said that, I figured he had to be bullshitting. How the hell was anyone supposed to stay silent for three freaking months?"

"Well, he did say a fractured larynx is a serious injury." Tsu then came to sit next to me on my bed. "So, how are you feeling, Kyouko? Is it really working?"

"Well…to some degree. My voice is scratchy and it still hurts a little when I talk. But I think I can manage it for now."

"See, Tsu? Nothing to worry about." Rukia said. "Just keep drinking this cough medicine, Kyouko and you'll back to normal in no time flat! Ohhohoho!"

"Girl, that ain't safe at all." Tsu said with a sweatdrop.

So, yeah. I can talk again. But only just barely. Turns out cough medicine somehow works well against throat injuries and stuff like that. I don't really get it…but at least I don't have to write out my conversations anymore. I kept running out of paper.

"Well, anyway…" Rukia said. "…we'll be in my room if you need anything, Kyouko. Just text me and I'll send James over."

"Get well soon, Kyouko." Tsu added.

"Thanks, you guys." I said softly as they had left my room and closed the door. Leaving me alone to rethink these past events now that I have a voice again.

It was your typical mid-Sunday morning. School was closed for the day and I honestly had nothing to do at the moment. Even though just yesterday we had Rumi-san join our club. And she's a bit…weird.

But she really is a good writer. Better than me, even. So, if we really want to compete in this Elegy Syndrome thing and get Shiranui-san off of our backs, we'll have to tolerate her personality.

…

Or rather…split personality.

I've never heard of someone with a split personality before. I wonder if it's like how it's portrayed in anime…

"Geez…it's about time they freaking left." I suddenly heard a voice that broke my inner train of thought. And after looking where the voice came from…

"Huh? Chinatsu-chan? What are you doing here?" I asked her as she sat on my window.

"I was bored so I came to see you. Nothing much, really."

"I-I see, but…why did you come through the window?"

"Because I didn't want to deal with that snooty bitch of a cousin of yours. Just looking at her makes me want to kick her ass."

"Right…" I gained a sweatdrop.

"Anyway…so, you have a voice again. Must be nice, huh?"

"Yeah, it is. Although, it's only whispers at this point. Cough medicine isn't completely effective against a fractured larynx…whatever that is."

"I see. Well…I-I'm just glad you can talk again." Chinatsu-san began to blush. "N-Not hearing your voice felt…y-you know…weird."

"Weird?"

"D-Don't question it too much! I-I'm only looking out for a friend, you know! I-It's not like I missed your whiny voice or anything!"

"*giggle* Tsundere." I said with a small smile.

"Sh-Shut up!" And Chinatsu-san's blush only grew from there.

*ALARM CHIME*

"*sigh* Looks like it's time already. I'll see you later."

"W-Wait, time for what?"

"Well…you know how I said that I do Shōrin-ji Kenpō sometimes? Well, I have a class in a few minutes and…well, actually…wanna tag along?"

"Huh? Me do Shōrin-ji Kenpō? I don't know…"

"Come on. It's purely a stress reliever. And someone like you definitely needs one with the life you got right now."

She did have a point…

"How hard is it, though? I'm not really a physical person…"

"It's fine. Anyone can do it. I'll even call Ikumi and have her join."

"What's that gonna prove?"

"That even someone with a frame as small as Ikumi's can do this crap. And we're not even that far off when it comes to breast size, either."

"That isn't something you should really be bragging about, Chinatsu-san…" I gained a sweatdrop.

"W-Well, whatever. You coming or not?"

I thought about it for a little bit. I was still unsure about the idea of doing Shōrin-ji Kenpō. But at the same time, it's a new thing for me to try out. And I haven't really done something so…out there…since transferring to Kohatsu. So, it could be fun…

"Alright, I'll come. Just let me tell Rukia…"

"Aw, screw her. We'll just use Ikumi as bail again."

"How will that work if she's actually coming with us?"

"Don't overthink it and let's go. I'm already running late."

"Ah! C-Coming!" I then followed Chinatsu-san out my own window and down the tree next to it to get to the ground. And the two of us headed to Chinatsu-san's Shōrin-ji Kenpō class to see if it really could be fun for someone like me.

I honestly hope I'm right…

A few minutes later, the two of us arrived near downtown. Ikumi-san wasn't busy with anything so she met us there, as well. And she was pretty happy that I was somewhat talking again.

"Even though it is only whispers, I am truly glad to hear your voice again, Kyouko-chan."

"Thanks, Ikumi-san. Not being able to talk for three months did felt rather unbearable."

"I can understand that." Ikumi-san went silent for a bit. "So, um…what exactly are we doing, Chinatsu-chan?"

"Shōrin-ji Kenpō class. I invited Kyouko to take part and we're pretty much using you as bail."

"Bail?"

"Rukia would probably start another fight if she found out I was with Chinatsu-san doing such a thing." I explained.

"I see…"

"Plus, I'm also making you do it just to prove a point." Chinatsu-san added.

"What point?"

"That someone as small as you can be just as physical as one of those people coked up on steroids. Us underdeveloped chicks gotta stand up for ourselves, you know."

"Ch-Chinatsu-chan…" Ikumi-san gained a sweatdrop. "…you do remember that I was on the Volleyball team, right?"

"Yeah, I remember. But to be fair, you didn't really do much besides talk about how you were always horny."

"In fact, it was all you ever talked about." I added.

"Pl-Please forget about that!" Ikumi-san yelled with a full embarrassed blush on her face.

"Well, anyway. We're here." Chinatsu-san said as she pointed up to the building we were standing in front of. Named Kuroi ryū Shōrin-ji Kenpō.

Black Dragon…with a name like that, this place has to be tough to the bone. I hope I can handle it…

"Woah…such an intense place." Ikumi-san said.

"Yeah, no kidding. I'm actually kinda nervous about going in there."

"Geez, will you two ease up already?" Chinatsu-san said to us. "It's perfectly fine here. I mean…I freaking come here every week."

That's why we're nervous to go inside, Chinatsu-san…

"By the way, Chinatsu-chan…you did mention that you tag along with someone while coming here. Is that person here today?" Ikumi-san asked.

"*sigh* Well…"

"Hey! China-chi!"

"…Here she is."

We then saw rushing to us a girl with short orange hair looking extremely excited. And I gained a shocked look as I knew who this person was.

"Misaki-senpai, you're late. The freaking class is about to start without us."

"Hehhehheh…sorry, China-chi. Today's morning class went on longer than normal." The girl known as Misaki Hasumi said as she rubbed the back of her head.

"*sigh* Whatever. At least you're here. By the way, I brought some friends to try it out with us."

"Friends?" Hasumi-senpai then looked our way. "Woah! Hiya, Kyo-chi! It's been a while!"

"Same to you, Hasumi-senpai." I said.

"Huh? What's with the whispering?"

"Uh…"

"She has a throat injury, Misaki-senpai." Chinatsu-san said. "Her voice is going to be like that for a while."

"Oh~. I get it now. Hope you get better, Kyo-chi!"

"Thank you, Hasumi-senpai." Was all I said.

She's still just as hyper as ever…

"So, who's the new girl, China-chi?"

"Her name's Ikumi Morino. The three of us are in a club together." Chinatsu-san then turned to Ikumi-san. "Ikumi, this is Misaki Hasumi. A first-year in college who lives with me."

"It is nice to meet you, Hasumi-senpai." Ikumi-san said with a bow.

"*giggle* Nice to meet you too, Iku-chi!"

"I…Iku-chi?"

"She refers to people with nicknames ending with "-chi". It's just something she does. So, get used to it."

"Um…okay." Ikumi-san had a very huge confused look on her face. But I told her not to question it much since Hasumi-senpai isn't…well…normal.

"Anyway…let's go already. We still have to change into our dōgi."

"Okie-doki, China-chi!"

"Your what?" Ikumi-san and I were confused.

"You'll see when we get inside. Just come on."

"Ah! Chinatsu-san!"

"Wait for us, Chinatsu-chan!" We both yelled out as we rushed inside to keep up with our friend.

*TO BE CONTINUED…*

Author's Note: A normal Sunday turns into one with a possible new hobby when Chinatsu invites Kyouko and Ikumi to her Shōrin-ji Kenpō class. Will the two girls get a custom to it? Find out in the next chapter.

So, yeah…I did say that this story will continue AFTER Raspberry: The Second Helping was done. But after working on that story some more, I realized that it's going to be longer than I originally planned. So, I decided to update this one before the gap becomes too big again.

Thanks for reading. Later.