Vol 6 Chapter 4 (2/2)

”Huh? You want es before I tell you my answer?”

I wasn't expecting that I didn't haveup with others, but it was roups to first decide on the nue count, and so to the trouble of establishi+ng a page count in the first place It was the first tiroup that wanted to decide on the nues first and foremost

”Yeah I need to get an estimate for the club expense form, after all”

”Club expenses? Aren't we going to pay for it ourselves?”

”There'd be no point if we paid out-of-pocket I'll go talk with the general coet, even if push comes to shove I'll need accurate nuht?”

Was it really okay to do that, though? The club budget was for the entire club, so everyone—or at the very least, the president, Yuasa-senpai— would have to be on board, or else we'd be basically eeneral coroup responsible for club fund distribution in the first place

”You're going to talk to the president, of course Right?”

Yuasa-senpai had al in the Manga Research Society, instead flawlessly taking care of theout the club recruitment and expenses forms Not only did Asanuood idea if the president was also involved so on't make the club's situation even worse

”Yeah I guess I guess I have to tell her,” she murmured dissatisfied, her mouth almost completely shut

This whole thing was a bit scary, but I'll just leave it to her I had to start thinking about a

”Yeah, I can't really decide right away on the page number I'o with the topic 'Manga Society' let alone howa rough draft and then use that as the basis for the page count, so would you ?”

A small frown for do you need?”

Today was the 14th, and I still needed to brainstore the page count, then the rough draft didn't have to be very detailed, which meant

”Friday, maybe?”

”Got it Until then, I'll be searching forto draw” She then made sure to add, ”Keep this between us, yeah?”

3[edit]

My parents didn't say a They were neither disapproving nor supportive of it; as long as I studied hard, they gave me the leeway to do whatever I wanted inas I studied hard” part ia only on weekends and holidays My mom and dad always looked a little worried when they sawit I of course had other plans as well onreally pressed for time

Asanuet back to her on h it was true I hadn't drawn anything yet, I didn't want to break the unspoken pro at home on the weekdays, so I decided to work on it at school

The problem here I had to keep Asanuma's sche related to it in the Manga Society clubroom I wish I could've used the earth sciences lecture roo thea Society's proble the library roo completely unrelated, so with all of those crossed off the list, I had only one more option I decided to open my notebook in my homeroom, Class 2-C

I can't speak for others, but at least personally, it's really difficult forso at school, surrounded by class at this point was jotting down ideas, so it couldn't have looked like I was doing anythinghard from the side To add to that, I even had a textbook open to further cauise so perfect that not even God or Oreki would be able to see through it

After school on Tuesday, I sat up straight at my desk in classroom 2-C, opened my world history textbook, and started to write down some ideas

This was uess I was a bit unsure about what I was doing, but I'm confident it wasn't ia Society,” she never specified that it had to take place in Karoup that researches a I see How about a story set in the future? In a world where civilization has collapsed, a group of people coure out what exactly it was Would that be too convoluted?

I scribbled down ideas like these into hts started to get scattered and I found irls still in the classrooirl with a naue so well that itwhen I called out to her She lookedthe culture festival, and she seemed pretty sa Society At the irls about their summer vacations

I usually don't really try to learn every little detail involving the club conflict, but I could tell just by watching that Hani-san was technically with the so-called reading faction That said, it was pretty clear that she never actively supported them, and when the two sides started to insult each other, she always stayed quiet, even though she sat with the reading faction It could be that she was likethe whole thing was stupid at the same time I never talked with her in the clubroom, but our conversations in class were pretty normal

I was pretty sure Hani-san wouldn't tell anyone anything, even if she did soht be able to figure out I was outlining the plot to aat , so I stayed in constant alert

I ht've just been paranoid, but as to say for certain? I labored over , and then suddenly looked up Hani-san was facing away fro as carefree as she had been when I'd started

”What, no way! Our baseball team totally sucks”

Hearing her say this, as,in the conversation, I guess, but then why couldn't I shake the feeling that soure out that I was putting together the plot to afrom a distance?

Though, there was soed me

She was on really good terms with Kouchi-senpai, who had quit the club It wasn't the typical senior-junior relationshi+p you'd see inreally naturally, like they were old friends, tons of tiirls as well, so their relationshi+p was a pretty common topic From the bits that I picked up on, it looked like the two of theether a lot as kids Maybe she was observingfaction coup d'état, as a friend of the reading faction's leader? Well, I guess I couldn't rule out the possibility coht out of a a But if that wasn't the case, then I really was at a loss Why would she be watching me?

As these thoughts crossed ht up to leave the classrooht, embarrassed

The next day, however, Hani-san stayed again in the classroom after school ended, and just as I started to wonder about it, she began to look atabout soccer, Hani-san, and I, and I concentrated on h, but I had to finish the rough draft quickly or else I wouldn't make the deadline

It ht be a little different froue first I end up having to do it first in order to get a good feel for how everyone talks and what they would say in each situation I'm not really sure if this way is efficient—actually, I usually have to shorten the lines when I try to put them in the speech bubbles for the first time, so it's probably safe to say it isn't There's really nothing that can be done about that, though Drawing the rough draft at school would be way too eue at that point, so I had to resort to desperate measures

I wrote the first line of the dialogue I had carefully thought about over the past two days into my notes I wasn't too thrilled about the chosen theme, but as I wrote ly well

I thought back to the criticisa author participates in the selection process for the New World Prize and even writes short comments for the winners of the participation awards and up The one who did it this time was Yutaka Niiro, and his comments to me were this:

”Great point: cli Okay point: art (You can do it!) Bad point: the lines were too long You're getting better and better, so good luck on your next submission!”

I'd never actually heard of Niiro when I first read his co o out and buy tons of his volu lines were ure out ords I should cut and which ones were effective as I filled up the notebook

As I was corossed in this, a voice suddenly called out to me

”Maya-cchi”

It was Hani-san I looked up and noticed that the boys had disappeared at so her and I the only people left in the roo at me, but down at the phone in her hand I responded, nonchalantly closing the notebook

”What's wrong?”

She looked up and faced me, not a trace of emotion in her expression

”They found out about Asanuma's plan”

There was no reason to play du either Asanu to ask anyone who looked proured it was just a ot out With this inme after all

”I see”

With us being exposed, there was probably no e could continue drawing the o, however, there was a probleet our funds that way Releasing the ether money from the people involved was probably a ood idea to stick with that from the start

Hani-san sighed with a look of resignation as she watched me

”Maya-cchi, you're a little calet pretty nasty”

I glanced down at the phone in her hands I' nasty I had an idea of what she was talking about

”Did soa Society?”

She nodded, and her face turned into an exhausted grimace

”It looks like they're giving Asanuma a lot of hell Well, it's pretty obvious they would”

When she said ”obvious,” was she talking about that being the obvious result for so so shady behind everyone's backs, or was she syh she knew the reading faction would definitely get angry? I had no way of knowing I didn't even knohere I stood on the issue

”Yeah, I guess,” I agreed as I started to put away the notebook on top of my desk Hani-san looked a little shocked

”You're going? You'd be better off if you stayed clear”

I was happy to see Hani-san that worried aboutwe didn't really talk much, but you know What can you do?

”It's not like I decided to help her with her book yet, but I can't bring nore it either”

Hani-san chuckled slightly and responded, ”Gotcha Sorry, but I'o with you”

The fact that Hani-san,meant that she didn't want me to add myself to the side under fire and upset the current balance She probably said sorry with this in mind

”Maya-cchi, let's give each other our phone nue”

I nodded and pulled

The Manga Society clubroo, in the first prep roo on the third floor The asn't very long, but to tell the truth, I tookthere Was it even possible for me to hurry to a place where I knew I'd be yelled at? Hani-san followed right behind me in that state

We finally arrived at the clubrooret not running It beca had already ended Asanuaya-san, and Tai were all surrounded by a crowd of girls in a se pitifully and Asanu it all Directly in front of the three was the sophomore, shi+nohara-san Her arms were crossed, and as I entered the room, she looked at me and sneered

”Ibara, huh? Were you waiting for us to finish up before you came? Pretty sneaky, aren't you”

”That's not it I didn't know about it is all”

”Sure you didn't,” she jeered, and then proudly turned to point at the three silent girls in front of her ”Then I'll spell it out for you because you're so late We know everything You were planning on stealing our club funds toto chase out everyone who couldn't draw et?”

After Kouchi-senpai left the club, shi+nohara-san was the one who stepped up ht've been how she saw the plan, but she was going way overboard

”You're coa without the Manga Society giving her a hard tiet permission to use the club funds from the president, Yuasa-senpai Please don't call it stealing”

”The president?” shi+nohara-san rew across her face ”She already left the club Needed to concentrate on her college exams, apparently Didn't you hear?”

”What?”

I looked around, scanning the clubroom for Yuasa-senpai's presence She was nowhere to be seen Not only her, but all of the seniors were

”So that's what it was,” I quietly said to nobody but myself

Just as Asanu thisthe neutral Yuasa-senpai to quit the club, leaving the position of president open for the the time of year when e about it happening now Sometime yesterday or today, without a doubt, the president had stepped doithoutall worried about whether or not I'd drawon What the heck was I doing?!

Seeing row conflicted, shi+nohara-san continued without a second thought ”What do you even ht as well be describing yourself at that point You act all high and a but want to join the club, and then get such a victim complex e ask you to not do stuff like that on your own Cut the crap We just want to enjoy e think is fun Just by saying we like a, our parents and teachers treat us like we're idiots, so why do we have to go through the same crap in our club, too?!”

The clubAsanuma-san all had their eyes fixated on azes were so cold and bitter In the silence that followed, I could tell that they all agreed with shi+nohara-san's words, resenting both Asanuma-san and I

I hadn't ever treated thea Sure, it's not like I ever apologized for being able to, but I never once looked down on those who couldn't

—Was that really true?

Was it possible that, without realizing it, so to thely worded sentence or annoyed attitude?

No, get a grip I've never thought anything like that Being able to drawable to swing around on a high bar or reht be iht that bragging about so like that to others was co yourself, Mayaka

I had to stopworked up by those cold stares For now, I needed to take things slowly and figure out as going to happen

”So? Who's the new president?”

shi+nohara's eyes opened wide in surprise ”You don't know?”

I guess that response meant it was soht? shi+nohara-san raised her arm and pointed at me

”Me?”

”Yeah right Behind you”

I turned around

Standing there wasso, who had entered the clubrooht apology as I stood there dumbfounded

”Sorry, Maya-cchi It wasn't easy to tell you” She then walked next to shi+nohara-san and asked, ”Did they accept?”

”All of it”

”Good Tell Maya-cchi, then”

They were probably talking about so like the terms of surrender With a calmer attitude than before, shi+nohara-san started her explanation

”We decided on it before you got here”

”We're not allowed to draw ,” I said

”If you want to do it, on't stop you”

Taken aback by her response, I turned to Asanu However, her expression remained listless It looked like there was more to her terms

”Theto fall flat anyways Although you guys think you're all that, Ibara's the only one who's even h How about we even help you fill out the club expense fore to finish it in the end, we'll all have a good laugh at you You'll also have to take responsibility for wasting the club's budget and quit”

She then retracted her index finger and placed her palm on her chest

”In the one-in-a- hile well then, good for you! We'll let you guys do whatever you ith the club We'll make our own club so we can do ant as well”

So that's what it was The time finally came

I'd had the feeling for some time now, but it looked like the rift between the two factions had already becoa, the club would be split into two

Hani-san clapped her hands together to bring me out of my daze

”I', Maya-cchi Sorry about all this Let's do e have to, now”

shi+nohara-san brought out a piece of paper and waved it in front of Asanuma-san

”As for the club expense forot our signature down and talked with the club adviser It's up to you to write the amount and purpose, Asanuma-san”

Hearing her name, Asanuma-san finally looked up and stared wearily at the form, but in the end, she shook her head slowly

”I don't kno e count”

”Oh, coh, we'll just sub is the most important part!” Hani-san replied

As if being lured in by her cheery voice, Asanuma-san shakily approached the two of them and took the form shi+nohara-san even had a pen at the ready, and she handed it over as well Asanuma-san looked at the pen cautiously, but just as she was about to start writing, her entire body froze up as if being held back by so

”What's wrong? Too scared?” provoked shi+nohara-san, and I felt like I could see soh Asanuma-san's eyes and she immediately started to write

I only watched as this happened, unable to co was off about all this, but I couldn't think straight at all Maybe too le question started to take form in my consciousness: as Hani-san in such a hurry to fill out the club expense fore if we filled it out? We'd be able to work on our a? No, that wasn't the issue

What was shi+nohara-san saying earlier? I desperately racked hts, for the words I' like this

—We're going to have you take responsibility for the funds you wasted and make you leave the club

”Wait!”

I quickly blurted that out to stop Asanu out the form like she'd been asked by that point She turned around, flustered, when she heard me say that, but Hani-san immediately pulled the form out from under her palm

There was only way to prevent the Manga Society froive up on our plans to create the es, and proo off on our own to do so up with them in the process Now that there was a club expense form involved, however, ouldn't be able to use the excuse that the a wasn't even started yet Even if we didn't touch a single yen, they could still accuse us of ”wasting club funds” and prevent reconciliation

I've never genuinely hated the reading faction I mean, I didn't even really considerfaction, after all Yet, their tactics this time around were just so cruel If they wanted to split the club from the start, they should've just quietly left theht And yet, they were doing all this to purposely try and hulared at Hani-san, but she was no longer facingand left the roo, okay? I'nature now”

If I were to chase after her right now, slap her across the cheek, and grab the for, would I be able save the club then?

It would only uess In the freshly silent classroom, all I could hear were the silent sobs of the fresh as around her

”I'm so sorry, senpai I'm so sorry!”

4[edit]

Why did I draw ain?

After school on Wednesday, even though Asanuma-san was cornered by shi+nohara-san and the others and looked almost lifeless, when I asked her if she wanted to abandon the project, she responded with a clear ”No”

”If we finish the a, shi+nohara-san will quit That's okay with you?”

There was no point in asking her that If we didn't finish it, we'd be the ones forced to quit instead It was a lose-lose situation As she listened, Asanuma-san started to smile stiffly, and she responded, ”Sounds perfect toto kick us out, then I' the favor”

I didn't draw a Society Though, if you did ask ood answer

It's so strange Up until yesterday, I thought I knehy

Even then, the preparations for the a continued as planned

The story was all but finished, and for the ue was complete as well, and yet no matter how many times I looked it over, I couldn't be satisfied by what I had I got a weird sense of déjà vu from it—probably because the story was basically aboutit Of course, if I refused to draw the a until I perfected the ultimate story, then I'd probably be at this for another ten years My only option was to play the cards dealt to me

I started the h the budget was pretty much decided already, you couldn't really inal plan to settle the page count ahead of tie More accurately, Asanuinal plan to match the situation forced onto her by Hani-san Also, I honestly wasn't even sure if I'd be able to write soh to publish in Asanuh draft

Though it was a littlethe pages into panels and then adding speech bubbles before I started to draw the ies Now that I was at this step, both my classroom and the library were out of the question, and I didn't want to worry a Society clubroo the reading faction, so the only option left to me was the Classics Club's earth sciences lecture room I really wanted to leave the Classics Club out of the Manga Society's drama as much as I could, but, well, it wasn't like it was the first tia

fuku-chan was the only one who showed up this time Normally I'd be over the moon at this, but I had a mission today, and it looked like he was busy with his oork as well

”Hey!”

”Hi”

This se was all that really took place, and I sat at a desk a little far away and took out a manuscript paper was nor much easier, but because the paper itself was really bulky, difficult to carry around discreetly, and—above all—expensive, I settled on doing it in a normal notebook

It was tiin

Almost as if each stroke was a prayer, I carefully started to draw the panels Please turn out interesting I know I' as hard as I can SoYou should be able to become the same Please

The seasons continued its slow transition fro into summer A peaceful breeze wafted in from the wide-openThe lines I dreithout a ruler were straight, and the circles I dreithout a compass were smooth With the simple appearance of the story's cast, each one of them with only circular eyes the shape of a rain doll, I would now decide how everything would unfold

I did h draft in the saue I planned earlier I tend to do everything in one notebook, as I hate having to carry a bunch of them around school with me It didn't affect me much at first, because I had a clear idea of hoanted to start the story, but as I got to the third and fourth pages, I started needing to flip back and forth through the notebooka hassle; I'llinto separate notebooks next time

While ress Unfortunately, as I did, the sense of unease that I felt when Asanurew larger and ht that this story ht be used to oust shi+nohara-san from the club never crossedaside fro back the second h

I continued to draw, flipped through ue and flipped even more to check the story, and then continued to draw so was I at this, I wonder My hand stopped as I heard a slight vibration

So and took a look at e was only one short sentence:

Come as fast as you can

If H