~~~PART 1~~~
I wasn't particularly satisfied with what I did there.
Not only did I break the law in a way, but I also brought forth something that should have been locked away. I don't want to feel down all the time, but I can't help it if I'm constantly with this girl.
"Nice one, Izumi! That was really fantastic work!"
"I am never doing that ever again."
We arrived safely back at our clubroom to take a breather and store our data in the computer.
"...Good work you two… I would offer you tea if I could…"
"Oh it's fine Holmes you don't need to do that.
Kiyama- or rather, Holmes, was still busy writing the witch report on her computer. I didn't want to hinder her progress, so I let her continue to do her own thing.
After returning her coat and hat back to Asahi, I quickly went over to the chair next to where Holmes was sitting, and took one of the longest sighs I've taken.
"...What's wrong, Watson…?"
"Oh it's nothing."
Today was a very tiresome day. I would like to regain my energy now that I did two tasks in one day.
While I was pondering wild thoughts to myself, I began to notice Asahi's grumbling over the polaroid camera.
"Aaah damnit…"
"What's wrong?"
"The picture didn't come out right."
I went over to fetch the picture pinched between her hands and looked at it myself.
"Oh I see what you mean."
The result was a blurry image. You could still make out the distinctive features of two humans hugging in this shot, but the picture wasn't clear enough to show who it was. Thus being useless in printing.
"This janky polaroid is hard to stabilize."
"Why do you use a polaroid anyway, how old is that thing?"
"Look okay, I found it in my grandfather's basement. It still worked when I tried it so I thought it was like a special calling! Like the red string of fate had intertwined."
"Yeah, no, that's not happening. Here, why didn't you just borrow Holmes' phone?"
"...I'm never lending my phone to her…"
"See? Unlike you, Izumi, she's actually smart."
I never lent you my phone! You just took it from me!
"Sigh… Then I guess there's only one option."
"…?"
"I'm gonna look for a new member. If no one here has a better camera, then we'll just borrow someone else's camera. Besides, we need five club members anyway."
This will not end well…
As I was just beginning to help Holmes with her work, I noticed another pair of footsteps quickly walking down the corridor just like earlier.
"Asahiii! Don't you dare use that picture!"
The door sprung open to reveal it was an angry ando looking for the disturbance that was Asahi.
"Oh hello Ando! How was your date with Iwasaki?"
"That was not a date, we're just observing the scenery for art class!"
"Ok sure, sure- whoa whoa hey don't come closer now-!"
"Where. Is. that. Photo!?"
"It's over there on my desk-! Ow!"
His rage got the better of him and he uncharacteristically goes over to Asahi herself to grab her by the collar like what she loves to do with me. But I had to admit his face was really close to her.
"Let me see. hmm? It's blurry."
"Exactly."
His face completely changes from that of a kid who had their favorite toy broken, to a confused look.
"You see? I can't even use the photo anyway. Now can you put me down please."
"Oh, right. What was I thinking? I'm so sorry."
"Apology accepted."
Ando finally settled down his emotions to let go of Asahi.
"Wait a minute. Aren't you going to try to make us do that again for the sake of getting another clearer photo then?!"
"Normally, yes. But my pal Izumi over there has had enough for one mission. Besides, we already have another story to display."
"Hmmm… I still don't trust you. But for now I will retreat. Sorry for barging in, you two."
He bowed to me and Holmes, but not Asahi, and exited the room with light footsteps this time. Everyone in the room was quiet. Trying to gather their senses over what just happened.
"...They're definitely dating…"
Holmes spoke first.
"I know right!? There's no way he's not interested in her if he gets that defensive about it" I replied.
"...You're speaking my mind, Watson… Truly a worthy partner…"
"Much appreciated"
"...Speaking of which… What's your favorite Sherlock Holmes story, Watson…?"
"Hm… That's hard to answer… Oh! But one of my favorites has to be…"
And after that, not much was going on inside this room. I was engaged in an idle conversation with Holmes and Asahi was at her desk doing something. I couldn't tell what it was with the many stacks of papers and files but I didn't care enough to ask. Thus, the evening passed and a new day arrived.
~~~PART 2~~~
"Hey hey! We got ourselves a new member!"
It was only the next day when Asahi had already found a new member for The Sunny Times. In her right hand was an arm of a male student slightly shorter than me who didn't seem to mind being kidnaped by Asahi.
"Go on, introduce yourself."
She let go of his hand as he walked in front to begin his greeting.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Arisu Nagasawa, from class 1-A. Akagi-senpai kindly invited me over lunch break. I hope we can all get along."
Hang on, he's an underclassmen?
It appears that Asahi isn't very picky when it comes to her targets, not even first years are safe. Or maybe she couldn't just find anyone in our grade since everyone had a bad reception of her.
"Likewise. I'm Satori, from 2-B"
"...I'm Kiyama, also from 2-B…Nagasawa… I think I've heard that family name somewhere…"
"Ah! That might be my family run theater. It has gotten quite a bit of attention over the past decade or so. Might I add that it would be exceptional to call me Arisu."
"...Oh, alright… Are you an actor at your theater by any chance…?"
"Nay, I merely operate on background work. Such as lighting, and setting up props. However, I do take an interest in art, and I take my visuals very seriously."
As a first impression, he does give off a very artistic kind of person. His speech manner as well is more inclined towards a Shakespeare fanboy. However, he seems like a nice guy, so everything's well and fine I hope.
"Alright, that concludes our introduction. Arisu, you can start by watching Sora-chan and Izumi work."
"Much obliged, Director."
Asahi concluded the introduction and we went back to work. Only now an underclassmen was watching us. I just joined the club a few days ago so I don't really feel like a proper senpai. Luckily, Holmes was reliable enough to relax a bit and took care of this.
"Excuse me for observing you, dear senior. Might I ask what you might be doing?"
"...Dear senior…? Um, I'm organizing our report for the newspaper to make it look fancier for readers… I'm having a hard time deciding what to emphasize… The size of the paper is limited so I have to be mindful… Watson- I mean, Satori-kun is helping me…"
"I will take this chair then if you don't mind."
He went over to take the chair next to Holmes —Who he calls 'dear senior'— and started observing seriously.
After a while, it got a bit awkward having a pair of eyes focused on us while we were working. But there was nothing we could say against as it was ordered from the director herself to observe how we work.
"Sorry to intervene, but you should make this part bigger."
"...!"
His sudden comment made both of us jump at our seats when we got so indulged in our work.
"Oh, excuse my rudeness for startling you both. It was never my intention to do so. Moving on, I really think this part is more important than this one."
"Hm… I think he's right."
Holmes did as he said, and wouldn't you know it, it does look better this way.
"...How'd you know, Arisu-kun…?"
"I merely like to indulge myself in matters of composition. Do you notice how your eyes flow better with this kind of placement? It guides our vision to where we want the readers' focus to be."
"I didn't know that."
I simply am baffled. I had no way to do a follow up comment with that so I only backed off into my seat again. I took a peak at the director's desk where I visibly saw Asahi being happy. Like a mother being proud of their son.
"Do you have an interest in photography?" I asked.
"Hmm, I do admire the idea of it. However, I have never really ventured outside and took photography seriously. Perhaps I have done so with shooting at the theater, yet I can't remember."
His photoshoots might be really good for the newspaper.
"You're thinking the same thing as I am, right Izumi?"
"HUA-! Oh, Jesus that scared me."
Asahi's face was directly behind mine. What's with today and people suddenly scaring us? There were no footsteps heard and I didn't even notice her presence before, and yet somehow, she just appeared out of nowhere.
"Anyway! It's nice to see you all get along so well. Prepare yourselves, because at midnight we're gonna set out."
"Tonight?"
"Tonight."
She really doesn't take breaks huh.
"What? Don't tell me you didn't expect this. If there's a new member, I always test them to see their strengths, if any."
"If any…"
"Oh how exciting! Let me in on it!"
The newest member himself was excited about it. He must've not known of Asahi's nature to be able to act like that. I envy his lack of awareness.
"And what a coincidence as well. I just got some new information from my crows about a potential backdoor smuggling."
"Your crows? What's that?"
Does Asahi train her birds to speak or what?
"That's just what I call my informants. It's cool, right? Anyway, take a look at this."
She had in her hand some files which she laid down on the desk us three were at. Its contents were some photos of a really dark place. It looked cramped and really narrow. With the only source of light being a flashlight from the photographer.
"Where and what is this?"
"It's a picture of a back alley, but take a closer look!"
We resumed to carefully inspect the images laid before us to see what she was talking about. It took a long while before Holmes pointed to it first.
"...Oh, I see it…"
She then moved her index finger closer to the ground in the image.
"...There's multiple footprints…"
"Sora-chan with the keen eye as always."
"What about the footprints?"
On closer inspection, there exists several pairs of footprints. Yet from what I can tell it doesn't look anything out of the ordinary. I'm sure people walk up and down the alley to use as a shortcut or perhaps as a secret hang out spot.
"Come on, don't they look strange to you?"
"Not in the slightest."
"Sigh… Well it certainly bothers me. And we're all going to check it out!"
"We? Is it not just going to be you and Arisu?"
"Nah, when it comes to things like this, having the expert analyst Sora-chan will help a lot! And since she can't bring her wheelchair into that cramped back alley, you're gonna carry her."
Think back on that day.
That day I agreed to join The Sunny Times.
I knew what I was getting myself into, there's no point in complaining now. I knew we were gonna run around and do random stuff to random people. I knew I had to just follow her to even survive for a day. And with all those conditions, I accepted her offer and joined willingly.
"So, are you coming?"
We might run into someone armed, or we might not. We might be dealing with a drug trafficker, or we might not. We might get ourselves in danger, or we might not.
So of course my answer would be…
"Sure, why not?"
What is life without a little spice?
Those moments of thrills you only get to experience if you venture out of your comfort zone. That's what makes life worth it.
And as soon as I said that, I know I'm going to go against my own words once I actually set out on this mission. History repeats itself.