🌸Cherry Blossom Palette🎨
🌸Chapter 9: Indecisive Decisiveness🎨
Written by EmtenDew
Edited by P. serrulata
Author's note:
ED: Is Sakura's beloved Senpai-kun in deep trouble? Let's find out.
Please look at the Q&A section I set up at the end of the chapter. Ask us anything, and we'll add another section in the next chapter. I would be happy if you ask questions.
Please enjoy what I wrote.
June 24, 2018
"Hey, uh… your name's Hachioji, right?"
Naoto Hachioji, interrupted from his painting, turned to face Nobuo Takata, the boy Sakura Inori had been dating up until the previous Friday.
The taller boy, full of muscle, obscured the door leading into the art room.
Over in the corner, Hana Sunomiya, Naoto's kohai and the only other member of his club, definitely noticed Takata. She stopped work on her sketch of the ballcap she'd found and wasn't sure what to do after that, so she just sat still, uneasy. She wasn't particularly afraid; she just didn't know what to do.
Naoto, his heart in his throat, managed to stammer a response to Takata, "Y-yeah… I'm Hachioji."
What's he doing here…?!
Takata stepped into the room, looking around.
The Art Club's fearful leader didn't allow his eyes to leave their guest, "You're Takata…"
"Yeah…" Takata peered at him. "We had that judo match back before the new school year…"
Now Naoto got really nervous, "Uh… yeah, we did."
Oh, geez…!
Takata, coming further in, glanced at the table Naoto had been working with, draped with wax fruit. "What are you doing?"
Naoto gulped, "I'm working on an oil painting… It's mostly for practice, but I'm painting that wax fruit over there."
Takata considered the display; he half-grinned, "Kinda like that Bob Ross guy… From America? I've seen him on TV. He painted those mountains and forests and stuff."
…?
It occurred to Naoto that… Takata wasn't there for trouble. He didn't feel bad for suspecting such a thing, but he relaxed.
Takata moved over closer to Naoto and took a peek at the canvas, "I think painting looks cool, but it's kinda like how skiing looks cool… It's harder than it looks, but at least there're no compound fractures when you mess up a painting…"
"Pfft…" Naoto snorked; that was… actually pretty funny.
Sunomiya, on pins and needles up until that point, realized the same as her senpai had. Whatever this Takata wanted, it didn't seem like anything bad. She unwound but kept watch.
As Takata examined the Art Club's room, Naoto wasn't too clear on what he wanted to say.
But he came out and asked anyway, trying to keep even, "So… what's going on, Takata? Can I help you with something?"
"Actually, I don't think so," Takata was taking in Sunomiya's sketch of the glass of water from Thursday. "I'm, uh, meeting someone."
Meeting someone?!
When Takata had entered the room, he hadn't bothered to shut the door, but Naoto didn't need to hear the rattle of the door to know someone else was coming in. He heard footsteps, entering from the hall.
Looking up, he wasn't sure if he was supposed to be surprised or not, seeing this person, but he settled on her being there "making sense".
It was Sakura.
Takata, largely dispassionate up to this point, soured. Naoto could see he wasn't at all happy to see the gal.
Sakura, clasping her hands to her chest, gulped, reluctant to make eye contact, "Nobu-kun…"
He replied, staring right at her, "Inori…"
Oh…
Naoto knew terms had just been dictated, and Sakura realized the same, recoiling, the use of her family name being all the evidence needed.
Despite the humidity, the air felt and smelled of electricity. Naoto felt goosebumps arise and experienced the familiar yet unpleasant sensation of his scalp prickling. Things were tense.
Sunomiya readily minded her own business, letting things unfold.
Sakura shuddered, but she managed to look up, "Thanks for coming… Takata…"
The melancholy in her voice was severe.
"Well, I'm here…" Takata said crossly. "Say what you need to say, Inori. After that, I never want to talk to you again…"
Sakura winced at that, and Naoto saw her knees shaking.
Even Naoto winced at that… It was pretty harsh.
Takata stood there, unyielding, and Sakura's air only worsened.
The gal was on the brink of tears, "I… Takata… I…"
The sturdy young man frowned, glaring, "Not so sure of yourself now, are ya?"
Sakura's eyes began to stream, her breath shaky, and she seemed terrified, standing there.
Takata glowered, "Listen, Inori, if you've got nothing to say to me, I'm leaving."
"…" she stared at her shoes, trembling.
"…Fine…" Takata said, and he turned around towards the door.
Naoto couldn't blame Takata for being "impatient" or for being angry. Takata had been led on by one of the most sought-after girls in school for a couple months, he'd had an undoubtably lousy weekend over this, he'd been called to meet with her after-hours, and now the gal wouldn't even say "whatever it was she had to say".
But Naoto remembered something:
Sana Sunomiya, the former club president, had been ready to disband the Art Club for his "lack of meaningful activity" and for letting a "bad element" move in and cause trouble. If it hadn't been for Nagatoro, the girl who at once mesmerized, inspired, frustrated, and perplexed him speaking up on his behalf, he'd very likely have lost his beloved club. His kohai, Hana Sunomiya, wouldn't have the club, and he didn't even want to think about where he'd be…
Naoto didn't really believe in karma, but he believed it was the place and duty of a decent person to help others, and when needed, to stick up for them.
"Takata, please!" he'd said it before giving it any real thought.
Takata stopped and glanced back, "Yeah?"
Takata… didn't seem too pleased with being halted, as he seemed to be feeling in general.
Naoto gulped; he knew he had one chance at this.
He took a breath, "Takata, please… I know you're angry… I know you are…"
The other boy had at least turned his body to face Naoto, who was shaking in his shoes.
But…
The Art Club president didn't even look at Sakura, only thinking of addressing Takata; he pleaded, anxious as Hell, "Takata, please… Just listen to what she wants to say."
Takata asked something not so unreasonable, "Why?"
Naoto tripped over his own logic!
Why, indeed?
He… couldn't come up with much.
Because you're already here?
Because a man doesn't ignore the tears of another?
Because it's the right thing to do?
Because she's sorry?
Because she wants to make things right (or at least as much as can be)?
Because we'll all feel better?
Because I'm asking you to?
Because you're bigger than that?
Because, because, because…!
Really, Naoto had nothing. There was no compelling reason he could find for Takata to stand there and listen to Sakura, no matter what she had to say to him.
But standing there, a most important fact occurred to him:
He wasn't Nagatoro! And Takata wasn't the Prez! They were two young men, diametrical in relation to the same girl!
So, damn it, he didn't rely on anything he'd learned in the past and threw a "Hail Mary".
"I don't know!" Naoto confessed.
"…"
"…"
Naoto still hadn't considered Sakura—whatever she was up to—but he could take in what Takata was feeling. He could surely hear it.
"Wh- Wh- What are you saying, Hachioji?!" Takata burst.
Same such, Naoto said, "I don't know, Takata…"
Takata, shaky with anger, just stared at Naoto, floundering, and he asked, "You don't know?! Seriously? That's what you have to say to me?!"
Yes… What could he say? Is that all he could do? Was it?!
Well, the truth wasn't the worst option.
Naoto looked Takata up and down, and he sighed, resigning himself to whatever happened, "It's all I can say, Takata… I don't know what to say… I don't know… I just don't know…"
Takata wasn't exactly impressed, but he was attentive, "…"
The art student looked to Sakura… his friend.
She was standing not too far away, her leaky eyes wide and desperate. She was in need, and he'd do his best for her.
Naota refocused on Takata. He wasn't sure if it would work, but he was willing to try.
He clicked his heels together and bowed, "Takata… I don't know what Sakura-san has to say to you, but I'm begging you… please just listen to what she has to say."
…
"…Why?" was Takata's response, and he sounded even more puzzled than before.
Naoto knew Takata wasn't asking "why should I listen to this bimbo?". He was asking him "why would you stand up for this bimbo?".
Again, it still wasn't all that an unreasonable a thing to wonder…
This gal had screwed with the hearts and minds of more than a few boys. A lot of the girls at school called her a slut, and as appearances went, it wasn't far off. She hadn't done a whole lot of being a friend to anyone, largely taking and not giving much of herself.
A lot of people would relish knowing she was a fake… that she was truthfully a virgin… that she was insecure… anxious… afraid… sad… alone…
Naoto wasn't even sure how much Takata knew. Sakura had said something to convince him to meet her.
Yes…
He wasn't sure why he'd vouch for Sakura… What he was feeling made little sense.
But he had his answer; he hadn't bothered straightening up and proceeded to bow lower, "Please, Takata."
He'd said all he wanted. It was all he could even conjure.
And Takata was… bemused by Naoto,. He didn't respond right away, but he did respond. Not knowing what to do with his unsteady hands, he put them in his pockets; it relaxed him.
He said, slowly and tentatively, moved, "Okay… I… I'll listen."
Naoto stood to his full height, possibly more excited than was merited, "You will?"
The other boy nodded, looking kind of vacant, "I will… Just… Please give me a couple minutes. I need to move around… get some water at the fountain… or something."
It wasn't unpromising; Naoto acknowledged, "Okay… Come back when you're ready."
Takata slowly paced from the clubroom, shutting the door behind him.
Naoto, wobbling, nearly fell on his rear; he blew out a weary lungful, "Oh… oh, boy…"
He glanced around, gauging his surroundings, and he soon found Sakura. She was standing still as a stature, hands clasped over her breast, full of awe.
Well, maybe "awe" wasn't the best word. She was definitely in a state of disbelief…
Sakura breathed, eyes focused on him, "Senpai-kun…!"
Naoto reeled over to the closest chair and sat down heavily. A bit lightheaded, he put his head between his knees.
He heard the gal slowly approaching.
"Senpai-kun…?" she whimpered.
He raised his head to face her and found her semblance a mask of tragedy.
"I'm sorry!" she nearly broke down.
"…For what?" he asked.
"For coming here! For asking Nobu-kun here!"
She's still calling him "Nobu-kun"…
Naoto shrugged, overwhelmed, "…"
"He wouldn't talk to me, but we texted on Saturday and Sunday…" Sakura explained, her voice heavy with the threat of tears. "I just had to see him, but he would only see me at school."
"…" Naoto felt a bit dizzy, but he got back on two feet.
"I told him we should meet in the art room," Sakura said quickly, further choked with emotion, eyes downcast. "It seemed like a good place. I'm sorry, Senpai-kun, I didn't know where else to-"
"It's okay…" he patted her shoulder, not really giving the act much attention, not exactly all there upstairs. "It's okay, Sakura-san."
He understood well enough… "Neutral ground" was desirable.
His mind quieting, he pondered.
Takata said "yes"… What now though?
Eyeballing his friend, he didn't feel all that assured. It seemed a good breeze could push her over.
But…
Takaka… He didn't seem like a bad guy… He was willing to come here, albeit grudgingly. But he SHOWED UP.
And Sakura… She initiated this potential meeting. SHE showed up.
Naoto decided to trust that things would be okay.
"Sakura-san," he gently said.
She jerked slightly, as if coming out of a daze, "Senpai-kun?"
One hand still on her, he added the other, "Will you be alright? If I leave?"
His gentle eyes met hers, and he gave the slightest smile.
Sakura, her whole body full of trepidation, soon answered, "I think so, Senpai-kun…"
That was good enough for him.
The gal watched incredulously as Naoto set out some plastic cups and a pitcher of water on the table.
Naoto had another inkling.
Yeah, I'd better…
He went over to the side of the room and grabbed the box of tissues, setting it beside the "refreshments".
Then, he realized something… he still had on his overshirt. He'd stood there, bowing to some guy he barely knew, spattered in years' worth of paint.
But that didn't matter…
Naoto put the old garment on a hanger. He covered up his oil paints (again), and he approached his kohai in the corner.
He quietly said, "Sunomiya?"
"Yes, Hachioji-senpai?" she'd been rapt.
"We going to need to step out for a while. Please get ready."
She put up no argument, merely nodding; she understood, standing up, "Yes."
The two club members spruced up their work stations and put away their projects; something told them they might not get back to it that day.
Not seconds later, Takata showed up again; he noticed the set up at the table.
Naoto addressed Takata, referring to himself and Sunomiya, "We're going to leave you two for now. We'll be back for our stuff later. I'll still need to lock up."
Takata blinked, a bit mystified, "Uh… Okay, Hachioji… Thanks…"
Naoto nodded in reply.
He took once last look Sakura's way…
She didn't look too hot, but…
He hoped she'd be okay.
He beckoned Sunomiya, "Let's go."
The girl made a beeline to the door, joining him.
The two artists exited the clubroom, leaving Sakura and Takata to say what they needed to.
Q&A Section
Will Gamo-chan fall in love with Senpai in this story too? Will we have a 4 way he has to deal with?
ED: Are you kidding? It's WAY too early for me to reveal that! But I can guarantee you that Gamo-chan will go through a roller coaster in her relationship with him.
I admit though that I'm dying to somehow work Naoto saying this to Gamo-chan in the story:
"You're a great friend. You're a very pretty girl. And I think you're pretty special."
It's something my editor came up with in one of his Reddit essays on Gamo-chan. I think it's totally one of the sweetest things I've ever read. Just the thought of Naoto saying that to Gamo-chan makes my heart melt. It would make ME melt if I heard that.
P. serrulata sums it up better than I can:
"Can you think of many esteems more meaningful than these deceivingly-modest praises? A great friend? A pretty girl? Very special?
I'm hard pressed to think of much."
How long is this story going to be?
ED: Long.
Please look forward to the next chapter! Thanks for reading!