PUT YOUR RECORDS ON (oikawa t.)

ch. 3: 20,000 yen = 200 dollars

Himari had never enjoyed school. The stress, the hours, the forced socialization— none of it was her thing. Going into her second year, she hadn't expected to enjoy it. She knew that she would have trouble balancing her friendship with Takara, her drawing, and studying. She knew that she would be spending a lot of her days sitting pathetically beside the toilet, green in the face and trembling, because of the anxiety she felt towards tests. Perhaps, though, school had one saving grace: art.

Himari had joined exactly one club since her middle school days: art club. There were a few different students in there, Takara being one, and they met up sometimes to sketch together, throw around ideas, sculpt, or even work with other clubs on things like designing posters and the works.

For as long as she'd been in school, art had pushed her through it. The long hours in class? Fixed by doodling. Teachers' lectures feeling like they lasted an eternity at a time? Himari could look forward to art club. The stress of an upcoming test becoming too much for her? She could take a break and draw her nausea away.

That was probably why, when Himari had been walking through the hallways to get to her next class (English), Takara had taken it upon herself to call out to Himari, flag her down, and then shove a flyer into her hand. Wearing a huge grin and with sparkling eyes, Takara took one look at Himari's confused and slightly startled expression and said, "You should sign up!"

Himari paused, blinking down at the paper that was in her hands.

It was a bit crumpled in places, because of Takara's rough handling of it. At the top in big, bright letters read: Miyagi Prefecture High School Art Contest!

"You want me to join an art contest?" Himari said softly, glancing up at Takara before her dark eyes flickered back down.

"Yeah, duh!" Takara looped her arm through one of Himari's, walking her down the hallway, so that they didn't disrupt the steady flow of students switching classes. "You should do it! You could even win— look at the prize."

"Twenty thousand yen," Himari murmured under her breath.

As she read on, she saw that the top three winners, along with anyone who personally impressed the judges, would be invited to participate in the national contest, which apparently offered a significantly more hefty amount of money.

It seemed like a really cool contest, and Himari did get why Takara would think she should do it (seeing as her friends just labeled her as 'the one who could draw'). However, Himari knew that there would be bigger, brighter, bolder, better pieces at play. Just the thought of putting a bit of her soul out there, hung out to dry, like that— next to all of those spectacular works that were sure to be entered... Himari's heart clenched up at the thought. She could imagine it now— her entree getting last place. She would be red in the face with tears shining in her eyes, humiliation causing nausea and dizziness in her head. No, she couldn't do that to herself. Even now, she knew it was a terrible idea.

It wasn't worth the risk.

"Thank you for telling me about it, Taka-chin," Himari said, eyes downcast and a little frown on her face, "but I can't enter myself in this contest. I'm sorry."

Takara huffed lightly, taking back the paper and sticking her tongue into the inside of her cheek. Her eyes implored Himari, but didn't seem surprised at all. "Is there a reason?"

Himari wouldn't look her in the eye; she crossed her arms loosely and looked away. "I'm sorry, Taka-chin, I just... I j—just can't."

Takara's eyes softened slightly; she reached out to flick Himari's shoulder, "Yeah, I figured, but I think you'd do really good. I wanted to see, anyways."