Da Capo [16]

Junichi: ...Sigh.

Junichi: What a pain.

I covered the desk with my body, thinking about lunch.

Junichi: It's too much trouble to go to the cafeteria to buy lunch...

The best plan is to stay in the classroom, while I get somebody else to go to the store and buy me a sandwich and a drink.

Let's see, Suginami's gone, and all the guys who go to the cafeteria are gone while I while I was sleeping...

Then, I found Nemu at her desk writing something.

She's quite organized but she's a little slow. Maybe she'll go to the cafeteria now.

Junichi: Hey, Nemu.

I pat her shoulder hoping to make her go to the cafeteria.

Nemu: What? How can I help you?

She turned around all serious.

Junichi: Well, what are you going to do about lunch?

Nemu: Right... Let's see. It's too much trouble to go to the cafeteria, don't you think?

Junichi: Huh?

Nemu: Oh, no, don't misunderstand me. I'm not that hungry anyways. It makes me sleepy if I eat too much at lunch.

Junichi: It's not good for you to skip lunch.

Nemu: You're right...

Nemu tilted her head as she stroked the notebook, and I realized that the note wasn't for the class.

Junichi: What are you doing?

Nemu: What? I'm studying for the test.

Junichi: .........

Nemu: You should do the same, niisan. It seems like not too many students are studying for the test, so maybe you can score high this time.

Junichi: .........

Nemu: What?

Junichi: Nothing... I'm going to get something to eat.

I placed my hand on my forehead. She'll probably keep talking about the exam if I stay here longer.

Then I realized she won't hang out with me much during the exam week.

Junichi: Do you want something? You should eat at least a little.

Nemu: Are you sure? So lucky!

Junichi: What? Lucky?

Nemu: I wanted to ask someone, but I was too busy concentrating on my notes, everybody was gone already.

Junichi: I see.

I sighed and I dragged myself out of the classroom.

Nemu: What's wrong?

I turned around.

Junichi: ...go for wool and come home shorn...

Nemu: What are you talking about?

Junichi: Never mind.

I waved a little and stepped out to the hallway.

Junichi: Why do I have to go...

Nemu: Okay, fine.

As I was feeling crappy, I found Nemu by my side.

Nemu: Don't be so sad, I'll go with you.

She smiled at me reaching out her hand to my cheek.

Junichi: ...I'm not sad.

Nemu: Really? Huh.

She turned around, flaring her skirt as she walked in front of me.

Nemu: Then, let it be.

Junichi: .........

I can stay in the classroom now that she's going to the cafeteria, but if I did that, I bet she wouldn't go either.

Junichi: That's too bad.

Nemu: What?

Junichi: You're my sister.

Nemu: ...? ...Yeah, sure!

I walked to the cafeteria with a happy Nemu at my side, and the distance to the cafeteria seemed to be shorter than usual.

~

Echoing from the music room came some girls' very pretty high singing and some boys' not to pretty low singing.

Junichi: (The girls' voices are very soothing.)

I would like to sit in the middle of them to enjoy their singing.

The time kept passing away regardless of my imagination.

~

Koyoki: Prefect, order please.

Mako: Bow to the teacher.

The homeroom meeting was concluded with the bow, and the classroom got lively right away.

Most of the students were talking about tomorrow's exam. There were even some students surrounding the smarter ones.

The others left the classroom quickly. Everyone must be going home to study today.

...

What shall I do...?

[Choice]
- Sakura Park
- Kazami Academy
- Asakura's house
- cherry blossom trees
- shopping district

Da Capo [15]

Junichi: Yawn...

Time to sleep...

I snuggled in under the blankets, and closed my eyes.

...

~

2.28 Thu

Junichi: Phew... it's safe here.

I slowed down.

The passing surroundings slowed down too.

...

...

Junichi: Hm?

I looked ahead at where the sound was coming from... and founf Moe-sempai and Mako there.

Junichi: Hey.

I sped up again to catch up with them.

Mako: Good morning.

Moe: Good morning, Asakura-kun.

Mako: Did you run here as usual?

Mako noticed my face was red.

Junichi: It's good exercise.

Mako: How?

She gave me a cold look jokingly.

Moe: Are you running every morning for your exercise?

Moe-sempai seemed surprised behind Mako.

...

We all walked in the peacefull mood created by Moe-sempai. Many students had already gone from the street.

I could see lots of cherry blossom petals blowing around.

~

Koyomi: It's exam day tomorrow.

She encouraged everyone in the class.

Junichi: (Sigh... it's already tomorrow...)

I feel depressed...

Koyomi: Okay, prefect?

The prefect directed the students to bow to the teacher, and the short homeroom meeting finished.

~

Kazuhiro: Let me tell you the main points to study.

Junichi: (Yes-------)

The classroom went quiet, and everyone listened carefully.

Kazuhiro: Don't take this the wrong way. But this is just the main 'Points to study'.

I know. He doesn't have to repeat it.

Kazuhiro: I think what's on page 98 is very important.

Junichi: (I see...)

There was only the sound of pencils scribbling.

Kazuhiro: The next is...

~

Junichi: Ahhh... finally.

I stretched to relax.

There are many students studying while eating their lunch.

What shall I do...?

[Choice]
- classroom
- hallway
- courtyard
- rooftop
- cafeteria

Da Capo [14]

Brushing the cherry blossom petals off my shoulders and head, I look up at my home as it gets closer.

Junichi: I wish I were in bed now.

Nice and warm.

The air is comfortably warm and there's a nice gentle breeze blowing.

And what's more, Skaura's standing on the porch with an angry look.

Junichi: What are you doing here?

I put my bag over my shoulder again and look down at her.

Sakura: I've been waiting for you, oniichan.

Junichi: What for?

Even though I told her not to, I wonder why she didn't enter the house through the window.

Junichi: Do you have anywhere you want to go?

Sakura: I want to go to your room.

Junichi: That's incriminating, isn't it?

Sakura: Hm?

Junichi: Nothing.

Looking the other way, I take the house key from my pocket.

Sakura: Mmm...

Junichi: .........

There's a strange creature clinging around my waist, not letting me go inside my house.

Junichi: Why the heck are you here?

Sakura: Look at THIS!

Sakura holds up a piece of paper.

Junichi: Are you playing a magical girl? Say Haann~

Sakura: Haann~?

Junichi: You have to be more enthusiastic than that.

Sakura: What do you mean by enthusiastic? Mmmm.

Junichi: Hm?

I can finally read the note in her hand.

'EXPEL EVIL SPIRITS'

Sakura pretends to be a priestess acting like a magical girl - But anyway. I actually made that note as a joke last night.

Sakura: Can you explain what it means?

Junichi: Oh, I see. A priestess put it up for me because an evil demon moved into my room.

Sakura: .........

Junichi: .........

Sakura: Waaaah~~~

Crying in a strange way, Sakura runs off to her house.

Junichi: .........

Scratch, scratch.

Junichi: What a pain...

The first thing I did when I got to my room is drop my bag and get a piece of paper and a marker pen.

After that, I put up a piece of paper on the window in my room that says 'A SUCCESSION OF VISITORS'. But I'd better keep it a secret from Nemu.

~

Junichi: God, please forgive me.

Nemu hurried me to go study in my room after watching TV in the living room, but I got sidetracked after only one minute.

Junichi: I can study tomorrow night.

That's the real all-night study.

I left my desk, and lay down on my bed.

It's not that late yet, but I'd have no trouble falling asleep as I'd just been reading textbooks.

Junichi: I guess I'll set the alarm now.

I was surprised at myself that this was becoming a habit.

[Choice]
- 6:30AM
- 7:00AM
- 7:50AM

Da Capo [13]

I wish I could eat lunch somewhere quiet.

I went back to the classroom with some juice and a sandwich which I bought from the store to avoid the noisy cafeteria.

Junichi: Hey, Nemu. I got you lunch.

Nemu: .........

Junichi: Nemu?

I waved my hand in front of her face.

Nemu: .........

Junichi: Nemu-sama?

Huh...

I thought about the situation a little bit, and took out a picture of Nemu when she was little and waved it in front of her.

Junichi: This is a picture of you sleeping after crying so hard.

Nemu: Why do you have a picture of that!?

Nemu reached for the picture, kicking her chair.

Junichi: ...So you are awake.

I put away the picture just in time.

Nemu: Well, I was just thinking about the past.

She sat on the chair elegantly, and ran her hand through her hair.

Junichi: What about the past?

Nemu: Well, I was thinking about what kind of girl I used to be, after looking at Sakura, you know?

Junichi: A crybaby.

Nemu: Well... If you put it that way, it won't leave me with anything.

Junichi: Let's see.

Nemu: I did cry a lot though.

Junichi: Sure did.

We out our lunch on the desk and leaned against the teacher's desk.

The clearest memories I have of Nemu would be her crying a lot.

Nemu: I remember when I was cold, or sa, I used to go under your conforter and... Ouch!

Junichi: ...Idiot.

Nemu: Sorry, sorry.

What was she going to say in the classroom?

I looked around to make surre no one was listening.

Nemu: But... all my oldest memories are only really of you.

Junichi: Me?

Nemu: Yeah. We ate together, you taught me how to ride a bicycle, and you came to find me when I was lost.

Junichi: Wow, you remember a lot.

I sighed as I looked away in embarrassment.

Nemu: Yeah, it surprised me too.

Junichi: Oh yeah?

I opened the bag of sandwiches and gave Nemu one too.

Nemu: Thank you.

Junichi: But, don't you have more fun memories?

Nemu: Fun memories?

Junichi: What you remember is kind of sad.

Nemu: Something fun... Oh.

She covered her mouth and sneaked a laugh.

Nemu: I have it. Something really fun. I wish I could apply for the Guinness Book of Records for you.

Junichi: What is it?

Nemu: I heard you say "What a pain" hundreds of times. I'm amazed how many times you've repeated it.

Junichi: .........

Junichi: Okay...

Something she can apply for the Guinness Book of Records with.

Junichi: ...What a pain.

Nemu: That's a new record.

Nemu smiled happily and put her fingers together.

~

Today's PE class was basketball. There were sounds of heavy balls bouncing in the gym.

Junichi: It gets very noisy when everyone practices their dribbling.

I mumbled to myself, but still made a few laps around the gym.

Basketball doesn't require much running unless it's an actual game.

Junichi: (Shooting practice isn't bad either.)

I just have to be careful to not hurt my fingers...

Let's try making a goal ----

~

Junichi: Ahhhh, finally...

I stretched as the homeroom meeting had finished.

The others around me were stretching like I just did, or chatting with their friends.

There were also some who were already leaving the classroom.

[Choices]
- Sakura Park
- Kazami Academy
- cherry blossom trees
- Asakura's house
- shopping district