Minami no Hanashi : Yume - Prelude

Earlier

In Front of the School

The three girls had arrived early, and Sanae suggested showing Narumi around. They stopped in front of the athletics club’s track, and Minami started to smile awkwardly, as if she were guilty of something.

Narumi moved closer, narrowing her eyes as if to examine her, while Minami did her best not to betray her thoughts; but it was obvious from a mile away.

-(Narumi) You haven’t gone even once, have you? she asked with a neutral expression.

-(Minami) Ah, looks like I’m busted.

-(Narumi) It was pretty obvious, to be honest.

Minami put on a smug look, placed her hands behind her head, and replied: « Anyway, the person who can beat me hasn’t been born yet. »

Sanae retorted with a finger raised: « Defeat begins where arrogance starts! »

-(Minami) That’s exactly why I’m being arrogant, I’m just waiting for it! she said, shrugging.

-(Sanae) Who knows? Maybe Asayoshi will be able to beat you soon?

Minami looked at Sanae with an expression that showed how ridiculous she found the idea: « Seriously? I hope you’re joking. There’s no way that maniac could beat me in a race, and he’s not even the second strongest after me. »

-(Narumi) Beating Minami in a race? That’s completely impossible!

Minami was proud and happy to see that Narumi agreed with her. She gently patted Narumi’s head and said to Sanae: « See? That’s the right attitude! »

Narumi blushed slightly.

-(Sanae) *sighing* Well, I admit it does seem impossible now that I think about it.

-(Narumi) But who’s this Asayoshi, anyway?

Minami, with seriousness: « If I had to describe him in one word, I’d pick “a sports-obsessed lunatic who needs to see a doctor!” »

-(Narumi) That’s more than one word.

-(Minami) True, I’ll stick with “lunatic.”

Narumi looked at Sanae for her take on the sports fanatic. Sanae thought for a moment and then, with a defeated expression, said: « I don’t usually talk about people like this, but I think he’s not all there. But he’s really nice! »

Minami and Narumi burst into laughter at this.

Sanae continued: « But anyway, he’s really fast, and he’s always in the middle of everything. I think he’s the most influential person in the club. During last year’s sports festival, everyone was shocked to see a first-year student so outgoing. »

-(Minami) Now that I think about it, that’s when he started accusing me of cheating.

-(Narumi) Cheating?! What did you do?

Minami shrugged and replied nonchalantly: « I have no idea. Maybe because I had a better time than him? »

-(Sanae) Haha—um, how do I put this?

-(Narumi) What’s up?

-(Sanae) Well, Asayoshi thinks Minami is doping with her cereal bars…

Silence

-(Narumi) You’re joking, right?

-(Sanae) Unfortunately, no…

She turned to Minami for confirmation, and Minami nodded with resignation: « Yeah, it’s a lost cause. »

-(Narumi) I get it, he really is crazy.

-(Minami) Well, where are we headed now?

Sanae pulled out her phone and replied: « I think we can start heading to the cooking club. »

In the Hallways

Narumi didn’t want to miss a thing and examined every corner of the school: « Wow! That tree just keeps growing, it’s amazing! »

-(Sanae) Yeah, I think it’s a species known for growing into these huge structures.

Fascinated, Narumi ran ahead through the hallways and eventually entered a classroom, leaving the two friends alone in the corridor. Minami watched her with a smile. Sanae noted: « That’s the face I haven’t seen in a while; if I’m not mistaken, it’s the face of a teenager at her best! »

-(Minami) Ugh~ you always overdo it.

Sanae laughed and replied: « You can act tough all you want, but your smile gives you away. »

Minami mimicked her words in an obnoxious voice, shaking her head wildly: « Blah blah, YoU Can Act ToUGH All YoU Want, Bla bla— »

Her friend interrupted, complaining: « That’s not even close to my voice! Not even a little bit! »

-(Minami) Oh really? Well, that’s what I hear, she said, scratching her ear.

As the two friends bickered, Narumi came out of the classroom, all excited, and rejoined Minami and Sanae.

-(Narumi) Can we go to the art room? she asked with kitten eyes.

-(Sanae) That’s right, you love drawing! Come on, it’s this way.

In the Art Room

Minami and Sanae walked around the room, reminiscing about the chaos of the school’s opening day, while Narumi explored sculptures and various paintings in her corner.

-(Minami) Now that I think about it, I honestly believe we have the craziest class in the whole school.

-(Sanae) Who knows? Maybe there’s something even crazier in the other classes?

Minami took a moment to reflect and continued: « It’s true that so far I’ve only interacted with classmates, it’s like I forgot the rest of the school. »

Sanae narrowed her eyes and replied, « Don’t use that as an excuse to skip the athletics club. »

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Minami turned her head, pretending not to listen while whistling, and Sanae sighed before continuing, « But you’re right, with this class, it feels like there’s so much going on that it’s hard to keep track, and the worst part is that this is just the beginning… » she said with a depressed look.

-(Minami) It’s true, this doesn’t bode well.

Narumi returned to them, saying, « I’m done! There’s not much else to see. »

-(Minami) Cool, let’s go.

In Front of the Cooking Club Room

The three girls stood in front of the door without entering, as the light was on and voices seemed to be arguing.

-(Voice 1) I’m telling you, we should stand at attention when she arrives!

-(Voice 2) Ridiculous… What am I even doing here?

-(Voice 1) Ridiculous?!! Might I remind you that you did exactly that during the trial!!

One voice seemed much more involved than the other.

-(Voice 2) Could you stop shouting?

-(Voice 1) Arrgh! Damn it, I thought we’d get along, but you really have a bad temper! Come on, we could at least congratulate her!

-(Sanae) I think I recognize those two voices, what does this mean?

Sanae opened the door and saw Eiji and Dai in their trial outfits in the middle of the room. Dai spoke in his usual tone, « See~ you yelled so much that we didn’t even hear her coming. Now the congratulations are ruined… »

Eiji exploded, « ARE YOU KIDDING ME? YOU’RE THE ONE WHO WANTED— »

Sanae interrupted him, « What are you doing here? » she asked, confused.

Eiji, visibly troubled as well, replied, « Well, we’re here for the club’s reopening. »

-(Sanae) But what do you mean? I haven’t even been accepted as the leader yet, and that’s why the principal called me.

Silence

-(Eiji) What do you mean by that? The principal told us he informed you. You passed the trial, and the cooking club is open again! he said enthusiastically.

-(Sanae) Huh?

-(Narumi) Who’s this clown?

Sanae had trouble understanding the situation, but in a split second, she remembered the principal’s personality and let out a few words, « Ah, that does seem like something he’d do, » she said, defeated.

Eiji noticed Narumi standing behind her sister, and tilting his head slightly, he bent down a bit and spoke to her as if she were a preschooler, « Hi there~ What’s your name? »

-(Narumi) Why are you talking to me like that? she asked coldly.

Eiji froze for a second, not expecting such coldness from such a cute middle schooler.

-(Eiji) *awkwardly* Haha! Well, that’s a surprise-!

-(Minami) These are the two guys from the trial, Eiji and Dai, she said, pointing at them.

-(Dai) Hello.

-(Narumi) Hello, she responded politely.

She then redirected her gaze toward Eiji, staring at him intensely.

Concerned, he asked, « Uh… Why is she staring at me like that? »

-(Dai) I think you’ve earned yourself a bad reputation.

Indeed, Narumi couldn’t help but hold a grudge against Eiji for putting Sanae in a difficult situation during the trial.

Sanae sensed the tension and tried to calm the situation, « Haha… C-Calm down, Narumi, it’s not his fault he doesn’t know how to cook. »

Eiji, dejected, thought: A while ago, that comment wouldn’t have hurt, but today, I feel bad—it reminds me of the trial.

-(Narumi) No, I don’t hold that against him; if he doesn’t know how to cook, it’s not his fault.

-(Eiji) That’s enough, stooop! I get it, I don’t know how to cook! Yes, I understand!

Eiji was dejected and mortified with shame.

-(Sanae) So what is it—

Narumi stared directly into Eiji's eyes, the beaten dog. She interrupted Sanae: "Why are you here?"

Sanae was embarrassed and wanted to defuse the situation: "It's okay, Narumi, I'm glad you want to—"

Eiji took a deep breath and replied confidently: "I came here to improve myself! I feel guilty about my poor performance, and I want to be useful!"

Silence

Narumi coldly declared: "You liar."

Eiji couldn't believe his ears, his mouth wide open. He was frozen and then assumed the recovery position.

-(Sanae) Enough, stop it, Narumi!

Sanae approached and helped Eiji up; this reminded him of the exam, and he immediately stood up, overwhelmed with guilt, thinking: I can't keep being a burden to Sanae! Dmn.*

-(Narumi) So, did you deliberately sabotage Sanae's exam?

-(Sanae) Don't say that, Narumi! It's fine, it's ancient history! Look, I'm the head of the cooking club now!

-(Narumi) Maybe, but something's bothering me.

-(Minami) What is it?

-(Narumi) Well, it's simple. You knew full well that you were terrible at cooking—

-(Sanae) Choose your words more carefully, Narumi, I'm asking nicely!

-(Eiji) I think I feel like crying.

Narumi looked at Sanae but didn't seem ready to listen to her, which surprised Sanae, who was usually less firm with Narumi. What's gotten into her? I can't yell at her, I wouldn't be able to! Minami, do something!

Sanae waited for a reaction from Minami because she was likely the only one Narumi could listen to at that moment. However, Minami observed Narumi without saying a word, as if waiting for her sister to explain herself.

-(Narumi) Ahem, as I was saying; you knew you couldn't cook, but you still decided to take part in such an important exam for the club, and it didn't occur to you that you might hinder others. You ignored the importance of the exam by participating, she declared coldly.

-(Minami) It's true that when you put it that way, it does sound strange; but he seems like a good guy nonetheless.

Silence

Eiji seemed desperate, his mouth shut, his eyes downcast; he looked like he was at the end of his rope: Great, what a welcome... I just wanted to change for once.

-(Narumi) I understand that people can be foolish at times, but at this p—

-(Minami) Narumi, stop—

The principal entered the room, smiling and clapping his hands to ease the tension. He bowed and apologized to everyone: "Eiji, I see you've been under attack because of me, I'm sincerely sorry." He straightened up and continued: "I'm terribly sorry, but don't be too hard on him, because I didn't inform him of the event's requirements to create a challenge for the exam. He's not at fault."

Narumi was genuinely surprised: "What?! He wasn't—" She then looked at Eiji, feeling guilty.

He looked back at her with a forced smile and said: "Haha, don't worry, I understand your anger; I'm used to it, it's okay."

Narumi could clearly sense Eiji's sadness and wanted to apologize, but he continued: "I'll just go to the restroom and be right back, haha..." Then he left the room.

A royal silence fell, and everyone was quiet. Sanae felt bad for Eiji and wanted to follow him: "D*mn! I'll go find him." However, the principal smiled and said: "I need you, Ms. Mizuno. Can someone else go in her place?"

Narumi suddenly turned to the principal and stared at him with a dark look, uttering a few words: "So it was you..." she said, frowning.

The principal bowed once more: "Once again, I'm sincerely sorry for this situation; I'm responsible. But such a challenge was necessary to select a new leader."

The principal observed Narumi even more closely: "What a frightening look... Like mother, like daughter, as they say."

-(Minami) That look... It's the same as in my dream...

She took Narumi by the hand and said: "Let's go catch up with him!"

In the hallways

The two sisters were running, searching for Eiji. Narumi was lamenting and feeling guilty: "Minami! I messed up! I said horrible things to him when he was innocent!" she cried, panting.

She suddenly stopped, shouting: "Minami! What are we going to do?! I said things! ... Now Sanae surely hates me!"

Minami quickly turned back and grabbed her sister's hand: "Stop whining and saying nonsense, hurry up now, we need to apologize!"

On a bench

Eiji, sitting, saw Minami and Narumi running towards him and panicked: "Oh no! Damn, what do I do?! Uh~ uh~ Ahhhhh!! Damn it!"

The two sisters were already in front of him. Minami, standing in front of Narumi, bowed and said: "I know it might seem out of place to ask this, but I’d like you to forgive Narumi..."

Eiji didn't expect to see Minami in such a state and felt guilty: "No, Minami! You don't need to go that far! Stand up!"

Minami straightened up and continued: "We're a bit special in my family; when we love someone, we become overly protective, and sometimes we might cross the line." She took Narumi's hand and continued: "Because of that, I was at odds with Narumi for a long time, but we reconciled today after all this time, and I'm so happy I don't even know how to express it. So I'd like you to grant me this favor and let Narumi apologize." she said, bowing again.

Narumi, touched by her sister's words, also bowed, sniffling: "I'm terribly sorry..."

Eiji couldn't resist such a scene, and a compassionate smile appeared on his face. He said with a smile: "Alright, stand up! I accept with pleasure!"

-(Minami, Narumi) Thank you!

A little later…

Eiji and the two sisters had rejoined the others, and the situation had been resolved. Narumi had tearfully apologized to Sanae, and the latter couldn't help but accept, with a gentle reminder to behave.

And thus, this morning, full of emotion, came to an end.

Later in the afternoon...

Narumi meets the young boy again, this time in sports attire.

-(???) So, why did you call me out of the blue?

-(Narumi) It was just to let you know that your part of the deal is off; turns out I don't need you anymore.

-(???) Huh? Haha, yeah, sure, got any other jokes to tell?

-(Narumi) Don’t worry, I’ll keep taking care of my sweet and charming little sister since you’re incompetent.

-(???) And what about your real sister?

-(Narumi) I’m telling you, I don’t need you anymore. The situation is under control. My sister loves me more than anything, and I’m going to make the most of it!

...

-(???) You know, there are times when I think you’re really messed up.

-(Narumi) Playing for the wrong team, I’d say. You’re in no position to talk.

-(???) You’re sick. he said as he walked away.

-(Narumi) I just do what it takes to get what I want. she said, shrugging.

END OF CHAPTER

END OF YUME'S PRELUDE - BEGINNING OF ADAGIO