I felt something warm on my back which woke me up. His touch didn't bother me that much, it was even rather comforting.
— Chizu!
What is she doing here?
—Yes, big brother?
I waved my arms like a chimpanzee and shouted.
—Why did you slip into my bed again?
—I was cold, big brother.
What a fool!
I pull out Chizu's claws clinging to my leg and rush to the school.
Once again, I cross this shopping square, bordered by a bright sea. The colours seemed to me curiously less dark than the day before.
Shimizu and I had planned that we would explore together the sports and cultural clubs of our school. But, if I could choose, I would still have preferred to be alone. After all, since when a loner like me have to live in a group, it infuriates me.
I enter my classroom, and observe Shimizu, who still seems to be cheerful today.
— Hi, Yamazaki-kun.
— Hi, Shimizu-chan.
Greeting someone… Am I going to have to do this every day? I'm bored already.
—Are you still up for the club tour this afternoon?
My mind refuses, but my body nods in agreement.
At lunchtime, I walked past my classmate and heard her belly screaming. She turns to me and looks quite embarrassed. I dodged her by moving to the drink dispenser then ordered a strawberry milk. When I had turned around, Shimizu appears in front of me with crimson cheeks and hands me a paper before turning around.
What does she want from me, seriously?
I read it and learned that she wanted me to meet her on the roof.
She must be really shy not to tell me in person.
I pick up my lunch and join her.
Fifty. How much further to go, I am exhausted.
I open the door and discover Shimizu. Her scarf floats by the few gusts of wind that we feel. She is kneeling, admiring the clouds on the horizon and caressing her locks.
Even without the moon, she looks like Princess Kaguya, doesn't she?
I walk towards her at a slow pace, then sit down.
—Shall we eat together, Yamazaki-kun?
I don't choose.
—If you want.
She compares my meal to hers and seems suspicious at the sight of the heart-shaped tomatoes in my bento. The girl then questions me with her emerald eyes filled with surprise.
—Did you prepare this bento?
Is it some kind of jealousy?
Why am I thinking about this!
I care too much about his judgment of me! That doesn't sound like me at all!
Let's stay calm and avoid misunderstandings.
I think – should I answer, 'Yes, I made this bento'? – my cooking skills are non-existent and may embarrass me in the future, if for some reason we end up cooking together. She would then understand my lie.
This Chizu is definitely sticky on all points, even in my bento.
She won't make fun of me? What look she will have?
I might as well be honest. I'm really getting too much into this.
I inhale the air, then sigh.
—It's Chizu, my sister, who prepared it for me, last night.
—Oh! You have a sister! I would like so much to have one too!
You can have her back if you want.
—She's cute to make you a dish like that!
Cute? I guess so.
—Yeah, even if she is an exhausting sister.
She laughs.
In my thoughts as far away as they are, no one, other than my sister, has ever joked with me.
I remember our afternoons spent in the park, that was where Chizu would put on most of her smiles.
We contemplate our meals and then pray.
—Enjoy your meal.
Stop laughing like that.
—Enjoy your meal.
We enjoyed our break, without saying a word.
I like the silence.
Once her belly was full, she stayed a moment to admire the sky and the shapes the clouds were taking.
What is she doing?
When the time came, Shimizu suggested that we start our exploration of the clubs.
The sports assembly with tons of different groupings turned out to be uninteresting.
Making me, who has as much stamina as Fuutaro Uesugi, visit the sports clubs, what a big joke.
— Are you okay, Yamazaki-kun?
I want to go home.
—Don't look like that. At least come to the literature club.
What a pain in the ass, I hope this is the last one.
This is where Masuko Ota, president of the club, is introduced for the first time. A rather small girl, silky, pinkish hair, tied in a bun. She looks at us with her sapphire-coloured eyes. I approach her and discover a 3D character's scent spreading to my nostrils.
What is this incredible thing? No, seriously, I like it too much!
Ôta welcomes us by questioning us.
—Sir, miss, what brings you to my humble club?
Humble? What does that mean?
—We wanted to register! exclaims Shimizu.
—I'll register you right away, ladies and gentlemen.
What kind of talk is that? It sounds like a duelling joust.
She hands over the membership forms we filled out, then turned in.
I sweep my eyes across the room and see no one.
A quiet club, perfect for me.
The president tells us about a tradition in her group.
—Dear members, whether you are a literary enthusiast or a beginner, after joining our club, you must borrow a book at random and turn a page. The first sentence your eyes notice will answer one of your deepest questions.
What is this legend again?
I walk over to the bookcase, choose a novel without thinking, and read an excerpt.
Memories, the treasure of life.
Disturbed, I put the book back in its place.
It's scary how true it is. Is this girl a witch? She uses unknown words. She's coming up with her fate theorems, she's freaking me out!
Shimizu and I spend our first hour like this at the literature club accompanied by Ôta, our president.
—Friends, I would like to make a newspaper as big as possible, for the school, could you help me?
Nope.
—Of course, Ota-senpai!
Sweet sadness, why does she decide for me? This group work is as cursed as Yuji Itadori.
—Can I pass on my dream to you?
—If you want Ôta-senpai.
A dream?
—To tell the truth, I want to join the Tôdai school. And this newspaper is very important to me, it will be a sort of springboard to my membership in the biggest university in Tokyo!
The door opens suddenly.
— Yamazaki Kinari, in my office!
Our main teacher? Thank you for putting me out of my misery, I can't stand being with two such freaks.
I was expecting to meet her. When we took our high school exam, my GPA didn't meet the overall score for my entire graduating class.
That's probably why she wants to meet me.
—Yamazaki-kun, you'll have to attend private lessons.
That's great.
—Yes, yes, sensei.
Not the slightest hesitation to have, I have to keep my vacation!
—My daughter will be in charge of the classes. She's first in her class and a year older than you.
My opposite in studies.
— Okay, sensei.
—Everything should go well, and I expect you to try an effort if you don't want to get fired. You'll start your first-class next week.
Wait, she said … her daughter? Who is she?
Despite my tardiness, I join my class, sit in my seat and admire the scenery through the window.
To which the answer does the message, I read at the club refer? To Chizu? This is really too scary…
I turn my head and observe Shimizu.
Isn't she hot with her scarf? By the way, what did she spot? And why I care! I become as crazy as Ken Kaneki.
Suddenly, my neighbour looks at me with a smile.
What does she want from me this normie addict?
I analyse her face.
Her smile, I have already seen it, no? Where was it? And why has she become the centre of my attention? I'm sick of this school!
Her cheeks flush. She twiddles her thumbs, looking confused, then asks me.
—Could you come to my house during the week to work on the club newspaper?
Me, at a normie's house? What a preposterous trap!
—Nah.
—You can't choose, Kinari we have to help Masuko realise her dream!
Her dream… I wish I had one too.
—Yeah, right.
—Shall we go home together tonight?
Me, going home with a normie? What a preposterous trap!
—Nope.
—Please, Kinari! I'll show you my manga later!
She hit a nerve.
—Well, okay.
So this is what 3D people do? Going out together after school? And by the way, how does she know I like manga? Is it that obvious?
Two steps away from the gate, Ota blocks our way, and declares.
—You don't expect your superior to come back Yamazaki-kun?
A normie, or a madwoman, what a dilemma!
—Sorry Shimizu, I'll go back with Ota-senpai.
—The scarlet sun is really perfect for a walk on the beach, don't you think, Yamazaki-kun?
What an ordeal, and it's only my first week of high school.
I nod in agreement.
The sinister and distressing looks Shimizu gave me quickly made me regret it.
Too bad for her.
Accompanied by Ôta, we walked along the coastline under a clear sky; the sea wore the colour of her eyes, and the sand was as boiling as a Yukihira pan.
What the hell am I doing here?
She turns to me, arms positioned behind her back, and asks me in a soft voice.
—Do you have a dream Yamazaki-kun?
A dream?
—Not really.
—You know, when I was little, my father died of cancer. He was respected by many people and admired by everyone. He was a great engineer, and I always, always wanted to follow in his footsteps. My father was first in his class at Tôdai University. He is my example! It is for him that I would try every effort to enter this wonderful school! I would take up this work, and accomplish his goal!
—His goal?
—Yes, he wanted to create a time machine!
Rintarō Okabe is her father? She is aware that this is downright impossible?
—I hope you can do it, Ôta-senpai!
She bites her lips, lets her cheeks flush, and confides in me.
— You are adorable, Yamazaki-kun!
Dreams … memories… And me, what should I do?
—Shall we go back, Yamazaki-kun?
—Yes, we should.
A father's love for his daughter is an amazing thing. No one can doubt that for sure!
—By the way Yamazaki-kun.
—Yeah?
—Thank you for today, it really thrilled me that you believe in me!
—You're … uh … welcome.
Ota and I live only a few blocks from each other. On this dark night, I decided to walk her home. In front of her huge house, I was stunned.
Is she as armoured as the Nakano family? My shrine is disgusting next to this castle!
Our president greeted me with her hand, smiled and shouted.
—Thank you for bringing me back, Yamazaki-kun!
Why did I do that again?
I imitate her and go back to my apartment.
The street lights still illuminate the street that separates my home from Ôta's.
Incredible people exist in this 3D world.
I open the door of my sanctuary, and see that Chizu is asleep on the sofa. So I carried her to her room to put her to bed.
—I'm sorry I'm not here earlier, sis.
She must have been waiting for me for hours.
I notice a message, written on a piece of paper, lying on the table.
I put a box of instant noodles and some water, you just have to boil it, feed yourself well, big brother.
—What would I do without you, Sis?
She's really amazing, too.
*Princess Kaguya: Princess from a famous Japanese tale.
*Fuutaro Uesugi: Intelligent main character, but has no physical abilities.
*Yuji Itadori : Main character cursed after recovering an object.
*Ken Kaneki: Main character who completely changes his personality.
*Yukihira. Restaurant of the main character of Food Wars.
*Rintarō Okabe: Main character of Stein's Gate who wants to create a time machine.
*Nakano : Family composed of 5 quintuplets and a very rich father.