Chapter 15: My efforts from worrying about you, give it back.

"It was supposed to be a short task but.."

"We're so sorry, Yukinon! We had an extended homeroom today so it took us a while to come, really!"

In a grey-colored sunless afternoon, after having to do what should've been a menial task, the Service club members have a little bit of chitchat to do before ultimately going home. The topic being, something about Yuigahama and I arriving late to the StuCo office when we needed to be on time, all the while leaving Yukinoshita to do all the work for us while we weren't there.

"..."

Normally, we, or more so Yukinoshita, wouldn't brood over such a trivial matter, but for today, said trivial matter inconvenienced us by a little bit.

Case was, one, we were about to finish today a task asked to us by Isshiki with the cooperation of the StuCo, and two, Yukinoshita said she had somewhere she needed to go to after we were done.

Once she had dealt with Isshiki first, she'll go right home and get ready. ...At least that was the plan. Yukinoshita even said to the StuCo, with confidence, that she'll get the task done by today.

Well, in the end, we all did get it done, with some bit of legroom to spare. But you know, having to do it under a time pressure, we might've spent some sanity and morale along the way.

"..Hn."

After listening to what Yuigahama had to say and looking contented about it, Yukinoshita slowly turned her attention to me. Almost like she's asking for my input.

"..Hiratsuka-sensei slipped into a rant and nobody could stop her flow. It's not like it's really our fault here that we came late." With a straightforward demeanor, I added to the discussion, supporting what Yuigahama had said earlier in hopes to better our case.

"Hmm..." Proceeding to lightly sigh at the sorry sight of her two clubmates, Yukinoshita Yukino loosened her previously stiff shoulders. Soon, the stern look of hers followed and also disappeared, finally signifying a change of pace.

"I guess it couldn't be helped... I'm just glad we still made it on time somehow." Yukinoshita murmured almost to herself, the brows on her face finally relaxing. She then gave a resigned peek into the horizon outside, to which Yuigahama and I followed suit. "For now.. let's worry about the situation ahead first."

Another repressed sigh could be heard escape Yukinoshita right after..

"..Neh, neh, Yukinon, did you bring an umbrella?"

In contrast to the one who's already massaging her forehead in dismay, Yuigahama's spirits begun to raise up, shifting the topic once again herself.

"The weather forecast today told that the afternoon was going to be this miserable, so I did prepare one beforehand. ..Why do you ask, Yuigahama-san, did you forget yours?"

"Nah, it's here. See?"

...To add to one's set of troubles, it also started raining this late in the afternoon, just right after dismissal for classes has started.

Looking at it right now, the downpour was not too heavy that it was a no-go sort of thing, but it was also not light enough that you could just shrug it off like you do with drizzle.

We were.. welcomed with one more inconvenience we'd rather not have at the moment.

"...It's doable, I've had worse days of trekking through the rain, although I can't assure of the chances of staying 100% dry on this one."

I confidently commented interjecting into the conversation, all the while readying the black umbrella I had at hand.

"Well, it's just like Hikki said, also, it's not like we have any other choice, right? Plus it's a rare chance for us to walk in the rain together after school, right? Right?" Yuigahama cheerfully added right after me, a little aura of enthusiasm already exuding from her body.

"Yuigahama-san, that's.. what got you excited?"

"I mean, it's not like that. It's more like doing something, say, different from time to time, you know? Hehe.."

"Different, you say.."

.

.

.

Letting the two entertain each other and ease themselves from earlier, I shifted my attention away and begun to wait in solace, reassessing my options.

"Cute pattern you got there, suits you."

"...Weren't you the one who gifted me this umbrella?"

"Haha, I know, right?!"

While casually staring at some group of people outside that just went ahead of us three, I took a long, deep breath before soon descending myself into a deep thought.. deep thought.. deep..

...actually, nevermind.

"Haa.. no good, huh."

Not long after some half-assed deductions that eventually lead to nowhere, I just gave up and sighed to myself. It seems like my brain's too fried to even think of such complex things right now.

Feeling defeated, my eyes then drifted back into the scenery of concrete, people and the atmosphere they bring, my already depleted mind pondering instead about what I should do once I do get home. A hot bath.. and some bed rest right after this would really be nice.. I then greedily thought to myself.

"..."

As I continue to mindlessly turn my head around, looking for something interesting to occupy my attention while waiting for Yukinoshita and Yuigahama to figure things out, I sort of found myself looking a little while longer at a specific spot of some students loitering around.

With my eyes narrowing as I silently focus more and more on that one spot, the reason why I did so became clearer and clearer to me.

"Hmm...?"

.

.

Among the sea of people walking, leaving and chatting with each other, I was unable to ignore one girl that looked like she was all by herself.

Their normally distinguishable figure was far away enough that it blended well enough into the crowd, that if you weren't paying attention, you would miss them.

Perhaps it was because of how tired I was that I almost missed them from a just few handful of people around. Then again, maybe it was also the fact that the way this person normally acts wasn't reflected that well with how they're choosing to display themselves right here and now.

In any case, that's just how it was.

A normally strong presence easily recognizable, that for today, and for some reasons, was unusually weak in comparison.

"..."

Curious as I was to what reason she was doing here all alone looking like an unapproachable delinquent with no friends, I continued to look at her direction, waiting for her to do something.

"..."

Even as I patiently continue to wait more and more, it looked like she wasn't about to move an inch anytime soon. She was just content about staring at the rain that continued to pour endlessly before her. Like a statue, lifeless.

Also, even if I was looking at them from the corner of their vision for how long now, the girl looked like she still hasn't noticed the three of us at all. Actually, I guess it was more apt to say that her attention was put all towards looking at the horizon before her, considering the fact that she wasn't bothering with the people that's walking past by her from time to time.

The way she stared at the sky, like some depression-stricken stereotype of a character that she shouldn't be, reminded me of the time her mind was occupied with her fight with Hayama and how much it troubled her.

...Seeing her being this melancholic again only made me feel empty myself.

And so..

"Say.. you guys can go ahead if you want to."

After a long duration of staying silent, I finally spoke up with a calm voice, catching one last glimpse of said person before doing so."..I think I'll be here for little while more."

Turning to face the two girls I was with, I was then met with troubled and confused expressions.

"Eh? Did you forget something at the clubroom, Hikki? Want me to get it with you?" Surprised by my sudden barging into the conversation again, Yuigahama took a moment to blink at me before replying. Even so, she still managed to keep that lukewarm tone she had with Yukinoshita earlier.

"Nah, nothing like that."

"Uhh.. what is it then, Hikki? You sorta sounded so serious all of the sudden."

"...It's just.. I.."

I opened my mouth to say something, only to end up stuttering on my words.

Hmm..

Somehow it didn't occur to me how embarrassing it would sound if I say it outright that I saw the girl and wanted to check up on her just now.

"...I've.. just got something that came up on my mind just now, that's all." Then composing myself while letting out a snicker, I replied with invigorated confidence, while keeping the subject intentionally vague.

"Uh.. okay. If that's the case, Yukinon and I can go..."

"Yeah..."

Thankfully enough, even with the silly and troublesome way I played around it, it looked like Yuigahama accepted my answer.

As for Yukinoshita...

"The rain's not stopping any minute, Hikigaya-kun."

Totally different from Yuigahama's warm voice, I was met with Yukinoshita's cold, tired gaze again.

"..what're you going to do here this late?" She asked of me so concernedly, the intensity of her glare tells me she was curiously invested in what I said more than she needed to.

"I'm just gonna check on something, it won't take long. That said, you guys shouldn't wait for me. You're on a rush yourself, right?"

"..."

For a few seconds, Yukinoshita and I silently narrowed our eyes at each other, waiting for the other to say something.

"...Hn. Fine."

Perhaps because of the fact that she was really the one on a time constraint right now, Yukinoshita didn't have much bite on her, and was the one to speak up first after sighing. "...We'll be on our way then. Do try to stay dry on the way home." She replied as she musters up a resigned smile as an apology, albeit weakly.

"Will do, thanks." I retorted to her with a mediocre one of my own.

"Hmm.." Yukinoshita proceeded to pause again and looked at me pondering, as if to say something she forgot, but decided not to reply at the end. She then glanced at Yuigahama and asked her. "Yuigahama-san, shall we go?"

"Yukinon, wanna share an umbrella?"

"Yuigahama-san, why would we..? We have two.."

With final farewells exchanged among the three of us, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama started walking towards the gate while I stayed rooted on place to see them off.

I continued to silently eye them from afar, I continued so way until their figures were blended together with the horizon. After making sure they had exited the gate without much issue, only then did I turn my attention towards the other way.

Now, what's up with you?

With that thought in mind, I begun to walk towards the direction of the other person in question.

Silently, and with slow steps, I watched that blonde hair of hers softly sway from the occasional cold breeze of wind.

"...Waiting the rain out?"

Uttering a single question towards her direction, I slowly approached the absentminded-looking girl from behind, stopping on my tracks only when she finally turned her body towards me.

"..."

She slowly and silently stared back at me, her eyes looking like they're still not done processing the situation that presented itself.

Patiently waiting for a reaction from the girl, I just stood there and bid my time. In the meantime, the people around us filled the cool, moist air with hearty chatter, which when immediately mixed with the already audible sound of rain hitting the ground made a lingering soft static in one's ear.

"Yeah.." Miura softly nodded her head, finally in response. Then she calmly answered in a manner as if we were already talking to each other awhile ago. "..No way I can go with this kind of downpour, right?"

Somehow she answered normally, and in some way, her answering normally like that only gave me disappointed feelings.

How.. normal.

"Wait." Not even waiting for a reply back, she quickly waved her hand at me right after.

Like snapping into reality, the girl once void of motion sprang into life and quickly acted on whatever whim that came into her mind just at the moment.

"...Give me a second, Hikio." She calmly said while fiddling with the insides of her bag, with the outcome being her able to bring out her phone.

Along with said large rectangular phone of hers making its appearance, a familiar toy turtle that it was paired with momentarily caught my inconsequential glimpse along the way.

"There... all done."

As soon as she finishes typing out and sending what I assumed was a text message for somebody, that strong expression I was always accustomed to from her eventually made its appearance.

"...So, you wanna go somewhere else for the time being?"

Miura's sharp, green eyes now lit up with a bit of life in them, a somehow fitting contrast to that of the gloomy grey above us.

"So, what were you doing to be still here around this time?"

While the two of us were making our way into the hallway, Miura curiously asked me a question in what I assume was just small talk.

Because she was the one leading the way while I was technically following her, I couldn't really see her face for the time being. Even so, I still decided to reply while choosing to cast a sidelong glance outside the hallway. "..Club activities, what else would it be?"

"...you know, I should've figured that out." She said with a softer voice as she turned her head around to look at me, as though disappointed at herself. "Even so, you guys are awfully late this time, huh.." She commented further.

"We did have a longer homeroom than normal.."

"Hmm, right, Sensei just went on a tangent and dragged it way too long. That sorta happened in a flash."

"Too long that Yuigahama and I had to be on a quicker pace to get to where we needed to be when we were actually allowed to go."

"Somebody should've called her out so we could've went home earlier, you know?.."

"Hm, call her out, you say? I pray that you find one. Count me out on the get go, I, for one, won't try to commit suicide by angering the already hostile beast..."

"Haha, right.. that doesn't sound like something you'll do in class in a million years." She amusingly mumbled as she let out a weak laugh, then quickly returning to the inquisitive manner she was in earlier right after. "Hm, if that's it then.. where's the other two?"

"The other two?" I curiously asked back.

"The other two, come on, who else would I mean by that at this point..." Saying that, Miura turned back one more time and looked past me with considerable focus, towards an empty space, as if contemplating on the whereabouts of some imaginary people.

Oh, she probably meant Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, huh..

"They.. already went home." Realizing the answer I just blurted out, I couldn't help but sigh before continuing. The three of us just had a long day, after all. "...Yukinoshita had somewhere she needed to attend to after today's club hours, so she said this morning."

Something about her sister dragging her into something she originally didn't wanna go, was the thing she mentioned.

"..Well, if they already did.." Satisfied with the answer I gave, Miura then shifted the question directly at me. "...then why're you still here?"

"...I was about to go with them to the gates when I saw you mucking in some corner, all by yourself."

I say that but it's just us three walking together up until the gate, really.

"...When you saw me, huh. I see." Hearing this, Miura slowly turned her gaze away right after, choosing to focus on what's ahead of her again, like she should've been doing in the first place.

"My, so it's all my fault now, huh?" She followed up in a mellower yet also somehow mocking voice, putting an extra emphasis on the sarcasm part. It's like she's not believing me one bit..

I may not be able to see her face right now but with that kind of tone overflowing with such mockery, I really didn't need to.

"Yeah, yeah," With resignation, I grumpily nodded at her remark as I continue to stare at that back of hers, the words she said still playing in my mind.

"...it totally is yours."

With the same amount of witty spite, I reciprocated a reply in return.

"There are some tables left but.."

Crossing her arms coupled with a disappointed look on her face, Miura followed up with what I said. "...It's a bit crowded today, isn't it?"

The two of us found ourselves coming to the library with the purpose of loitering around until we see fit.

But seeing the place now.. the library was unexpectedly chocked full of students today.

If one would bet on why half or more of these people even came here, their safest answer would be our very same reason for coming. These guys are also waiting the rain out and trying to pass the time, huh.

Also, technically, it really wasn't a full house, with a few spare tables and chairs here and there, but I'm saying that in perspective of how a library was usually occupied anyway. Seeing as most desks were occupied by at least two or more person with a few outliers of empty ones out there, you couldn't really say you want to stay in such a place either.

We could try and settle with the leftover tables here but, that defeats the purpose, doesn't it? ...It's a bit too distracting and rowdy, for a library, anyway.

"..." Leaving the matters of both space and personal space aside, I looked around the whole visible vicinity one more time. With that scan of the surroundings, I begun noticing a few recognizable faces among the students occupying the library.

Some even exchanged gazes with me.

There's even a couple of our guys in class here. I thought to myself as I soon receive looks from a couple of them.

"..Say, would the classroom be okay? Although, knowing them, I suspect some of our classmates are still there." The girl beside me commented while looking into the same direction as I am, receiving the same curious eyefuls from the same people. "Even so, it's totally better than being here, don't you think?" She added, turning her gaze towards me.

"...You wanna go to the clubroom?"

Not even bothering to answer the matter she brought up, I casually shot up an idea I had floating in my head for a while now.

"..."

Seemingly taken aback by what I said, Miura's eyes momentarily widened before her expression relaxed again. "Clubroo.. wouldn't that be closed already?"

"That's why I'll go see if I can fetch the key back from the faculty office. Well? If you're looking for a quieter place to stay, then that one should be fine, right?""

"Hmm.." She then firmly held her chin as if to ponder upon the idea. "I guess if we don't have many other choices.."

"...Judging by your tone, would you prefer some other place then?"

"Hm, no, no! It's totally fine there. That's my bad." After an apologetic shake of her head, Miura tightened the grip on her bag as she walks back to the library's entrance and ahead of me. "Honestly, I just didn't expect we'd come there after so long, that's all.."

She then looked back at me with anticipating eyes.

"Hikio.. let's go?"

"Guess we're going to the faculty now, right?"

Exiting the library, Miura and I found ourselves stopping right away, just at the entrance, pondering about our next move.

"Actually, you can go ahead if you want. I'll just take a few minutes." Already readying myself to part ways for the faculty room by then, I casually suggested back to the girl.

"You're going by yourself?.." ..To which Miura then met with unusual surprise.

"Well, yeah."

There's no need to tire ourselves both, right? was what I had in mind when I said those words..

"...You sure?"

"I'm.. sure?" The way she then asked that caught me so off-guard that even I had to question myself for a moment there. The confidence I managed to display with earlier disappeared in an instant. "What do you mean?"

As I curiously asked what she meant by that, the girl let out a deep exhale.

"Well.." Miura glanced sideways, hugging the strap of her bag in the process. She then muttered in a solemn, almost tired tone. "It's not like I've anywhere else to go too, you know.."

"Uh... hm..." Confronted by such a sulking tone, it took me a bit of time to absorb everything before coming up with a reply.

...Seriously, what's with you today?

"Anyway.. y-yeah, just go ahead of me." My flustered self somewhat managed to reply after clearing my throat. "..There's no need for two people to ask for a key either, right?.."

"...Ah, jeez, fine! If you say so.."

After a brief hesitation, Miura reluctantly nodded her head as she gives up on the matter. "I'll go keep the clubroom's door company so go ahead and get the key, mister.." She protested with her arms crossed this time, a worn-out frown of disappointment could be seen on her face.

Mutually agreeing to an extent, Miura and I parted ways, with my destination being the faculty office while she headed for the clubroom itself.

Curious and also somewhat feeling guilty about earlier, I turned my head around and took one last peek at her as she goes the other direction, in the end only getting to see that back of hers as she walks farther away, unable to do anything.

"..."

Seeing her act that way only confirmed my suspicions when I saw her in isolation earlier.

Miura was always a bundle of emotions, even before I could easily talk to her like this.

Getting openly pissed off at things she doesn't like, voicing out her opinions over a matter just because she felt like it, there's even the case of her breaking into tears when she loses an argument to Yukinoshita. Stuff like those and many more that I came to witness from her over time.

Sometimes she lets those said emotions out without a care in the world, the other times she lets them stay bottled up inside her. Which emotions she wants to keep inside her and what emotions she lets loose, the methods she uses to decide which is which.. I haven't truly understood them yet.

That all said.. she is acting extra strange today.

Other than me impromptu coming up with an excuse on why I went back to take the key (when I was also the one who returned it there in the first place), my trip to the faculty office was uneventful. And oh, I think I saw Isshiki from the corner of my eyes that one time but I'm not sure, I didn't really get a good eyeful before realizing if it was her.

Well, she would've called for my attention if she saw me, right? Probably.. maybe.

Making my way to the clubroom through the empty hallway, I found myself reflexively rubbing my hands together, huffing some warm breath in between my merged palms.

With time slowly passing by, the air's temperature seem to be dropping more and more as we approach and transition from late afternoon-evening into actual early night. The amount of students lingering has also been reduced significantly, them having no other choice but to go home under the never ending downpour that was supposed to weaken as they waited.

...Speaking of which, when will this rain end?

Just when I had the clubroom's door in my line of sight again, I first saw Miura sitting on the ground fiddling with her phone, still oblivious to the fact that I was already here.

When she finally did notice me silently coming towards her, her head raised up, checking if it was actually me at first, with her body following right after as to greet me.

I was then met with a scornful look.

"...Took you long enough."

"Sorry, was it actually that long?"

Still having some of that residual sourness from earlier, Miura's voice wasn't something I could call 'cheerful' at this point in time.

"...How long, you say... let's just say short enough that I haven't yet thought that you'd left me.." Then casting a long gaze to the side, she calmly answered as she held her chin in deep thought. "...but long enough that I felt stupid waiting here all alone."

"I see.."

Hmmm.. Slightly amused with the way she said that while still deciding to don that unpleasant expression, I went 'Oho?' in my mind, subtly suppressing the weak smile that wants to break out.

Was that answer also the result of you having to wait here, I wonder?

"Anyway.." Satisfied with the answer herself, Miura then went 'Oh, right..' to herself, as if forgetting something she should've done in the first place, ultimately grabbing something out of her blazer's pockets and reaching it to me. I say reaching it but not really handing it yet.

"Oh yeah, here, Hikio. I've got us some while you were taking your time, since the weather's cold and all." She said to me while staying focused at digging at both her pockets one at a time.

"Oh... oh. ..Thanks?" Given the attitude she was choosing to display earlier, it was also given that I would be a little bit confused by the sudden kind gesture. So I didn't really know how to respond at first.

With her outstretched hand and a much more somber face, what presented before me was a small can of hot black coffee, its heat I could feel radiating from the short distance we had.

"...You want it or not?"

To Miura's question, I gently shook my head and nonchalantly said. "I want it, actually. It is getting cold, so I'll take it. I want to warm myself up."

"I know, right? It's cold that it makes me not want to go home more." Saying that while heavily nodding her head in agreement, Miura then turned her back to me and faced the clubroom door.. still not handing out the can to me in the process, mind you.

"Though before that... can you open the door first? My butt's been killing me having to sit here."

After doing a gesture to nobody in particular inside, I gently flicked the lights of the already dark clubroom. With the room now lit up, I stepped in and looked around.

...It's the same from where we left it. Well, that much is expected.

"..."

"Intruding in.."

Miura followed after me, making a beeline towards the table shortly right as she entered.

"Hikio.." After taking some time deciding whether or not to take a seat before me already, she looked back at me instead. "...what're these for?" With her eyes pointing at the table and what's on top of it, she asked me.

"Oh... that's.. the Student's Council's materials from earlier.." I commented in realization of what she meant.

Due to the time constraint, we decided to finish everything that was necessary at the StuCo Office and leave the general fixing up of things for tomorrow.

Since we were in such a hurry, we had left these just lying around here for the time being.

"Anyway, let me set them aside for now.."

"Hn.. if you say so.."

Putting aside my things on my seat, I grabbed the pile of papers and put it on the ground.

One by one, I compiled the list of documents and checklists into a box, keeping careful on how I fold and stack them on each other.

While I was painstakingly arranging the papers into a box, Miura was taking time pondering on what she should do herself.

"..." Silently, I begun watching the antics of said woman.

Eyeing the now empty table before her with a certain intent, Miura placed both of her bag and phone on top while also placing my portion on my part of the table. After which, she lifted Yuigahama's seat, and with short steps carried it closer to mine's. While doing all of this, she subtly started humming a song to herself.

"Hm.."

Too distracted to realize that I was focusing too much on her carefree humming instead of my job, it didn't take long for Miura to notice me herself and glanced back with a troubled look on her face.

"...what? Is there something on me?" She worriedly asked as she caresses her cheeks for the imaginary object in question.

"No, it's nothing. Don't worry about it." I said with a wry smile, sighing as I looked away to finish the task at hand. "I was just.. thinking of something from earlier."

...You're feeling a lot better.. was what I wanted to actually say

.

.

Once done with a little cleaning up, I soon joined Miura and sat on the table. Looking forward to some amount of time relaxing, I took out my novel, then afterwards, turned my attention towards the coffee I was handed to.

Touching the drink carefully at first to test out if I get burned, I then grasped it fully with my fingers in an attempt to find some comforting warmth, only to discover just the adequate amount of heat radiating from the can.

Oi, wasn't this hot like five minutes ago? Why did it suddenly get colder than the cheap soup they serve at the cafeteria?

"..."

Dismayed by my discovery, I reflexively stole some glances towards Miura, to see if she was in the same position as I was.

Much to my already despairing self, it looked like she actually was enjoying herself, with her taking a few calculated sips in between her using her phone. You look like you're really enjoying yours, was it just my portion that's like this?

"Hey, Miura.." I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"Yeah?"

"Is your drink hot or.."

"It's warm at best now." She immediately interjected, not even letting me finish my question.

"...I see."

Seeing that it was both ours, I sighed and glanced back at the drink in my hand. ...Well, I can't really complain about this, it's somebody else's treat, anyway.

Taking another good look at said can, it was then that I noticed, or rather remembered..

"...What's the matter?" Miura then innocently asked.

"Nothing too important," I answered displaying a defeated smile, still staring at the can I was holding as we speak. "..It's just that I'm more used to the sweeter kind."

Soon after I said those words, Miura's face that finally relaxed itself earlier tensed up again. But instead of getting pissed off or something like that, her expression reminded me more of a kid in the middle of a tantrum.

"Well... that's my bad then." She said, or rather muttered, the small smile she had from back then slowly fading away. "I'll go get you what you want next time."

She then defiantly chugged a healthy amount of her drink in one go.

"..."

So she did get upset in the end..

By the way, is that the bitterness from the coffee kicking in or are you pouting? You look like you're about to, like Yuigahama's.

Seeing that I might upset her more if I say the wrong thing, I just minded my own business and looked around for the time being.

With the lukewarm coffee I had in my hand, I too drank a good amount and peered outside the windows, letting the bitter taste linger in my mouth a little bit longer.

Along with that not so tasteful experience, an idea suddenly came to mind.

"...The rain's not stopping."

I then casually commented.

Hearing me, Miura followed suit and looked at the sky beyond the clubroom's windows. "As much as I'd prefer not to, we might have to just go home like this if this goes on longer."

Afterwards, I could hear a sigh or two escaping from the girl.

Noticing this, I then breathed in before looking at her direction. With a serious voice, I finally asked her, after all this time.

"...Long day?"

Sensing the bait I just laid, Miura slowly turned to face me and crossed her arms. Then sighed as if ultimately giving up.

All that with a grumpy face, might I add.

"Yeah," Replying more enthusiastically now, Miura stared at the ceiling with a melancholic look on her face. "...maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed or ate something that ruined my stomach, I'm not sure. It's not like I intentionally did something to ruin my mood either.. I just felt like this wasn't my day, you know."

Then she looked at the opposite direction, and towards the window. "...The rain right now isn't helping either."

"Hmm.." I nodded my head as I pondered into a deep thought about what she said. "So.. nothing too serious then?"

Nothing too serious.. for example, like the one problem you had a month ago.

"Nothing, okay? It's just not my day, okay?" Then repeatedly rocking her chair in frustration, Miura impatiently answered like a middle schooler being pestered by her parents.

"...I see." Was all I could say back to her after hearing those words.

Absorbing all that she said, I suddenly felt a sense of ease and relief.

But also betrayal.

Relief, that it wasn't even near the magnitude of what she had to deal with previously, and betrayal, that it was just as mundane as her feeling down.

"Did you really have to ask that right now? Jeez, when did you become so inquisitive about things?" Miura continued on, still adamant on showing her moody side as she keeps on protesting.

"..." I only kept quiet and listened to her mumble on, this scene she's making reminded of the times I listened to Komachi let out all her problems. It gave me that sort of feeling.

Seeing her voice out all her complaints and ramblings to me right now, I couldn't help but.. find her cute.

...A little too cute, even, I'd say.

That was when I thought I should tease her a little, even by a little bit. See if I can push my luck, something of those sorts.

..A timid, bashful Miura is fine too.

.

.

Forcing a cough out of my throat, I then spoke up, making Miura direct her attention all to me.

"I just had to be sure, you know."

"...sure about what?"

The girl lifted her head at me in genuine puzzlement, still rocking her chair back and forth as if already getting comfortable about doing it by then.

"...The last time you looked so down you dragged me into a 'date'. So, I thought.. better be prepared than not.. something like that."

Then, intentionally casting a sidelong glance at her, I somberly followed up with a question.

"...Well, you wanna go on one?"

"..."

Miura, completely at a standstill right now, silently stared at me as if trying to decipher a meaning out of what I said, the blank expression on her face unwavering.

Then slowly, her chair that was already tilting inched backwards more and more until..

"...!"

A muffled sound of metal and wood crashing against the floor reverberated through the room.

.

.

.

"That... hurts."

...The girl now lying on the floor so casually commented.

"O..Oi, what the hell is wrong with you, woman? What's with that stunt just now?"

Flustered at the scene that just unfolded before me, I sprang from my own seat and checked on her..

...Only to have my feelings of worry soon be replaced by that of disappointment.

"Ghhh..."

Producing a cute sound I would've never expected from her, Miura held the back of her head as she writhes in pain.. or that's what I think she was doing anyway.

Other than that, with her looking like she only just woke up with a headache, it looked like she was fine. Better than her earlier's ranting, even.

"Oi, are you really okay?" Reaching out my hands to her anyway, I asked while still both shocked and confused about the situation. "...you're spacing out more than usual today."

"Ha?.. Spacing out?!"

After I asked that, the resigned expression she had became more of an annoyed one. "Who'd not be spacing out when you blurt out something like that so out so suddenly! Are you teasing me?" She added, her voice raising up significantly.

"..Teasing you?"

Well, it's not like you're wrong but...

Hey, aren't you the one who trivialized the word date, though? So why're you the one who's getting troubled by it now..

Also, you look a-okay for somebody that just fell back first to the floor.

"Anyway, just get up for now, can you?"

"Hnggh..."

.

.

.

"What the hell were you thinking, Hikio, jeez.."

"It's my bad, all right? I already apologized about it so tone it down a little, okay?"

After a couple of minutes trying to figure things out, Miura and I somehow managed to settle down and talk things out.

Right now, I remain seated on my part of the table, paying half of my attention to the girl with the rest of it being put towards reading. Meanwhile Miura sat not so far away, fixing herself after such fall.

"Hey, Hikio.." After a while of staying quiet fixing her hair, Miura was the one who was first to speak up.

"Yeah?" I casually glanced at her, expecting something mundane.

"Say, did I miss a spot?" She then asked as she turns around in order for me to look at what's she's talking about.

"...Yeah, just above your back, below your neck, there's dust marks on them."

Hearing that, Miura continued to pat her own back with her handkerchief but not before muttering a 'thanks' to my direction.

Satisfied with helping her out finish fixing up, I opened up my novel again... before putting it aside a second time, the cause being an amusing thought that just came to mind right now, a thought that I had to make into a remark.

After closing the novel, reminding myself of where I left for later, I then opened my mouth instead.

"So even you have mundane bad days, color me surprised.."

"..."

In reaction to my comment of her, Miura's lips curved upwards... but with the way she looked like right now, I'm not sure if she wanted to appear amused or offended by it. Hell, I don't think she even knows herself.

"Heh..." In an act of giving up, she just decided to laugh it all, all the while staring at the now cold can of coffee she was now caressing with her fingers. "Just what the hell did you think of me, Hikio?" She commented in such a soft voice.

Seeing her face light up, I chose not to answer and instead decided to focus on something else, whatever it may be.

Placing my free hand on the table, I rested my cheeks on my palm, looked the other way and then sighed.

I said I would try teasing her but look at how it turned out.

.

.

.

Miura, with her head now buried in her arms as she completely rests her upper body's weight on the table, contently stares at her phone.

Meanwhile I satisfied myself with staring through the window, waiting for a change of course for the weather.

That was how we were after sobering up from earlier. Being like this, we were actually fulfilling the original goal of just burning time while not making a scene.

It seemed like it's going to be quiet for awhile.

Then, just as I had that thought, a knock came coming from the door.

"Excuse me, is there someone in here? Senpai?"

A third voice shyly invited itself into the scene.

"..." Like a normal person, I turned my head towards the door where the voice was coming from.

Meanwhile, Miura, who was still busy checking and patting dust off her blazer, quietly looked at me, motioning me to act on the situation.

I guess, technically, I had the say on the matter. Since you know, I'm the only one official member here.

"You can come in."

"...Senpai, you there?"

With the door opening slowly, what then revealed to us was none other than the sly kouhai I just spent a couple of hours working with a little earlier. Blinking a couple of times as some sort of gesture, she exchanged eye contact with me.

"Isshiki? What's with the polite way of entering? Anyway, you need me for anything?"

"No.. we're really done for the day, leave the rest to us and don't worry about it. Um, yes.. I was just wondering something about.." Isshiki's curious eyes solely focused on me, but that concentration stopped as soon as she eyed out that I had company. "Eh? Miura-senpai?!"

"Hey, Isshiki." Contrast to Isshiki's bewilderment, Miura casually bid her hello.

"So, what're you doing here then?" Interjecting what should've been the conversation I'm in, I asked again.

"...I was just wondering why I saw Senpai coming back again when you guys clearly insisted on going home afterwards.." Isshiki, with her cutesy facade on full display, answered to us so bluntly. "So I came here to check, just in case..."

"Is that so.." Nodding my head to her words, I then came to the conclusion of what happened earlier So it really was Isshiki that I saw earlier..

"More importantly, Miura-senpai, why are you here?" Isshiki then asked in an even more curious tone. Without even waiting for an answer, she then made a comical gasp immediately after. "Don't tell me you were punished by Hiratsuka-sensei and got reinstated as a member or something like that?"

"What the hell, Isshiki, it's nothing of that sort, haha."

"Eh, then why?"

Sobering up from her momentary moment of laughter brought by Isshiki herself, Miura then coughed as if to reset herself. "I was waiting for the rain to clear up a bit, then I met Hikio. After which sorta ended up like this. We're just wasting our time in the clubroom now, you see."

"...And?"

"That's it." I answered in Miura's stead, taking one sip before doing so.

"That's it...?"

With Miura's confirmation from her silently nodding to her, Isshiki then momentarily paused, seemingly deep in thought about what Miura just said. "Is that so..."

"Would you like to join me and Hikio, Isshiki? ...Although I guess we can't provide snacks right now."

"Um, no, I'm fine, I'm fine, I was about to go back to the office before this whole short detour happened."

"You're awfully free to even decide to have a detour to begin with."

"Well, it's all thanks to you senpais that I get to have it. Although, looking back at it, it kinda was your own fault for making me worry in the first place." Isshiki waved her hand along with an unusually nervous laugh.

She then bowed to us as she readied to leave. "Hm, I still have business to deal with in there so I'll be taking my leave. Go enjoy yourselves, and sorry for disturbing!"

With Isshiki muttering 'Now then..' as she eyed us one last time, the door closed

After a few seconds to let the sudden appearance and disappearance of one Isshiki Iroha, Miura glanced at me and said. "Shame, she could've joined us. Hmm, she's gotten busy, hasn't she?"

"I'm not really sure how to say it but yeah, she has.."

After some time after Isshiki left, the atmosphere of the clubroom became more quieter and serene. With us not doing much (as that was the point), I just read my novel in peace while Miura made herself busy with her phone.

This type of scenery continued on until our original goal of waiting out the rain was achieved.

"..."

Finally, after having to make us wait longer than we needed to, the skies looked like they're finally calming down, with the sun and its dying rays making one final appearance before retiring for the night.

Wasting no time at it, I stood up and grabbed my bag, making a beeline towards the door right after.

"Well then, better get going before the sky changes its mind." I said out loud, making sure my companion sitting beside me heard it.

"It does look like it's starting to clear up now.." Still sitting cozily in her seat staring at her phone, Miura then looked at the windows' direction and commented. "..Hey, wait for me!"

In order to return the key, I went back to the faculty office for the fourth time. This time though, Miura accompanied me. Or rather, she insisted she comes along.

Just as we exited the faculty office...

"Hey, Hikio.."

Catching up to me by a short sprint, Miura lightly tapped on my shoulder a couple of times and enthusiastically suggested.

"...let's stop by somewhere and grab something to eat along the way. The coffee alone isn't cutting it."

"Hmm.." Slowly processing the words she spouted, I let out a small, tired breath. "Before that, Miura.."

Putting the thought of us never really discussing about going home together aside for now, I stopped on my tracks and let Miura advance a few steps. Raising my free hand, I then..

"Hm? Hikio?"

"Hold still for a bit."

...repeatedly patted Miura's back.

Since it was just under her the back of her collar, she really couldn't had seen the hidden patch of dust and dirt from earlier, unless she took her blazer off altogether.

"..."

Without a word, I continued patting the leftover dust off her back, staying mindful not to do any unnecessary movements on my side.

Miura only quietly stared at my hand (then subsequently my face), and waited, seemingly quick to understand the intent.

..Although as soon as I praised that composure of hers inside my mind, her cheeks started to blush. Composed, yes, but gradually blushing.

...It's becoming hard to concentrate on my task.

Once I was about to be done, only then did I answer her words...

"...If the weather continues on like this, I don't mind, we can go."

With my eyes deciding to look away and instead fixate themselves on the already dispersing sky outside, I slowly grabbed up the umbrella I was holding with a weak grip.

.

.

.

"Nah, Hikio, you craving for anything in particular? I'm thinking of where to go.."

"Let's see... something heavy doesn't sound half bad right now."

"Something heavy, then..."

A/N

I wanted to insert Ebina in this chapter but I couldn't see how.

As always, I'll fix the errors when I get the time.