Minami no Hanashi : Yume - Prelude

After finishing her discussion with Ryo, Mrs. Kobanocchi joined Sanae.

-(Kobanocchi) Alright, girls! Tell me you all have an idea for a club, right? Sanae isn't the only one who had the courage to raise her hand, is she?

-(Minami, Tsuka, Taiya) Yes!

-(Tsuka, Taiya) We joined the dance club!

-(Kobanocchi) Ohh!

Her gaze then turned to Minami.

-(Minami) I plan to join the track and field club.

-(Kobanocchi) Hmm, I see. So it's just you left! Have you thought about joining your friends' club?

-(Sanae) Yes! But... None of them really suit me...

-(Kobanocchi) Ohh, I see.

-(Tsuka) They just skimmed through the document this morning!

-(Taiya) And nothing matches what Sanae is looking for!

-(Kobanocchi) Ahh, that's inconvenient... And why not create your own club?

-(Sanae) No, I'm not at all suited to be a representative of any club.

-(Minami) We thought about the cooking club but—

-(Sanae) I'll join the literature club!

-(Minami) Huh?

-(Taiya, Tsuka) Huh?

-(Ayemi) Excuse me?

-(Kobanocchi) Ohh, excellent idea! It would be a shame, especially with your results from the previous year, which I saw earlier, not to share your knowledge with other students! I'm sure you'll be the spark in the middle of that club!

-(Sanae) But no, come on, not really!

-(Kobanocchi) Don't forget to fill out your forms and hand them to me at the end of class, girls!

-(Taiya, Tsuka, Sanae) Yes!!

Sanae knew she had made a decision that Minami wouldn't approve of. She cast a fleeting glance at her friend.

-(Minami) What did you just do?

-(Sanae) Um... I chose a club?

-(Minami) But you didn't choose anything at all!

Annoyed, Minami stood up and pulled Sanae by the arm to take her outside. In her momentum, she ordered the twins not to follow them. Taken aback, they simply acquiesced, not asking any further questions.

A little further down the hall

-(Minami) So? Care to explain what that was all about?

-(Sanae) The drama club! It's a good idea too, isn't it??

Minami's weariness was evident on her face.

-(Sanae) Alright, I admit... I don't want to be part of the cooking club.

-(Minami) Why?

-(Sanae) I just don't feel like it.

-(Minami) Wait. So you're aware of something about this club, right?

-(Sanae) Absolutely not.

-(Minami) Really?? Are you sure?

-(Sanae) Well, yeah!

-(Minami) Ugh, Sanae... You're signing up for the literature club only to quit after two weeks.

-(Sanae) It's to please Mrs. Kobanocchi!

-(Minami) Because you think she wants you to join a club only to leave it a week later?

-(Sanae) Was it two weeks or one now??

-(Minami) Sanae, I'm serious. I want to find a club that you actually want to join!

"It's a pain to find a club!" she said, sighing. "No. Right now, you're the pain," Minami retorted sharply, flipping through the document.

-(Sanae) That's not true!

Knowing the conversation might drag on, Minami sat down on the floor.

-(Minami) You're good at cooking, though.

-(Sanae) That's what you say!

-(Minami) No, there's my mom, my dad, Narumi, Jun, your mo–

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

-(Sanae) Okay, I get it!

-(Minami) I'm starting to get it. It's so cliché, Sanae! Is this what happened last year?

-(Sanae) Sort of.

In her first year of high school, Sanae joined the sewing club, a group of novices seeking to learn how to make their own clothes. From the start, it was clear that Sanae was an expert seamstress, and her creations garnered much admiration at the club exhibition. The other members, despite being novices, were under immense pressure, as they were expected to at least match Sanae's level, if not surpass it, since she had joined the club last. The disappointment was even greater when the novices couldn't compete with Sanae's talent. This situation led to feelings of resentment towards her, especially when Sanae tried to give them advice. The other members began to exclude and isolate her. Sanae felt increasingly uncomfortable and eventually made the decision to leave the club.

-(Minami) Sanae... it'll be okay, alright? They were just jealous.

-(Sanae) Even so...

"Stay strong!" she said, patting her friend's head. "Are these people, who are living their best lives today, going to stop you from doing what you do so well?"

-(Sanae) But what if it happens again?

-(Minami) But what if everything goes smoothly?

-(Sanae) It's too simple!

-(Minami) Then what? You want to join a lousy club that you'll quit?

Suddenly, footsteps trying to be discreet could be heard. Minami quickly stood up and checked the hallway. "... Is someone there?"

-(Sanae) You're right, Minami.

-(Minami) There you go, Sanae! But who was that just now? Did you hear it too?

-(Sanae) I'll join the cooking club!

-(Minami) Yeah!!

-(Sanae) But... What if it's not listed in the document?

-(Minami) Um... We'll ask the teacher!

-(Sanae) Minami!! You've made me want to join a club that might not even exist anymore!!!

-(Minami) Ca–Calm down! We'll find a solution! We have until the end of the day! Let's go back to class, we'll ask Kobanocchi!

-(Sanae) Mrs. Kobanocchi.

-(Minami) Yes.

In front of the class

-(Minami) What are you doing here?

-(Tsuka, Taiya) You're back!

-(Minami) Hmm, so it was you I heard.

-(Tsuka) Huh?

-(Taiya) I called Haru to help us!

Haru seemed quite embarrassed. But she still greeted Sanae and Minami.

-(Minami, Sanae) Hi...

-(Tsuka) Haru kindly told us to call her if we have a problem! And she can help us solve the mystery of the cooking club!

-(Minami) But are you two dumb!? We don't need a student's help!

-(Sanae) Thank you, but I don't think it's necessary to take up Emiko's time for this...

-(Haru) You can call me by my first name. And no, on the contrary, it's a pleasure to be able to help you.

-(Sanae) Well, we won't refuse a helping hand then! she said with a smile.

-(Haru) So? You can't find the cooking club in the list of available clubs, is that right?

-(All) Yes.

-(Haru) We could directly ask Mrs. Kobanocchi for help.

-(Minami) Well, yeah. It's all Tsuka and Taiya's fault!

-(Tsuka) But that would be too easy!

-(Taiya) Oh yeah! Let's investigate ourselves!

-(Tsuka) It could be much more interesting!

-(Taiya) Oh yeah! And it would give us something cool to do during the long hours we have left!

-(Minami) You already have a club, nothing stops you from staying!

Sanae felt embarrassed hearing about the twins' long quest. She feared boring Haru and unnecessarily taking up her time.

-(Sanae) Girls... I don't think it's right to take up so much of Haru's time!

-(Haru) No, don't worry about that. I really admire your thirst for adventure, girls!

-(Tsuka, Taiya) Yeah!

Seeing this ridiculous and clichéd scene, Minami couldn't help but sigh. Tsuka noticed it and discreetly approached her, whispering in her ear, "Play along!"

-(Minami) Huh?

-(Tsuka) It might also help Minami socialize a bit more!

-(Minami) You're asking for it!

-(Sanae) Yes!! Play along, Minami!! It's already complicated enough!

Just by seeing Sanae's nervous smile, Minami understood her friend's thoughts and reluctantly went along with it.

-(Minami) Yeah...

-(Haru) Oh really?... I see. If I want to be worthy of being named representative of the second years and class delegate, it's my duty to help you.

-(Sanae) O-Oh... You aim high!

-(Haru) No! In my family, it's normal. she said with a smile

-(Sanae) You're amazing, Haru! I'm rooting for you with all my heart!

-(Tsuka) You can be sure we'll vote for you!!

Their words were filled with surprise and admiration, even slightly blushing Haru. However, before the emotion could take over, Minami, with her acute sense of timing, ended the emotional moment.

-(Minami) LET'S GO!?

The twins and Haru, not understanding why she was annoyed, looked at Minami in silence, unconsciously waiting for explanations.

-(Minami) Oops... Sorry... I'm not used to speaking like this... Whenever I speak in front of people, I always say things nervously or awkwardly...

"She got into it!" Sanae thought proudly.

-(Minami) No, Sanae, I see what you're doing. I just cracked under the pressure of this scene.

-(Haru) It's nothing, don't worry Minami. And you're right anyway. We shouldn't be distracted from our goal.

-(Taiya, Tsuka) Classy!!

-(Minami) It's your fault if we're distracted!

-(Haru) Let's start by going to the cooking club room.

Once in front of the club room, footsteps could be heard inside.

-(Haru) Here we are.

-(Tsuka) Hmm... There's noise inside.

-(Taiya) The first time we passed by here, there wasn't a sound!

-(Tsuka) Ghosts?

Sanae and Minami looked at Tsuka with a desperate look.

-(Tsuka) Wh-What?

-(Haru) We have to knock to find out. she said, knocking on the door.

A model student-looking student instantly opened the door. "Hm? Yes?"

-(Haru) Hello, we're here to get information about the cooking club.

The image of the model student lasted less than 5 seconds, betrayed by a mocking laugh.

"I don't like this guy" thought Minami, slightly clenching her fist.

-(Haru) My name is Emiko Haru. I'm a second-year student.

-(?) Noba Sashito, Third year and representative of the chemistry club.

-(Haru) Yes, I know you. What's the representative of the chemistry club doing in the cooking club?

-(Sashito) The cooking club doesn't have a representative. We're going to take the room to expand our club.

-(Taiya) You don't have the right!

-(Sashito) Hey, shorty! We have carte blanche.

-(Haru) Who gave you permission?

-(Sashito) I find you cheeky for a second-year. he said, approaching Haru

-(Minami) Tension is rising... This isn't good...

Sanae had the same impression and intervened by touching Haru's arm. "It's okay, Haru! If they have carte blanche, we can't–"

-(Haru) I'd like to see your authorization, Sashito. she asked, bowing politely.

-(Taiya, Tsuka) Ohhh

-(Sashito) Tss. We don't have a written authorization. Since we want to take the room, the principal charged us with doing a report on the condition of the room and a report to assess the necessary adjustments for the installation of chemistry equipment. And to remove all this cooking stuff. By the way, guys, where are we in the report?

Upon hearing this, Haru began to ponder a loophole she could exploit.

-(?) We're done!

-(Tsuka) So the room isn't yours yet?

Sashito stared at Tsuka, sporting a sinister smile.

-(Sashito) Don't count on it. It's already ours.

-(Haru) Not if a representative for the cooking club appears.

-(Sashito) What? You're not seriously thinking about—

Suddenly, Minami forcefully pushed Sashito into the room and blocked the door.

-(Sanae) Minami??? What are you doing!?

-(Minami) To the principal's office! Quickly!! I won't be able to hold them off for long!

Haru pulled Sanae and they ran together. "Let's go!!" Haru shouted. The twins, unsure of what to do, turned to Minami.

-(Taiya, Tsuka) What about us!?

-(Minami) I don't know! Do what you do best!

Meanwhile, Sashito tried to push the door. "Come help me, guys! They're blocking us!"

-(Minami) Go!

END OF CHAPTER