Minami no Hanashi : Yume - Prelude

The young boy, filled with terror, couldn't utter a word. He was paralyzed.

-(?) Huh? Wha—

Narumi, frozen in confusion, wondered what was happening.

Let's take a step back and observe the scene from Jun's perspective. Jun sped past an alley, then turned around because he thought he saw something surreal. He got out of his car and spotted Narumi on her knees in an alley with a young boy he didn't know. As if that wasn't enough, Narumi clutched her head, writhing in pain, then violently pushed the boy's hand away and screamed in agony again. That was all Jun needed. At that moment, three thoughts crossed his mind: "Who is this jerk?", "I'm going to break his skull," and finally, "If anything happens to Narumi..."

Jun naturally charged at the unidentified boy and began counting down.

-(Jun) One.

Narumi started to worry and, with a trembling voice, spoke to Jun: "Uh J-Jun? Y-you're not really going to do this... right?" Jun completely ignored her.

Mei's brother, terrified, tried to explain.

-(?) Huh? I-I uh— no sir, I—

-(Jun) Two.

-(?) Huh? Why can't I speak? Is this how I'm going to die? My existence was just—

-(Jun) Three, you're dead.

Jun lifted the young boy even higher and aimed to slam his head against the sidewalk.

-(Narumi) JUN!!! STOP!! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL HIM!!

Jun, who seemed to only hear the voice in his head, was snapped out of it by Narumi's voice. He stopped at the last moment. Mei's brother's head was just inches from the ground. Still holding him by the collar, Jun asked Narumi, "What's going on?"

Narumi, still in shock but mostly relieved to see the young boy unharmed, replied.

-(Jun) Argh~ I shouldn't have stopped going to the gym. Can't you see I'm busy, Narumi? Wait for me patiently, I'll finish this and then we can talk.

-(Narumi) ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? YOU WERE ABOUT TO KILL HIM?!

Jun froze and sincerely wondered what he had done wrong in this situation. He couldn't find a suitable answer and eventually exploded.

-(Jun) WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M OUT OF MY MIND??? I JUST SAVED YOU FROM AN ATTACKER AND YOU DON'T EVEN THANK ME? AND IT'S NOT LIKE HE WOULD DIE FROM THIS!

Mei's brother joined the conversation with a trembling voice: "Uh... f-from my point of view, I really thought I was going to die, my head was heading at full speed towards the grou—"

-(Jun) You, shut up.

-(Narumi) YOU'RE COMPLETELY CRAZY, WE WERE EXCHANGING TEST ANSWERS!

Jun exclaimed with a radiant face: "Of course!"

...

Narumi, out of breath, thought this justification would be enough for Jun.

-(Narumi) Phew, luckily he's simple-minded, we avoided the wor—

Jun suddenly shouted while shaking the young boy, who seemed on the verge of vomiting: "THEN EXPLAIN WHY YOU WERE WRITHING IN PAIN??"

-(Narumi) Darn! We're going to get caught!

-(Narumi) Uh, I-I... Hey, stop shaking him, you're really going to kill him!

Jun stopped and sighed.

-(Jun) I really don't understand why you're defending him—

Mei's brother interrupted Jun with his weak voice: "S-She was acting... She's bullying me..."

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-(Narumi) Oh my~ you're all such drama queens, it's impossible—

Jun had a revelation at that moment. He calmed down, helped the young boy up, and brushed off his clothes. He took a deep breath and spoke: "I see you're also a victim of the Katayama girls. She's tormenting you, isn't she?"

-(?) Uh, not to that extent but—

-(Jun) She's disdainful, doesn't care about your feelings, and she—

Narumi frowned upon hearing Jun's speech.

-(Narumi) Hey! I can hear everything you're saying—

-(Jun) Sometimes you think it would be better to stop hanging out with her, right?

-(?) Wow! Yes, totally, sir.

-(Narumi) Hey! I won't allow—

Jun suddenly gave Mei's brother a hug. The boy didn't really understand the situation but felt strangely comforted.

-(Narumi) Huh? What are you doi—

-(Jun) Want me to give you a ride?

-(?) Uh... Yes, thank you.

The young boy and his rescuer walked towards the car while Narumi watched them, saying nothing.

-(Narumi) Hey! Stop ignoring me!

-(Jun) By the way, what's your name?

-(?) I'm—

Narumi grabbed Jun's arm: "And what about me?"

Jun patted her head gently while smiling: "You? You'll do what you always do and go to class with your 'best friends,' right? Haha!"

The young boy and Jun got into the car.

-(Jun) Alright! See you never.

Jun sped off with Mei's brother. Narumi, shocked, stood frozen like a javelin stuck in the ground.

-(Narumi) He dared.

-(Narumi) Okay, you've asked for it. Now it's my turn. Hahaha! she said angrily.

...

With tears in her eyes, Narumi lamented, sniffling: "But I wanted him to give me a ride..."

She put the paper in her bag, acting as if nothing had happened. She seemed to have forgotten to look at its contents. After school, Narumi walked home with her friends. Upon arriving, Minami and Sanae were already there doing their homework.

"Oh right! I have a test to study for!" she thought.

She hurried to her room, opened her bag to check the paper she had been given. As she unfolded it, a photo fell out, face down. It read, "I know you dream of this moment, so until then..." Narumi turned the photo over to see the moment in question.

Frozen, mouth agape, she stared at the photo, speechless.

Days passed, one after another. In the meantime, Minami was called to help the chemistry club president fix the clubroom door. Every evening after school, and sometimes during lunch, Sanae practiced cooking as usual with Azumi, aiming to be fully prepared for the principal's test. Finally, the day before the much-anticipated test arrived.

After School

Sanae had been pacing for several minutes, while Minami watched her, munching on a cereal bar. She suddenly stopped, stared at Minami eating, and exclaimed: "I just messed up again!"

-(Minami) What are you doing exactly?

-(Sanae) I'm imagining myself taking the principal's test.

-(Minami) Oh. My mom told you not to think about it and to rest, right?

-(Sanae) That advice is one of the best that no one can actually follow. Don't you find it contradictory? Doing nothing the day before? Worse! Relaxing? Are we supposed to let our guard down at the last minute?

Minami, expressionless, continued eating.

-(Haru) I took the liberty of listening to your conversation.

-(Minami) Well, you shouldn't have!

-(Haru) And the advice Minami's mom gave you is good.

-(Taiya, Tsuka) Yes!!

Minami let out a sigh: "Oh no." upon seeing the twins.

-(Taiya) Hey, that's not nice, Minami!

-(Tsuka) Don't you like us anymore?

Minami sighed and ignored the twins.

-(Haru) Listen, Sanae. Minami can tell you—

-(Minami) You wanted to speak up, and now you're making me talk!? You shouldn't have eavesdropped if this is the kind of intervention you had in mind!

-(Haru) I—I'm not finished yet.

Sanae smiled while Minami resumed eating.

-(Haru) How would you organize your preparation for an athletics competition if it were in a week?

-(Minami) Well... Preparing in one week?... I think that's not enough. I'd lose the competition.

-(Sanae) It's a lost cause... she said, looking at the ground.

-(Haru) Okay, how about a month then?

-(Minami) Hmm... I'd train five days out of seven. On the sixth day, I'd stretch thoroughly, and on the seventh day, complete rest. And I'd keep that up until the day of the event.

-(Haru) So, why rest instead of continuing?

-(Minami) You talk to me like I don't agree with my mom's advice. I completely agree with her, you know.

-(Haru) Yes, of course, but this is to help Sanae understand where I'm coming from.

-(Sanae) I get it. Don't worry, I understand the advice. But...

-(Tsuka, Taiya) But??

-(Sanae) I'm stressed!! That's why I said it's impossible to apply!

-(Tsuka, Taiya) She's stressed!

-(Minami) And you couldn't say that earlier?! Great, Sanae.

-(Haru) Hmm, I see. My intervention was unnecessary then.

-(Minami) ...

Sanae glanced at her friend, who shrugged and finished her cereal bar.

-(Taiya) No way!

-(Tsuka) It was a great reminder!

-(Minami) She just kept asking me questions. Anyway, she's not mean.

Minami handed a cereal bar to Haru.

-(Haru) Hm? Thanks!

-(Taiya) What?! You give too easily!!

-(Tsuka) And us!?

-(Minami) I already gave you some a while ago, she said, putting away her pack.

-(Tsuka, Taiya) Aww, come on!

-(Haru) Can we—

Sanae whispered in Haru's ear: "Take it as a gift! She rarely gives them out. It's a sign of recognition."

-(Haru) Oh... And to think I was going to refuse it!! Thanks a lot, Minami!

Minami, who was busy pushing Tsuka and Taiya's heads, nodded with a slight smile.

-(Tsuka) Anyway, Sanae

-(Taiya) No need to panic!

-(Tsuka) You'll do great

-(Taiya) With ease!!

-(Haru) Yeah!!

-(Sanae) Thanks, girls!! she said, smiling.

-(Minami) They're even synchronized... I want to go home.

Minami is definitely intolerant of the twins' behavior.

Later, on the way home

-(Sanae) Well, this is where we part ways.

-(Minami) Yep.

-(Sanae) See you tomorrow, Minami. she said, smiling.

Minami handed a cereal bar to Sanae and waved: "See you tomorrow, Unmei's master chef!"

Sanae took the cereal bar and continued on her way, smiling. And so, in joy and good spirits, the two best friends parted ways.

END OF CHAPTER