🌸Cherry Blossom Palette🎨
🌸Chapter 10: Clearing the Air🎨
Written by EmtenDew
Edited by P. serrulata
Author's note:
I relied pretty heavily on my editor for large portions of this chapter. He arguably knows more about man-to-man conversations than I do, and that is a big part of this chapter.
Chapter 90 was a waste of time. I'm starting to think Nanashi hates his own audience.
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
Clunk!
The vending machine by the school produced a bottle of apple juice.
"Here you go, Sunomiya," Naoto picked it up and handed it to his kohai.
"Thank you, Hachioji-senpai," she took the beverage.
"I know it doesn't make up for pulling you from the art room," he said, pawing at the back of his neck. "Again, I'm sorry, Sunomiya… I didn't see any of this coming."
Indeed…
In the aftermath of his friend Sakura's disastrous date on Friday night and all that went with it, the gal had called her certainly now ex-boyfriend, Takata, to the Art Club's room to talk to him.
And there was a lot to talk about…
Sunomiya barely seemed to immediately acknowledge his apology, "That was kind of you, Hachioji-senpai. Getting the room ready for them."
He'd set out a pitcher of fresh water, cups, and a box of tissues he was POSITIVE Sakura would be using.
Naoto admitted, "I didn't know what else to do, Sunomiya… It just seemed like the natural thing to do."
Who knows? Maybe Takata would need the tissues too…
"What happened between you and Inori-senpai, Hachioji-senpai?" Sunomiya asked seemingly right outta left-field.
He started; he hadn't been expecting that question, certainly not so soon, and he wasn't sure where it was leading, "Huh?"
"You wouldn't let Takata-senpai leave without speaking with her," Sunomiya detailed.
Like Hell he could've stopped him if Takata was bent on leaving the room…
Sunomiya went on, "You helped Inori-senpai…"
Naoto stared at the vending machine in front of him, "…"
"That was brave, Hachioji-senpai," she finished.
It definitely wasn't cool out, but he still felt a slight heat rise in his cheeks, his face reddening, "…"
Well, Sunomiya was finished with that subject, innocently expounding what she'd just seen; she still had the other, "You're good friends with Nagatoro-senpai… and Gamou-senpai is your friend… even Yamazaki-senpai… but you never seemed very close to Inori-senpai."
"…" he fidgeted.
"What happened between you and Inori-senpai?" she asked again.
Naoto knew she didn't mean to pry or be a busybody. Sunomiya was a fine young woman with nothing but good intentions and respect for her various senpai.
He knew he could be honest with her, and he knew she would take him at his word. She knew Sakura previously had a date on Friday, and it didn't take much logic for her to figure out who Takata was.
"I know what happened on Friday night," he hoped a vague explanation would be enough; she simply didn't need to know the details. "Sakura-san needed help, and… I helped her."
Had Naoto been looking at Sunomiya, he would've noticed her look of comprehension.
Whatever she comprehended, she merely said, "You're a good senpai, Hachioji-senpai… They're lucky to have you."
At this, he definitely blushed, a nervous grin pulling at his face, "Ah… I dunno about that."
"We, Hachioji-senpai…" she went a step further. "We're lucky to have you."
Naoto gulped; he'd never viewed himself as much of anything. In the last year, however, he'd learned he was something to his little group of female friends and acquaintances.
Touched, he replied, "Thank you, Sunomiya…"
"You're welcome, Hachioji-senpai."
What a mouthful it must've been, using six entire syllables every time she referred to him…
But it was okay.
He knew his title was used with fondness…
Naoto felt a hotness working its way into his eyes, remembering his difficult night with Sakura and the much more recent talk he'd had with Gamo-chan… and Sunomiya's fresh praise of him.
Not wanting to brush aside Sunomiya's assessments, he still wanted to change the subject; he simply didn't want to cry in front of his kohai. It wasn't a matter of embarrassment; he just didn't wish to concern her.
He turned away from the vending machine.
"Really, Sunomiya, I'm sorry our work was interrupted like that," he might have changed the subject a little too much. "I didn't get a good look at your sketch. How was it going?"
If the girl took any issue with the jump in topic, she didn't show it, "I nearly finished; there were only a few details I wished to complete. I did make a mistake, though. I was so interested in my subject I didn't take into account the changing of the afternoon sun showing through the open windows, so my shadowing suffered when the light changed."
Naoto couldn't help but smile at her thoroughness, "I've made that same mistake… Next time, don't hesitate to pull the shades and use a lamp, especially if I haven't started myself; we have lamps around for a reason."
"Yes, Hachioji-senpai."
"I'm glad you found something you liked working with," he really was happy about this.
"I need to put that hat in the lost and found before we leave the campus today," Sunomiya lamented. "Someone is missing it."
He wouldn't argue… and he hoped the owner would find it first thing in the morning, but…
"If you'd like another hat to sketch, I could bring in my sun hat," he offered.
"Sun hat?" she perked up.
"Yes," Naoto replied. "It's an old straw hat I sometimes wear in the summer. Full-brim. Basket-weave. I've tried sketching it before. A lot of details to work with. It's not too exciting, but it's fun."
Sunomiya had become excited; she burst out, "If you're willing, please bring it in!"
He almost jumped at her eruption, but he laughed, "I'd be happy to. I'll remind myself later."
The two of them came to sit at the edge of a flowerbed adjacent to the vending machine; they weren't in any great hurry to go back inside.
Sunomiya, back to calm, opened her apple juice and contentedly sipped on it.
Naoto just sat, enjoying the light breeze. It was warmer outside than he liked, but it was summer.
"…"
"…"
The young man wondered just how long Sakura and Takata's meeting might take. They hadn't discussed such a thing. All he knew was he had to get back to the clubroom before the day was out; he had to lock the door, and he and Sunomiya had to retrieve their bags.
"Aren't you going to get a juice for yourself, Hachioji-senpai?"
He sat up, his mind having wandered off a moment, "Wha…?"
"A juice," Sunomiya reiterated. "You're not getting one for yourself?"
Naoto thought.
The juice he'd had earlier that day had been a gift, of sorts, and he'd only spent money to buy Sunomiya's…
He wasn't all that interested, but it had been a different kind of day, so he figured it wouldn't hurt.
"That sounds nice," he decided.
Standing up, Naoto took the few steps to the front of the vending machine.
He reexamined the selection as he always did, without fail.
Grape… apple… fruit punch… orange… cranberry… grapefruit… mystery…
He just went with his old standby, the orange juice. Dropping in a couple of ¥100 coins, he pushed the button.
Clunk-a! Clank! Thud! Rattle! Clunk!
The machine sounded broken.
"Hachioji-senpai…?" Sunomiya appeared behind his shoulder, roused by the noise.
Naoto stood in distaste, watching and listening as the whole machine shook.
Damn it! It ate the money and didn't vend the juice!
But then…
Clunk!
An orange juice fell out.
Rattle! Clunk!
And then another orange juice came out.
Whoa… Naoto had never seen this before.
The two juices created a "traffic jam" in the vending tray, and it took him a moment to wrest them loose. He stared at both of his hands, each containing a juice.
"Wow," Sunomiya goggled. "I think that's good luck, Hachioji-senpai."
Maybe it was.
The small but unexpected fortune stumped Naoto, but he'd take it. Figuring he could save one for the next day, he'd have something nice to drink on the way home.
He was okay with that.
…
…
…
Several moments later, Naoto and Sunomiya were making their way back to the Art Club.
"Hachioji-senpai, what are you going to do?" Sunomiya tailed him.
He reasoned, "We don't have to get too close to the room to hear if they're still talking. If they are, we wait down the hallway until they're done. If we don't hear anything, I'll try knocking."
Sunomiya approved, "That will work."
What else was he supposed to do?
Rounding the corner that led to the art room first, Naoto heard muffled voices down the hall, and he saw the door was still shut.
He held up a hand to Sunomiya, and she stopped.
She could also hear the voices, "They're still talking."
Naoto wasn't eavesdropping—there was no way he could understand Sakura and Takata anyway—but he listened to determine the "tone" of things.
It… sounded okay, if that was the proper word to use. Both voices were fairly calm, if a little upset. But no yelling.
"Hachioji-senpai?" Sunomiya inquired.
He turned around and began to walk, "Let's just sit down the hall for a couple minutes. We'll hear them finish up."
And so, they did.
Sunomiya still had some of her juice left, so she enjoyed it, but Naoto just waited, sitting on his juice for later.
It could be said Naoto wasn't averse to just sitting quietly for a few minutes, given the day thus far.
Soon, they heard the door open.
Rattle…
Naoto—perhaps too readily—sprang up and rounded the corner.
It was Sakura, wiping at her eyes; she looked fine, putting aside the waterworks and ruined makeup.
"Sakura-san…" Naoto gently addressed her.
"Senpai-kun…?" her voice was thick with unhappiness.
Are you okay?
That was what he was wanting to ask, but he didn't ask that or anything else.
He tried again, "…"
Nothing…
Abruptly, Sakura made to move past him, her bags over her shoulder.
"I'm gonna go clean up my face," she sniffled, certainly heading to the girls' room.
Naoto walked forward and turned into the art room. Entering the room, he quickly located Takata, leaning on the windowsill, staring out the open window.
The taller boy had heard him enter and turned, "Hachioji?"
"Yeah…" Naoto reacted, not even thinking about it. "It's me."
The quick pitter-patter of school shoes could be heard, and both boys bent to see.
It was Sunomiya.
Going to her corner, she quickly grabbed her stuff, including the ballcap she'd been working with, and made for the door.
Before leaving, she bowed to the boys, excusing herself, "Hachioji-senpai, Takata-senpai, have a good evening."
With that, she left the boys to their lonesome.
The boys eyed each other.
"…"
"…"
Takata opened his mouth, "What's with her?"
Naoto didn't miss the small amount of confusion and amusement in his voice, "That's Hana Sunomiya. Do you remember the old Art Club president?"
Takata blew through his teeth, "Of course I do… Her display at the school festival was… wow!"
No one could be blamed if that was what first came to mind when recalling the Prez; Naoto chuckled, "Yeah, her… She and Sunomiya are cousins."
Understanding dawned on Takata; he nodded, "I can see that."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Well, thanks, Hachioji…" Takata sighed, casting his eyes towards the door. "Thanks for this. The room. I… feel better. Really."
He slung his school bag on his back and began to walk to the exit.
Naoto wasn't sure what made him do it, but he hailed, "Takata."
Takata turned, "Yeah?"
Naoto could plainly see the other boy was hurting, and… he wanted to do something about it. Maybe he couldn't do much, but he'd try.
"I, uh… I have an extra orange juice from earlier," he timidly offered. "Thirsty?"
…
…
…
A little later, Naoto was leaning against one of the tables in the art room, and Takata was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall. They sipped on the juice.
Neither had really meant for it to happen, but they'd begun speaking.
"We had a good talk, I guess…" Takata said wistfully, focusing on a spot on the floor. "It's definitely over between us…"
Naoto was counting the squares of drywall in the ceiling; he managed, "Sorry…"
And he was. He was sorry the guy got sucked into any of this.
"Thanks, but I think it's for the best," Takata exhaled. "I can tell she's sorry, but there's no going back. She, uh… explained things to me… the truth."
Oh, geez… Naoto reeled. The truth?!
But he merely said, "… I see…"
"It was you… right?"
"Huh?!" Naoto, caught off guard, flinched.
Takata repeated himself, "It was you, right? You helped her Friday night?"
Did she tell him?!
Deciding the facts beat out any fiction, Naoto wanted to slink away, "I… did."
Ho-humming, Takata reasoned, "She didn't use your name or anything earlier, but when I agreed to meet her, she told me that a guy named Hachioji was the president here. 'Be there at 5:15 p.m.'. I was mostly guessing there, but it… just now made sense that it was you… That and the fact you stood up for her like that."
"…" Naoto still wished to crawl under a rock, but it was about to get worse.
"I never expected this 'Senpai-kun' to be you, Hachioji," Takata betrayed bewilderment.
"…!" 'Senpai-kun' nearly soiled himself; he couldn't stop himself. "What did she say?"
Naoto physically clapped a hand over his mouth, wishing he'd not asked that dreadful question. But Takata didn't appear to take any sort of offense at the query—and Naoto didn't tell him to not answer—so he didn't exactly hold back.
"She talked… way too much, man," he tiredly shook his head. "What she said to you… What you said to her… I felt like I was a priest in some movie, taking confessions."
Immediately, the awfulness of Friday night sprang forth to Naoto.
Contrary to popular belief… I'm a virgin, Senpai-kun~…
You think you're gonna become a man tonight, huh~?
Do you really think that I'd do that?
BECAUSE YOU'RE MY FRIEND, AND I CARE ABOUT YOU!
It all ran together, forming a big, ugly mess in the forefront of his brain.
Oh, geez… Naoto wanted to bury his head in the sand.
In any case, there was certainly more, and Takata squirmed a little bit, forcing it out.
"That surprised me—a lot—learning she was a…" he pinkened, slightly self-conscious. "Yeah, I didn't see that coming… I never expected things to get that far there anyway, but if they had… well, it would've been my first time too…"
I'm a virgin, Senpai-kun~…
"I'm guessing that's how it is for all three of us… in the same boat…" Takata said humorlessly.
Why, oh, why am I here? Naoto asked the Heavens.
His guest also seemed to wish they move on.
"Forget it, man…" Takata ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm, uh, glad knowing she was safe somewhere. It was a relief to get her first text… just knowing she was okay. I was worried; I looked for her over an hour in the rain."
Knowing it was best to not mention that he and Sakura had seen Takata from inside a hedgerow was the best bet—and relieved they were done talking about the writhingly awkward subject of virginity—Naoto simply nodded.
"Oh, Hachioji…" Takata grumbled. "I had no idea what's going on, man… One minute she seems good with everything, and the next she's screaming for help and running away…"
Realizing Takata had a lot to get out, Naoto just let it happen, not interrupting.
Takata moaned, "First she sends me a text saying she's safe… Then she sends one saying we're through… Then she sends one saying she needs to talk to me… she wants to apologize or explain herself or something. Then she said she'd been lying to me…!"
He went on, becoming more and more upset, "And she tried calling again and again and sending more and more messages, and I just lost it! I didn't know what she was trying to do! What she wanted… I agreed to meet her to get it to stop, and I felt better, just not having to think about it… But then when I saw her this afternoon, it all came back, and I just wanted her to go away! I felt so mad just seeing her stand there like some… scared little kid!
"One minute she's asking me to touch her, and then she pulls an innocent act… 'Yes' and 'no'… Then she's a crybaby, and the next minute, she's so confident and sexed up! I just got so mad when I saw her again! But…"
Naoto sighed, intent on listening, "…"
"But why was I so mean to her earlier…?" Takata lamented, his voice nearly breaking. "I don't do that! I was just so mad, I…!"
Naoto was thinking, "…"
This didn't make a whole lot of sense, but did any of it?
Well, sure it did. Takata was just a young man, and he was upset.
Takata, blamelessly giving no thought to Naoto's potential frame of mind, sniffed, "I know shouldn't have been so angry at her earlier, but… but…"
Naoto imagined he could finish for him, and he did, "She really did you wrong."
Takata nodded, thankful for a sympathetic ear, "I didn't even think about it, Hachioji… that there are girls like that. Things just seemed… normal. I didn't think I was doing anything weird, anything wrong… and she…"
Naoto stared at the ceiling; he didn't need to hear this again, and he spaced out, "…"
Neither spoke for what seemed a minute, but Takata got it rolling.
"Just now, she really did tell me a lot, Hachioji, but long story short… she said you knocked some sense into her."
That was one way of putting it… Naoto thought, not wanting to think about that night.
"If I'd had any idea what I was dealing with, Hachioji… What she was doing… I'd have just steered clear of her."
Naoto wanted badly to say "don't tell anyone", but he couldn't bring himself to do it; it was a lot to ask.
Instead, he said, "I think a lot of guys probably feel that way."
Takata shuffled backwards on his behind, having slid down the wall, "Thanks for that, Hachioji…"
"You're welcome, Takata."
"You hear people say some pretty nasty things about her…" Takta supposed. "I just figured people were jealous of her and her dates, or she just didn't like the guys she was dating enough to stay with them too long."
"It's not that unusual," Naoto said, relying on what he knew rather than his nonexistent personal experience on the matter.
"Oh, definitely…" Takata assented before taking another dive. "I just thought… maybe I was the one…"
"…"
"I liked her, man," Takata muttered, placing his head between his knees. "I really did…"
Naoto couldn't bring himself to say she was a good girl, but he managed, "She's pretty special, Takata."
"Yeah…" Takata allowed.
"…"
"I'm still pretty pissed off, Hachioji, but… for your sake, I'll keep this to myself…"
My sake? Naoto juked, rattling the table slightly.
"I just hope you can make her happy," Takata sighed. "I tried, but…"
Naoto did a take, "Make her happy?"
Takata scratched his ear, "Yeah, I mean… you're gonna go out with her, right?"
"…!" Naoto's stomach flip-flopped.
"I'm not even mad at you about it, Hachioji," Takata conceded, raising his hands in peace. "The way she talked about you, I-"
"Nope!" Naoto spouted. "We're not together!"
"…Really?"
"Really…" Naoto's cheeks flushed.
"Seriously?" Takata was hesitant to buy this.
"With a girl like Sakura-san?" Naoto's face may as well have been in flames, he blushed so, adjusting his imaginary glasses. "I sometimes can't even believe I have friends like her."
"What…?" Takata wouldn't buy that.
"There's no way…" Naoto finalized.
"Don't sell yourself short, Hachioji!" Takata rebuked. "The way you stood up for her… I've never seen that before."
"I just…" Naoto's voice drifted off.
Takata couldn't believe this "wimp", thinking so little of himself, "That took balls, Hachioji… It really did."
"…" what could Naoto say to that?
"I don't think I could've done that," Takata guessed, feeling humbled. "Maybe ever… for anybody…"
"…" Naoto longed to be lost in his newest oil painting or gaining XP in his favorite RPG or playing a nice game of pocket pool behind a nice, heavy locked door…
Anywhere but here!
"Why'd you do it?" Takata simply had to know. "Why'd you stand up for her?"
Naoto, queasy from the general unrest floating around the room, needed a little time, but what he had to say wasn't untrue.
He fell back on something similar to what he'd said to Sakura on Friday night… that which got through to her, "Because she's my friend, and I care about her."
"Is that all?" Takata expected something else… or at least more.
She needs a friend. She needs help.
"I don't know…" Naoto admitted. "I wanted to help her."
"…"
"…"
"You and the 'I don't know' thing…" Takata smirked, together amused and at odds. "You're something, Hachioji…"
"I'm sorry, Takata…" he regretted. "I don't know what else to say…"
"…"
"…"
Deciding there was nothing else to cover, Takata grabbed his stuff, "Well, uh, I gotta go…"
Takata made to take his leave.
Naoto felt something, watching the other boy leave. He felt an odd drive to go with Takata.
Maybe he didn't have anything "enlightening" to say to him, but Takata needed someone to lean on, if only a short time.
"Takata," Naoto found himself saying.
A little taken aback at being stopped, he turned slightly, "Yeah?"
"Wait a minute, and I'll be along."
It only took Naoto a moment to close up shop for the night.
…
…
…
The two young men, Naoto and Takata, moseyed out of the school at just before 6:00 p.m., exchanging the occasional remark.
Takata bellyached, "Hey, some way to start the week, huh?"
"Yeah…" Naoto agreed; he'd had quite the end to the last week too.
"And friggin' finals coming up…" Takata couldn't stop thinking about them. "I'm not too worried though; I think I'm doing okay. As long as I take a little extra time to review, I think I'll pass everything."
Naoto wouldn't brag, but he had very few concerns about passing all his subjects, "Same here. Only reason I want to be around here this summer is to work on some art. It's just so messy doing it at home…"
"Yeah, I bet," Takata wasn't an artist, but he wasn't ignorant.
Walking through the front gate, the two had reached their place of parting.
Had they left things as they were in the art room—if Naoto hadn't decided to stick to Takata or Takata had been against spending any more time with Naoto—things may have sifted out differently at this point, much less Naoto resolving to try and sit and talk with Takata in the first place.
Auspiciously, things ended well; these small acts between the boys had meant more than could be quantified.
It was amazing the places a malfunctioning machine could lead!
"…"
"…"
"Uh…" Takata seemed to contemplate something; then, his brief contemplation over, he eagerly put out his hand to Naoto, speaking earnestly. "Hachioji… Thanks…"
Naoto—surprised at the offered handshake but glad for it—joined hands with Takata, "You're welcome, Takata."
The two young men firmly shook hands and then broke it off.
Takata beamed, "Well, see ya."
Naoto returned, "Yeah… see ya."
Watching Takata turn a different direction from his own house, Naoto hefted his bag and began his chosen route.
"Hey…" the now-familiar baritone voice sounded.
Naoto stopped dead in his tracks, turning that way.
Takata hadn't moved, and he was glancing back to Naoto.
"She really likes you, Hachioji," Takata said. "I wasn't sure if you knew or not…"
Naoto's heart leapt, and his skin crawled, hearing that, "…!"
Takata began walking, raising a hand in farewell, "Later!"
"…" as Naoto stood speechless, the school's bells sounded 6:00 p.m.
He decided to put what he'd just heard out of mind and began the longish schlep home.
Q&A Section
Is this going to be a harem of sorts?
ED: I'll let my editor handle this one. He has some strong opinions on the subject.
PS: It will not be what I myself view a harem as, but others may disagree. Some view a harem as one boy with three or more girls vying for the boy's attention and affection. Each of the girls has a "chance", but more often than not, the winner is determined early in the series, if not immediately. Sometimes there is no winner for various reasons, like platonic familial relationships avoiding the incest route. That is my general view. A boy surrounded by friends who are girls doesn't always constitute a harem, even if they pursue him.
Naoto will deepen his friendships with each of Nagatoro's three closest friends, and at least one of them is going to fall for him. At least one of them won't have a chance, and at least one of them will. And Naoto will have to think HARD about what he wants to do when he has to choose between what his brains (his intellect and experience) tell him and what his heart/guts/balls (his instincts) tell him.
A man listens to all four of them when he has to make an important decision (and has the luxury of time).
Please look forward to the next chapter! Thanks for reading!