Annkoto - P5

Annkoto - Chapter 9: Left Alone

It's Monday, July 4th. During the school day, Eiko decides to confront Makoto, to help her "get a life" like she asked. Her motivation for seeking her is unclear, but she might just want the nitpicky student council president to loosen up and get off her friends' cases every once in a while.

Eiko: "Nijima-san."

Makoto: "Eiko? What a pleasant surprise."

Ann (under her breath): "She calls her by her first name?"
Ann, who was a second year, went up to the third floor of Shujin to finally clear the air between her and Makoto. But when she was about to turn the corner and approach the student council office, she sees Makoto talking to another girl. Now she's just peeking around the corner, eavesdropping on them.

Eiko: "y'know how you said you wanted my advice on how to get a life?"

Makoto: "Yes, I just wanted to know what the general student body does in their free time, and what their interests are."

Eiko: "yeah whatever, we should go have lunch somewhere."

Makoto: "Eiko, we cannot skip class. As student council president, I simply must not allow it."

Eiko: "fiiiine, just meet up with me after school."

Makoto: "Sure thing."

As they part ways and head to class, Ann, having witnessed this suspicious exchange, seems to be overthinking everything.

Ann (Internal): (What the hell was that about. How did she already make another friend? And they're going to lunch together? Did I really mess up this much that she has to find a replacement?)
...
Makoto (Internal): (I wonder where Ann is, I haven't seen her all day. I was going to apologize to her about that night... about how I ruined our moment. But I still have my student council duties to attend to, and I cannot be an adequate leader of the student body without being on the same page as them. My time with Eiko this afternoon may prove exceedingly valuable.)

...

Eiko: "Nijima-san are you ready?"

Makoto: "Yes, let us go. Also, Eiko, you don't have to be formal with me."

Eiko: "gotcha, Makoto."

Ann: (Now they're both on a first name basis?!)
Ann is currently hiding by the school gate, watching Eiko and Makoto. It's at this point that she's crossed the line between eavesdropping, and stalking. Ann follows them to the train station, gets onto an adjacent car on their train, arrives at their stop in Shibuya, and follows them to the same crêpe place that Makoto and Ann went to a week or so ago.
Once Ann saw where they were headed, tears formed in her eyes.

Ann mumbles: "Why here?"
...
Makoto: "Why here specifically, Eiko?"

Eiko: "it's totally a cute date spot..."

Ann: (Date? No, that can't-)

Makoto and Eiko stepped in the building, so Ann can't hear them currently.

Makoto: "So, if I had someone I liked, you're saying I would take them here?"

Eiko: "i guess it doesn't gotta be here."

Makoto: "And what does this have to do with the student body as a whole? Are they all going on dates here?"

Eiko: "you're so uptight Makoto, relax. we're here to have fun and just chill. that's what your "student body" or whatever likes to do, just chill."

Makoto: "That's interesting."
...
Eiko: "Makoto, let's hold hands."

Makoto is physically taken aback: "What?!"

Eiko: "what are you so scared about, we're both girls so it's not like it means anything. it'll be like practice for when you get a boyfriend."

Makoto: (This is so I can become a better student council president. Breathe in, breathe out.) "Alright, let's do it."

Ann is watching through the glass as Makoto and Eiko start to hold each other's hand.
She panics.

Ann runs to open the door and yells: "Stop it!!"

The crêpe shop falls dead silent. Makoto quickly turns around and gasps.

Ann looks around at everyone staring at her.
She covers her mouth with her hand, turns and runs away sobbing.

Eiko: "what's with that chick-"

Makoto sprints after Ann and says to herself: "Not again."

She calls out to Ann, seeing her way down the street.

Makoto: "Ann stop! Come back!"

Ann seems to stop. She crouches down with her face in her palms. Makoto catches up to her.

Makoto: "Ann I-"

Ann: "Why am I like this."

Makoto: "Ann..."

Ann: "Why does it hurt so much. We're both girls aren't we?!"

Makoto: "..."

Ann: "Please, I just need to be left alone."

She gets up and runs off.

Makoto just stands there on the sidewalk, unmoving.

Makoto: "What have I done?"

Makoto: (This has nothing to do with my role as student council president, does it. I did all of this to hide. To hide from her... Will I ever be able to face her again?)