28 Chapter three, 2016, beginnings: 3 (2/2)

”What club?” Kuri-chan asked loudly enough to turn heads around them. She obviously couldn't keep it in any more.

Both boys turned. Both boys grew tennis balls instead of eyes. Both boys dropped their jaws deep enough to make room for those tennis balls, and then some.

”You heard?” the comedy duo spoke as one.

”You weren't exactly discreet,” Kuri-chan said. ”What club?”

”Eh, the one in the letter.”

”Oh, that one?”

Kyoko hid from the glare Kuri-chan gave her. Maybe tearing up the letter hadn't been so smart after all.

”Mind if we join you?” Hamarugen-san asked.

Matsumoto-san looked like his friend had suggested they seek the company of vipers.

”Be my guest.” Kuri-chan's words.

”Please.” Nori-chan's offer.

And they had spoken at the same time.

Kuri-chan and Nori-chan exchanged looks. Nori-chan's was less than friendly.

'And you just gained a new rival Nori-chan. Sorry, but she's way more dangerous than I am. Nori-chan, I apologize, but you won't stand a chance if Kuri-chan joins the match.'

Ahead of them sunlight and shadows played chase as the clouds above them ran over the sky. Kyoko reseated herself and made room with her legs to allow the two boys to join them.

Both of the boys took seats facing them. Matsumoto-san looked away. Kyoko did the same. This was, mildly put, awkward. 'He hates me. He's right in doing so. I'm awful.'

”Club, shoot! I misplaced the letter before I could read it,” Kuri-chan lied.

Hamarugen-san explained. It took a long time.

”Why me?” Kuri-chan asked when he was finished.

”Not just why you, why all of you. You specifically I want for president.”

That was a lot of different meanings of the word 'you', Kyoko mused and smiled.

”I'm listening.”

”I'll handle the real set-up, but it looks better if you're our official face.”

Kuri-chan snorted. ”A little child wants me as a puppet? I think not.”

”A little child?” Now it was Hamarugen-san's time to snort.

”Look, I've done...”

”...this kind of job...”

”...since before you...”

”...needed that runny nose of yours...”

”...wiped clean!”

'Whoa! School just got a new dynamic duo!'

Matsumoto-san, Nori-chan and Kyoko stared dumbfounded at the duellists. So did quite a few of the other students around them as well.

”What's with...?”

”...that oversized attitude...”

”...of yours?”

They stared at each other. Then both of them burst out laughing.

'I'm sorry Nori-chan, but you're not even in the match any longer.'

”Aww look, this club is kinda important to me. You be president, and I'll do the vice presidency, OK?”

”As long as you don't try to micromanage me.” Kuri-chan glared at Hamarugen-san, but Kyoko could see an amused smile touching her lips.

”Sure I won't.” Hamarugen-san looked strangely excited for just having been defeated.

”I'm your treasurer,” Nori-chan suddenly decided.

”Why thank you!” Hamarugen-san threw a quick look at his friend, and Matsumoto-san nodded eagerly.

'Matsumoto-san likes Nori-chan? Well, it's not like he has a reason to like me any longer. But I want to at least be friends with him, like he wanted when he confessed.' ”I'll be your secretary, scribe, whatever,” Kyoko volunteered.

”Ryu will be our mascot. He'll join or he'll sleep outdoors until summer break,” Nori-chan said gleefully.

”I guess it's settled then. I have a charter if...” Hamarugen-san began.

”What are we called?” Kuri-chan asked.

”Himekaizen Cultural Exchange Club,” Matsumoto-san and Hamarugen-san answered in union, ”if Miss President agrees, of course,” Hamarugen-san added shamefacedly.

”Miss President agrees, and it's Christina, or Kuri-chan, whatever you prefer.”

”Christina, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ulf, or Urufu if it's too hard to pronounce.” The last was added for the benefit of the rest of them.

”Call me Yu-kun then. Club members shouldn't be so formal,” Matsumoto-san offered as an invitation.

Hamarugen-san rose and extended his right hand to Kuri-chan. ”Christina or in this case miss President, should we go see the student council?”

”Uh? Yes, yes, of course.”

And with that the two of them left for the cafeteria. The remaining shrunken circle of three fidgeted uncomfortably.

'Nori-chan, your love just left with the most attractive girl in school, Matsumoto-san likes you, and I, I think I'm falling for Matsumoto-san. What an utter mess!'