章 52: No Time for Fun
"Why did you have to say it like that?" Arata lamented. When Misei said those words to him. He thought he was in for a world of pain. Once he understood what she meant, he just wanted to die from the embarrassment of those other girls hearing it.
"I'm sorry, I was just doing my job." She reasoned that she was just being the school president. This was normal for her to say that to troublemakers. All she wanted him to do was just help finish up some paperwork at the student council room.
"I think those other girls probably took the wrong way." He was certain that they had lewd thoughts as to what Misei had planned for him. He sorted through the papers she had handed him. Mostly just official notes that had to be filled with information for the school after this was all over.
"She's only acting like this because she's mad at you." Misao stated, which prompted a quick defense from Misei.
"As if. I'm not the type of person to hold a grudge." The panic in her voice was clear.
"Huh? I didn't think that you'd miss me eating lunch with you guys." The two didn't talk that much with each other, even after settling their differences. Not that they ignored each other either.
"You're like parsley." She replied.
"I'm what?"
"Parsley. You know, something that doesn't seem like it matters. But you notice it when it's gone." Arata couldn't tell what she was talking about. It felt like she was trying to be smart or wise or something with the way she described it.
"We've missed you." Misao clarified.
"I suppose that would be a way of putting it." Misei meekly agreed.
"Aww, well to be honest. I've missed you all too." He admitted. Much to Misao's enjoyment. It felt odd to him to say this to them, but it was the way he felt. "I'm sure you both know why I can't come back right now. But I promise that I'll be able to do that again soon." He wasn't sure if that was a promise he was going to be able to keep. After all, it was contingent on the actions of someone else.
"That's good to hear then." Misei responded. There was something in the way she was talking that was bothering him.
"Hey, I thought we both agreed that we would talk to each other like normal people?" He asked. "But you're acting like a teacher or parent to me-"
"Shh." Misao pulled him in to whisper in his ear. "Don't take it personal. She's just doing it to hide her feelings."
"I get that, but it's kind of breaking the rules, don't you think?" He replied.
"Maybe we should just talk about Erina." Misei cut into their conversation, trying to change the subject. It wasn't really something he felt comfortable talking about.
"Maybe we shouldn't." He replied, nervously scratching the back of his head. "after all, you're probably just going to tell me to forgive her."
"Are we? And should you though?" Misao asked. That felt like an odd question from her. He knew that she was the one that tried to keep him here, so why try and stop it?
"What do you mean? Aren't you-"
"After all, wouldn't you say that what she did was pretty terrible?" He couldn't deny that fact. She did threaten his school life with the information she held. In fact, there was still the fact that he wasn't sure if she was going to expose him.
"When you put it that way..." He wavered. But something inside him made him feel differently. There was a part of him that didn't want to believe that she was too far from forgiving. Except, he can't forgive her right now. Not until she does something to make him change his mind.
"I don't believe anyone is beyond saving." Misei jumped into their conversation. "As the school president, I believe that every student deserves a second chance. But also as a friend, I believe that she will make things right." That was the way she felt? Hearing her say it, it filled him with confidence again.
"If that's what you say… Then I won't give up hope." He said with a smile, the type to try and cheer himself up, rather than for them.
"Good." Misao simply said. He turned and looked at her. This was a test? Was she trying to figure out his resolve, or something more?
"Hey Misei, Misao." A new person walked into the room. It was Yuriko, carrying a stack of papers. "I've got the rest of the-" She stopped when she saw Arata.
"H-hi…" He nervously waved to her. The last time he saw her was when he was babysitting. That was before things went down between him and Erina.
"A-arata…" She could barely form words. For a split second, she almost had a smile. Then that turned to an angry expression, without time for him to react. Yuriko rushed up and gave him a slap to the face. "You idiot, where have you been? Don't you know that we've all been worried about you?" She scolded him.
"It's… Nice to see you too." He chuckled. Even with the sting on his face, Arata was glad to see her again.
"Whatever, I'm going now." She was about to march out of the room, until she was stopped by something.
"You should go with her." Misao offered the two.
"Are you sure you don't need anymore help?" He asked, intimidated by the large amount of paperwork still left.
"We'll be done before the play." Misei answered. "You two should probably enjoy the rest of the time you have left." He understood what they meant. With the production about to begin, he was going to have to be there the entire time. Even if he wasn't planning on playing any parts.
He thanked them, and left with Yuriko. Even though she seemed happy to see him again. As they walked through the school grounds, she was visibly uncomfortable being with him.
"Is something wrong?" He asked her, noticing the distance she put between the two.
"It's nothing." She lied. "It's just been a while since I saw you." Yuriko missed his presence at lunch, especially since she wasn't expecting their last babysitting session would be the last time she saw him.
"I just thought that you'd miss me a little." He teased.
"Shut up, as if that could be possible." She retorted. "Besides, if I really was missing you, then I could just come over. I don't live far after all." That made him wonder something.
"Actually, now that I think of it." He gave her a questioning look. "How come I don't see you walking to school? I mean, you do walk to get to school, right?"
"Yeah, I walk to school." She answered. "But I gotta drop off my sister first. So I leave a little early." That explained why he never saw her before. Even to the point of never knowing that her house wasn't far.
"Really? Well maybe I should head for school earlier then." He didn't want to admit it to her, but he really missed her. Possibly even more than anyone else. Arata figured that walking to school with her, wouldn't be a bad idea.
"Why? You still wouldn't see me. The elementary school is in the complete opposite direction to here."
"Then, how about I come over in the morning?" He offered. "Then I can help you drop off Yurisa."
"What?" She was taken aback by the proposal. This was unexpected coming from him. Yuriko didn't want to reject him, but she wasn't really ready to accept either.
"I mean, I'm sure that she would be happy with that arrangement." He used an excuse. "Yurisa's always so happy to see me on the weekend, that I'm sure she'd love it."
"Right…" She looked down in disappointment. "I guess if you want to do it for her… Wait a second, you aren't trying something with my sister, are you?"
"What?! No, I'm not that type of person at all." He didn't think she'd get mad at a simple proposal. "I mean, I'm glad that the two of us can walk to school too."
"Really?" She got quiet again.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that I missed you…" He didn't want to admit it, but he felt that maybe she might agree to it, if she knew how he felt. She paused to think about an answer.
"...Then you're free to come over in the mornings. I won't stop you." He wasn't really sure if he should take that as an invitation or not. Except his phone wasn't going to allow him to clarify.
He felt a vibration and checked his messages. It was Yogi, asking where he was. With all this stuff going on with everyone else at the festival. He completely lost track of time. At this rate, he was going to be late. Luckily he wasn't playing an active role here.
"Shoot, I forgot." He apologized for having to leave her. "I gotta get going." He already started his run, when she got out her first words.
"You better go and do your best." She yelled out to him.
"Thanks, I guess? I mean, I'm just an understudy."
"Well. Um…" She stammered, getting flustered at her blunder. "You better not mess anything up or I'll kill you!"
"Yikes, she can be pretty scary." He muttered to himself. "Don't worry, I won't." Arata made sure she heard that at least.
He quickly got to the auditorium in record time. Making his way backstage, things were chaotic, to say the least. People running around, yelling out commands here and there. If he wasn't a part of this production, he would've ran as far away as possible. The warning flags of this going down in flames were signaling to him.
"There you are." Ichiri, the director, scolded him. "Where have you been?"
"Sorry, I just got caught up in some things." He nervously answered.
Then, he saw Erina walking around. She saw him too, and the pair locked eyes for a moment. Instinctively, they both turned their heads away in unison. Things were still awkward between the two. He wasn't sure how he was going to approach her, nor did she.
"Oh good, you're finally here." Yogi came walking up to him and Ichiri. "I was thinking that you might not make it." He was hinting that Arata might decide to ditch, instead of being in the same area as Erina.
"He better have made it." Ichiri was clueless. "After all, he's an understudy. And you never know what might happen during a production."
"How dangerous could backstage really be." Arata countered. "Yogi looks fine, and everyone else-"
"Expect the unexpected." She drilled to him. "You really can't just pretend that we can predict the future." Trying to listen to her, another sound caught his attention. "Did you hear me?"
"Hold on…" He focused on this odd noise. It sounded like… Rope snapping?
"What's wrong?" Yogi asked him. Then, a scream filled all of their ears.
"Someone's hurt!" Arata pinpointed the location immediately, running right away. From that scream, he knew for certain who it was.
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