Sorry for the wait, been trying my hand at drawing again. Not bad, in my opinion. Posting doodles after I post this.
I also tried my hand at making the outline for this chapter cover as much as the last two chapters, let's hope that helps flesh out the length more.
Small profanity warning, as well.
OH, AND CHAPTER TITLES.
Previous Chapter
"We're Making News!"
What the-?
Why am I still...?
Stupidstupidstupid...
I stand myself up, my back cracking loudly, and look around, attempting to confirm my assumption.
Correct.
I woke up in a room filled with a bunch of girls, and one other guy.
Let's hope for the best here.
I look at my watch, and realize it's extremely early.
Like, not-even-five-in-the-morning-yet, kind of early.
I decide to gather myself and leave, when I hear a stirring from back in the corner.
"...whatmomI'mgettingupshuttup..." Ayao says, as she starts leaning up from...
Oh dear...
"...What," she says, gathering herself immediately, recognizing her surroundings, then turning and looking at Rai, who she had been sleeping on.
Emphasis on "on."
"Oh my god, what... Did we... Wha...?" she starts stammering, looking at me, then Rai, then me again.
This is awkward.
I turn around from the door, and sit myself down on a little chair I'd been sitting in last night.
My temples decide it'd be a good idea to start throbbing slightly.
Rai wakes up too, and sees Ayao basically on top of him.
He starts to grin, and he yelps, "Oh boy!"
That sends Ayao into a fit of blushing that's probably near the same color as her hair.
Thankfully, Natsume decides it would be a good idea to wake up as well, her hair in a mess from sleeping on the seat cushion, then bluntly speaks, "...Fuck."
That wakes up Naomi, who had also been sleeping on a chair cushion, but, instead of braving the synthetic cold, strategically used her jacket to cover herself.
"Eheheh... Whoops..." she says, blushing lightly, "We just
had to start watching those dubs that late..."
"Don't blame yourself, Naomi... We both had a good enough play in this," Natsume says, earning a slight nod from her, and a few confused glances from the rest of us, "Besides, best first day ever, am I right Hisao?" she adds quickly.
"...Well, yes, better than I expected," I say, nodding lightly as I speak.
To be fair, I did enjoy myself. But...
I fell asleep.
In a Club Room.
Overnight.
Ayao looks over everyone sheepishly, then over the massive mess, quietly saying, "We should probably get the place put back together... We have a few hours before most everyone is waking up anyways..."
Natsume and Naomi glance back at each other, then Ayao, and a small peak towards Rai, then they both giggle faintly.
The two, oblivious, both start for the door at the same time. Ayao jumps a bit, but quickly manages to right herself, and then whispers something in Rai's ear. Rai nods, quickly, and takes her hand in his, both of them jumping a bit at the - most likely- planned contact, then the pair walk away.
I turn away from the door, and look back at Naomi and Natsume, to see the pair jump, and then high-five giddily after their landing.
"Yes!!!" they both yell, seconds after the high-five.
"Er... Did I just witness a hook-up?" I mutter at no one in particular.
They look back and forth, their eyes flitting between me and each other.
"Maybe~!" says Naomi, her lilt reminding me of a certain pink haired girl.
Natsume sighs, "Don't beat around the bush: Yes, of course we did. It's primarily why we all sta-," she's cut off by a friendly punch and a grimace likely to scare the Devil into submission, leading Natsume to finish with a sigh, "Nothing..."
Something was amiss here.
Well, at least I guessed correctly.
My thoughts are interrupted by Naomi.
"Hisao, I said we are talking to you~!"
I mentally sigh.
"...Sorry, I'm drowsy... What were you saying..?"
Naomi and Natsume fidget- rather adorably- and then Naomi pipes up quickly, "Well~, I saw that the only people you really talked to were us, and Drill Sergeant... Which, by extension means Deaf Charge," she says, sticking her tongue out at the mention of the pair, then continues, "Have you given any thought to a club or group~?"
...This seems familiar, somehow.
Wait...
I mentally sigh again.
A repeat of Hakamichi and Misha all over again...
Not taking a second longer to reply, hoping to not incite more questions, "Well, Hakamichi and Misha offered t-."
I'm interrupted by Natsume's deep frown and Naomi's words, "Pff! Screw the Dynamic Loudspeakers~! Have you se~een how much work they do there? It's slavery, not club work!" at those words both Naomi and Natsume nod in unison, apparently agreeing with Naom- their- words.
"...Fine... But only because it's better than having a daily headache..." I say.
They both bat their eyes, and act confused at my answer, then Naomi says, "What exactly are you agreeing too~?"
"To help out here, while I get my foot in the door, is that okay by yo-," I am interrupted by a sudden squeal and Naomi comes bolting at me.
Ohmygo-
Naomi impacts me, grabbing me in what seems to be like a hug, knocking me to the floor, leaving me in a confused state for a few seconds, then sudden realization hits.
Thumpthump
Slowly breath, keep calm...
Don't lose concentration...
Thump
Thumpthump
I close my eyes, focusing on the situation at hand, blocking out Naomi and Natsume, which doesn't work too well, as both of them are screaming- presumably over me falling over- louder than... Anything at mind...
My breathing steadied, and my heart rate slowly returning to a semblance of normal, I open my eyes, to see Naomi and Natsume sitting in the corner, holding each other in a fetal position.
I get up, and dust off my back, then look over at the two, them not noticing the fact I got up off my feet.
"Guys...? I'm fine, just... don't do that again," I laugh, trying to ease the mood, when it's near impossible to ease.
Natsume gets up, and brushes off her skirt and shirt, even though I saw no dust, dirt, or dusty dirt... Naomi follows, and then comes over and hugs me, without the tackling.
"Don't you ever scare us like that ever~ again! Now, tell me, what in God's name was that?!?!"
I sigh, this time verbally, then answer, "I came to Yamaku due to a Heart Condition- Arrhythmia- if I get knocked in the chest, over exert myself, or simply mess something up..." I stop, not wanting to say what would happen, then continue, "That wasn't... major... Just a flutter... Nothing to worry about, promise."
Natsume frowns, not a mad frown, but the kind you see when you look at Funeral Goers.
Rather appropriate, yet inappropriate...
No pity allowed...
"You're still worrying me, to the Nurse with you!" Naomi yells, then yet another sudden wave of realization hits me.
I forgot to go to the Nurse yesterday.
In all the commotion, I forgot to go to the Nurse.
Good job, Hisao, nice step towards a new life.
"I do suppose I should go, but-," I start to say, but then get interrupted again.
"No buts! Shoo~!" says Naomi, Natsume looking over her shoulder, nodding at me with a glassy gaze, her differently coloured eyes intensifying the effect of... whatever that is.
At that cue, I turn, and walk away, the pair giggling as I walk away.
I tried for 5k words, but my attention span isn't even close to allowing that yet. I shall hope to increase the length by .5k by each chapter until I hit 7.5k word chapters.
And again, sorry for the wait. Life came, I got a gal, regained my lost art skill- or whatever is left of it- and found very little time for writing. I think Fridays are gonna be my prospective times for writing, but no promises.
I also like the idea of Sunday Morning releases.
Also, another dialogue heavy chapter. Next chapter'll have plenty of those internal monologues, which I shall be paying very special attention to.
I am enjoying it so far though, so good work my friend.
it's on my top 5 list
