Minami no Hanashi : Yume - Prelude

The two girls had been engrossed in their reading for a few minutes already. When suddenly...

-(Asayoshi) Hey girls, I'm done!

The girls didn't understand what this sports maniac was talking about. Asayoshi, too, was puzzled because he couldn't understand why he was misunderstood.

-(Asayoshi) Well, what are you waiting for?

-(Minami) Huh? Is it for the athletics club?

-(Asayoshi) Yes, that's right.

-(Minami) Ah, I see. I'll join you and the others later; we're looking for a club for Sanae.

-(Asayoshi) Huh? Why?

Minami was losing patience. "Is he just dumb?"

-(Minami) What do you mean "why"?

-(Asayoshi) Well, I'm talking about the athletics club.

-(Minami) So what?

-(Asayoshi) Well, why join a club other than athletics?

-(Minami) I knew there were some peculiar ones in this class, but he always surprises me.

Sanae, who naturally didn't want to hurt others, didn't know how to refuse him. So, a feeling of discomfort came over her.

-(Sanae) Haha... Thank you, but athletics isn't really my thing...

-(Asayoshi) Oh, come on! You're too modest; you had a good score last year at the sports festival! And with some training—

Minami, displaying a threatening smile, abruptly cut off Asayoshi,

-(Minami) Are you really sure you understand English? You're bothering us. Get lost now.

-(Asayoshi) Yeah, sure. I hope you won't back down at the first race! I know you have a reputation to uphold, but you won't be able to escape me forever! HAHAHA

-(Minami) I think your memory has some issues! Alzheimer, maybe?

-(Asayoshi) Hmpf! You're in no position to say that with the poison you digest every day! What do I say? Your daily doping!

-(Minami) That's the problem with mediocre sore losers, always blaming others instead of focusing on themselves.

-(Asayoshi) Ah, what a character... If you think you can fool everyone, you're mistaken! HAHA you need to grow up, Minami! He said as he walked away.

Minami clenched her fists, her frustration evident.

-(Minami) That guy...

Sanae, observing Minami, became concerned.

-(Sanae) She's unusually irritated today...

She plunged back into her thoughts, staring into space once again.

-(Sanae) Minami, you're acting strange today... what happened to you?

Minami remained silent, seeming lost in thought.

Sanae, trying to understand, added, "You don't usually take remarks like that to heart, especially not from Asayoshi..."

Minami finally snapped out of it and sighed.

Sanae insisted, "So? Tell me."

-(Minami) Alright, but later. Let's find you a club first!

Sanae was perplexed but agreed nonetheless.

-(Minami) There's the literature club, what do you think?

-(Sanae) I'm not sure. It seems like in this club, we talk about literature, yes, but not as we please.

-(Minami) What do you mean?

-(Sanae) It says here: the club follows the curriculum of the different classes.

-(Minami) Ah, so the club leader chose to discuss the literature on this year's curriculum.

-(Sanae) That's right. And I don't really want to study what we already study in class...

"Yeah, I see. Hmm..." She turned the page and saw another club. "Wrestling club?"

-(Sanae) Huh? That wasn't there last year.

-(Minami) The representative... ah, it's Arata Kurou... Do you want to go there? She asked teasingly

-(Sanae) And what else!

-(Minami) Oh, theater! What do you think?

-(Sanae) No.

-(Minami) O-Okay?... Can I know why?

-(Sanae) I don't want to look ridiculous.

-(Minami) But what? Theater isn't ridiculous, come on!

-(Sanae) If it's badly done, it can become so! And I don't want to take that risk.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

-(Minami) Yeah, I understand.

1 hour and 30 minutes of intensive searching later

-(Minami) Well, we're not going to try them all one by one. Tell me what you like.

Sanae responded jokingly, "Minami? Do you know me that little?"

-(Minami) Sorry? You're talking to a Sanae expert.

"Go on, find me the club that suits me best!" she replied, laughing slightly.

Minami confidently began to flip through the document.

-(Sanae) I'm glad to see you smile. Because earlier you were really not doing well. And it made me sad to see you like that.

Minami stopped flipping the pages. Sanae, worried, thought she had said something she shouldn't have. She leaned towards her: "Minami?"

-(Minami)...

-(Sanae) Are you okay?

A smile lit up Minami's face as she exclaimed, "I found it!"

-(Sanae) Tell me!

-(Minami) The cooking club!

-(Sanae) Show me? I've gone through the document twice, I haven't found it.

-(Minami) I haven't found it either.

-(Sanae) Well... Did you land on which page?

-(Minami) Oh, the calligraphy club page.

Ayemi suddenly appeared out of nowhere, still carrying that contemptuous aura.

-(Ayemi) Calligraphy? Does that club really exist? A club as nerdy as that would suit you well, Minami.

-(Minami) Here comes the viper again. Would you kindly move along? We were fine until you showed up.

-(Ayemi) You!

The teacher made sure to keep a close eye on these two students who didn't get along. When Ayemi noticed that the teacher's attention was focused on them, she suddenly decided to speak very loudly.

-(Ayemi) Well! So, I sincerely hope that both of you will be accepted into the cosplay club! Anyway, I'm out of here! She declared, turning on her heel.

Suddenly, a commotion filled the room.

-(Minami) Oh, what a witch.

-(Sanae) Calm down, Minami, it's nothing!

-(Minami) Yeah, but—

Minami was interrupted by Daisuke, who burst into the classroom, shouting. "WHAT!? DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT?! Sanae? Minami? You're joining the cosplay club?!"

-(Minami) It's Ayemi who—

However, Daisuke seemed lost in thought. He muttered, "Which cosplay would suit you best?" His eyes glanced alternately at Minami and Sanae, and a slight blush colored his cheeks.

Feeling that the situation was getting twisted, Minami reacted by throwing her eraser at Daisuke's face. He didn't understand and exclaimed, "Hey!"

Faced with Minami's abrupt gesture, Sanae sighed and tried to explain the situation to Daisuke, "Excuse us, Daisuke. There's been a mistake. It was Ayemi who said that. She just wanted to annoy us, and she purposely spoke loudly." Minami added sarcastically, "Because she knew you Otakus would come barging in. But apparently, you're the only one from the gang who took the bait. Bravo."

"It's not true, the other two members of the Otaku club are waiting behind the door." replied Daisuke with unsettling calmness.

-(Minami) Ah... They're all idiots, actually.

-(Sanae) Anyway, it's a misunderstanding!

-(Daisuke) Too bad.

-(Minami) But wait. You're part of both the manga club AND the cosplay club?

-(Daisuke) Both clubs are affiliated. It's written on page 34.

-(Sanae) Ohh, I see now!

Daisuke, who seemed disappointed, seemed to be filled with new hope.

-(Daisuke) Anyway! If you want to join the cosplay club, rest assured that you'll be treated like royalty. With tailor-made costumes!

Sanae confiscated Minami's pencil case to prevent Daisuke from being hurt, then said to him, "No, Minami." Tired and disappointed that she couldn't throw her pencil case at her classmate's face, Minami sighed as she addressed Daisuke, "Can I have my eraser back?"

-(Daisuke) You threw it in my face and now you want it back? Just like that?

Minami simply nodded, saying, "Yes."

Daisuke placed the eraser on Minami's desk, laughing, and Minami thanked him coldly. Then, finally, Daisuke walked away, still wearing his triumphant expression.

-(Sanae) Ah, Minami... Never throw anything at people's faces again!

-(Minami) He's a freak!

-(Sanae) You could have hurt his eye!

-(Minami) He shouldn't have given us a makeover. You're way too nice!

-(Sanae) Because he was nice. Just... a bit clumsy?

-(Minami) Freak, I said.

-(Sanae) Yeah, whatever!

-(Minami) Yeah. I said... Oh yeah! Cooking club! Well... it doesn't appear in the document.

-(Sanae) Has it been deleted, maybe?

-(Minami) Yeah, probably... But I doubt it... Well... Anyway, I'm exhausted. We'll continue our search after the break.

-(Sanae) Are you hungry?

-(Minami) Not really.

-(Sanae) By the way, between each class, you always have at least a cereal bar. But now you haven't taken any. Are you sure you're okay?

-(Minami) Well, yeah. I just don't take one until I've talked to Jun.

-(Sanae) Ah, so something did happen!

-(Minami) I'll tell you, don't worry. Anyway! You can go eat without waiting for me.

-(Sanae) Okay! We'll wait for the girls and then you'll leave? Or are you leaving now?

-(Minami) Oh, we can wait for them. That way, you won't eat alone.

-(Sanae) Yes!

-(Minami) Let's continue searching while we wait. Just a bit more...

Several minutes later...

-(Tsuka, Taiya) We're back!

-(Tsuka) We found our club, girls!

-(Taiya) Guess what??

-(Sanae) The club of...

-(Minami) Dance?

They didn't expect Minami to guess it.

-(Tsuka) You're too good!

-(Sanae) How did you guess?

-(Minami) They came in doing a dance step.

-(Taiya) Yes, that's right!

-(Tsuka) And you, Sanae? Where are you going then?

-(Sanae) Uh... I haven't found one yet.

-(Tsuka) Seriously? You've been here flipping through this document for so long and you haven't found anything?

-(Minami) Apart from the cooking club, nothing interests Sanae. But... It doesn't exist in the document.

-(Tsuka) Huh? That's not normal. We still saw the sign of the cooking club at the club door.

-(Minami) Oh yeah?...

Bell rings

-(Kobanocchi) It's lunch break time! For those who haven't submitted any forms, see you this afternoon! For the others, see you tomorrow!

The teacher left the room, leaving the remaining students to themselves. But everyone stayed on their own.

-(Minami) Well! We'll find out about the cooking club after the break.

Minami got up and added, "I'm going, see you later, girls!"

-(Tsuka, Taiya) You're leaving?!

-(Sanae) You're still going to eat something, right?!

-(Minami) Yeah, yeah.

At the Katayama household

Narumi was eating while Azumi watched.

-(Azumi) Do you want more?

-(Narumi) No, thanks. It's enough.

Suddenly, Minami burst through the door.

-(Azumi) Minami?

-(Minami) Yes, it's me!

They barely had time to see her pass before she fled upstairs.

5 minutes later, she came back downstairs.

-(Azumi) Shall I serve you?

Minami shook her head, responding hastily, "No, I have to hurry, I won't have time, I have batteries anyway!" Azumi, visibly excited, was about to say more, but Minami cut her off, saying, "I'm going to see Jun."

Azumi shrugged, "Not a boyfriend then..."

-(Narumi) It seems like you really annoyed him this morning. I think bothering him while he's working isn't a good idea.

Azumi handed Minami a snack, saying, "Here, this will help you!"

Minami marveled as she received it, then glanced at the time. She exclaimed, "Oops, I'm late! I have to call Ju–"

Yes... It's probably hard to believe, but that's the sad truth. Our dear Minami surprised herself by instinctively soliciting Jun. Yes, a pure reflex, which led her to call Jun in this context. Absurd, isn't it? Yes. But above all, sincere.

Azumi and Narumi watched Minami, perplexed.

-(Narumi) What's wrong with you? I thought you were late?

Minami remained silent, lost in thought.

-(Azumi) Come on, Minami, I'll drive you.

-(Minami) Yeah, thanks. She said in a voice tinged with dejection.

15 minutes later

-(Minami) Thanks, mom, see you later!

-(Azumi) You'll tell me!

-(Minami) Yeah, yeah...

-(Minami) So this is where he works... It's pretty cozy for a garage. Well, where is he?

An employee spotted Minami looking lost.

-(?) Oh hey! What's a high school girl doing here? Are you looking for someone?

-(Minami) Yes, I'm looking for Jun, is he here?

-(?) She seems rather familiar with him... Is she his little sister? Or his... No... Not you, Jun...

The man's eyes widened.

-(Minami) Hm?

-(?) Oh yeah, sorry! Come on, he's over there.

Jun was off to the side, cleaning his tools.

-(?) Hey JUN!

-(Jun) YEAH?!

-(?) YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS HERE!

Jun paused in his task, surprised. "WHAT!?"

He turned around abruptly to see Minami.

-(Jun) Minami ?!

END OF CHAPTER