Hub World, Earth, Japan, Tokyo.
The week after the new house was built passed quickly. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, it was Friday again. Luckily, Tatsuo did not have any performances this week. So, he was able to relax after school.
Not much happened at school during the week. Though, there were a few things to take note of. For example, this week, all the school's clubs started recruiting. And the girl in Tatsuo's class, Suzumiya Haruhi, decided that she would try them all. So, since Monday, she has spent one day in each club, whether sports or cultural, before quitting and moving to the next one the following day.
Even crazier was the fact that during her short stint in each club, she excelled. Her performances were so good that each club's captain or president made extremely strong appeals to try and keep her.
But Haruhi was not the only one to join a club. In Tatsuo's class, there were a few students he was close to who joined clubs. For example, Miyazono Kaori joined the classical music club, wanting to use it to practice as much as she could.
Chiho joined the archery club. And while it was no surprise to Tatsuo and Yakumo, who went to the same middle school, everyone who met her after joining Yagami High was surprised. Especially since she was so well-endowed. Just imagining the bow string snapping back against her breasts made all the other girls in both Class 1-D and the archery club wince with phantom pain.
And lastly, of the people Tatsuo was close to, Yakumo joined the Tea Ceremony Club. But she was not the only one from their class to do so, as Sarah Adiemus also joined the club, as well. On top of that, the Class 1-D homeroom teacher, Osakabe Itoko, was the club's advisor.
Tatsuo, however, has not joined a club yet. Although he was sure he could excel in any club he joined, he was unsure which one to join. If he joined any sports clubs, he would feel like he was bullying all the normal people. And he had been forced to read and study so much when he was in DOATEC custody that he would rather not join a cultural club if he could avoid it.
"Why don't you join the classical music club?" Chiho asked while sitting with Tatsuo and Yakumo during lunch break. "I mean, you're supposed to be taking care of Miyazono-San at school, right?" {Pic}
"I thought about it." Tatsuo replied with a shrug before picking up some food from his lunch box. "Mom would probably want me to do it, too. But I don't play just classical music, you know."
"Yes, but the other music clubs don't really fit the type of music you play." Yakumo added. "Though, I supposed that notion was somewhat refreshed after hearing you play at Shuchi'in last week."
"*Sigh* I wish I could have heard it." Chiho said with slight regret. "Yakumo-Chan told me you played all kinds of music that night. I bet it was really great."
"It was." Yakumo replied with a smile. "Tatsuo-Kun is a really good ballroom dancer, too."
"I wanna see that, too." Chiho said with a pout. "I miss out on all the good stuff."
"I'm sure Tio-San would be happy to send you the videos she took." Yakumo said, a slight blush appearing on her face as she knew that she would show up in one of those videos, as well.
Hearing that, Chiho's eyes lit up with anticipation.
The trio continued to chat until they finished their lunches. However, as they put their lunchboxes away, Chiho happened to get a glimpse of something in Tatsuo's school bag.
"Tatsuo-Kun, why do you have an umbrella?" Chiho asked curiously. "Is it supposed to rain today?"
"If I remember correctly, there was no mention of rain in today's forecast." Yakumo added. "And you don't usually carry an umbrella when it's not going to rain, do you?"
"Oh, you know how often he carries an umbrella, Yakumo-Chan?" Chiho asked in a teasing tone. "I didn't know you paid so much attention to Tatsuo-Kun."
Yakumo immediately turned away at Chiho's teasing. However, she still kept an eye on Tatsuo while waiting for his response.
"Well, I just had a feeling the forecast would be wrong." Tatsuo replied with a shrug. "Not that that's anything new. I mean, the weather people are always wrong. I swear, they're the only profession that actually gets paid to be wrong most of the time."
'I actually found it surprising that I had that feeling, too.' Tatsuo thought to himself. 'But when Sawachika-Senpai asked Kasumi-Neechan and Ayane-Oneesan if guys liked curry or meat and potatoes better when we saw her at the shoe lockers this morning, I knew exactly what event was supposed to happen today. So, I guess it's good I have an umbrella. Though, that means Sawachika-Senpai probably won't fall for Harima-Senpai if I intervene. Not like he ever paid her any mind, though.'
"I guess that makes sense." Chiho replied with a nod.
Not long after that, the bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch break. Then, the rest of the day passed without anything interesting happening. And before anyone knew it, the end of the day and the week arrived.
"I'll see you later, Tatsuo-Kun, Yakumo-Kun!" Chiho said as she hurried to pack her school bag. "I gotta run to work. My shift starts half an hour earlier than usual today."
"Have a good evening, Chi-Chan." Yakumo said in her usual, gentle tone.
"See you tomorrow, Chi-Chan." Tatsuo said with a lazy wave. "I'll be helping Maou-San move, too."
"You are?" Chiho asked with her eyes widened in surprise. "Why didn't Maou-San tell me about that?"
"No idea." Tatsuo replied while shrugging his shoulders. "But didn't you say you needed to get going, Chi-Chan?"
"Ah! Right!" Chiho exclaimed as she picked up her bag and ran out of the classroom. "I'll see you later!"
"I should go, too." Yakumo said softly. "I have to go to the club and get changed before Osakabe-Sensei arrives. Takano-Senpai will probably already be there by the time Sarah-San and I get there."
The Takano-Senpai Yakumo mentioned was the same one who would come over to his house with Yakumo and her sister for study sessions during exam season, Takano Akira.
"Yeah... Besides, Adiemus-San is already on her way over." Tatsuo said while gesturing away from Yakumo.
Turning her head, Yakumo saw her English classmate, Sarah Adiemus, approaching with a smile. In return, Yakumo smiled back. Then, she turned to Tatsuo and bid him farewell.
"If you have time, you should come over and see the new house." Tatsuo said while Yakumo walked towards Sarah.
"I will." Yakumo replied over her shoulder. "Since you'll be helping Maou-San move tomorrow, is it alright if I come over on Sunday?"
"Sure." Tatsuo affirmed. "Wait… What in the world are we talking about? You're already supposed to be coming over on Sunday, right? You ARE coming to the housewarming party, aren't you?"
Yakumo completely froze when she heard that. It seemed that she, like Tatsuo, had forgotten that the housewarming party would be happening this weekend. Then, to hide her blush, she quickly turned away and rushed to join Sarah while giving Tatsuo a little wave over her shoulder as she left the room with Sarah.
Now alone, Tatsuo finished packing up his own bag. Then, he left the classroom and looked up and down the hallway for a moment. But he looked uncertain about which way he should go.
But he eventually shook his head.
"There's no point heading to the Classical Music Club now." Tatsuo thought aloud. "I'll join it on Monday. Not that I'll learn much by joining, though."
With that said, Tatsuo started walking towards the shoe lockers. No one stopped him along the way, so he reached the front entrance pretty quickly. Even so, Kasumi and Ayane were nowhere to be seen.
"I didn't take that long, did I?" Tatsuo asked himself. "Eh~, whatever. It's not like I can't find my way home by myself."
Changing his clothes quickly, Tatsuo saw Kenji standing by the front entrance with an umbrella in hand.
"Yo, Harima-Senpai." Tatsuo said while looking up at the sky, which was quickly turning overcast. "So, you felt the rain coming, too."
"Yeah…" Kenji replied while looking through the school's entrance.
Following Kenji's line of sight, Tatsuo saw Eri standing outside of the school gate leaning forward to speak to someone in a sedan. But before long, Eri straightened up, the car window was rolled up, then the car pulled away from the school gate.
And for the next few seconds, Tatsuo and Kenji watched as Eri turned her head to follow the car as it drove away.
"Something tells me she's not in a very good mood right now." Tatsuo said as he pulled his umbrella out of his school bag.
"You're right." Kenji replied. "I can feel her loneliness from here."
"You know, if you didn't get into fights all the time, you'd probably be pretty popular, Senpai." Tatsuo said with a smile. "Not too many guys can see through a girls emotions like that."
At that moment, rain began to fall from above. Yet, Eri had not moved from where she stood.
"The only one I want to be popular with is Tenma-Chan." Kenji said while shaking his head. He then gently pushed Tatsuo forward as he continued. "Anyway, I'm sure she could use someone to talk to right now. Or at the very least, she could use someone to help her stay dry."
"Oh, you're sending me just in case Tenma-Senpai sees, huh?" Tatsuo asked with a shrug. "But what if Yakumo-Chan were to see me? She might get the wrong idea, too."
Kenji actually had not thought of that. As a result, when Tatsuo pointed it out, he froze momentarily. However, Tatsuo did not let it last for too long.
"I was just kidding, Senpai." Tatsuo said with a chuckle. "Actually, Yakumo-Chan would be more upset if she knew I left Sawachika-Senpai out in the rain."
As he spoke, Tatsuo stepped out of the school's front entrance while opening his umbrella. Then, he walked towards the front gate to make sure Eri did not catch a cold. And if she needed it, he would walk her home, too.
"Oh, by the way." Tatsuo said without turning around. "We just moved into a new house. And we're gonna have a housewarming party on Sunday. So, if you wanna come, you're more than welcome. I'll send you the address later."
Hearing that, Kenji tensed up once again. Then, when Tatsuo was more than halfway to the gate, he finally stepped outside into the rain. However, he did not open his umbrella to block it.
"This is the first time anyone has invited me to their house." Kenji said, knowing that his terrible reputation was the reason for that. Then, he pushed up his sunglasses and wiped his eyes as he continued "Damn… The rain is getting in my eyes." {Pic}
Meanwhile, Eri was still looking in the direction where the car disappeared. However, she did not look too good right now. IN fact, she looked like she was going to cry, if she hadn't already started. But the rain running down her face made it hard to tell.
The reason for that was simple. The person in the car she was speaking to was her father. And they were supposed to spend time together tonight. Eri was even going to cook for him. IN fact, that was the reason she was asking people whether guys liked curry or meat and potatoes better.
Unfortunately, just as she was ready to get in the car to head home with her father, he stopped her and told her that something at work came up, and he would have to reschedule their get together. And being the dutiful daughter she was, Eri only sent him off with a smile.
But now that he could no longer see her, her real emotions were starting to show. Yet, before she got completely lost in the disappointment, she realized that she was no longer being rained on.
Looking up, she saw that a black umbrella was shielding her from the rain. She then followed it back to its source and saw that Tatsuo was the one holding it up for her.
"Tatsuo-Kun…" Eri muttered.
"You're gonna catch a cold like this, Sawachika-Senpai." Tatsuo said, not commenting on Eri's sad appearance. "If you don't have an umbrella, I'll walk you home."
Instead of replying immediately, Eri only stared blankly at Tatsuo for a few seconds. Then, she looked away with a nearly imperceptible blush on her cheeks.
"Thank you…" Eri said quietly. "As it turns out, I forgot to bring an umbrella today. So, your assistance would be much appreciated."
Tatsuo only smiled in response. Then, he gestured for Eri to take the lead before following closely to make sure she did not get rained on.
"By the way, Tatsuo-Kun…" Eri said after the two walked for a while. "What do you like better, curry or meat and potatoes?"
"Curry." Tatsuo replied without even stopping to think about it.
Like that, the two walked through the rain until they reached the house Eri lived in with her father. When they arrived, Eri, with a slightly more pronounced blush on her face, invited Tatsuo inside. But he declined politely before heading home.
A while later, Tatsuo reached the new house. At the same time, he saw the BMW 745 pulling into the driveway before parking in the garage, something he built a few days ago because it was not included in the original design. And he saw that both Kasumi and Ayane were sitting in the car's backseat while Mai drove.
"Oh… Is that why they weren't at the shoe lockers when I got there?" Tatsuo asked while tilting his head in confusion. "They knew Mai-Nee was coming. But why didn't they tell me that Mai-Nee was coming to get us? I bet it was Ayane-Oneesan's idea."
With that, Tatsuo glared at the car with narrowed eyes until it vanished into the garage. A moment later, deciding it didn't matter, Tatsuo shook his head before opening the front door and stepping into the house.
"I'm back!" Tatsuo shouted, his voice carrying to every corner of the house, as he closed his umbrella.