"Woah, that's quite a bags you've got under your eyes Konan-chan."
The audacity, does he know that he's the reason why she had this bags in the first place? And not only that , Konan also have this headache that she didn't tell my parents about because if she did, she surely won't be able to attend school today and Konan wouldn't let that happen because that would mean skipping school two days in a row. Not that there's something she's fond of at school but it would be better to listen to lessons than stay at home without anything to do and think about things that would mess her head.
Konan kept her eyes straight, went to her seat and sat without looking at her seatmate. That should be the right thing to do right? She once saw this in a drama she watched, If you ever found yourself confused about something, the best thing to do is avoid it until you figure it out. That's exactly what she is doing now because she is confused about Rui.
No, she's confuse about herself. The unusual reactions she's getting whenever she's with him. Her palpitations and headaches? This whole thing doesn't really makes sense.
"Kona-...."
"Good morning class, settle down we're gonna start our lesson." The teacher said, cutting off whatever Rui was about to tell her. Well what can she say? Saved by the teacher. But it's still not over, she still needs to find ways she can dodge and avoid Rui until the day ends which isn't a problem if only she didn't get used to talking with him.
"Okay class, as you all know we're only taking the homeroom class today since we need to prepare for the event in two days time, so all of you those who haves clubs are free to go while those who do not will remain in the classroom and decorate. Dismiss." the teacher said and immediately walk out the classroom. Konan who is absent yesterday did not know of this but since it's to be expected, she hurriedly left her seat and dashed out of the classroom. She could not afford to give Rui a chance to talk to her. She'll just make it seem like she's busy. In that account, she went straight to the club room and barged right in startling her co-members who are working on something.
"Konan-chan, welcome. Why are you in such a hurry?" Ami immediately asked her as soon as she reached the table.
"I was running away from someone. What are you guys doing?" she took one of the brochures piled in the table where it was featuring a maid café' in their school as the main highlight. If she remembered it right, it's her class' booth. Although she didn't participate.
"Oh, we're just skimming over last year's program of events. Looks like we had featured class 2-B's maid café'." Hana was the one who answered Konan's questions.
"Do you guys have anything in mind? Booths or clubs we can feature now?" she added.
"No idea." Konan answered as she read the article about her class' maid café last school year. 'Fun, huh?'
"How about we feature music club this year? I heard the new vocalist is as good as the last one who graduated." Ami, as usual said in high spirits.
"Music club? Come on think of it, I also heard they already found their new vocalist. I wonder what he look like." Hana tapped her chin and nodded. Looks like she agreed with the idea.
"Okay, let's feature music club. "
"Okay, so who's gonna do the interviewing? Not me. I'm doing the printing." Ami immediately excused herself with responsibility.
"To put it simply, you hate interviewing."
"That's so mean, Hana-chan. You're right though, it's a hassle."
"I can't do it too. I have papers I need to finalize." Hana also claimed.
"Then that just leaves...."
Konan was just quietly reading when she felt two pairs of eyes looking at her. She slowly lift her head and saw Hana and Ami staring at her.
"What?"
"Nothing, we're just taking if maybe you can do the interviewing." the two said, altogether.
"Sure, I guess? Who am I interviewing? When?"
"This day. You're gonna interview the vocalist of our music club. " Hana handed her the questions. Konan gave a brief look at it and folded it then shoved the paper in her skirt's pocket. She stood up and headed to the door.
"Where are you going?" Hana asked. Konan is about to turn the door knob open. She stopped and looked back.
"To get the job done."
"No wait, I can't let you go like that." Hana immediately approached her and dragged her back to her seat.
"Can't let me go like what?" Konan, although puzzled sat back in the chair.
"We need to do something about your expressions and make you look approachable." Hana said and sat in front of her.
"Right." Konan agreed. Indeed when interviewing, you need to give off friendly and pleasant vibes as not to pressure the interviewee.
"What are you gonna do with Konan-chi, Hana-chan?"
Konan blinked. "Konan-chi?" She asked, altogether with Hana. She glanced at her club president. 'Looks like she got confused with what Ami called me too.' Konan thought.
Ami looked at them, blinking her eyes. "What's with that reaction?"
"What did you just call Fujioka-san?"
"Konan-chi. I just thought it more better since "Konan-chan" rhymes." she explained. "Is it a little too cutesy club pres.?"
"Yes. But..." Hana cleared her throat and adjusted her glasses. " .... it's not bad either." she said and Ami happily nodded. Konan just watched them.
"Okay Konan-chi.. I mean, Fujioka-san, let's start with your smile."
"...."
"Do you.. know how to smile?"
'Konan, my daughter, your smile is somewhat sinister. Please don't give people that smile okay? We'll work on a beautiful smile that suits your beautiful face.'
Remembering her Father's words, Konan reluctantly nodded. "I'll try."
She cracked a smile. Looking at their faces, she wondered why they seemed to froze and pale. "How about it."
"Ehe, it was a.... little creepy." Hana hesitantly told her. Ami also nodded frantically. "You look like that ghost from The Ring for a second there, Konan-chi."
She knew it. "Yeah. My Father also once said my smile is sinister."
"That won't do Konan-chi. Here, you need to curve your lips...." Ami said and leaned close to her, stretching her lips with her two hands. Konan tried imitating her and stretched her own lips with her two pointer.
"Wlike twis?" she asked, her words came out a little funny that mentors can't help but laugh. Especially Ami.
"Yes... HAHAHA..... and then soften your eyes... HAHA that way your smile will reach your eyes and it will look genuine." Ami explained to her in between her laughs. Hana beside her is also holding back laughter.
"....."
"It's as what Ami said Fujioka-san. Try it." Hana, who swallowed her laugh as she cleared her throat said in agreement. "Wait it would be better if you see yourself doing that... Here. You two stand in front of the mirror. Ami, you already know what to do." she instructed.
The two did as what told. Ami smiled in front of the mirror and Konan is to copy her. They spent half a day doing that and only stopped to eat lunch. Konan decided to eat with the two in the clubroom which greatly pleased Ami who jumped up and down and hugged her.
"Yey, our first lunch together with Konan-chi."
"Act more like your age, will you?" Hana who is always known as matured and composed hid her smile as a warm fuzzy feeling filled her heart. As someone who experienced loneliness and isolation, she is more than happy to make someone feel like they have someone they belong too.
When they finished their lunch, Konan is thought how to suit her tone based on the mood of conversation. How to act interested and other stuffs which are much easy for her since she's already been doing it, minding her tone whenever she speaks. She just need a little improvement.
By the time they finished their little training, it was already 3'pm sharp. All the booths and decors are halfway to finishing and the campus is filled with ballons and adorned in different decorations and origamis hanging in the ceiling..
"Konan-chi, what do you think of Hana-chan?"
"She's a good leader? And you seem pretty close. I mean, I've always heard you two bicker but it leads to nothing serious, so I figured out it's just what they call a friendly fight. Why ask all of a sudden?" Konan asked. They are walking towards where the music clubroom is. Hana already told the club that someone's coming to interview their main singer.
"I see. Hana-chan has been like that. She's always been pressured by her parents to be perfect. To be a top-achiever, well-disciplined and matured. Just for the sake of her family's dignity and name. She doesn't even have chance to pursue what she wants in life. She has always live under her parent's shadow."
'Well I guess everyone has their situation. ' Konan thought. She realized she's lucky to have a family who whole heartedly accepted who she is and who she wants to be. "How do you know all of that?"
Ami gave her a smile. We've been neighbors for long. She's always been distant and she just recently accepted me as a friend after following and pestering her for so long."
"I see."
"Yes. I even joined writing club just to stay close to her. Oh, seems like we're here." she halted and faced Konan, smiling.
"Mhmm." She hummed as a reply. Ami turned the knob and pushed the door open.
"Hi, we are the ones who will interview your vocalist. Oh you're here..."
Ami's voice drowned out as Konan get immersed in her own thoughts. The story she just heard piqued her interest. Why would Ami go for such length just to befriend Hana? Konan had never done that for someone. Rui is the first one to offer her friendship.
Should she go out a little of her way and try to peek into Rui's life? Thinking about it, she never knew anything about Rui.
"Konan-chi," Ami's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "...guess who you would be interviewing?" she said and motioned Konan to enter.
Why would she need to guess? Pretty sure she don't know who the vocalist is. Aside from Rui, Ami , Hana , the teachers and some certain school celebrities, Konan knows no other student at her school.
But when Konan entered the room, she realized that she, indeed knew too well who the vocalist is. It is none other than the person she thought she successfully avoided the whole day. The smile she practiced so hard vanished in an instant.
"Behold, the interviewer, our very own Konan-chi." And Ami really introduced her with the "cutesy" nickname.
"And our great vocalist, Rui-kun!." The guy with brown messy hair introduced her interviewee.
'There's no need, I so know him. Very well.' Konan weakly thought at the back of her head.
Well,
Mission successfully, failed.