Minami no Hanashi : Yume - Prelude

-(Daisuke) What do we have here? A young teenage girl in 3D coming to talk to us.

-(Kaori) Huh? But you're com-

-(Daisuke) Disappointed not to be part of this sacrilege? Us?

Daisuke paused and let out a small laugh, then continued, "It's a blessing. Only 2D girls matter to us; 3D girls don't interest us at all." He picked up his phone and went back to his business. "You can go."

Kaori looked at Daisuke in silence and disgust. "Gross."

-(Daisuke) Gross? Yes, that's my reaction every time I encounter your presence. That's what I'd say if I were of the same species as those savages. However, I prefer to be wise and let this goldfish swim in its vast ignorance, like an ocean.

The delinquent leader scratched his head. He was extremely irritated.

-(Kurou) Alright! Who dared to do this thing?! Let that person come forward now!

-(Nao) The sooner it's done, the fewer the reprisals!

-(Ayemi) Do you think reassuring the culprits by saying that?

-(Nao) You don't talk b–

-(Kurou) She's right.

-(Nao) N–No! Even Kurou agrees?! I messed up! I take back what I said!

-(Kurou) You seem very calm, though.

He looked towards Ayemi, suspecting her to be the cause of all the commotion. But Ayemi ignored him.

-(Nao) Don't ignore her, you brat!

-(Katsuro) You're definitely one of those who did this!

-(Ayemi) But I didn't do anything!

Meanwhile, in Minami's corner

-(Sanae) I feel a little sorry for Ayemi though.

-(Minami) Why?

-(Sanae) She's been calm from the beginning, yet she's being accused anyway. It's rather sad, isn't it?

-(Minami) Ahh that. No, once again, you're too kind. If she's being accused, it's because she's already attracted attention.

-(Sanae) Ahh yes... Maybe that's true... But I'm not "too" kind!

-(Minami) Yes, Sanae, yes.

Back to the heart of the commotion

-(Kurou) Let me handle this, guys.

-(Nao, Katsuro) Okay!

-(Ayemi) What do you mean, let you handle it? I didn't do anything!

-(Kurou) Why are you defending yourself against me? Did I accuse you?

-(Ayemi) No. But you're hostile towards me.

-(Minami) Why are they arguing... since earlier... Well... It's obvious...

Minami glanced at Kana and Saki out of the corner of her eye. The girls were whispering to each other.

-(Saki, Kana) A lover's quarrel!

-(Kana) We weren't wrong after all!

-(Saki) It was obvious anyway!

-(Ayemi) Minami!

Ayemi's voice snapped Minami out of her thoughts.

-(Minami) Huh? What?

-(Ayemi) Tell him we were together this morning. I didn't put those papers here.

Kurou looked at Minami and waited for her response.

-(Minami) Don't drag me into your mess.

She took out a cereal bar and ate it with her back turned to Ayemi.

-(Kurou) See? Even your friend is distancing herself from you.

Ayemi stood up abruptly from her chair, furious.

-(Ayemi) MINAMI!

Sanae stood in front of her friend. "Minami, if you know something that can clear her name, you have to speak up, don't leave her like this."

-(Minami) But? Are you deaf and blind, for goodness sake!

She pointed her finger towards Saki and Kana. "They're the ones who wrote these things!"

-(Saki, Kana) What!?

-(Sanae) How do you know?

-(Minami) Well, just look at them getting all excited and whispering!

Indeed, Minami had keen hearing that allowed her to hear what she desired, but also to hear what others wanted to hide from her. It's worth noting that the two friends weren't very discreet... And so, after this revelation, the whole class turned their gaze towards the famous duo, Saki and Kana.

-(Nao) I knew it!

-(Tsuka) Let's not dig any deeper.

-(Nao) Hey!

-(Saki, Kana) Wait!

-(Saki) Yes, we wrote that list, but we only had one copy! Not twenty!

-(Kana) Yes! And it was only meant for us! We didn't want it to go public!

-(Tishiku) And what good will it do you?

The two girls looked at each other, questioning each other silently.

-(Saki) Uh... nothing.

-(Kana) Just to check our relationship predictions by the end of the year!

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

-(Saki) Yes! These are our end-of-year forecasts!

The class fell into a deep silence. In the midst of this silence, Mr. Tonosuke Yabahi, the Japanese teacher, entered.

-(Tonosuke) Well? Why do you all seem... frozen?

-(Haru) It's nothing, sir. Just a simple kids' joke, nothing more.

-(Tonosuke) Ah, I see! Anyway, you're all very early this morning! It's rare to see students so motivated! Let's start right away! Open your books to page 41, and Haru, read the text to me!

-(Haru)...Y-Yes.

-(Tsuka, Taiya) Poor Haru!!

After the Japanese class

-(Minami) It's weird.

-(Tsuka) Mr. Tonosuke was going too fast!

-(Sanae) Do you think so?

-(Tsuka) Yes! I didn't have time to note down the vocabulary he was writing on the board, especially since the most important things he only said verbally!

-(Sanae) I'll pass you my notes if you want! I've got the essentials and the most important stuff!

-(Taiya) Me too!

-(Sanae) No problem!

Sanae noticed Minami's silence. She felt that something was occupying her thoughts.

-(Sanae) Are you okay, Minami?

-(Minami) Hm? Yeah, and you?

-(Sanae) I'm fine! Were you thinking about something?

"Definitely not about a boy," Minami replied briskly, looking at the twins.

-(Tsuka, Taiya) Hm?

-(Minami) Did I get it wrong? They weren't going to mention it this time?... Have they... evolved!? I thought you–

-(Tsuka) So you were thinking about a boy then!?

-(Taiya) Tell us everything!

-(Minami) Oh no... I've regressed them...

-(Sanae) Stop teasing her about it. Minami's not thinking about that, okay?

-(Taiya, Tsuka) Okay!

-(Taiya) Then what were you thinking about?

-(Minami) They accepted it so easily!? They really impress me today... Nothing in particular.

Sanae let out a small laugh.

-(Minami) What? I didn't say anything funny.

-(Sanae) It's just you who amuses me.

Sanae understood that Minami was trying to avoid answering. To see if Sanae got it, Minami looked at her suspiciously.

-(Minami) Hmm...

-(Sanae) I assure you!

-(Minami) Yeah right. This feels really strange. I feel like I've forgotten something very important...

Later, during the Math class

Information: Rikado Mitobe is Minami's math teacher.

-(Rikado) For this kind of problem, you can use the Pythagorean theorem. But since we're no longer children, we'll go a little faster in the calculations without detailing the intermediate steps. That's why–

Mr. Mitobe hates unruly and inattentive students. But he loves to call on Minami. And it so happened that she was elsewhere.

-(Rikado) Minami.

-(Minami) Y-Yes?

-(Rikado) My class doesn't interest you?

-(Minami) But it does, sir!

-(Rikado) Then focus. I know it's nice outside, but hang in there, class will be over soon. And so [...]

Ayemi, who was far away in the room, was staring at Minami with a strange smile. Minami knew it without having to turn around. Indeed, she felt Ayemi's heavy and mocking gaze on her back. Sanae, Minami's tall and loyal friend, couldn't help but be concerned. She leaned slightly towards her and spoke to her in a whisper.

-(Sanae) Minami??

-(Minami) I'm fine! I assure you!

-(Sanae) Here! I've noted down what you missed!

-(Minami) Oh, thank you!

Although he had his back turned, Professor Mitobe couldn't resist the urge to call on Minami.

-(Rikado) Minami?

-(Minami) Yes, sir?

-(Rikado) Come write down the answer to this question.

She sighed discreetly and stood up, resigned.

-(Minami) Yes. This is getting weirder and weirder.

After a long session of exercises and quizzes, the math class came to an end. It was now time for recess.

-(Tsuka) Let's go see Haru!

-(Taiya) She said she needs our help!

-(Sanae) Okay, girls! See you later!

-(Tsuka, Taiya) See you!

The two twins hurried off, leaving the two best friends alone.

-(Sanae) They're off.

-(Minami) Yeah.

-(Sanae) I wonder how the test the principal is going to give me will go.

-(Minami) Pff, don't think too much about it. You'll manage!

-(Sanae) I'm not sure if being so confident is the best thing to do.

-(Minami) Do you want to go in with a defeatist attitude?

-(Sanae) I'd say it's more realistic.

-(Minami) I am!

-(Sanae) I think I'll practice. She said with a smile.

-(Minami) Really?

-(Sanae) Of course!

-(Minami) Wait. If you're practicing, does that mean you're going to cook, right?

-(Sanae) Of course.

-(Minami) Can I be your judge??

-(Sanae) With pleasure! But I see where you're going. I need you to be strict!

-(Minami) Argh... Honestly, your cooking will satisfy me 1000%... I wouldn't be a good judge for you at all. Hmm... What if you cooked with my mom? She's the best cook I know!

-(Sanae) And Narumi?

-(Minami) Narumi?

An image of her younger sister feeling superior appeared in her thoughts. "Yeah. Anyway! What do you think?"

-(Sanae) If I'm not bothering then–

-(Minami) Take that back right now.

-(Sanae) Huh?... If I'm not–

-(Minami) I can't hear you.

-(Sanae) Fine. Just fine!

-(Minami) There! You're not bothering!

-(Sanae) Yeah well, I got that loud and clear.

-(Minami) So... tonight? Is that okay with you?

-(Sanae) Right away?

-(Minami) Well, yeah! You wanted to practice, right? So let's not waste any time!

-(Sanae) You're right!

-(Minami) I'll still send her a message.

-(Sanae) Yes, please do.

At the same time, somewhere in the recess yard near the Zomu tree

Hayashi Ryo is a quiet and solitary student.

-(Ryo) I made myself clear on the first day.

-(Konibuku) You're rather stuck up, aren't you? You don't talk to anyone, no one talks to you... A new student should integrate. Your high school life will be filled with despair if you take this path.

-(Ryo) Why are you playing dumb?

-(Konibuku) Me? I don't know what you're talking about.

-(Ryo) I don't have time to entertain you, you already know that, right?

-(Konibuku) Entertain me? It's not a game, I'm not having fun.

-(Ryo) It's clear that you're having a lot of fun, so why this scene this morning?

-(Konibuku) Assuming I had a lot of fun this morning, I find it rather audacious that you're reproaching me for it... Especially coming from you.

-(Ryo) ...

A tense silence fell between the two students. A certain tension began to build. The few onlookers thought a fight was about to break out. So they discreetly kept their distance, victims of their curiosity. "Now I'm having fun," declared Konibuku with a strange smile.

Ryo observed his classmate from head to toe.

-(Ryo) I only see a man who's bored.

-(Konibuku) Haha, come on, don't be so serious... I'm just having fun, aren't I?

He paused to observe Ryo's reaction. Seeing that he didn't react, he continued with a provocative smile: "Like you were not too long ago, right?"

-(Ryo) From an outside perspective, it might seem like you're provoking me...

He paused at his response, crossed his arms, then continued, "But that's not the case, is it?"

His interlocutor still wore the same smile. He seemed delighted with the situation.

-(Ryo) Are you fighting boredom? Do you want to kill–

Before he could finish his sentence, Ryo saw Tetsuo approaching. From that moment on, Konibuku seemed to become a different person. He was cheerful and very friendly.

-(Konibuku) Oh, Tetsuo! What brings you here?

-(Tetsuo) Not you, that's for sure, I came to talk to Ryo.

-(Ryo) Can I know why you're coming to talk to me now when you were there on the first day of school?

-(Tetsuo) I was already planning to come, then I saw Konibuku talking to you and I thought it was the right moment–

-(Ryo) No.

Ryo immediately left without giving Tetsuo a chance to say what he had to say. This seemed to somewhat irritate Tetsuo.

-(Tetsuo) He's already starting to annoy me, it's innate with him.

-(Konibuku) Hmm... Not so sure–

-(Tetsuo) Anyway, I'm exhausted.

He left, yawning, leaving Konibuku alone as if he had never been there.

-(Konibuku) A-Ah... Not surprising coming from him.

A few minutes later, the bell marking the end of recess rang. The students of Unmei High School returned to their classes. As for the Katayama house, Shinsuke has already left for work a while ago, so Azumi finds herself alone. In the house, Azumi gathered her things and left the house.

Azumi is a strong and intelligent woman, throughout her schooling she was appreciated by all. Not really surprising coming from her, right? After working as a Strategy Consultant for now-leading companies, she has been a homemaker for 5 years. A choice she made on her own.

Azumi walked the streets of the city. Madame Katayama may be outgoing, but when she's alone, a pensive air settles on her face... What could she be thinking about?

-(?) Oh! Isn't that Madame Katayama?

Hearing this familiar voice surprised her.

-(Azumi) Oh! Hello, ma'am, how are you?

-(?) Very well, and you?

As a sign of respect, Azumi slightly bowed, tilting her head forward and bending slightly at the waist.

-(Azumi) Thank you again for everything you do for Minami.

It was the granny from the convenience store.

-(Granny) Oh, but I'm not doing anything special, just running the shop.

-(Azumi) No, I insist! Don't be modest. Minami loves your cereal bars! Thanks to you, she's in a good mood every morning!

-(Granny) There are plenty more. She said with a smile, "I'm surprised there are still so many on the shelves."

"Don't worry, her stock will probably be gone soon; she won't be long in coming back," Azumi assured confidently.

-(Granny) That's good to hear!

-(Azumi) Well, on-

-(Granny) Azumi...

The granny took on a dramatic tone and cast a compassionate look at Azumi. "Don't overdo it."

Azumi's face lit up with a soft glow, her lips forming a warm smile as she concluded, filled with kindness, "See you soon, Mrs. Ishikawa." The corners of her eyes sparkled with kindness, reflecting the gratitude she felt towards the old lady.

Azumi continued on her way.

END OF CHAPTER