Yumiko POV
Cultural festival.
When the idea of opening a maid café came up, I strongly opposed the idea.
But in the end, that idea was decided upon through a vote. Some girls were interested in participating, but I wasn't a fan of the idea.
If it weren't for Hina, I wouldn't be here changing into the maid uniform.
For the initial hours, I focused solely on the kitchen, as I couldn't just leave my section. I even had to sacrifice my time with Raiden; I had planned to accompany him to the various stalls at the festival, but I couldn't leave my section to fate.
All the girls agreed that I should take the lead in assigning roles and tasks. That responsibility made me feel strange since it's the first time something like this has happened, so I made sure to do my best.
The guys took care of decorating the place and moving everything, while the girls served and attended. Of course, most of the earnings would be for us.
Even so, we didn't have enough manpower, as some girls were part of clubs too, so they covered their shifts and then left.
We never thought we'd have such a large clientele; there wasn't an empty table, and as soon as someone left, another customer took their place.
Luckily, Yui gave us a hand. Being cute and cheerful, she caught the attention of all the guys, which I think drew even more people outside the hall.
Seeing her in that maid uniform was strange, but Yui still seemed comfortable wearing it.
With her help, things should have been easier, but that girl Sagami came and told her to attend to the food booth her section had.
I couldn't hold her back since Yui has her own section, so I let her go, although she promised she would come back once she finished with it.
"Yumiko, are you ready? Tsurumi-kun is waiting for you, and he also took care of that troublesome guy."
Hina's voice brought me back from my thoughts, luckily I finished changing. I remember there was a guy who refused to pay, but since I was busy in the kitchen, I couldn't go solve it. I'm glad Raiden took care of it.
Hina is truly intimidating; even though I resisted wearing this thing, she managed to persuade me by telling Raiden that I would look cute wearing this type of outfit. So, I couldn't refuse to wear it, but only when Raiden came to our classroom.
And now, the moment has come to do it.
I left the small space we used as a kitchen and headed toward Raiden, who was sitting at one of the tables.
He looks as usual, although he has a strange yellow band on his chest. Knowing him, he must have done something to earn that. There are truly times when he acts unexpectedly.
I greeted him properly, and we chatted a bit. I really wanted to spend time with him walking around the cultural festival, but it couldn't happen.
Raiden complimented me on my attire, and I blushed a little. All the girls are wearing the same uniform, but still, the fact that he didn't take his eyes off me during that time filled me with confidence.
I'm not sure since when, but over time, I've become more perceptive about these things.
Raiden looked at the menu; I thought he'd order something ordinary, but he ordered the special omelet. Although I hadn't planned on serving, watching Yui perform that ritual was quite embarrassing. And just from his expression, I knew he was only doing it to annoy me. He's become quite vengeful since that time at Destinyland.
Without further ado, I went to the kitchen where I prepared the omelet. There's another girl helping as well, but I wouldn't let anyone else feed him. After finishing, I returned to his table, but not without grabbing the ketchup bottle for the ritual.
But as I was about to start, Raiden took out his phone to record me, mentioning that he would show it to Kawasaki. I mentally vowed to get back at him for this.
With no more ways to oppose, I simply followed the movements I saw Yui do. While she helped, several customers ordered that dish. The omelet is ordinary, but we charged four times its price just for saying the ritual. Hina came up with the idea, but I don't think she thought of it alone.
After I finished singing, Raiden put on a big smile and decided to eat. Once he finished, he praised my cooking, so I couldn't help but feel proud of it.
I quickly denied dressing this way exclusively for him, even though that was the case.
We talked a bit more. I complained about the workload we have, as well as how losing Yui's help complicated things a lot.
And as always, he offered comforting words, especially about bringing Yui.
Seriously, I can always rely on him. No matter what happens, he's always willing to help.
When Raiden took out the money, I refused to take it; he helped us with the troublesome guy and gave his word about bringing Yui, so I couldn't charge him.
As we said goodbye, I went back to the kitchen, even though I heard several of the guys asking to be served by me. I simply ignored them.
Trusting Raiden, I continued helping in the kitchen. Of course, I changed before doing so since it would be a problem to soil this outfit, and I didn't have any more reasons to keep wearing it.
But as the minutes passed, a familiar voice called out to me.
"Yumiko!"
"Yui..."
I couldn't finish speaking when I noticed how Yui was dressed.
She had folded her blouse in half, revealing her stomach, and the short skirt she was wearing made her thighs stand out.
I didn't know she had those tastes.
"I can't criticize your preferences, but it's not a good idea to go around the school like that." Walking like that throughout the school will only attract undesirable guys.
I approached her to unfold her blouse and fix it.
"What do you mean...''
She stopped talking when she noticed her appearance, and her face turned red.
"I-It's not what you think, Tsurumi-san told me that dressing like this would attract customers, so I came here quickly after finishing, seriously I don't have those tastes!" She denied it quickly.
I paused upon hearing his name. What the hell does he think he's making Yui do?
"I'll give him a talking-to about that, don't worry." I said with a big sinister smile.
"His methods are strange, but the result was exactly what he promised." Hina joined the conversation.
"Still, using Yui in that way isn't right, and you too, Yui, you shouldn't have agreed so easily." Sometimes, I worry about how innocent she is.
"Tsurumi-san mentioned that they were overwhelmed with work, so I did my best to come here quickly. Did I do something wrong?" She averted her gaze as she said the last part.
"Of course not, in fact, I appreciate you coming." I took her hands, and she smiled. "But still, I'll make sure Raiden apologizes and compensates us for it."
"That sounds interesting, count me in." Hina said in a somewhat strange manner, but I'll let it slide this time. Let it serve as punishment.
"By the way, weren't you supposed to be at the entrance?" Hina decided to take care of the reception, so her job is vital.
"Sakisaki became available, so she came to help. But since she refused to wear the maid outfit, I suggested she take care of the reception. Plus, if we have another troublesome customer, she can easily handle it."
Knowing her, she'd definitely refuse to wear the maid outfit, although I can't imagine her being servile.
As for the second part, I agree with Hina. When we go to the mall or karaoke and some guys are idiots enough not to accept rejection, Kawasaki deals with them.
Once, one of them even tried to hit her, but she took him down without much difficulty. I seriously don't understand those idiots who think they're something special but are just losers.
"That makes things easier." I said, feeling a bit more at ease.
Even if I don't want to admit it, since Kawasaki joined us, things have become easier and more enjoyable to some extent. I think the fact that Raiden isn't with us most of the time made this possible.
I stopped thinking about that and focused on the present.
"So, time to keep working. Yui, you know what to do. Hina, some extra help would be appreciated."
"Of course, Yumiko!" Yui nodded as she picked up the uniform to change.
"I'll help as much as I can." Hina also responded energetically, which is rare to see, but she does it on some occasions.
In this way, we continued working until we had to close the place due to running out of ingredients. We managed to surpass the goal we set without much difficulty. In the following days, we found out that our section had the highest earnings of all, having a significant advantage over the others.
Sports festival.
After bidding farewell to Raiden, we headed to the tennis court where the final would take place.
But my mind was anywhere but in the present.
For the second time, we almost kissed!
For some strange reason, it feels like an external force is preventing this from happening.
The first time was in the Ferris wheel cabin; due to a sudden movement, I ended up on top of him, and just as I was about to do it, my phone rang, breaking the mood.
And now, the situation was somewhat similar. We decided to go to a secluded spot for a quieter conversation, we joked around a bit, and Raiden acted like a child wanting to be pampered, which was odd coming from him, but discovering new facets is nice.
Amidst our banter, he laid his head in my lap, and as he's always petting my head as if I were a little kid, I decided to do the same to him.
Raiden enjoyed my touch, and for my part, I felt comfortable doing it. Playing with his hair was a new sensation.
He lay in my lap as if it were nothing, and we shared a few more jokes.
Whenever we have that closeness, it feels like a dream.
Seeing him so close made me stop thinking about everything else. Maybe this time, I could do it?
So, I started leaning in towards him.
I felt nervous about it; I didn't know what would happen once I did it, but the feeling I had was stronger than the doubts.
But before I could accomplish it, Hina's voice interrupted us, causing me to push Raiden off my lap, sending him to the ground.
Perhaps I should apologize to him, but I was too nervous after being caught off guard like that.
Fortunately, Raiden got up as if nothing happened, and as they reminded me that I had to return for the final, I quickly bid him goodbye and left with the girls.
I didn't feel capable of looking him in the face, as it was an impulse that arose when I ignored everything around me. Maybe doing so could change things between us.
And as I thought it over, I wouldn't want to do something that destroys our current relationship, as upon analyzing it, we really do seem like a couple. Raiden indulges my whims, and there are times when he takes my arm, and we walk hand in hand. So, we're not so different from a typical couple.
But if he truly felt the same way about me, wouldn't it be good to take the initiative?
No, no, no, knowing Raiden, if he felt the same, he'd take the initiative.
Maybe I'm overthinking it; there's no point in dwelling on it.
"Yumiko, good luck!"
Yui's voice snapped me out of the little trance I was in.
"Yes, I'll win without a doubt."
"Yumiko seems really distracted; I wonder why?" Hina said, her tone teasing. Did she notice something?
I said goodbye to them and headed to the field, where the girl I was going to play against was also present.
I should have paid more attention to my opponent, but my mind was in that moment, remembering and pondering what would have happened if I had gone through with it.
And as a result, I lost miserably.
I couldn't focus during the game, so I couldn't respond to the other girl's moves. Thankfully, I managed to score a few points in the sets, but that was the most I could do.
Once the game was over, I went to Yui and Hina, who had somewhat doubtful expressions. I don't blame them; I lost miserably.
And the worst part is that it was my fault. I couldn't blame anyone else for it.
"It was a tough game, but you did your best." Yui said, quite nervously.
Even now, she's trying to cheer me up, I appreciate it.
"Yui, Yumiko lost without even giving her best. There's no point in pretending otherwise." Hina's attitude changed from her usual self on certain occasions, especially when I make a mistake.
"Hina, that's not ..." Yui tried to deny that.
"She's right." There's no use making excuses. "I got distracted and couldn't perform as I should have. I apologize for my pathetic performance." I bowed slightly to them. They took the trouble to come watch me and got to witness a pathetic show.
"Yumiko…" Yui had a somewhat complicated expression.
"As long as you take it into account, you won't lose next time, right?" In moments when Hina changes her demeanor, for some strange reason, it reminds me of how Raiden acts.
Since she joined the literature club after the cultural festival, we haven't spent as much time together, but she's still the same.
"I won't lose again!" I said with conviction.
"Yumiko!" Yui threw herself at me, hugging me. "I didn't think you'd take this so well, so I didn't know what to say."
I made Yui worry about me. I really am an idiot.
"It's okay, but it's hard for me to move if you keep holding on."
I slowly let Yui go.
If I had been focused, I'm sure I could have won the match, but it's pointless to dwell on the past.
"There's still time until the basketball competition, where Sakisaki will be participating." Hina said in her usual tone.
I only signed up for this competition, while Hina and Yui have also finished with their events, so we're free.
"We can go watch the other competitions. What do you think, Yumiko?"
"It's a good idea, we don't have anything better to do, but I'll change before we go."
I'm aware of the stares from the other guys; it's really annoying.
We spent a few hours watching various competitions. It wasn't very entertaining, but chatting with Yui and Hina made it bearable.
Hina mentioned meeting up with Raiden, but I told her he's probably busy with his own things. I didn't feel capable of looking him in the eyes, as he wished me luck in the final, and all I could do was deliver a pathetic performance.
Once it was time for Kawasaki's competition, we headed to one of the gymnasiums to watch the game.
The first games were pretty easy for Kawasaki, especially since she did almost everything for her team.
The other girls tried to do their best, but the difference in skill was evident.
I recall that Kawasaki was in a karate academy; her physical ability and strength are above average, so a sport like basketball was simple for her.
Her team progressed to the final this way, but I could see that she looked tired after each game. Most of the points were scored by her, so her endurance wasn't unlimited.
In the semifinal, she rested for a moment, but the opposing team quickly caught up in points, so she had to get back in the game.
She's the core of her team, and from what I observed, without Kawasaki, her section would have lost from the start.
At the beginning of the final, I noticed that her performance wasn't the same as at the start, but she managed to keep her team in the lead.
In the last quarter, I saw the girl I had faced on the court enter the game. She quickly leveled the score.
The difference is that this girl had a team supporting her, whereas Kawasaki is the team. And adding to the fact that she's tired, there wasn't much she could do.
But against all odds, she managed to keep the score very close. Her endurance is truly incredible. Even I wouldn't have been able to maintain that pace.
Minutes passed, and only 10 seconds remained. Both teams were tied; one point from either side would decide the game.
Kawasaki tried to score, but that girl managed to steal the ball from her and evade her teammates to score.
Kawasaki quickly tried to stop her, but in their last confrontation, she was outmaneuvered, allowing that girl to score the decisive point, giving her team the victory.
"It's a shame." Yui lamented for Kawasaki.
"Sakisaki did her best, but it wasn't enough."
"Her team held her back. If that weren't the case, I'm sure Kawasaki would've won without a problem."
There's no point in saying her team did their best; the truth is Kawasaki was the one leading and carrying the entire team.
Once the game ended, we waited outside for Kawasaki to come out.
After a few seconds, she approached us.
"You didn't have to wait for me." She said with a somewhat annoyed tone.
"Come on, Sakisaki, you performed better than anyone else. There's no need to feel regretful." Hina quickly closed the distance, and Kawasaki sighed in surrender to her.
"And you, won't you boast about your victory?" She looked at me.
Come to think of it, we talked about the competitions we would participate in through LINE, and as always, we competed over who would win in our respective events.
"Yumiko lost!" Yui exclaimed with complete enthusiasm.
"Yui!"
"It's true, Yumiko lost pathetically. It wasn't even a competition."
"Hina!"
I felt betrayed by them. While what they said was true, they could have at least mentioned that it was a close match.
"I see." Kawasaki's expression changed to one of total victory. You didn't win either, so wipe that expression off your face.
"I wasn't at my best during the game, so it couldn't be helped." It's true to some extent.
"Either way, you lost pathetically. Coming from you, it's hilarious." She said with a mocking tone.
"You're not one to say that. You lost too!" We're both in the same situation, so there's no winner or loser between us.
"But Sakisaki put up a good fight. In fact, she came close to victory."
"I agree with Hina. Saki-san led her team in every competition."
"And you're supposed to be my friends?" For the second time, I felt betrayed.
"In fact, we're also friends with SakiSaki, right, Yui?"
Yui nodded cheerfully.
And why is it you, out of all people, who has that victorious smile aimed at me? Kawasaki is a nuisance whenever she gets the chance.
"Let's forget about that." I decided to change the subject. "We don't have anything else to do, and I doubt you want to stay and see the results."
The model of the sports festival involves accumulating points, and then the section with the highest score is awarded. One representative is enough for this, so once the students finish their competitions, they can leave if they want.
"I'm a bit hungry." Yui said somewhat hesitantly. I can't blame her; it's past 3 PM, and I haven't had lunch either.
"I feel the same as Yui. How about we go to a cafeteria, Sakisaki?" Hina asked.
"I don't have a problem with that." Kawasaki replied.
With everyone in agreement, we started walking.
Why do I feel like I'm being left out by them?
"I'm really going to be annoyed with you all!''
I started following them to catch up.
I could see how happy they looked, they really did it just to tease me.
I couldn't help but put a smile on my face; enjoying these moments with your friends is a pleasant experience.
As we walked, we passed by the athletics competition, where it seemed that Hayama had won.
I'm sure if Raiden had participated, he would have won without much difficulty.
Although knowing him, he probably went home after finishing his participation in the competitions he was forced into.
Now that I think about it, maybe I'll mention my idea to the others at the cafeteria. If everyone agrees, I'll tell him through LINE tonight. After all, he won't be able to refuse if it's a Sunday.
Yesterday, I told the others about going to the Karaoke. They all agreed with the idea, so last night, I called Raiden, and to my surprise, he accepted without any resistance, as if something good had happened to him.
When I asked him why he was in such a good mood, he said that being surrounded by beautiful girls is a pleasant experience. Of course, I recognized his sarcastic tone, but since he accepted without hesitation, I didn't dwell on it any further. I won't deny that I'm happy when he calls me beautiful.
I'm also aware that both Hina, Yui, and Kawasaki are pretty. The rumors and things the guys say about our group confirm this. Most of the time, we ignore this. In fact, I got tired of receiving those confession letters, so I usually ignore them. I suggested to Yui to do the same.
Now that I think about it, Kawasaki is often labeled as intimidating, maybe because of how she responds to guys who try to flirt with her. If they could see that Hina can make her look like a little girl, they would be surprised.
I glanced at my phone to check the time.
We agreed to meet at 3 at the station to go to the Karaoke. There's still half an hour left.
This time, I told Raiden to come pick me up, so he shouldn't take long to arrive. I took advantage of his good mood to tell him this.
I moved to my mirror to check my appearance.
My choice for today consists of a short white skirt and a sleeveless blue blouse. This type of clothing really enhances my figure.
To think that I used to only wear baggy clothes. In the past, I didn't pay much attention to my appearance, mostly due to negative comments from the other girls, but things are different now.
Although looking at myself better, I think my breasts have grown.
My mother told me that I inherited her genes, so there's still some development left. I suppose Yui and Kawasaki are going through this too since the day we went to the beach, I noticed that our sizes are very similar.
There's no point in thinking about it, although I remember Rumi mentioning that Raiden likes girls with big breasts.
In that case, I don't have much to worry about. Besides, Raiden considers Yui and Kawasaki just as friends. They don't have many interactions, at most, he only teases them for fun.
While with me, things are very different. That's why I feel that unlike them, our friendship is much more special.
I shook my head to stop thinking about it, as I began to blush.
Sometimes it's easy to guess what he's thinking, while other times it's impossible to know what's on his mind. Every time we're together and act like a couple, I haven't noticed a significant change in his expression. I don't know if he truly enjoys it or if he does it to please me.
Things between us are fine this way. I don't want to rush anything, as it could affect the foundation of our relationship. Besides, currently, he's not hanging out with any other girl I don't know, right?
I pushed those nonsensical thoughts out of my mind. I wouldn't want the situation from yesterday to repeat itself.
Raiden shouldn't take long to arrive, so I grabbed my bag and decided to go downstairs to wait for him.
As I was coming down the stairs, I could hear my mother talking cheerfully.
"She was so adorable as a child, don't you think so, Raiden-kun?"
I froze in my position upon hearing that.
Don't tell me...
I quickly descended the stairs to find my mother sitting on the couch next to Raiden.
"She's adorable." He replied.
Why is he saying this?
"Raiden, when did you arrive?" I said as calmly as possible, approaching them.
It was a surprise. Usually, Raiden wears loose clothes, like t-shirts and hoodies, but now he's wearing a blue shirt that accentuates his chest and arms, along with shorts. Initially, I didn't think he would look so good, but during the trip to the beach, I confirmed this. I still don't know why he tends to dress so extravagantly at school.
I pushed those thoughts aside to focus on my mother since I noticed she had a photo book with her, and all the pictures were from when I was a child. What is she thinking, showing that to Raiden?
"A few minutes ago. In fact, your mother opened the door before I even rang the bell.'' He said in his usual tone.
Was she watching the door camera? Was she waiting for him all this time without me realizing it? I shouldn't have told her that Raiden was coming to pick me up; it was a topic that came up randomly during lunch.
"I already told you that you can call me Emiko, or if you prefer, you can also call me mother." My mother said with an innocent tone. "Since I'm sure we'll be family very soon." She added innocently.
"KAAAAA-SAN!" Many ideas crossed my mind with her words, but this isn't the time to fantasize. So, I took Raiden by the arm and forced him to stand up, and he didn't resist.
"Come on. There's no need to get worked up. I was just showing him the photos I have of when you were a sweet little girl. I even have the photo of when you cried when I left you at kindergarten."
Although we weren't very close during elementary and middle school, I was very attached to my mother when I was a child.
"That sounds interesting." Raiden freed himself from my grip to approach my mother.
"It is. She was always so cute." My mother wasted no time and found that photo.
My face turned red as I saw my mother show him a picture of me from years ago. The photo showed a young girl around the age of four in her kindergarten uniform, with her short brown hair and jade-colored eyes standing out, but the most noticeable thing was the tears streaming down her face.
"Yumiko as a child an..."
Before Raiden could continue, I covered his eyes with my hands. Since I was standing behind him, he couldn't do anything about it.
"Yumi, that's not very polite to our guest." My mother shook her head, but I still noticed the smile she had.
"You didn't have to show him those photos!" Several of them show me looking fine, but they're from when I was a little girl. I don't want him to see me like that.
"For some reason, it got darker." He said with an amused tone.
Both of them are really giving me a headache, especially since Raiden is playing along with my mother's antics.
"It's a shame, Raiden-kun. Maybe another time I can show you more photos."
"I'll be looking forward to that."
There's no point in trying to reason with them, so I gave up and released Raiden. It's best to leave now; my mother might want to keep teasing us.
"By the way, Raiden-kun, Yumi put a lot of effort into her outfit. It would be a shame if you didn't compliment her for it."
I froze in my spot upon hearing those words. It's not that I don't want Raiden to compliment me, but for my mother to suggest it is embarrassing.
Raiden turned around, focusing his attention on me. Due to the way he's looking at me, I blushed in place without moving and looked away slightly.
"What do you say?" I said with a low and nervous tone, while noticing my mother's cheerful expression.
"You look very lovely, Yumiko." Raiden approached me and ruffled my hair; his serious tone makes me trust his words. But then. "It's obvious that you're Emiko-san's daughter." Those last words brought me back to reality.
"It's been a while since someone gave me compliments. It reminded me of my youth. Thank you for that, Raiden-kun." My mother's jovial tone only makes me feel like I'm the one who doesn't belong here.
I've had enough of this.
I punched Raiden's arm.
"Why are you flirting with my mother?"
"Was I?" He responded in his usual tone, but after spending so much time with him, I could tell he was teasing me.
"Of course, you were, you idiot."
I kept hitting him, but Raiden didn't even flinch. I wish I had Kawasaki's strength.
"Come on, Yumi. Raiden-kun is just being honest." Her tone of voice only makes me angrier.
"I get it, I get it. I'll make sure not to compliment your mother."
"The way you're saying it annoys me even more."
After a few minutes, I managed to calm down, but I still noticed that my mother had been having fun this whole time.
"By the way, Yumi, isn't it getting late?"
I checked my phone only to realize that we're running out of time. All this talking made us lose track of time.
"We still have time, but we'd better leave now." I said as I moved toward the door, and Raiden and my mother followed me.
Once at the door, we said goodbye to her.
"It was a pleasant visit. I hope you come to visit again, Raiden-kun."
"I'll keep that in mind."
I cleared my throat to interrupt them.
"Of course, Yumi agrees with the idea too." I really can't leave them alone. "By the way, Yumi, you should introduce me to your friends, especially Kawasaki. I'm curious about her."
Her tone of voice changed slightly when she said the last part. After Rumi mentioned how Kawasaki and Raiden had become closer, my mother started getting the wrong ideas about their relationship, even though Raiden only sees Kawasaki as a friend.
"Maybe some other time." Knowing my mother, she would make Kawasaki uncomfortable. I won't lie; it would be amusing to watch, but I know my mother well enough to know that being on the receiving end of her questions isn't comfortable.
"I'll hold you to that." She said with a smile. "Have fun." My mother waved goodbye.
Once we said our farewells, we started heading towards the train station.
"By the way, my mother didn't say anything strange to you before I interrupted?" Maybe my mother told him certain things that were none of her business.
"She just welcomed me, then mentioned if I wanted to see some photos of you as a child. When I said yes, we started looking. Nothing out of the ordinary." He replied.
"I see." I said with a smile.
"By the way, Yumiko, when will you stop pinching me?"
After hearing that he happily agreed to see my photo album, I started pinching his arm.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I said with a cheerful tone.
That way, we walked to the train station, where we met up with the others. Apparently, we're the last ones to arrive.
Yui is wearing a red blouse that really matches her personality, along with shorts that highlight her slender legs. She's really adorable and cute. Even in her uniform, she grabs the attention of others.
Kawasaki is wearing a purple blouse with a green jacket and blue jeans. She always wears unassuming clothes; in fact, the most feminine I've seen her was when she wore a yukata on the day of the fireworks festival. Now that I recall, Hina always tries to make her try more feminine clothes whenever we go to the mall, and surprisingly, they suit her well, but she still refuses to wear that kind of clothing.
Hina is wearing a simple white one-piece dress with a green blouse over it. It's straightforward as she doesn't like wearing overly flashy clothes, but she has no problem wearing dresses. I don't really understand her thoughts on it, but I'm not one to judge since until a while ago, I shared the same viewpoint. It was only after getting closer to my mother that I learned how to dress better for different occasions.
"Yahallo!" As usual, Yui was the first to greet us. Even now, I'm somewhat hesitant to greet her the same way.
We exchanged brief greetings before heading inside the station.
Now that we're all here, the only thing left to do is to take a train and head to the city center. It's much closer from the school.
"By the way, Tsurumi-kun, does your arm hurt?" Hina asked when she noticed how Raiden was holding his left arm. I only let go of it when we arrived, so I'm surprised he can bear the pain.
Raiden glanced at me before putting on a smile. "It was just itching a bit. That's all." He said calmly.
Hina looked at both of us, then shook her head. "I see." Although her smile tells me she didn't believe that.
"The train is about to arrive. Stop wasting time." Kawasaki said in her usual tone, though she seemed a bit annoyed. Maybe I'm misinterpreting it.
On another occasion, I would say something to refute her, but she's right, as I can see the train approaching.
"That was really fun!" Yui said as she sat on one of the couches at the karaoke place after finishing her song.
It's been two hours since we arrived at the karaoke place, singing and enjoying each other's performances. Even Raiden decided to sing, and though it was a complete failure, it was amusing enough for all of us.
I must say that Kawasaki has a lovely voice, quite different from her appearance and tough demeanor. Even Hina got us to do a duet, and to our surprise, it turned out really well. Everyone applauded us after that.
We also sang as the four of us, although at one point, Hina wanted to take a break, so it was just me, Kawasaki, and Yui. Surprisingly, we made a good team.
Raiden didn't join us; he said he didn't want to ruin the performance. Even though he always maintains that calm and serene demeanor, he's really bad at singing.
"Are you going to order something else?" Raiden is in charge of ordering drinks, and looking at the table, there are none left.
"Another round of the same? Are you okay with that?" I asked.
"I have no problem with it."
"I say the same as Sakisaki. How about you, Yui?"
"I'm good with that!"
After hearing our responses, Raiden picked up the phone and placed the order. Now we just have to wait for the drinks to arrive.
We chatted about random topics until our drinks were brought to us; it was pretty quick.
With our drinks in hand, we started to rehydrate ourselves. Singing for a long time really makes one thirsty.
"I missed these moments." I said, reminiscing about how we used to come here together, including Raiden. Of course, if we forced him, he would attend, but only on some occasions.
"We can still meet up outside of school." Hina said.
"Ever since you and Raiden joined a club, it doesn't feel the same anymore."
It's been a week since Hina joined the literature club, while Raiden joined a club at the start of the second half of the year. I can't stop them, but I thought everything would continue as usual, with the four of us.
Of course, now that Hina has things to do in the afternoon, it's just me, Kawasaki, and Yui. It's amusing how Yui tries to calm us down when Kawasaki and I argue. Unlike Hina, Yui struggles with it, so we stop when we see Yui can't handle it anymore, a way to tease her a bit, although she pouts about it later.
"Technically, I was forced, but I guess I brought it upon myself." Raiden sighed after saying this.
He mentioned causing trouble in a club, so a teacher punished him by making him join a club. Now that I think about it, he never mentioned which club he joined.
"Speaking of that, there's something I want to say." Yui said in a somewhat timid tone, which is strange.
"What do you want to say?" It's unusual for Yui to act this way.
"Well, you see, on Friday, I went to the cooking club. I wanted to learn a few things, and after talking with the club president, I ended up joining." She said somewhat nervously.
On Friday, Yui mentioned that she had some things to do, so only Kawasaki and I went.
Before saying anything, Raiden was the first to react, for some strange reason, he spit out his drink and started coughing as if he had choked. I was surprised too, but not to that extent.
Quickly, Raiden composed himself.
"Yuigahama, is that true?" Raiden's expression is odd, as if Yui's words were something that shouldn't be true.
Maybe I should act like Raiden, but I've learned during this time that one shouldn't monopolize their friends.
Initially, when Hina joined a club, I did consider it, but back then, after Yui left, Kawasaki had a talk with me that made me understand being selfish about my friends would only hurt them.
If Hina wants to enjoy her afternoons with other girls who share her interests, that's okay. I can't deny her that, and it doesn't mean we'll stop being friends. Her being here with us confirms that.
So, if Yui joined the cooking club, there's only one response.
"I'm happy for you, Yui." I said joyfully. "You've always been interested in improving and learning more, so it's a good decision."
Since Yui told me she wanted to make cookies as a thank you, I supported her.
Apparently, this was for a guy who saved her dog from getting run over. It was incredible that someone did that. So, with Hina's help on occasion, we lent Yui a hand.
Initially, it was tough; Yui's skills were terrible. Even I adapted quickly, but she was a lost cause, but over the weeks, we managed to make something good.
With everything ready, she went to deliver the cookies. Supporting a friend was rewarding; Yui's smile upon seeing her efforts had paid off was beautiful.
But when she came back, her smile was gone.
The first thing I wanted to do was go to that guy and ask what the hell his problem was. Apparently, the guy reluctantly accepted the cookies and ate them, but when Yui tried to talk, he was harsh and curt with his words. So, Yui felt disheartened that her first encounter turned out that way.
She quickly said goodbye and went home.
I didn't know what to do; whether to follow Yui or leave her alone, as sometimes one wants time to think. But remembering how Raiden helped me, I decided to go to Yui's house.
Upon arrival, her mother greeted me, her expression seemed confused, so I told her I would talk to Yui to sort this out.
Entering her room, Yui looked quite sad. I don't blame her; she wanted to thank that person and establish a friendship, but all she got was short answers and a shitty attitude from that guy. At that moment, I really thought about telling Raiden to make him suffer; I couldn't stand seeing Yui like that.
I wanted to tell Yui to let go of that idea, but even after receiving that treatment, she still wanted to be friends. The fact that he saved her dog left a big impression.
And as she didn't want to give up, I told her I would support her, but even after some time, that guy showed no signs of wanting to be her friend. So, after a few weeks, Yui said it was okay.
She put in effort and did everything she could, even learned to cook bentos to invite him to lunch. She faced many more challenges than with the cookies, but still, I saw all the effort and dedication she put into pleasing that guy. But seeing that it didn't yield results, she accepted it.
On the last day, she brought the best bento she had prepared up to that point and went to him. I followed just to make sure everything went smoothly. Like any friend, I was concerned for her.
That's when I saw him; truthfully, I don't know what Yui saw in him, as his posture and expressions were unpleasant. If I hadn't promised Yui not to interfere, I would have confronted him then and there.
I watched them talk, or well, Yui tried to start a conversation, but he only gave short replies. At least he accepted the bento.
In the end, Yui bowed and thanked him for saving her dog. After that, she said goodbye and went on her way.
I don't like seeing Yui give up, but there are things that are impossible to do, so she closed that chapter in her life. And with it, her first love as well.
I'm not so blind as not to notice it. Because over the course of these weeks, she always came back cheerful, even though the words she received weren't the best, she always returned with a smile.
That's why she decided that if things didn't progress during that time, she would let him go. In the end, that guy wasn't meant for her.
And if Yui had continued that way, I would have broken my promise myself and confronted him. I didn't want to see my friend dragged down by a shitty guy who isn't interested in her.
After that, I thought Yui would be somewhat disheartened, but to my surprise, she accepted it quickly, or that's what she wanted to show. She also mentioned that she found cooking enjoyable during this time, developing a taste for it.
So, after a few days, her attitude returned to its usual self. It was good to have the usual Yui back. But still, I wanted to give that guy a piece of my mind, and if I remember correctly, his last name started with Hikki, as Yui called him that, but I doubt it's his last name. But as Yui didn't mention him anymore as time passed, I also put that thought aside.
So, I'm glad that Yui wants to dedicate herself more to practicing something she enjoys. I can't deny her that for something as selfish as wanting to spend my afternoons with her. My friend's happiness is the only thing to consider.
With that in mind, I put on a smile and continued listening to the others.
"It's great that you found something you want to do, Yui." Her tone was gentle.
Hina helped us from the start, and even though she didn't know much, she always supported us.
"Don't limit yourself, Yuigahama. If you want to do something, just do it." Kawasaki seemed a bit nervous after finishing her sentence. "We're friends, so you have my support with whatever you decide to do." I didn't know she could wear that expression.
"Saki-san!" Yui exclaimed, completely excited.
Yui threw herself at Kawasaki. I don't blame her; she doesn't usually say things like this. She usually has a cold and unfriendly attitude, though Hina manages to bring out her more flexible side.
I'm really glad that Yui is in a place with people who share her same passion. I'm not that good of a cook; I only do it occasionally, so I wouldn't be able to help her more than what I know.
"By the way, Yui, how did you decide this?"
You can't blame me for asking, since Yui mostly tends to hesitate a lot before making decisions, so her direct attitude was a surprise.
"I actually made this decision thanks to Tsurumi-kun, because when we said goodbye after dinner, he said the words I think I needed to hear." She said with joy.
"I see. By the way, how did you end up having dinner together?" Also, why did she change 'san' to 'kun'? What else happened during that dinner?
"My mother invited him to dinner, so we met up, went shopping, and then had dinner together." Judging by Yui's tone, I can tell that nothing out of the ordinary happened, but if I had to say something, it's that her mother is much more than she appears to be.
After hearing Yui's response, I focused my attention on Raiden, although he seemed lost in thought, as if he hadn't heard us.
"I'll go to the restroom for a bit." He said in a monotone tone.
Saying this, he left without saying anything more.
"That was strange." Kawasaki said.
"He seemed more thoughtful than usual." Hina added.
"Although he's not that normal to begin with."
For this occasion, I sided with Kawasaki. Raiden can't be called normal in the strict sense of the word; I know him well enough to think that. But still, he's much better than others.
We continued chatting, focusing on Yui to learn about how things were in her club.
After a few minutes, Raiden returned.
Although now he had a calmer expression, as if he had come to a conclusion.
"Yuigahama!" Raiden said in a serious tone.
"Yes!" She responded upon hearing her name.
"Don't go poisoning your fellow club members." He said with a relaxed tone. And that mocking smile is already a characteristic of his.
"Mou! I've improved a lot!"
Yui quickly replied, although the pout she made when questioned about her cooking talent was amusing.
Upon this, we all laughed. I guess I overthought it earlier. Raiden is still the same as ever.
Sunday was a pleasant day; we had a good time and enjoyed ourselves together.
I'm sure we can repeat that on any other occasion, but now that classes are over, it won't be the same.
Raiden, Hina, and Yui are in clubs, so yesterday I went home with Kawasaki. Just the two of us.
We didn't talk much, just made general comments, and the conversation died quickly. We're aware that without anyone else, our arguments can escalate and go much further, so that day Raiden told us to avoid fighting since it's just the two of us now.
It feels strange without Yui and Hina's presence, but it's something we have to get used to.
I stopped thinking about it.
"Come on, Yumiko, focus on arranging the desks." I said to myself.
Today, I'm in charge of cleaning, so I stayed after school to clean. Sweeping, cleaning the whiteboard, arranging the desks, among other things.
Once I finished with the desks, I approached the whiteboard to erase today's lesson.
As I was doing that, I couldn't help but remember the conversation I had with the others during lunch.
We went up to the rooftop where we usually have lunch together. At first, everything went normally. Hina complained that she's been getting calls and messages from strangers lately; apparently, someone signed her up for a dating site. Yui also mentioned how she did new things in her club yesterday, the usual stuff.
But amidst all that, Hina mentioned whether we were Raiden's only friends. I didn't understand it, but then Yui said that the girls from the cooking club knew him, especially the president of that club.
I didn't know Raiden knew some second-year girls, even that he had connections with the cooking club.
So, I asked Yui and Hina for more details, but both smiled and ignored the topic, as if it was fun to make me doubt. Looking at Kawasaki, she also had an expression like she had no idea what they were talking about.
And so, lunch hour ended like that, leaving me with more questions than answers.
All I know is that Raiden is in a club; I never knew exactly which club he's in.
But thinking about it won't solve anything, so for now, I decided to focus on finishing the cleaning.
With the whiteboard clean, I finished everything that was left to do.
Normally, this is done in pairs, but the girl I was supposed to pair up with today was absent, so I had to do it alone.
"Done."
With everything clean, I took my things and closed the classroom door.
When I reached the corner of the hallway, I ran into Kawasaki.
"You took your time." She said in her usual tone.
"It's very kind of you to wait for me, even though I didn't ask you to." After lunch ended, I told her that I would take longer because I'm in charge of cleaning today. I didn't want her to wait for me since I had plans after school.
"I promised Tsurumi that I would watch over you to make sure you don't get into trouble."
"What do you mean by that?"
When did Raiden ask her to act as my guardian?
"He didn't say it directly, but I'm sure he wouldn't forgive me if something happened to you." I don't understand that, but still.
"I'm not a little girl. I can take care of myself."
Now I understand why Kawasaki accompanied me yesterday, even though there was no need for it.
"I know, but you're just very prone to getting into trouble. Spending time with you guys made me realize that."
I can't deny that; I tend to be very direct with people I don't like. Most of the time, it ends up in an argument.
The times we went to karaoke and the mall, I ended up arguing with several guys who tried to hit on us. In those cases, Kawasaki dealt with them.
I didn't say anything and continued on my way; she joined me. but, today, I have a goal in mind.
"By the way, Kawasaki, do you know where the Judo club is?" Sobu High has several gymnasiums, but I don't know which one the Judo club is in.
Hina's words made me doubt some things, so I want to visit Raiden in his club. If I remember correctly that one time he said he would visit the Judo club.
"I do, since I went there at the beginning of the year, but it didn't interest me. Why do you ask?"
"The words Hina said made me curious."
"Now that you mention it, it did seem strange.'' Kawasaki said as she started leading the way. I guess she's curious too.
For some reason, the idea that Raiden might have more friends I don't know about bothers me. After all, we're both friends; there shouldn't be any secrets between us.
Without further ado, I followed Kawasaki to one of the gymnasiums, where upon entering, I noticed several guys practicing. As we approached, one of them came over to us.
"What can I do for you?" He said with a distant tone.
On the way here, Kawasaki mentioned that the president of this club is a jerk. She also mentioned that she initially declined to join this club because this guy is a sexist who said that women weren't suitable to join.
Did Raiden really join this kind of club?
"I'm looking for Raiden. Get him for me." I said. Despite seeing the other members, I couldn't spot him anywhere.
"Raiden?"
"She means Tsurumi."
Come to think of it, calling him by his first name in front of others wouldn't make sense. It's normal to address each other by their last names.
"There's no one in this club with that last name." He got a little upset. "But now that you mention it, that last name sounds familiar." His expression shifted to thoughtful, but quickly turned back to grumpy. "I remember that idiot now. If you're his friends, I have nothing to say to you."
"Huh! Do you want to repeat that?" I said with a menacing tone. I'm not going to tolerate someone insulting Raiden.
"That's exactly what I said. I won't talk to people close to that idiot. And if that's all, get lost." There was nothing but disdain in his voice.
"I see. It seems the rumors about you are true." I put on a big smile. "You're just a jerk." I said with a cheerful tone.
"What did you say!?"
Apparently, someone got upset.
"That you're a big jerk. Did I say something wrong?" I looked at Kawasaki as I said this.
"Not at all, just the plain truth." She replied, also with a cheerful tone.
Sometimes, we can agree on things.
"Don't think being a woman will make me let this slide!" He said angrily.
He tried to get closer to me. But before he could even grab me, Kawasaki stopped him.
They locked eyes for just a second, Kawasaki's expression was calm while the other guy's showed annoyance.
He broke free and tried to grab Kawasaki, but she evaded him and slammed her fist right into his stomach. It was a direct hit.
"AAHHGG!"
It was the only sound he made before falling to his knees and curling up.
It would be good to learn something from that, so I could make my punches hurt Raiden. Maybe I'll ask Kawasaki for some tips.
After their brief scuffle, I looked at the other members. They all took a step back when they met my gaze.
I guess Raiden isn't here, and if he were, I'm sure he would've punched this guy.
"There's nothing more to do here."
Without further ado, we left the judo club.
"I guess he didn't join the judo club." I sighed. It was just a waste of time, though Kawasaki seems pleased.
"Knowing Tsurumi, if he had joined that place, he probably would've taught this guy a lesson and taken over the club."
I have to agree with Kawasaki, I doubt Raiden would put up with that kind of person.
"I'll call him, then I'll know where he is."
I took out my phone, but before I could call him, a voice interrupted me.
"That's an unusual sight to see. Miura and Kawasaki together." She said with an amused tone.
I looked up to see the owner of the voice, our modern Japanese teacher.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, good afternoon." I said with a small bow.
"Sensei." Kawasaki also greeted.
"What are you two wandering the halls for? Are you in a club?" She asked.
"As a matter of fact, we're looking for someone." Kawasaki responded.
"You're in luck, I know all the students at Sobu High, so I can help you with that."
That's good, I can pay Raiden a surprise visit. Because for some strange reason, I feel like something's happening, but I don't know what it is.
"We're looking for Tsurumi Raiden." This time I made sure to use his full name.
"You know Tsurumi? That's unexpected." She said cheerfully.
I didn't know Hiratsuka-sensei talked about him so confidently.
"We're his friends, that's why I wanted to know which club he's in."
I'm sure it's normal to worry about your friends, so there's no problem in saying this.
"Tsurumi has been in the service club for over a month now."
"Service club?"
I shared a brief glance with Kawasaki, but it seems she has no idea about that place either.
"You both look confused, but it's okay, I'll take you to that place. Besides, I feel like this will be fun." She said. I didn't know our teacher could have such a somewhat childish attitude.
With no other option, we followed Hiratsuka-sensei to the old part of the school, specifically to a classroom that looked ancient, it didn't even have a sign with the club's name on it. Is Raiden really in a place like this?
On the way, Hiratsuka-sensei mentioned that she forced Raiden to join this club because he was causing problems for other clubs, including the judo club.
Apparently I was right in thinking that Raiden would beat up that idiot. Now I understand better why that idiot was upset when he heard Raiden's name. Should I congratulate him on that?
"Yukinoshita, I'm going in." Before she finished talking, Hiratsuka-sensei opened the door to the classroom.
With that, we also entered that club.
Although the last name she mentioned sounded familiar. But that didn't matter at the moment.
Through getting to know Raiden and interacting with him, I've learned to listen to his explanation first before judging him.
But I'm sure what I'm witnessing can't be explained.
Raiden had a girl cornered against the wall, they're close to each other, and even from their proximity, it looked like they were about to kiss. I think they said something before we entered, but that's irrelevant right now.
Maybe it would be good to wait and hear the excuse he'll give for being caught in this situation, but first, I have to say something.
"It looks like you're having fun, aren't you, RAI-DEN-KUN." I said with a big smile and the most menacing tone I could muster. If he doesn't have a good excuse, I won't be responsible for what I'll do.
I leave a preview of the next chapter.
The situation couldn't be worse, but I won't deny that a part of me always wanted to see this.
"You have no right to talk to Raiden like that."
"Is that so? Tsurumi-kun is part of the service club, so he's under my care. Plus, I've been assigned to correct him."
"And you're the most qualified for that? I don't know much about you, but I know you have no friends and you're always alone. How do you plan to help someone when you're so pathetic?"
Yumiko's words hit hard.
And as expected, Yukinoshita responded aggressively. Something that Yumiko doesn't take well.
For some strange reason, I feel a déjà vu, like what happened with Sagami in the cafeteria.
Yumiko's angry expression confirms this. If I let them continue, I'm sure it won't end well for Yumiko.
But before I could stand up from my seat and stop her, Kawasaki did it first.
"Miura, you're just falling for her provocations." Kawasaki stood in front of Yumiko to prevent her from advancing.
At least their relationship now is much closer.
"Oh my, does someone need to hold you back when you lose control? That's friendship or ..."
Kawasaki interrupted her.
"Yukinoshita, that's enough." Kawasaki's expression changed. "I don't know what you're thinking, but I'll tell you this: if you try to do something to Miura, I won't hesitate to intervene." Her tone lacked any emotion.
If Yumiko had tried something, Yukinoshita would have easily taken her down, but if it's Kawasaki, things change.
The tension in the air is palpable.
If Kawasaki were to directly confront Yukinoshita, I wouldn't know who would win, so before that happens, I'll have to step in. That's in the worst-case scenario.
I just wanted to spend my afternoon reading.
Today is going to be a heavy day.