Chapter 3 – The New Arrival“I don’t understand how you can resist the charms of Risako.”
It was after practice and the two friends were standing at the school gates, waiting for a certain someone.
“Easy, I just don’t think she’s all that great.”
Kanna replied easily, tearing at the wrapper of a new stick of gum. Crushing the now ripped paper in one hand, she tossed the empty wrapper into the trash bin that stood a few feet away.
“Are you serious? She’s beautiful.”
A dreamy look appeared on Maimi’s face as soon as she thought of Risako Sugaya. The earlier meeting at the mall had left her in high spirits and she was nowhere near leaving 7th heaven yet.
“Maybe. But I prefer someone with qualities other than looks. An all-rounder.”
Climbing onto the low boundary wall of the compound, Maimi sat swinging her legs as she pondered over who the mysterious all-rounder could be. Besides herself, the only other person who came into the most contact with Kanna was…
“I’m so sorry! I got held up!”
Bent over and panting loudly, I took in huge breaths of air to recover from running all the way from the changing room. I was glad I had decided to tie my hair in the high-bun style today. Otherwise strands of my hair would definitely be flying about and I didn’t want
her to see me in any state other than my best. Forgetting to seek forgiveness for my lateness, I bowed apologetically at my friends as I struggled to catch my breath. Kanna kindly took over the shoe bag in my hand and swung it over her shoulder as she waited for me to stand upright.
“It’s her! She’s the one!”
Jerking my head towards the tall individual who had suddenly hollered, I watched with a confused expression as Maimi jumped off from the wall and pointed at me in an exaggerated manner.
“You look out for her a lot. And you two walk home together practically everyday. I’m sure of it, the person is you!”
Still lost with the conversation that was taking place, I looked to Kanna for answers. But she only shook her head and rolled her eyes. An action that she did whenever she thought someone was doing or saying something ridiculous.
“Maimi, I knew you had problems when you liked Sugaya. I just didn’t know it was so bad.”
“You mean it’s not her?”
The gears that were working in overdrive clicking away at five miles per second in Maimi’s head now slowly whined to a halt. She was so confident of her deduction skills only for them to be swept down by Kanna in one straight-faced statement.
“But….but…she’s an all-rounder! She’s the class monitor, in futsal and is pretty too.”
“I suppose I should thank you for thinking so highly of me?”
Watching Maimi stammer away was a funny sight, and I would have burst out laughing if I wasn’t so interesting in finding out what she was talking about. Standing adjacent to me, Kanna heaved a loud sigh of exasperation before replying.
“Firstly, we walk home together because we live in the same house. Second, it’s natural that I look out for her since I’m older. Lastly…”
Kanna stopped chewing her gum and eyed Maimi with a solemn expression.
“We’re cousins, that’ll never happen.”
Folding her arms, Kanna waited for the words to sink in. Maimi blinked a couple of times at Kanna, turned to gaze at me, and then went back to blinking. I grinned as I waited to see if she could come up with any other reaction other than imitating a fish. Apparently not. After bidding us goodbye Maimi headed for the bus stop in the opposite direction we were taking. Embarrassed at making such a huge boo-boo, she made us promise never to tell anyone the ‘clever’ inference she had come up with today.
“Your friend is hilarious.”
Walking in step, I teased my cousin mercilessly for having such a comical friend. Even though I knew Maimi too from seeing her around, we only started speaking after Kanna introduced us. I always thought she was the cool track star of the junior section. It didn’t occur to me that she could be such a space cadet as well. It did seem that she would make a good replacement for Kamei senpai. The current captain of the track team, also famous for her strange peculiarities.
“Don’t mind her. Having solely Sugaya on her mind has made her quite mad.”
Nodding silently, I understood what Kanna was going through. It had to be hard having to share your best friend with another person. Especially when that person wasn’t known to be anything other than a pretty face.
“Let me tell you something that will cheer you up.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, Kanna’s eyes lit up and she turned to face me with anticipation.
“Airiin, you know me best!”
“Of course. Today, Natsuyaki…”
-----
Risa looked at her watch for the umpteen time. Eri was late. Usually she wouldn’t mind waiting for the dawdling turtle except that today she had to be home early. There was something important that she had to see too, and if she didn’t handle it well, it wasn’t going to be a pretty sight.
“Gaki… Gaki-san!”
The tiny speck of the said turtle grew larger as she neared the bicycle park at the back of the school. Unlocking her bicycle, Risa pulled it out of its bay and maneuvered it around to face the exit. Getting on it, she waited for Eri to climb on. As soon as she did, Risa zoomed off immediately, leaving a small puff of dust and sand behind.
“Sorry, sorry! But you wouldn’t believe what happened.”
Risa didn’t need more to be convinced that the matter that thrilled Eri so had to be rather amazing. From the short glance that Risa caught of her reddish face, and how highly excitable her voice is now, it must have been incredible.
“I wish I could be more eager to hear about it Kame. But I’m late.”
“Oh no!”
Slapping her thigh with the hand not wrapped around Risa’s waist, Eri exclaimed loudly. She totally forgot that Risa was expecting someone at her house today and she needed to be there to opened the door. Feeling remorseful for delaying her, Eri tried to make amends.
“Instead of dropping me off first like you always do, let’s go to your house straight. I can walk home from there.”
A smile appeared on Risa’s face when she heard the suggestion. It was a good idea and it would ensure that she wouldn’t be later than she already was. No longer worried about the time, she could pay attention to what Eri wanted to say.
“You can tell me all about what happened now Kame. I’m all ears.”
As the bicycle whizzed down the street towards the neighborhood they lived in, Eri articulated animatedly all about her encounter with the mysterious raven-haired maiden. The pitch of her voice went crescendo when she talked about how she barged into the room and chanced upon a girl changing.
-----
…she opened the door and stuck her head in nonchalantly.
Oh my god!
In that instant, Eri found herself staring open-mouthed at the undressed occupant of the tennis club room. A good twenty seconds passed before a high-pitched scream snapped her out of it. Recovering quickly, she scooted out of the room and shut the door with a loud bang.
The experience was truly worthy of being impressed in Eri’s mind for eternity. The student was tall and slim, had jet-black luscious hair that fell below her fair and creamy shoulders. And shimmering black orbs for eyes that were utterly breathtaking.
“Erm, you can come in now.”
Gingerly pushing open the door, Eri stepped in apprehensively. What should she say to the girl she had violated. She didn’t even dare to look up at her in case their eyes met. The two stood in awkward silence until the taller girl spoke.
“Are you here to pass me something?”
Finally noticing the papers in her hand, Eri gasped and stuck out both arms at 120 degrees to hand them over, still not looking up. In a dramatic twist of fate, she had thrust the papers straight into the girl’s face causing her to step back and lose her balance. Hearing the surprised yelp that escaped her, Eri reacted just in time to drop the papers and rush forward to catch her.
A sudden strong breeze entered the compact room, floating the sheets of paper in a magical whirl of white. Now with the maiden below, snug and safe in the arms of the turtle prince who had so gallantly rescued her from the attack of the monster documents, a slight blush appeared on her milky face. The silky hair tangled in Eri’s fingers caused a strange sensation in her heart and she couldn’t help but gulp, twice.
“Erm, you can let me go now.”
“Ah! Sorry, sorry!”
Eri’s face flushed a deep crimson red and she was so embarrassed she kept bowing and going backwards until she hit the door. With a concluding SORRY! Eri exited the room taking off like a speeding bullet not looking back.
-----
“So you basically saw her naked
and kissed her?”
Risa’s voice drifted from the front of the bicycle to the back where Eri sat, still distressed that she had left with such a bad impression.
“I didn’t kiss her!”
“You wanted too, admit it.”
Risa’s voice was gleeful. She enjoyed making her turtle friend so flustered. It was their last year at the school and if Eri could find someone she truly liked, it might not be a bad ending to their high school life.
“I….”
“Yikes! She has arrived.”
Straightening her back to peep from behind Risa, Eri saw the outline of a tall girl standing in front of Risa’s house. There were two giant duffel bags at her feet and another smaller one slung across her back. As the bicycle neared her, Eri observed the grim expression she wore.
Living with her can’t be good.-----
g4rfield Sevii Estrea modesta107: I might reveal who the girl is in the next chapter. Do keep a look out for the update if you wanna find out
wordsworth: That’s a nice pic of Maimi and Risako! Where is it from? I love that pose they did with Maimi’s arm around Risako and her holding Maimi’s hand
meowz: I’m happy that my descriptive writing can invoked an image of a certain girl
Lollipopgirl: Kanna will have her time
Topic: Please Take Care of My Club [Chapter 7 – Secrets Revealed] (Read 14164 times)