Chinatown - Chapter 1

[bakemonoremy]

Location: Hallway

Keito: Aah, classes are finally over for the day.

(I’m seriously just reaping what I’ve sown here, but thanks to that “town revitalization plan*” taking up all of my time, my student council work has been piling up.)

(Honestly, this must be what they call “being so busy you don’t even have time to catch your breath”.)

(And I know that if I overworked myself I’d just burn out and not get anything done at all… But I really am up to my ears in work. It’s a hopeless situation.)

(I need to hurry to the student council room and get started on the paperwork. Of course, I won’t run in the hallways, but I’ll walk as quickly as possible…)

Sora: ……….!

Keito: Uwoh!

Who’s that running in a zig-zag across the corridors! That’s dangerous! I almost ran straight into you!

You’re… that first-year from Aoba’s unit?

Oi, are you listening? I’m telling you to quit running in the hallways!

And to do it in a zig-zag, too, that’s completely inexcusable! Walk in a straight line…

Wait, I wasn’t telling you to walk away from me right now! Get back here!

Who would ignore the person cautioning them and just try to walk off!

Why, you little… You did not just do something as dangerous as trying to climb up the walls to escape me.

Not a shred of remorse in sight. Seems like today’s finally the day you require a sermon from me.

Sora: ………..

Keito: Oi, you haven’t said a single thing yet, are you listening? Don’t make me repeat myself. How about you at least give me a response?

Sora: ………..

Keito: (....? He’s still not answering me.)

(When I met him the other day, he had a vastly different attitude. What could be the matter? Maybe he’s reflecting on his behaviour…?)

Oi, Harukawa… Hm?

(Wh-, there are tears in his eyes…!?)

(I-is he that remorseful...!? No, this is beyond remorse, it’s like he’s completely down in the dumps…)

(Maybe I was a little too harsh on him? But in this situation I have no choice but to give him a stern warning, for his own sake…)

I-in any case. This is far from the first time that I’ve seen you partake in hazardous behaviour like that. If you run into someone, there’s a good chance that not just the other person, but you personally, could get hurt.

Seeing that you’re an idol, I urge you to cherish your own body more. Once you have an accident it’s already too late.

If you understand this, don’t ever let me catch you running in the corridors again. And walking in a zig-zag line is also taboo. Take good care from now on.

Sora: ………..

Location: Student Council Room

- A few minutes later -

Keito: ………..

(It’s no good, I can’t get Harukawa’s strange demeanor from earlier out of my head. At this rate I’m liable to putting the wrong stamps on these documents.)

(I am by no means close to Harukawa, but I know that he’s not the type of person to be so rude as to not even grant me a response.)

(In fact, the way he kept completely silent, his eyes wet with tears can only mean…)

(While the warning itself was necessary, lately I have been so overworked that I may have adopted an excessively aggressive tone…)

Tsumugi: Excuse me~.

I am here to deliver documents for Switch in Natsume-kun’s place~.

Keito: ………..

Tsumugi: ...Umm, hello, Keito-kun? Can you hear me?

Keito: ………..

Tsumugi: Excuse me~?

Keito: Uwoh! Don’t thoughtlessly bring your face so close to mine, Aoba. Bastard, how long have you been in the student council room?

Tsumugi: Ah~, you finally noticed. You know, I did try calling out to you several times.

But since you didn’t react at all, I started wondering if maybe someone left a doll that perfectly resembles Keito-kun in this room.

Keito: As if that would ever happen. If you’re only here for smalltalk, get out. I’ve got my hands full with work.

Tsumugi: Geez, of course I’m here for a reason. When I came in I did say that I’m here to deliver some documents.

So you really didn’t hear me speak at all, huh.

Here you go, the documents for Switch. There’s no hurry, but please verify them for us.

Keito: Hm? Aah, I see. Yeah, consider them received.

Tsumugi: Is something the matter, Keito-kun? Your forehead is even more wrinkled than usual, did some kind of trouble come up with your work...?

Keito: No, there’s no problem with the work itself. It’s just that there’s a whole mountain of it…

That reminds me… Aoba, you’re in the same unit as Harukawa, aren’t you?

---------------------

* This story takes place around the time of Shinsengumi, which is what he refers to here.