Plum Blossoms & Snowflakes [Prologue 2]

[anakidd]

Arashi: Ritsu-chan… at this point it’s a bit too late to say, but Tea Club meetings at this season are unusual, hm?

Last year at this time, you would be under the kotatsu, right?

Ritsu: Yep. But yesterday, I watched the weather report by chance and they said that today would be “like a warm spring day”, so I used my presidential powers to call for a meeting.

After all, drinking Haa-kun tea on a pleasant sunny day is a special occasion.

Arashi: I see. It’s also troublesome for Hajime-chan to tag along with your whims, Ritsu-chan.

Hajime: No, no. In my case, I’m very happy we managed to have a Tea Club meeting ♪ It seems it’s going to be colder starting tomorrow—

And the seniors are going to be more and more busy from now on too.

Arashi: Aah… graduation time is coming, hm?

Ritsu-chan, are you going to be able to graduate without issues?

Ritsu: Don’t worry ~ I worked hard to graduate together with Maa-kun.

Arashi: That’s good to hear. If you repeat a year again, your fans will be in an uproar.

Mayoi: Hm? Ah… so… Ritsu-san repeated a year?

Ritsu: That’s right Fufu, take a good look at this experienced being… ☆

Arashi: Huh… that’s not something to boast about, right?

Ritsu: Kinda ~ but it wasn’t totally bad either.

I reached the same year of Maa-kun, and enjoyed a carefree life a little bit more…

It would be nice if Haa-kun followed me and repeated for a year too… ♪

Arashi: Hey, stop talking like it's something fun. Repeating a year is troublesome.

Ritsu: Just kidding, just kidding. ♪ Haa-kun would never repeat a year, right?

Hajime: That’s right. Since I wasn’t told anything in particular, I should be able to go forward without issues.

Graduation… When I remember that nobody will be around anymore, I end up feeling lonely.

Ritsu: Maybe it’s going to go against the expectations? It’s different from moving overseas, we still live in the same dorms.

Arashi: That’s the last thing we think about while seniors are around, busy with all kinds of things.

And the moment they leave, reality sinks in and loneliness can suddenly hit.

At times like these, reach out to me anytime. I’m going to listen to every complaint and anything you have to say.

I’ll always support hard-working boys ♪

Hajime: Ehehe… thank you very much.

 

Ayase-senpai, let me make you another cup of tea.

If that's ok, do you mind telling me your favorite blend? We have a wide variety of tea leaves here, so I believe I can make it for you.

Mayoi: Please don't worry, I'm fine with anything.

Arashi: Mayoi-chan, in moments like this it would be good if you can tell us what you like. If we know each other's preferences, we’ll become closer.

Mayoi: A-ah, I u-understand… ah… s-so, I like-

Akiomi: [...... Teacher Kunugi speaking. This is a student call.]

[ Ayase Mayoi from class 3B, if you are at school, please go to the teacher’s room immediately. Once again. Ayase Mayoi from class 3B…] 

Mayoi: What?? Huh???

Ritsu: Oh… Mayomayo has been summoned.

Arashi: Waaah ~ even though he’s not calling me, my heart jumps just from hearing Akiomi-sensei!!!

And an after-school call, just like a dorama! I’m so jealoussssss! 

Mayoi: ...........

Arashi: Ara… Mayoi-chan, are you alright? Your face is pale like a ghost.

Mayoi: Hya????

I’m sorry. It was so sudden that my brain shut down.

uuuh ... Just imagining I’ll be scolded, I want to run away…

Ritsu: Hm, do you have any idea why?

Mayoi: … No. But I’ve been totally behind in studies until summer, so maybe I did something bad.

Aaargh… I wanna pretend I didn’t listen and go home! I wanna disappear!

Arashi: That’s no good. If you go home now, you’re going to be called again tomorrow and won’t be a fun time.

Mayoi: But….

Hajime: It can be really scary to be suddenly called through the school speakers.

But it’s not necessarily something bad. I was called some time ago and it was just a family member bringing me something I had forgotten.

If you have no clue, maybe it’s good news?

Arashi: That’s right. Akiomi-sensei’s tone wasn't angry at all. Isn’t that already a good sign?

Mayoi: T-true…. I don’t know if I’ll be scolded, and even if I run away now, I’ll need to confront it at some point.

I think I’ll gather courage and move forward.

Hajime: That’s the spirit! You can do this, Ayase-senpai!

I wasn’t able to serve you another cup of tea, so I packed cookies to make up for it. Take it if you want.

Mayoi: T-thank you very much. Then, see you later…

 

 

Ritsu: Okay. Bye bye ~

Mayomayo will be okay on his own…?

Arashi: As a friend, I feel the same. If it’s something bad, can he take it?

Think about it as a trial and best of luck, Mayoi-chan!

[A bit later]

 

Mayoi: (I feel bad, so obviously I dragged myself here)

(I’m finally at the teacher’s door)

(Akiomi-sensei is behind this door…)

(Aah, I have no heart to open this door)

(What have I done? I can’t think—) 

(No, there is one thing! I spent so long hiding in the ceiling, like a suspicious individual!)

(But it’s not written anywhere in the school rules that it is “forbidden to hide in the ceiling”, and I’m not bothering anyone!)

(... if it was the case. The guilty feeling is already criminal evidence…)

( Aaah, I feel awful. I wanna run away right now)

(Ugh, no way. If you always run away from your problems, you won’t ever grow, Mayoi!)

(There is no use overthinking. For now, I’ll clear my mind and一)

(Waah?? The door opened!)