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美しい言葉 (Beautiful Words)

Chapter 12 - 美しい言葉 (Beautiful Words)

By the time we got to school, Jahina was almost back to normal, chatting away with Oikawa about alien spotting. Aliens wasn't my forte, so I mostly listened to the conversation, only every now and again pointing things out. We were met with the squeals of Oikawa's fangirls as soon as we stepped on campus, cutting their conversation off as Oikawa waved to the girls, who squealed again in delight.

I heard Jahina mumble under her breath, "It's like a farm with piglets..." which made me chuckle. I knew she didn't mean any offense, it was just a harmless speculation.

While Oikawa chatted with his fans, Jahina and I caught up with Matsukawa and Hanamaki. We all had a casual conversation as we all walked to homeroom, splitting our different ways. I couldn't help but smile a little when I remembered I sat next to Jahina in class.

Jahina slumped in her chair, covering her mouth whilst yawning. "I'm so tired I think I might fall asleep in lesson..." She turned to face me, "If I do, you'll wake me up right?"

"Sure." I agreed, as she smiled and thanked me. "But you need more sleep so you don't fall behind or get sick."

"I was busy last night..."

"How come?"

Before my question was answered, the home room teacher came in and we all fell silent for roll call. We had literature first, studying the art of haikus. I wasn't particularly good at this subject, but I wasn't bad.

I was asked to read out my haiku about summer, so I stood with a sigh.

"Sweltering sunshine, stars* shine brightly in the night, as the sun goes down."

"Very good, however to improve you could perhaps change the first line to fit with the other two lines." The teacher allowed me to sit down again.

"I'm honoured!" I found Janina grinning widely at me, and I realised why she was. My cheeks felt hot, I don't know why though.

"Hoshino! Seeing as you're so busy chatting, why don't you read yours out?"

She jumped and her face flushed red in embarrassment as she flustered around for her work, promptly standing up.

She cleared her throat, "One snowy spring day, budding flowers are in bloom, let's grow together."

The way the words flowed out her mouth, it was as if she was surrounded in her spring flowers she created. I thought I was the only one seeing this, but the whole class seemed in a daze, in awe of her writing.

"Or something like that..."

"That was beautiful Hoshino. There is the double meaning of love and new life in spring which is perfectly delivered by your choice of words. I see you have a knack for literature."

"I read a lot, and my Mom can be quite poetic..?" She sheepishly explained, clearly uncomfortable at the amount of attention she was getting.

"I see. Good job, everybody try another season!"

She sunk back into her seat with a sigh of relief, steam coming off her head as her cheeks burned brightly.

'Adorable...'

"Wow." Was all I could utter out to her.

"Yeah... Don't judge..." She whined bashfully.

"I wasn't judging, I'm just pleasantly surprised." I admitted, the girl narrowing her gaze on me. "Honest! I think your haiku was very sweet."

She buried her face in her arms again as I wondered what I did wrong. She mumbled something that I didn't quite catch, but she didn't repeat it and just pretended it didn't happen.

At the end of the day, we were going to club when we were suddenly confronted by the head of the literature club and some of his kouhai.

"Hoshino! Would you please consider joining the literature club?!"

"We were moved by your poem in literature!"

"We think you would be best in our club!"

She stepped back, unsettled by their abrupt declarations, gathering the attention of those in the corridor.

"Ah, thank you for your offer, but I'm in a club already." She politely bowed to them, denying their request.

The chief threw a quick glance to me, then returned his full attention to Janina.

"Well then! We will do everything in our power to convince you to join us! Adieu!"

And with that they all ran away.

Jahina giggled to herself as they left, making my heart both strain and flutter.

*star sounds similar to Hoshi (which is Jahina's surname, Hoshino)