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Chapter list:
Act 1:
Chapter 1: The first rule of newspaper club (This post)
Chapter 2: Maybe everything will be okay after all
Chapter 3: Lunch is served
Chapter 4: We should make rules
Chapter 5: Maybe Kenji was right?
Chapter 6: Goldfishing is food if you're heartless enough
Chapter 7: Nothing flashy, but it's something new
Chapter 8: A mixture of fear and pain
Chapter 9: How's the heart?
Act 2:
Chapter 10: Natsone and the newspaper girls
Chapter 11: Following a trail of flowers
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Chapter 1: The first rule of newspaper club
POV: Hisao
♫
"If you're not In a club then you should join the student council Hicchan!~" I feared it would come to this. I have to find some way out of this situation, maybe I could just shout "IGOTTAGODOSOMETHING" and run away? No, they'd see through that. Faking a heart attack would get the nurse up here, so that wouldn't work... Oh!
"I... I'm in a club already." As the words leave my mouth, I see Shizune's face curl up into that trademark "I got you" smile. Dammit.
"What club are you in Hicchan?~ We need to know for the registers!" Misha exclaims, now matching Shizune's amused smile. I hadn't thought this far ahead to be honest, I need to think of a club quickly...
"The newspaper club." I don't even know if there is a newspaper club here, I've only been here a week. Perhaps I should have chosen something like "art club" or "science club", I mean there must be a science club.
"Ooh! With Natsume, Naomi and Jun right?~" That was definitely Misha coming though, I hope they believe me.
"Right." I agree, not knowing if that is actually who runs the club. At this point Shizune has walked inside of the student council room that I've been avoiding this whole time, only to return a short time later with a small folder in her hands. She flicks it open and begins scanning through the pages. A single bead of sweat begins to make it's way down from my fringe and across my nose.
"I don't see you name on here Hicchan!~"
"That must be a mistake." I'm sweating bullets here, come on think of something Hisao!
"Well then how about we just add you to the list!~" Shizune procures a pen from the loudest translator in Japan and begins slowly writing my name under the "Newspaper Club" section. I can see that she's waiting for me to break, stopping after each letter and looking to me to see if I've gotten on my kness yet, ready to say that I'm not in the newspaper club so she can force me to join the student council, but I need to be strong. The newspaper club must be better than the student council, right? Once she finishes scribbling my name she looks to me, and meets my eyes with one of pure anger and rage. Glad I got out of that one.
"Thanks ladies!" I wave as I turn and walk away. I can feel the intense signing going on between the two from the changes in air pressure, that was the closest call I've had with the student council so far.
---
BAM BAM BAM.
♫
I almost throw my book out of my hands in shock before checking my chest. Everything seems to sound fine, or at least as close to fine as mine can get. I stand from my bed and move over to the door before opening it. Before me stands a rather large bearded man with a shaved head in a grey jacket and jeans.
"Nakai?"
"Mr.Sasada! what can I do for you?" I attempt to sound as nonchalant as possible despite the fact I could have died just a moment ago. Then I realize that Sasada is my English teacher. "I'm not being roped into extra study sessions am I?" He releases a hearty chuckle, one I could imagine coming from A pirate.
"Nothing like that Nakai, I also run the Newspaper Club!"
Huh? Oh. Oh.
"I'm here to let you know about the time and location we meet." He hands over a small scrap of paper with some notes written in pencil, It's a weekly thing, every Wednesday after school. I can make it, and sacrificing an hour or two from my week seems like a good trade for not having to deal with the deaf cop / loud cop routine every day.
"I also have a couple of questions for you, if you don't mind?"
"Shoot."
"Are you any good with computers?"
"I can put together a basic documents, I sometimes like to type up my homework too."
"Fantastic!" He throws his arms into the air "Jun usually works the computer side of things but she's away for a couple of weeks, luckily we have our own Hisao Nakai to cover for her!"
"Glad I could be of assistance?" I have no clue what I'll be doing in the newspaper club, but I fear that If I mention that I'll "Fail" my next English exam. We say out goodbyes and I return to my room, finding my book splayed out on the floor.
I lost my page as well, dammit.
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♫
"I guess this is my room." I mutter as a check the note I'd been given once again, room numbers match up. I reach for the handle a push the door open.
This must be a really old classroom, I've never seen these desks before and the computers look older than me. It has a the distinct smell of ink and paper, not too dissimilar to the smell that the library gives off, it's quite relaxing. One of the desks near the back of the room is covered in various printers and stacks of paper, ready to be used at any moment. As my gaze wanders, It finally meets on the three people stood in the center of the room.
"Ah, Mr.Nakai!" Sasada exclaims "I'm glad you could make it!" He pats me on the back quite heavily, for a second I consider telling him to stop for fear of killing me. "This is the rest of the club!" He holds out his arms, presenting two girls before me. They're both from my class, but I never learned their names. One has short blonde hair, while the other has darker hair and mismatching eyes. "Unfortunately I have to take my leave, I'll be back before club ends to see what you've done though!" The teacher exclaims before lifting his bag and waving while he leaves the room.
"Hey, I'm Hisao." I place my bag on the table and walk over to the two girls.
"I'm Naomi." The blonde girl speaks up, offering her hand for a shake. "Nice to meetcha' "
"And I'm Natsume!" The darker haired girl steps forward, also offering her hand, locking in an awkward double shake, i'm lucky Naomi is left handed. "Are you joining the club?" the ask in unison.
"Right. Though I have no clue on how to make a newspaper." I scratch the back of my head ruefully, maybe I should have done some research.
"Mr.Sasada told us you were great with computers right?" Naomi says.
"I wouldn't say great..."
"Great!" She grabs my arm and walks me over to one of the computer before flicking a switch on the wall. "Here's how it works:" She begins explaining the club to me. Turns out Natsume does all the interviews and the like, Naomi edits down what Natsume brings, and Jun (or now me) puts all that onto a template for printing in regular size, large print and braille.
"Seems simple enough." I say, making my way through the templates folder.
"Right!" She exclaims before slapping a notepad on the desk. "This is our frontpage for the week, me and Nat are still working on the innards." She adds with a wink. I take the notepad into my hands and look through it; seems to be a story about a local shop owner who saved a Yamaku student that was having an attack of some sort. I flick through the rest of the pages only to find jotted notes, one reads "Transfer student makes a splash at Yamaku" But it's crossed out, I guess I'm not interesting enough for a whole story. We spend the next half of the club doing our own respective tasks, myself tapping away at a keyboard while Naomi and Natsume work on a story. After a half hour, Natsume stands and claps her hands, startling me slightly.
"Time for food!" She exclaims before placing two boxed meals on the table she's sharing with Naomi.
"What about me?" I ask, swiveling on my seat. She looks sheepish for a second before returning to her bag and throwing a single, slightly melted chocolate bar to me. She gives me a wink and beckons me to join them, so I jump from my seat after saving the document I'd been working on.
"How's the story?" I ask, sitting in the chair opposite Natsume.
"A pain." Naomi says before taking a bite of her sandwich. "Can't seem to get it to read right." She tilts her head at the page, as if reading it slightly askew will give her the answer.
"Mind If I take a read? maybe a new pair of eyes will make a difference?" She nods and slides the paper over to me, and I quickly read it. It's a small story about the various clubs taking place in Yamaku. "Looks pretty good to me."
Naomi sighs and takes another bite, drawing a giggle from Natsume who slides a sandwich over to me. I thank her and take a bite.
"Maybe if we move that..." Naomi mutters to herself, still looking over the page with pencil in hand. The once clean desk is now covered in papers and stationary, as well as food packaging and boxes.
I wonder if this is always how organised the newspaper club is.
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Next
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