Minami no hanashi : Yume - Prelude

In the theater room...

-(Minami) Oh, they're in our class!

-(Ayemi) Oh no. I don't like them. Let's just write something like this and turn back.

-(Minami) No, we're not cheating. And it'll teach you. She said, advancing towards the central stage.

Ayemi's irritation was evident on her face.

-(Ayemi) I really hate you!

-(Minami) You don't have to come, okay!? So just stop!

-(Ayemi) Hey! Just because you're physically superior doesn't mean you have the right to mouth off at me like that! So lower your tone!

Minami was also annoyed. She then approached Ayemi.

-(Minami) You really get on my nerves!

-(Ayemi) And with your airs, do you think you don't annoy me? Stupid jerk!

-(Minami) Don't start insulting me or--

-(Ayemi) You gonna hit me? WELL, COME ON! Dare to touch me and let's see what happens!

Minami's frustration skyrocketed, and her hand was inches away from landing on Ayemi's head when suddenly, a crowd began to applaud.

-(?) It's marvelous! It's exquisite! It's sublime! You two play so perfectly! It doesn't surprise me coming from you, Ayemi! And your friend... You're amazing!

-(Minami) We're not friends.

-(Ayemi) Really not.

-(?) You've seen the same scene as me, my friends. They're not friends, and yet, they've performed the club day theme brilliantly! We must all take an example from them and break this fear of giving oneself in their role in public!

The theater club members started talking among themselves.

-(Minami) Wait... So the activity you're doing for club day is--

-(?) The violent argument between friends! Yes!

-(Minami) We participated in their thing without knowing!?

-(?) Let's move on to the votes! Come take your seats!

Later in the stands...

-(Minami) Put away your phone, you're embarrassing me.

-(Ayemi) You should have sat farther away then.

-(?) We have the results! Let me tell you... You've got the highest score of the day!!

-(Minami) I can't believe it...

-(Ayemi) Is there a prize?

-(Minami) That's all you care about.

-(?) Yes! It's not much, but we're offering you a box of these delicious cereal bars each!

-(Minami) WHAT?!

-(Ayemi) Ah... Great.

Once outside the amphitheater...

-(Ayemi) Alright, I've noted everything down. Give me your impression.

Minami didn't respond. So, Ayemi looked at her and saw she was lost in thought.

-(Ayemi) Minami, hey! If you leave me to do everything alone, I'll report it!

-(Minami) Don't you want your cereal bar package?

-(Ayemi) This thing? Bwaah no thanks. It makes you fat.

-(Minami) Can I have it, please?

-(Ayemi) Huh?... Oh...

Ayemi smirked wickedly.

"True, you love this crap. What do you find in this disgusting thing?"

-(Minami) It's so good! Speak well of my cereal bars or you'll be in real trouble.

-(Ayemi) You brute.

Ayemi tossed her the package. Minami caught it, smiling.

-(Minami) Thank you so much, Ayemi!! I never thought I'd say this one day but--

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Ayemi threw a paper ball at Minami's face.

-(Ayemi) Shut up. I hope you get fat.

-(Minami) I don't get fat, you idiot. She said while eating.

-(Ayemi) You disgust me.

Ayemi walked away and sat down on a bench.

-(Minami) Tired already? See, you should eat some.

-(Ayemi) No. It's disgusting.

-(Minami) Have you even tried it before spouting nonsense?

-(Ayemi) No. But just the ingredients make me lose my appetite.

-(Minami) Too bad for you. She retorted, joining her on the bench.

Ayemi took out her phone and checked the time. The two girls sat next to each other in silence.

After a few minutes, Minami got up and stretched.

-(Minami) Well! Shall we go back?

-(Ayemi)...

-(Minami) Hello? She said, clapping her hands.

-(Ayemi) You scared me, you idiot!

-(Minami) So? Got anything occupying your mind?

-(Ayemi) What are you talking about?

-(Minami) Let me rephrase. Can you even think?

-(Ayemi) Fine, spare me your lame jokes and tell me which club you want to visit?

-(Minami) Hmm… I don't know. You suggest.

-(Ayemi) The club of… She's going to mock me, that pest! I don't know. You choose.

-(Minami) Uh… The wrestling club!

-(Ayemi) Excuse me?

-(Minami) Let's go! I want to see how the boys fight!

-(Ayemi) You really are such a tomboy, it's unbelievable!

-(Minami) Huh? Does liking to see people fight make me a tomboy?

-(Ayemi) Yes.

-(Minami) Let's go. She said, shrugging her shoulders

In front of the wrestling room

In the electric atmosphere of the room, the hooligans' cries resonated like a tribal chant. Ayemi wore a horrified expression.

-(The hooligans) Nao! Nao! Nao! Nao!

-(Ayemi) Minami…

-(Minami) What?

-(Ayemi) Are these the kind of guys you're into?

-(Minami) I just like wrestling, that's all.

-(Ayemi) You almost make me feel sorry for you. Anyway.

As usual, Ayemi took out her phone to take notes. But one of the hooligans, the most imposing of all, grabbed her phone.

-(Kiyoshi) Photos are forbidden.

-(Ayemi)... I–I wasn't going to take a photo! Give me back my phone!

-(Kurou) People from our class? Girls? Ohh… Get out of here, losers.

The people from other classes, the fighters who had lost to Nao, left the room. Minami and Ayemi were forced to enter.

-(Nao) You're the class's little devil, aren't you? Hmm… Yami?

-(Ayemi) Ayemi! And give me back my phone!

-(Katsuro) You weren't planning to take photos of the club by any chance?

-(Ayemi) No. We were given a task by the teacher and we need to take notes on as many clubs as possible. I was going to do it with my phone.

-(Kurou) Give her back her phone.

Upon these words, Kiyoshi returned the phone. Ayemi quickly put it away.

-(Nao) If I remember correctly, you are… Minori.

-(Minami) Huh? No, I'm Katayama Minami.

-(Ayemi) Let's just leave them. We have other fish to fry.

-(Nao) Stay right there! He said, grabbing Ayemi's arm. Everyone who visits us has to wrestle one of us!

-(Ayemi) Excuse me? I don't fight. Ask this brute. She's the one who brought me here to see boys fight.

-(Minami) Way to throw me under the bus!

The thugs seemed to appreciate Minami's temperament and tastes and smiled as they looked at her.

-(Katsuro) I didn't know a girl in the class would be interested in wrestling!

-(Kurou) Go on, fight her! And don't hold back just because she's a girl!

-(Minami) Wait! I can't, I'm injured!

-(Katsuro) Yeah, sure. Tell me another one–

Minami immediately took off her jacket.

-(The thugs) H–Huh!!!

-(Ayemi) I thought she–

-(Minami) Look.

The thugs saw Minami's injury, realizing it wasn't a lie. But the leader still wanted to take precautions.

-(Kurou) Kiyoshi, inspect her!

Upon these words, Kiyoshi grabbed Minami's arm.

-(Minami) Hey, gently!

-(Kiyoshi) ... She is really injured. She can't compete.

-(Nao) Good! You guys got off easy this time! Now get out!

In the corridors

-(Ayemi) You are unbelievably crazy! Never again are we listening to your suggestions!

-(Minami) We need to visit as many clubs as possible, so we were going to do it anyway.

-(Ayemi) No, poor girl!... If you weren't injured, would you have fought?

-(Minami) Never. What else? We're not from the same world at all!

-(Ayemi) Ah, so you're not a mindless brute.

-(Minami) Shut your trap, viper. Choose our next destination–

-(Sanae) Ohh Minami!

-(Minami) Sanae!! How are you??

-(Sanae) Very well, and you? How is your tour going?

-(Minami) Normal so far. Too bad I'm in her company and not with you…

-(Ayemi) I'm right here, you know.

-(Minami) Don't care.

-(Sanae) Minami. Be a little nice.

-(Minami) Are you kidding? She is super mean to me.

-(Sanae) Well, I'm glad to see her in one piece! That's good, keep your cool! I'm going to join the girls!

-(Minami) Okay! Have you guys finished visiting?

-(Sanae) No! We plan to check out the wrestling club next!

-(Minami) NO, DEFINITELY NOT!

-(Sanae) Huh?

-(Minami) You are not going, okay?

-(Sanae) Okay, but why?

-(Minami) Just listen to me. You are not going, alright?

-(Sanae) Yes, okay then! I trust you! She said, leaving

-(Minami) Good. What do we visit next?

-(Ayemi) No idea.

-(Minami) At worst, we walk and just go to whatever club we see.

-(Ayemi) Yeah, let's do that.

About an hour later

-(Minami) Okay... I've had enough. We've already visited plenty. I suggest we can stop here.

-(Ayemi)...

-(Minami) Hey, are you listening?

-(Ayemi) What?

-(Minami) We stop here? Or is there one you want to visit?

-(Ayemi) I... I won't have the chance to visit it if I don't go today...

-(Minami) I?...

Minami realized Ayemi was hiding something. She flashed a mischievous smile.

"There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?"

-(Ayemi) Shut up!

-(Minami) Come on, tell me which club you want to visit. Unlike you, I'm not a mocking denigrator.

-(Ayemi) Are you the one to say that? She murmured

-(Minami) What?

-(Ayemi) Nothing, you swine.

As Minami was irritated, Ayemi walked away.

-(Minami) What club does she want to see? Where are you going? The teacher said we were to do everything together!

-(Ayemi) You can go home! Stop following me around now!

-(Minami) Me? Follow you? Never in my life.

-(Ayemi) Go away.

-(Minami) Cool! She said as she left.

-(Ayemi) Wait!

-(Minami) What?

-(Ayemi) Give me your email or a number. You're going to write everything up properly.

-(Minami) ...

-(Ayemi) What? You didn't think I was going to do it all by myself, did you?

-(Minami) I know, I'm trying to remember my number... but I forgot it.

Minami took out her phone.

-(Ayemi) That's your phone?

-(Minami) Well... Yes. Here, take down my number.

As Ayemi held Minami's phone in her hands, she realized its value.

-(Ayemi) Wait but... No wonder she mocks my phone! She has a limited edition! H–How did you get it?!

-(Minami) For my birthday. My dad gave it to me.

-(Ayemi) I can't believe it... How can a plain girl like you have something like this...

-(Minami) Are you writing it down?

-(Ayemi) It's done. She said, handing back the phone.

-(Minami) We're done? Anything else?

-(Ayemi) Get lost, you bitch. She said as she walked away.

-(Minami) You can talk, you filthy snake.

Thus, the day of club visits ended.

END OF CHAPTER