The club got dismissed right after I got assigned with the task as majority of the members were absent. Today was the weekend, so of course, the club activities won't continue until tomorrow. I had a whole day to myself, not to rot on the couch but to start working on the assignment. Picking out the set of heavy books from my bag, I placed them on the study table gently. Seems like the gentleness wasn't enough as my finger got stuck below the load. Sighing at the sight, I wriggled my finger through the bulk. With the support removed on one side of the books, they fell onto the table making a faint thump noise. A light red flush appeared on the now-free finger of mine. After sitting down, I went through the titles of the said books one by one.
Seven Deadly Shadows
Beyond Good & Evil
Six of Crows
The Stranger...
....
"Mhm...where do I start?"
It was a hard choice to make. Each one of these books were of my interest and me not being a decision maker didn't help me get out of this situation at all. I decided to start reading the summary and reviews of the books on the internet. Just then, the doorbell rang.
I didn't pay attention to it. My family was home, there was no need to. If there was a guest, they'll entertain them. I have no interest in such irrelevant things. Plus It's eight in the morning, must be the milkman.
Soon after, there was an uproar in the living room. I continued scrolling through the website.
-
The door of my bedroom swung open. Jumping like a little bunny came in a person with a cheerful smile,
"Good Morning~ Izumi!!"
"Oh, not much of a good morning anymore."
As I thought, a milkman wouldn't get my brother that excited and my parents to bloom flowers on their head. My remark caused the joyful brightness on the former's expression fall quickly. In a dissatisfied gesture, she made her way to my bed and plopped herself down on it.
"HEY SATOU! GET OFF THE BED IMMEDIATELY, DID YOU EVEN TAKE A SHOWER THIS MORNING?!"
"Calm down! darling...why are you being so grumpy 'early in the morning'. I did take a shower and when did you become such a clean freak!"
"I have always been one, Satou. I just changed the bed sheets."
"Oops!"
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
-silence-
"Never mind that, now tell me why did you come over?"
"Should I have a reason to hang out with my beloved?"
I got up from the chair and started walking towards her. "Oh, I know honey, you want me to spill the tea."
"Spill the tea? I don't understand, what are you saying..." she replied anxiously avoiding eye contact. One of the many things I like about Satou is that she's not good at lying, bad at keeping secrets. This part of her was what saved me in the past.
Coming to a still, I leaned down and brought my face closer to Her's. Looking right into her eyes with an expression that implied, 'the cat's out of the bag, your efforts are futile.'
"You want to know what happened at the club."
- silence - x2
"Ahaha...you caught me!" Satou responded, sweating nervously. I straightened up and retraced my steps back to the study table. In accordance with my movement, she too, sat up on the bed. Her sight falling on my back, I sat on the chair again to sigh desolately.
"It was the first day, nothing out of the ordinary. I think I've met almost all the members in the club? Let's see...1,2,3,4? Four members? That's all?"
"According to the rules of the student council, there are supposed to be at least six members to form a club. Any less will get them disbanded. A third year quit recently and seeing how Wei-Senpai was searching for a newbie to complete their club, makes you the sixth one."
"A third year quit? The reason?"
"I'm not sure...probably because of college entrance?"
"Wei-san is amazing then, to be able to manage both her studies and her duties as the club president."
"Right! She was also on the student council up until last year, I'm the one who was appointed to fill in her position after she quit. She still helps us out when we are loaded with work during events. She's so cool!!!!"
We continued to fawn over the club president till 10 am, that's literally two hours of fangirling. We would've never stopped, that is, if not for my mother bringing in breakfast for us upstairs. She entered the room without knocking, her hand occupied by a tray of greasy food and refreshments. Placing it on the table, she glanced at Satou being oblivious to my presence.
Whenever guests would come over, she brings these fancy foodstuffs that I have never once encountered in my entire life. For example, it was mooncakes last time, croissant before that and this time it was... croquettes? Be real.
"Morika~ let me know if you need something, you can find me in the kitchen, or I would suggest to just send Izumi to get it for you. No need to trouble yourself, hmm?"
"Sure Auntie, but I'll get it myself. The croquettes are really delicious! Your hands are magical!!" Satou had her mouth stuffed with food, the way she responded could be considered a blabber. However, she had a happy expression on her face, the said words were wholly understood by that person.
"Thank you, dear...I wish Fujita would follow your example and listen to her mother at times." Not this again, I wonder how she never gets tired of it. Satou didn't notice the mocking stretch in my mother's tone, probably because she was too indulged in savouring those mouth-watering croquettes.
"Mother."
Slowing turning her gaze towards me, completely unfazed, my mother left the room and headed downstairs. Of course, this wouldn't settle the account on her part, she would definitely come back to spew another array of harsh words as if calling me a disappointment for seventeen years of my life wasn't enough.
Even though Satou has been with me ever since my middle school years she doesn't have a clue about my relations with my mother. I've been careful to not let anyone know about it either, I just have to hold it in for another year anyway. The farther the better. I'm going to move out when I turn eighteen.
"Hey! Are you not eating? If not, I'll have these croquettes of your fill."
"Sure, go ahead."
"EH? FOR REAL? ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"
"I'm fine Satou, just not hungry."
"O-okay..."
"I have assignments to work on, so can you not disturb me for the time being."
"I understand, I'm leave after having this. Let me know if I can be of any help?"
"Okay." Thereafter, I continued scrolling through the reviews throughout the day and starting with the best rated ones.
12:00
15:00
18:00
20:00
22:00
Before I could even realize that the day has passed by, I started dozing off halfway through the book. All that I had on my mind was to finish reading this book by that night, everything else was murky.