Shoko Komi's Ultimate Challenge
by Ulquiorra9000
Communication 5: it's in a book
"Good morning, Mistress Komi! Woof!"
Shoko had no idea why Himiko Agari insisted on being a dog, but the other girl was determined to be Shoko's beloved pet, so when Himiko greeted Shoko in the hallway Wednesday morning, she waved hello, then barked. A few passing students gave her a funny look.
Shoko merely held up a paper stating Good morning, Himiko, and her friend was delighted.
"Yes, it is a good morning! For me, I mean!" Himiko explained. And she really did look happy, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. "Today after class, I... oh, never mind. No one cares what I do, anyway." She hung her head.
That just wouldn't do. Shoko wrote a new message and tapped Himiko's shoulder, and let her read the new message: I care about all my friends, Himiko. Please tell me, what's going on after school today?
"Oh, you're such a kind mistress! Woof woof!" Himiko cheered, and this time, a passing teacher gave her a funny look, too. Himiko's eyes sparkled. "I'm a volunteer worker at the school library, and today is the first reshelving of the year! I get to spend all evening with my beloved tomes, from one corner of the library to the other. Science books, math books, language instruction books, history books, even graphic novels for literature classes! Oooooooh, I can't wait!" She was positively squirming with joy, and Shoko sensed an opportunity.
I'll help too, Shoko told her.
Himiko paused. "Y... you want to work in the library, Mistress Komi? But... it would be such dull work for an amazing girl like you. I'm sure you have much more exciting things to do than sort books with me."
I'm challenging myself to try new things, Shoko explained with another paper. She managed a tiny smile.
Himiko went bright red and clapped a hand to her mouth. "I... Mistress Komi, I hardly know what to say! You're too kind!" She thought it over for a moment, then lowered her hand and beamed. "If it's what you want, Mistress Komi, you're welcome to join me in the library today! Now that I think about it, Gorimi won't be available today or tomorrow, so we're short-handed in the library. But we may have to finish the job tomorrow. There's a lot of books, after all!"
Shoko's modest smile widened and she summoned all her courage to speak up. "I... I look forward to it, Himiko," she said softly.
Himiko squealed with joy and held her face in her hands. "I can't wait for school to be over today! Eeeeeek!"
Shoko couldn't wait, either. She practically skipped to homeroom, and Tadano had no idea what she was so happy about. He asked.
Just a little library fun, Shoko teased him. And it would be!
*o*o*o*o*
Kind of.
Shoko had used the school library now and then for studying, like that time she, Tadano, and Najimi ended up playing Jenga and suffered Gorimi's wrath. But she had underestimated just how many books were actually in this place, and hows disorganized they all were! Shoko trembled with nervous energy as she watched Himiko cheerfully deliver yet another cart filled with loose books to her, and Shoko guessed she had at least two thousand books on her hands now.
"Whew! This is an even bigger load than I expected," Himiko admitted, wiping her brow with her uniform sleeve. She smiled. "I'll start with the history books, since that section's the messiest. If you like, Mistress Komi, you could take care of the literature books." She patted her hand on the stack of appropriate books.
Shoko resolved then and there to help Himiko put away every last loose book in this library by tomorrow evening, no matter what it took! Her dog ears perked up and she pumped two fists, getting excited for the work ahead.
It sure wasn't easy.
Oh, no! Shoko had put an entire shelf of books in the wrong spot, so she hurried to get them all down and find the right spot. She got them all tucked away in the next shelf, then got the next load of books, and realized that these books were supposed to go on that shelf instead! Shoko's heart raced. How was she so bad at this?
"I'm taking a quick breather," Himiko explained when she joined Shoko, causing the other girl to jump a foot into the air and squeak with alarm. "How are - oh, no. These are all in the wrong spot, Mistress Komi! I apologize, I should have shown you the correct method!"
Shoko held a trembling paper reading I'm so sorry! and bowed deeply, just in time for Himiko to do the same, and their heads collided. Ouch! Shoko actually saw stars and fell over backward, right into a stack of books, and it kinda hurt. Himiko fell right onto her rump in an awkward heap, breaking her fall with her hands.
"Oooooof!" Himiko yelped, her glasses askew. "Mistress Komi, are you all right?"
Shoko nodded shakily as she got to her feet, and she offered a hand, helping Himiko get to her feet. She hung her head in shame.
Himiko got the message at once and motioned frantically with her hands. "I-it's all right, Mistress Komi! It's my fault. I didn't show you the best shelving method because I got so excited about this project. I'm the worst!" Now she hung her head in shame, too.
Was Shoko going to fail the challenge? She had been on a roll with her challenges, but today, she was just making things worse, and she did have a lot of homework to catch up on. She reluctantly wrote a new message on her paper and told Himiko I'm just getting in the way. I'll go home. Thanks for inviting me to help.
"I... um..." Himiko faltered, and Shoko suspected she knew that Shoko was right, but was far too polite to say so. Shoko didn't blame her.
It was with a heavy heart that Shoko exited the library and headed home. She could let this one challenge go; Himiko needed her alone time to get the job done right in peace.
*o*o*o*o*
"Guh... good morning, Mistress Komi. Woof."
Himiko looked absolutely exhausted when she met Shoko in the hall Thursday morning at school, with bags under her puffy eyes and her hair a mess. Her glasses were askew again.
Shoko just needed a few seconds to realize what was going on. She held up a paper: Were you up late last night working in the library alone?
Himiko nodded and yawned. "Y... yeah. I was there until 9:00, when the school staff made me leave, and I still had lots of studying to do at home. I was up until 2:00 A.M."
Immediately, Shoko felt an unpleasant pang of guilt in her belly, picturing poor Himiko toiling alone at night in the school library, and missing sleep over it. How could Shoko have abandoned her like that yesterday? Just because she was feeling sorry for herself? The challenge isn't over yet!
Shoko rolled her shoulders, cracked her neck (tried to), tossed her hair, and presented a new message. I'll help you in the library again today after school, Himiko. I won't quit on you this time! I'm better than that!
Himiko perked up at once, her eyes sparkling again. "You really mean that, Mistress? Oh, I'm so happy! Woof woof!" She jumped up and down, and the principal, who happened to be walking by, gave her a funny look.
Shoko made a brave smile. "S... see you after school, Himiko."
*o*o*o*o*
This time, Himiko took the time to carefully show Shoko exactly how to reorganize and reshelve all the books after school that day, and Shoko paid close attention before getting to work. After a false start, she got the hang of it, and Shoko almost felt like dancing as she pranced across the library, comfortably putting all the books in their new homes a few at a time. The library really did look better, with all the books put back in their rightful place, and to Shoko's astonishment, it only took Himiko an hour and fourteen minutes to announce that they were all done.
Time really flew by, didn't it? Shoko commented with a paper.
Himiko beamed. "It sure did, Mistress Komi! Ah, the library feels like a properly tidy home now, doesn't it? The books are so happy." She spread her arms wide and closed her eyes as though absorbing a magical miasma, and Shoko was touched by the sight. Himiko absolutely loved books and literature, and in here, she clearly felt like a queen surrounded by loyal subjects. Poor Himiko was usually so awkward and timid in everyday life, but in here, she could be herself. If only everyone else could see her like this, too.
Then Shoko got an idea to celebrate completing the two-day challenge. She double-checked that no one else was around to listen, then clasped her hands nervously at her navel and stared down at the floor. "Himiko... could you show me your favorite book?"
"Huh?"
"I want to read your favorite book," Shoko said quietly but clearly, "so I can... um... so I can get a glimpse into your heart. And we can discuss the book together sometime." She looked up, and gasped with shock when she saw Himiko burst into tears.
"M-M-Mistress Komi is so kind! Bwaaaaaah!" Himiko removed her glasses with a shaking hand and wiped her eyes with her free hand. "O-of course I'll show you my favorite book! I mean, I have ten favorites, but I'll show you one of them anyway, and then maybe the next one after that. I'm not worthy to share my heart with you, Mistress, but I'll try!"
Shoko's heart was pounding with mixed excitement and anxiety at Himiko's passion, and she fell silent once again. It was really tough, talking to someone who was crying.
"This is the happiest day of my life, Mistress Komi," Himiko blubbered. "To think you spent all that time to help me. Me! I'm just the library girl no one likes. I'm not popular or pretty like you or anything... all I have are these books. And my ramen review site, I guess..."
Shoko frantically wrote a new message and presented it. Don't talk like that, Himiko. You're my friend, and it was my pleasure to help you. And I think you're a beautiful person, Himiko, on the inside and outside. I got a chance to see the real you.
Himiko stared in awe at Shoko's heartfelt message, then held her hands over her mouth and sank to her knees. "I... Mistress Komi... oh my...!" she choked out.
Shoko wanted to hug Himiko, but somehow, she couldn't bring herself to do it, even though she wanted so badly to. Now wasn't the time, Shoko supposed, but someday, when she had 100 friends, she would give them each a hug and tell them what she liked about them most. That would be the best challenge of all.
In the meantime, Himiko shakily got to her feet and skipped off to retrieve a hardback book of classical Japanese poetry which, according to her, really spoke to her. She had read it five times already, and now it was Shoko's turn. Himiko gladly helped Shoko check the book out, and even put it into Shoko's school bag for her. "See you tomorrow, Mistress Komi! Woof!" Himiko said brightly, just as the janitor came in to empty the trash can. He gave Himiko a funny look.
Shoko timidly waved good-bye and headed home alone, and after dinner that night, she spent all evening reading that poetry, letting it soak into her. Himiko was right; this did speak to her! Poetry was so wonderful!
She and Himiko will have a lot to talk about someday.
