Konan stayed up late that night, re-reading the few words written in the club recruitment sheet. Many questions popped up in her mind, most loud and clear of all is "Why would they want her in their club?"
This is the first time someone said they want her in the their club. "Actually, we do hope you'll be interested." The girl's voice resonated in her head. What was her name again? Ami?
Konan stared at the dark sky lit by thousand of starlings. She is sitting by the window on her bed, her elbow leaning in the window fame and her chin on the palm of her hand. A low crunch sounded as she took a bite of the Pocky chocolate stick in her hands. Its already quarter to 11 yet the questions kept her wide awake. Midnight snack isn't really her thing but to somewhat tame her thoughts, she decided to open a pack of snack. The house is also quite since her family decided to visit her sick grandma in the nearby town and Aoi who's still yet to step onto grade school went with her parents, leaving her with high school responsibilities alone in the house.
"They can't have any ulterior motives, can they?" She muttered and glance on her phone which lit up because of a notification. When she saw that the time is exactly 11, she decided to call it a night and closed the window, cutting off the cold night air that flowed freely in the room. She closed her eyes and ignored the questions pounding in her mind. She soon slowly fell into slumber, with the ticking of pendulum the last sound she heard.
She was pulled off sleep the next morning by her alarm. She slowly got up and yawned before reaching for her phone in the table and turning off the alarm. After taking a quick hot shower and changed into her school uniform, she went downstairs. She stopped in front of the table as she realized the difference of having companions in the house and leaving alone. She stared at the empty kitchen aisle where her mother used to make her bento, the empty table without the hot breakfast served. Her father's empty table and folded magazine he usually read with his hot coffee and his late-riser little brother. Konan is used to being alone without friends but without her family at home gave her a different feeling she finds so hard to explain although it's not needed to probe deeply into the matter since its not like her family is dead or something. They're just away for a day and will be coming home today. But come on think of it, how would she deal with the loss of love one if she can't even feel emotions? Somehow, Konan doesn't want it to happen. So before she would be late for school, she snapped out of her reverie and got a sandwich out of the cupboard and opened a jar of strawberry jam. She dashed back upstairs and grabbed her bag , holding the bread in her mouth as she put on her shoes and slowly made her way to the school.
Time passed by in a blur and now only an hour away and the class will end. Konan haven't paid attention to her teacher speaking in front since she got absorbed in the staring contest between her and the fill up form. She played her pen between her fingers and Rui watched her in confusion. His seatmate had been repeatedly attempting to write on a paper which looks like a fill up form. But contrary to her frustrated like actions, her face didn't show any emotions. Rui watched her as for a moment until he couldn't take it anymore.
"Hey." He called, not enough for the classroom to hear but enough for the words to reach Konan's ear. She turned her head and looked at Rui. "What?" She asked.
"What's in that paper? You look in bind and frustrated.?" Rui asked when Konan looked at him. Konan glanced at the paper and handed him to Rui. The guy's eyebrows knitted the moment he saw what's in the paper.
"A club registration form?" Rui looked unbelievably at his classmate who's casually nodding her head. "You're stressed out because of this form? You want to join the writing club?"
"Who told you I'm stressed? And I am invited, that's why I am confused whether I should fill the form or not." Konan lowered her head so that the teacher won't notice them.
"Why are you confused? You should fill that up."
"Because it's the first time someone invited me in their club besides I haven't had any club to belong to way since grade school. No one wants a dull and boring girl like me to be part of them. It's fine though, joining a club isn't a mandatory rule in this school."
"Even if you're fine with it, someone went out of their way to invite you. And if its your first time then grab it. There's a first time in everything right? Doesn't mean you're used to something then you're going to live the rest of your life like that. Take the courage to grab the steering wheel and drive your life the way you want it too." Rui was breathless when he finished talking. He wasn't sure but he gets irritated when someone is just fine with everything. He didn't even realized that the teacher stopped writing on the board and is now looking at them along with their classmates. It felt like everything vanished into the background and the only people left are the two of them. Only when the teacher cleared her throat that he went back to reality.
"Mr. Nakajima? Is everything good back there? What are you talking about with Ms. Fujioka?" The teacher asked.
"Sorry Mrs. Shimura, I was just asking Ms. Fujioka things about this school." He said. The teacher nodded her head and answered. "Is that so? Then you can do it after class. Ms. Fujioka will tour you and tell you everything you know about this school." She said and looked at Konan. "Right Ms. Fujioka? You'll be kind enough right?"
Konan nodded at the teacher and diverted her eyes to Rui. Not gonna lie, what the guy said is logically correct. It definitely cleared her mind.
"I'll do it sensei." She stood up and told the teacher.
"Good." Her teacher replied, smiling.
She took a seat back and turned to her seatmate. "And were gonna start the tour by accompanying me to the writing club room."
"Oh you really came." A girl with rimmed glasses and back-length hair said as soon as Konan stepped inside the clubroom, Rui following behind her. She roamed her eyes around the four corners of the room which is almost covered by shelves containing newspapers, books and other reading materials.
"You filled up the form Konan-chan?" She stopped looking around and diverted towards the girl who called her Konan-chan. It was Ami. She is smiling with her eyes sparkling in anticipation. The girl with glasses gave Ami a slight nudge and whispered. "Good job, Ami."
Konan looked at them and walked to the table. She pulled a chair and sat down.
"I didn't. Not yet. I still have questions I want to ask you." She said. The two girls exchanged glances before the glasses one sat in the other side of the table.
"Sure. But before that, Let us introduce our selves Ms. Fujioka Konan. I am Mizuki Hana and she's Suzuki Ami. Now ask your questions." She said.
Konan glanced at Rui silently watching them before returning her gaze to the ladies in front.
"I only have one question. Why do you want me to join your club?"
"Because we need you." The girl named Hana answered. " The club would be demolished if we can't find at least one member by the end of the month."
"Why me? There's plenty of other students out there."
"Because we want you. And what's wrong with that? You've got good intelligence. It's even unbelievable that a topper like you doesn't belong to any club." Hana answered her. That's right, she is a top student in her class. Konan gave a brief stare at Hana then at Ami and pulled out a pen from her skirt's pocket.
"Okay, I'll join." She said and filled the form.
Rui looked as the short-haired girl beam in joy when Konan handed her the paper. The glasses wearing one also gave a warm smile. He also couldn't help but smile as he watched them.
"Welcome to the club, Konan-chan." The girl named Ami happily said.