213 Chapter one, 2016, rainy days: 5 (1/2)
Unlike before their midterms Yukio got together with Kyoko to study for the final exams a good two weeks in advance.
Sitting in the club room they had just finished an English session, which in line with Urufu's suggestion they held entirely in English, and now the room was eerily silent. First Yukio couldn't put his finger to it, but then he recalled how the club had been given written permission to run their activities at the Stockholm Haven café. Their club room was slated for being converted into a classroom come April.
At the moment fewer than half a dozen members lazed in the lounge area. Another five or so had left for a walking talking session, which only proved how far Urufu's stance on self-organisation had penetrated the club.
Yukio turned his head and looked outside. Grey skies and rivulets of water on the window pane told their story of yet another rainy day. If the clothes worn by the students he saw crossing the gravel beneath him were an honest indicator, it was a cold rainy day to boot.
”Yukio, what about this part,” Kyoko said in English and showed him a math problem.
He grinned at first but toned it down to a smile. ”You're cute,” he responded in Japanese.
”Huh? Oh, sorry.”
”I think we can do the math in Japanese. I don't even know half the terms in English.”
She gave him a sheepish smile and nodded. ”Yeah, and I love you too.”
It was easier these days. Yukio preferred it this way when expressions of affection and love came natural to them both. Somehow the world changing feelings from August had calmed down, but instead Kyoko had become his most important friend apart from being the girl he loved.
”They're not here as often as before,” Kyoko said after he pointed out the mistake that prevented her from solving the problem.
'They. We don't even need names now, do we?' ”I guess so,” he said. ”Urufu said he's helping her prepare the finals, but he's also doing a lot of work through those strange contacts of his.”
Kyoko's expression darkened, but Yukio knew her displeasure wasn't directed at him. ”Same with Kuri-chan. She's spending almost all her free time modelling.” A tentative hand reached out across the table and Yukio took it in his. ”I worry, you know.”
He did as well. Since he became an item with Kyoko the two of them gradually saw their responsibility towards their friends as a shared one. Especially after what happened during the cultural festival. Now they more or less agreed that the two old teenagers were children that needed taking care of.
”Is it just me, or does Kuri smile less often now?”
”She's unhappy,” Kyoko said. She turned her attention to the next problem and the two of them fell silent while they solved it, each on their own. ”She doesn't tell me, but I can see. I got to learn that expression during our year at middle school.”