EDIT: THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN REWRITTEN TO FIX ERRORS AND IMPROVE CONTENT.
"...What are you staring at?"
Shuichi snapped back to reality to notice that the girl with pigtails was giving him a look. "E-Eh?"
"If you want to say something, just say it."
Shuichi averted his eyes. "S-Sorry..."
"Maki..." the olive-haired boy spoke, giving her a look. Maki just crossed her arms and stared at the floor.
"Anyway," Kaede interjected, breaking the awkwardness in the air, gesturing to Maki, "That's Maki. She's a mysterious one." She then thumbed to the person behind her. "And that's Kaito. He's definitely a handful." She then pointed to the olive-haired guy. "And that's Rantaro. He's the president of the club."
"Ah, well, it's nice to meet you, too," Shuichi replied, waving at the other club members. "All of you. I'm Shuichi."
"Nice to meet you, Shuichi," Rantaro smiled. "I remember you. We had the same class last year, didn't we?"
Shuichi nodded. The two of them never spoke directly, but Shuichi would see him in classes and in the hallways from time to time.
But... Rantaro was one of the most popular people in school, so Shuichi wasn't sure why he'd remember someone like himself.
"Hey, Shuichi!" Kaito exclaimed. "Come sit down! Uh, we didn't have anything special planned because we didn't know you'd be coming, but we can still get to know you!"
"Oh, sure?" Shuichi agreed.
"Don't let yourself get intimidated by him," Rantaro whispered in Shuichi's ear as he walked past, "he's just trying to impress you."
And so, everyone arranged the desks to form a long table. Still feeling awkward, Shuichi took a seat next to Kaede.
"So, what made you consider the Literature Club, Shuichi?" Rantaro asked.
"Ah, well," Shuichi began, "I haven't joined any clubs yet, and I... really like literature. Plus, Kaede seems really happy here..."
Rantaro nodded. "That's okay, don't be embarrassed. We'll make sure you feel right at home, yeah? It's my duty as club president, after all."
"Alright... Oh, but I'm a bit surprised, Rantaro. How come you decided to start a literature club? No offense, but you don't really seem like the type to be into that."
"Really?" Rantaro rubbed the back of his head, blushing slightly. "Well, I wanted to take something I enjoyed and make something special out of it. And, hey, if I get even one person into literature, then I think I'm fulfilling that dream."
"How is it going? Trying to recruit other members into the club, I mean?"
"Literature isn't really something that catches people's attention. You have to work pretty hard to convince people that you're both fun and worthwhile. That's why school events, like the festival, are that much more important. But, I'm confident that we can grow this club before we graduate. Right, guys?"
"Yeah!" Kaede agreed. "We'll make this club great!"
"Hell yeah!" Kaito exclaimed.
"We'll do our best," Maki added.
Such different people, yet all interested in the same goal. Shuichi couldn't help but admire that.
"So, Shuichi, what kind of things do you like to read?" Kaito asked.
Shuichi tapped his chin. "Um, I usually read mystery and thriller novels..."
"Oh, cool!" Kaito nodded.
Shuichi noticed the brief glance Maki gave him, like she wanted to say something. Ultimately, she kept quiet.
"What about you, Kaito?" Shuichi questioned.
"I'm more into action and adventure novels. Sci-fi, too. And fantasy, sometimes."
"Ah, I don't really read those genres," Shuichi admitted, "but I'm sure they're good."
"You like science-fiction, Kaito?" Rantaro chimed in. "I guess it makes sense, considering you want to be an astronaut."
Kaito chuckled. "Heh, yeah."
"I hate sci-fi," Maki commented.
"Oh? Why is that?" Kaede asked.
"I just prefer other genres."
"Yeah," Rantaro agreed, "you prefer the horror and suspense genres, right?"
Instead of responding, Maki pouted and played with her pigtails.
"I saw a poem of hers that looked like it was that genre," Rantaro clarified.
Shuichi turned to Maki. "You write your own poems?"
"Sometimes..." Maki admitted. "Why do youcare?"
"I-I just think it's impressive, that's all..."
"You should share your poems, Maki!" Kaede suggested.
"No thanks," Maki said bluntly. Kaede frowned.
"I kinda understand how Maki feels," Shuichi spoke. "I mean, it takes a certain kind of confidence to share something, especially writing... Ah, but that's just my opinion on it."
"Do you have writing experience too, Shuichi?" Rantaro assumed. "Maybe if you share some of your work, it'll help Maki feel more confident to share hers."
"Th-That's... That's not what I meant..." Shuichi stuttered.
"Damn, I wanted to read everyone's poems," Kaito said.
"Me too..." Kaede agreed.
Rantaro frowned at the current situation. "...How about this? We'll all write a poem tonight, and tomorrow at the club meeting, we'll share them. Deal?"
"Um..." Shuichi hesitated. "I guess..."
"Let's do it!" Kaito exclaimed.
"Sure..." Maki finally agreed.
"Then it's decided," Rantaro smiled before directing his attention to Shuichi. "Welcome to the literature club, Shuichi."
A small smile formed on Shuichi's face. "Thanks."
On the inside, though, he could already feel the anxiety welling up inside him.
"Okay everyone," Rantaro announced, "I think we can officially end today's meeting on a good note. Don't forget to write that poem."
While everyone else was packing up, Kaede skipped over to Shuichi.
"Hey, Shuichi," she said. "Wanna walk home together?"
"Of course," Shuichi obliged. "It has been a while, hasn't it?"
And it was true. Ever since Kaede joined the literature club, the two of them hadn't been able to walk home together, due to Kaede's club running so late.
With that, the two best friends said their goodbyes and departed.
The whole way, Shuichi's wandered between the four members of the literature club: Kaede, Maki, Kaito, and, of course, Rantaro.
Would he really be happy there?
Well, there was only one way for Shuichi to find out—and that started with writing a poem tonight.