To the discomfort of everyone involved, Mutou assigns me to Shizune and Misha again for group work the very next day.
It makes sense, the literature club kids seem to know each other very well, and Kawana, Inoue and Ooe seem to all be friends, so it's to be expected.
Amusingly enough, we act on an unspoken agreement to get the work out of the way first. However, as soon as Misha comes back from the teacher's desk, having turned in the assignment, Shizune pushes a handful of coins to my own desk.
"Shicchan says this is yours. The tea was her treat."
I consider rebuffing this advance as well, but just don't have the fight in me today.
"Okay. Thank you. It's my treat next time, alright?"
"Bwahahah, Micchan, you're so stiff!"
Mutou looks over to our group, and Misha shrinks.
As she recovers, Shizune makes slow and deliberate signs, as if she's picking and choosing exactly what to relay.
"Shicchan says that she respects your resolve and decision…" she pauses to follow the next signs:
"…But that your decision puts us in a bit of a bind, since we need help."
I'm tempted to highlight that it's absolutely not my problem, but it'd only be fair to help them out given they basically helped me acclimatize to the school's quirks.
"Alright, let's talk it over after school then, I never really got to enjoy my tea."
Without the time crunch, the Shanghai is a much more pleasant experience.
In addition to the aforementioned tea, I grab a surprisingly not overpriced sandwich, while the girls grab a matched pair of sweet drinks.
"So it's just assembling stalls and ferrying supplies? Alright, that's fair… but you need to promise me to drop this Student Council business. We can't really stay friends if it's always hanging over my head."
Shizune's expression shifts.
"Hahahah! Of course we're friends, Shicchan, why wouldn't' we be?"
"Yeah, unless treating one another to tea, playing board games and hanging out isn't being friends."
While Misha is entertained relying the dryness of my comment, Shizune rolls her eyes, and I catch a bit of a genuine smile in her expression.
"Shicchan says a true friend would have obliged and joined the Student Council."
"Woe is you, stuck with a false friend like me."
If she wants to be cheeky, two can play that game.
They're actually refreshing to talk to – the badgering notwithstanding – Shizune's a rather bright mind and fairly outgoing given she's in high school politics, and while Misha's clearly not the dominant personality in the duo, she is a big personality… plus they're both cute.
"Shicchan wants to know if it's okay for us to meet Sunday noon at the council room."
I nod, finding it more expedient than having Misha relay it.
"My old school didn't use to have Satuday classes," I observe, changing the subject.
Misha relays, and Shizune makes some gestures:
"I guess your old school also didn't have such a light schedule during the weekdays."
Ah, so they just distribute the classes different… that makes sense.
"Fair enough… though, on the subject of schedules, you guys don't get in trouble for skipping class?"
More signs.
"The very important business handled by the student council gives us discretion, Micchan. If you had joined, you would also get such privileges!"
This seems like a bad idea somehow… But it's not like it makes much of a difference, I hardly ever find schoolwork difficult and it's not like I have a major group of friends here to hang out with on Saturday… though I should check in with the track team…
"And I guess that the festival coming up means your discretion is fully exercised."
Shizune watches Misha relay, then adjusts her glasses, giving a satisfied-looking nod.
"It's a shame, Shicchan says, that you didn't want to join."
"Hm..." I give a noncommittal grunt. Picking over the fresh wound won't do us any good, I think, and it'd be much nicer just to enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the Shanghai.
I reckon I'll be spending my festival with these two… which isn't a bad deal. I can do the classic thing and win them a flower or a stuffed animal, and see how they react – if both of them shut me out…
"…"
Well, it'd hurt, knowing I was only kept around as a useful prospect for the Student Council.
There's shouting when I come down to the track in the afternoon.
"Ibarazaki-san! Your towel fell to the ground again!"
I watch as Muira picks it up with her one hand, placing it over the railing once again.
"Hello, Muira-san."
She turns, and it takes a moment for her to recognize me:
"Ah, new guy! I told you Miki is fine."
"I noticed that the general mood is very casual about that."
"Well," she waves her bandaged arm, "Most people have enough walls put up."
I can see how that would be a frequent response. I kind of accepted my lot with Yamaku without putting up a fight… I guess having the entire summer to say my goodbyes and not really being that close to my parents helps with uprooting everything.
"I think I understand… anyway, I wanted to come down and ask about the team."
She sits down. I notice she's sporting a thin coat of sweat – presumably having recently finished her laps:
"Sure, what do you want to know?"
"Am I obligated to compete?"
She raises an eyebrow: "No… but if you're not in it to win, you can just go to a different club."
"I need to move my body somehow," I say.
"Otherwise I get restless."
She chuckles: "Oh, I know the feeling…"
The persistent clicking sound comes to a halt as the other girl, this Ibarazaki, finishes her lap.
She's a short thing, propped up by the spring-style leg prosthetics that replace both her legs.
"Hi!" she greets, "You're a friend of Miki's? I'm Emi!"
"He's interested in the club, the new guy from my class."
"Oh, ok," she gives a small shrug, puffing out her cheeks, "She mentioned your name, but I kinda forgot."
"Mitsuaki is fine."
"Pleased to meet ya!" she offers her hand, and we shake.
"So can I join up? I already saw the schedule."
"Yeah, no problem," they say almost simultaneously, then exchange a look.
I decide that I'm not going to get involved in whatever dynamic they have just now. I would, the curiosity to know what makes people tick runs strong in me, but I don't necessarily have to indulge it today.
"Aces. I'll see you in class and after school on Monday, then."
Why Shizune & Misha, and not... Rin, whose route I liked a lot more originally?
I think it's because Shizune's pain is a lot more approachable for who I am now - being truly heard isn't easy.