When I checked the community board for the clubs I could enter, I was confused about which one to choose.
The community board itself was crowded with posters. The only posters that are clear to my eyes are the light music club, Idol club, and cooking club. The other club posters I needed to look at were all behind these posters.
"Sara…"
"What is it, Shouta?"
"Which club are you joining?"
"I'll go wherever you go"
"That's not the answer I wanted"
"Then… what answer do you want?"
"Which club are you joining?" I repeat my question, at a slower pace.
"I'll follow—"
"—never mind, forget about my question!"
The day was already over and I was still trying to pick a club that suits my interest.
Before I arrived in front of the community board, when I was walking down the stairs, I heard the boy students were choosing the sports club. But none of them spoke about other clubs.
"Shouta"
"Yea?"
"Look here"
I turned my head towards Sara, who was crouching down and looking at a poster.
"What is it?"
As I laid my eyes on the poster, it was like love at first sight.
—I've found the club that I wanted.
"Sara, you said that you were joining the same club as I am, right?"
"Yes"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
Sara continued walking, her face expressionless as she looked at me.
I've decided to join the manga club. My dream is to become a manga artist, and I've been drawing since I was in junior high. I've wanted to write a manga for a long time, since when I saw my first anime. And now I've been given the chance to achieve my objective.
"Can you draw?" I asked Sara.
"I am skilled at anything"
"Not common sense though?"
"What's that?"
"See"
"...?"
Explaining to her would be a waste.
Though she lacks common sense, she is one of the top three students of Umibe high school.
—I suppose her in-depth understanding of everything made her study really hard and, as a result, socialize less.
We both stood at the end of the platform when we entered the station. Sara told me before she left that she was going to show me something she had been meaning to show me for a long time.
"So what is it that you're trying to show me?"
"It's a secret"
"...oh"
"Promise me you won't get mad at me"
"It must be serious then?"
"No… it's not"
"Then why did you ask for such promises?!"
The train stopped in front of us and the doors opened. The alarm bell rang and many of the Umibe high students were walking into the train.
"Shouta, are you mad?"
"Of course not!!"
"But you're shouting?"
"I'm frustrated!!"
"Isn't that the same?"
"Hkk…. —ackk"
"Are you hurting?"
"Don't mind me! Let's go! Before the train leaves us"
When Sara and I were in junior high, we were separated. She went to a more prestigious and 'clever' school. And I attended a regular school.
When Sara is focused on something, no one could stop her, even her parents. When we were still in primary school, she was really into drawing. She constantly draws something every lesson, even getting yelled at by the teacher. But she didn't stop, her hands kept moving on the sheet of paper.
Her grades were steady, and so I believed that was the reason why her parents didn't scold her.
"Remember that time, Shouta?"
"Which one?"
"When you first showed me your first drawing, but accidentally, the paper split out of your hands and the whole class saw it"
"...why are we talking about this?"
"To pass time"
"Can you choose another story? please"
"Sorry… that's all I could remember"
—sometimes, Sara could be annoying and frustrating to handle.
And if someone met her for the first time and saw her negative side, they would immediately leave her and never be friends with her again. Fortunately for her, I had a soft spot in my heart for young women at the time, and our parents knew each other. We have been friends since kindergarten.
"Wait, let me change clothes first"
"Why do you need to change clothes?"
"I don't want to get them dirty"
"Then I'll go change too"
"..."
"..."
The train stopped at my station and when I was about to leave, someone grabbed a hold of my hand. It was a soft, slender, and smooth hand. Hands that could belong to a woman—
"—Why are you getting off here?"
"I said I also want to change"
"But… isn't your house in Fujisawa?"
"It is"
"Then… Why are you following me?"
"To change clothes"
We're getting nowhere here. It's better to just—wait.
"Are you going to change clothes at my place?"
"Yes, why shouldn't I?"
"Don't you think that's rude?!"
"No…?"
"Haah"
I sighed, giving up. If I continue to talk and argue with her, the train door will close and we'll have to take a walk back to my house.
"I'm back!"
"Please excuse me"
No one answered the door when it opened. There was no one in the living room, no one on the couch, and no miss Yamamoto Kaede in the kitchen. Mia should be home by now, but it's Monday, so she's probably working on a project with some friends.
"No one home"
I then sighed in relief. There won't be anyone stopping me and asking weird and useless questions, and there won't be misunderstandings.
"You can use the bathroom right now, I need to do something first"
"What is it?"
"You don't need to know!"
Of course, without anyone's help, Sara would stand still and do nothing. It's the first time she has visited this place, so it's natural she doesn't know where things are.
"Shouta, where's the bathroom?"
She was standing in the hallway, her bag was still with her. To her right, my left was the bathroom. Should've put a sign, huh?
I pointed at the door and she went in.
"So, what is it that you're trying to show me?"
—No one came back to my house as we left, so we went straight to the station. We boarded the train and headed for Yanagikoji station. Sara's flat should be near an office building after arriving there and crossing a bridge over the Sakai river.
"Sara"
"What is it, Shouta?"
"About the club… is it really what you think it is?"
"...?" she tilted her head, confused by my question.
"I mean, is it really about drawing manga and increasing your skills? Or is it just… you know, a manga review club…?"
"Don't be dumb, Shouta"
"Sorryyhh… I was just unsure about it"
In front of the apartment, I stood behind Sara. The last time I visited her apartment was in the first year of junior high school. When I entered her apartment, her room was messy.
"When was the last time you cleaned your bedroom?"
"I don't know…"
"Haah, I'll help you with the cleaning"
"But—"
"This is what you're trying to show me, right?"
"No!"
She shouted, her voice sounded very concerning.
"That's not the thing I wanted to show you!"
"Then what is it?"
Before answering my question, she walked slowly to her table. There was a huge monitor on the desk and her pc looked amazing with the glowing Led lights.
"This"
She pointed at her monitor.
My eyes widened as I read the following on her monitor.
—good evening, miss Fujiwara.
We've received your work and we're interested in working together with you. Your drawing is amazing and the story is spectacular. We would like to make this into a book.
—from Brunko C.
"Did you… submit a manga work?"
"yeah"