The room was still quiet. I mean, she's always reading in her seat and I'm doing nothing. Small talk would've been nice, but I wouldn't want to disturb her while she's reading.
It was already afternoon, around 5 PM. The sunrays shone through the windows and coloured the room bright orange. I sat across her in the table. But farther, actually. We sat on either end of the long table.
She started coming the day after she officially joined this club. She always brought books with her to read. I was thinking, maybe we should do something club-related for once.
Yamamoto-san was wearing a pair of glasses, it was sight to be seen. Her wearing a pair and all, she looks stunning with it. I think this is the first time I've seen her read with a pair of glasses ever since she started coming here.
Her, having long dark hair and her bangs almost covering her eyes was an absolute banger, but it was even better with the spectacles!
"Ehem. uh Yamamoto-san?"
"Yamamoto-san?"
I called her but sadly she didn't seem to hear me. She's too immersed in her book.
Wait. I'm calling her but what do I say afterwards?
Do I say: "Hey, Yamamoto-san, you're always reading. How 'bout we do some club related stuff?" or "Yamamoto-san, that book you're reading seems interesting. Do you mind telling me more about it?" something like that.
But it kinda went like this.
"You really like reading, don't you, Yamamoto-san?"
"Eh? What do you mean by that?"
"Ah, well, you know. You're always reading, so I thought it must be really a hobby of yours."
"Hmm?"
She tilted her head and looked at me. Confused from what I just said and in dire need of clarification.
"Anyway! Hehe, why don't we try doing something about this club Yamamoto-san?"
"Eh? Ah, yeah sure! why don't we do that?"
Her hands quickly closed the book it was holding. I guess the truth that she's not doing anything in this club yet came to shock her. She was startled and now her hands started to shake.
"W-what are we gonna do now, Touma-san?"
"Let's see. Why don't you try drawing something, and I'll evaluate it?"
"Heeh? A-are you sure? I-I really have no talent when it comes to these kind of things!"
"It's fine, you can try to learn your way up. Besides, everyone has to start somewhere, right?"
"I guess so."
I said all that but I can say for myself that I didn't really yet improve my works! Much less my abilities!
I stood and grabbed a paper, pencil and an eraser from the cabinet where I put all the materials for the club.
"Here, Yamamoto-san. Draw here."
I lent her that materials she needed, and sat down at my chair again.
"What should I draw, Touma-san?"
She's so nervous that her voice was shaking. Perhaps she's thinking that I might laugh at her work.
"It's up to you, so I'll leave the subject to you. Tell me though when you're done."
"A-alright."
She nodded and started to draw. She grabbed the newly sharpened pencil I lent her and her hand started to draw.
"Take your time, Yamamoto-san."
I leaned back at my chair while watching her work. She suddenly lost all nervousness and focused on the paper, eagerly doing her work and she seemed determined to impress me, at least.
A couple of minutes had passed. I look at the paper. To my amazement, she was doing actually really well. I stood up and moved closer to see better.
She was drawing mountains in the foreground. Her lines were fine, which was impressive. In the background, she drew a city, a tiny city since it was distant from the mountain's point of view.
To be honest, I'm quite surprised that she has this aptitude for drawing. Perhaps she'd drawn things before, and is just afraid to admit it to me.
"Wow. That's impressive, Yamamoto-san. Didn't know you were this good."
"R-really? I just drew a scene from the book I just read."
"Ehh."
"A-anyway! What do you think about it? Do I pass?"
"Hmm. Let me see."
I actually have no idea how to properly tell what drawing is a good drawing. So long as I think that my drawings are good enough, and close to what I have in mind and in my reference. Then it's all good.
So I just pretended to know something and went all 'mhmm' and nodded to show that I was interested. My acting high and mighty will be discovered sooner or later!
"It's well done for a beginner like you, Yamamoto-san."
I can't believe I'm actually saying this.
"Really? Was it that really good?"
Her eyes shone and now she's very full of herself.
"Well, the fact that you drew this from mind is nice. And you've no experience of this sort." "Actually, I do have experience, but I just didn't tell you right away." "Why not?" She didn't answer and remained silent until I was done 'checking' her work. "I-I was in a similar club back in middle school. But we only did things like this for a couple of weeks and then that's it." "I thought it was fun doing it, so I still drew back at home even after the club." "But overtime, I feel like I just didn't improve. So I found another interest."