Club activities ground to a halt as midterms came crashing down on them. That two way presentation they shared with the Swedish club had already been one activity too many.

The club members made good use of their room for studying after school, even though officially there were no club hours.

There wasn't a teacher who cared. Noriko didn't expect to find a teacher who would willingly tell the students not to study for exams just because they sat in their club room.

She had just opened the door to the Stockholm Haven Café when she heard agitated voices from the inside. It was too late to change her mind, so she entered despite recognizing Kuri-chan's voice as one half of a quarrel.

For once something was uglier than the tacky interior.

“I told you not to come here evenings.”

“Look, you brat. I was free now so I came here to collect my money. None of your business.”

The middle aged woman that the voice belonged to stormed out of the café.

“Who was that?” Noriko asked Kuri-chan. She nodded affirmatively when the barista questioningly held up an empty coffee cup.

Kuri-chan gave the exit a long stare. She sighed and turned to Noriko. “That was my legal guardian.”

“Collecting money?”

“She's also my landlady since a few months. Let's just say she's running a dirty business on the side with orphaned teenagers. Suits me perfectly, but I'm a bit worried about a couple of the other tenants.” Kuri-chan shrugged. “Not my business really. She leaves me alone in exchange for some cash.”

Shouldn't you be worried about yourself? “For some cash?”

“I have a job that pays rather well, but I had to lie about my age. She's backing the story.”

Noriko nodded at the door by the counter. “Want to take it inside?”

Kuri-chan shook her head. “No need. Your coffee is done. Let's sit down by a table here.” She grabbed her glass of water and walked away from the counter.

They were almost alone in the café, so Kuri-chan was probably correct when she said that the extra privacy the inner room offered wasn't needed. Noriko rounded some chairs and tables as she followed her rival and friend.

“What kind of job?”

Kuri-chan sat down. “Hostess, part time.”

“What?”

“Not so loud please. James knows. He's paying her share. I leave the money here.”

So that was what that phone call the first time here had been about. “Is it really worth it?” Now Noriko did feel worried.

Kuri-chan sipped her drink and shrugged again. “Quarter of a million yen in a good month. A hundred and fifty in a bad one. Pays my living here and I can save a little.”

That was a lot of money. I bet Kyoko-chan knows. It still sounded dangerous though.

“I know what you think. Don't forget I'm fifty. If I get into trouble it doesn't matter if my body is sixteen, twenty six or thirty six. So it's a matter about not getting into trouble, and that's where being an adult comes into the picture.”

Noriko shook her head. “I'm not going to copy you. Our family is rich. I don't need a part time job.” I still don't like it. “How?” she asked.

“After my swimming training.”

That made sense in a perverted way. No one would ask questions about a girl applying make-up and dressing up in a locker room. “Just curious. How old do you look, you know, when...”

“I can push it to a bit over twenty. It's pretty dark after all and I've only done this since February.” Then Kuri-chan looked scared for the first time. “Please don't tell Ulf. I know you like him, but...”

“I won't. If I steal him from you I do it by my own merits.” Noriko felt her cheeks heat up. “I don't think I could keep him otherwise.” I don't think I can compete with you. I always forget you're both adults inside, and I'm still a kid.

Kuri-chan looked at her for a long time. “You're more dangerous than I gave you credit for.”

That gave her a start. Dangerous? How?

Kuri-chan waved to James who had started to accept orders from the tables since the club made the café their usual hangout. He nodded and after a while he came out with a caramel coloured soft drink.

Noriko made her orders as he delivered Kuri-chan's.

It was almost dusk outside when the home-grown brothers arrived together with Sho-kun. Noriko still had a bit of a problem thinking of the club members in terms of first names, but both Kuri-chan and Urufu-kun had been adamant on that part.

Soon Sango-chan would arrive together with Jirou-sempai. There was a standing bet on who would be seen first hand in hand, they or Yu-kun and Kyoko-chan, and when that event would occur. The winner would be treated to their planned field trip during summer break.

Noriko hoisted her bag and spilled her homework onto the table. She had gotten permission from her mother to sleep over at Kuri-chan's home. Kyoko-chan would join them as well. Your own little rebellion, Noriko thought. Neither her parents nor Kyoko-chan's knew that Kuri-chan lived on her own.

“Let's start with maths,” Noriko suggested and waved the three newcomers to their table.

The boys wouldn't come tonight. It was the last Friday in May, and Fridays were sacrosanct to Urufu-kun and Yu-kun for some reason. Her idiot brother had chosen to join them.

At least they wouldn't have to listen to Urufu-kun's atrocious choice of music. He liked his music foreign, which was OK. He also liked his music ancient, which was not.

Behind her the bell jingled again, and Sango-chan entered with Jirou-sempai. Noriko threw a glance at their hands. The bet was still up.

They split to two tables and started cramming math for all that they were worth. Come Saturday they would study English. Both Urufu-kun and Kuri-chan had promised to join them, but both were otherwise occupied during Sunday.

Noriko felt rather certain it wasn't a date this time. Urufu-kun had talked about his part time job, and now she knew why Kuri-chan often preferred late afternoon meetings during Sundays.

They were on their third round when Kyoko-chan finally arrived for a last half an hour of cramming in the café. At eight o'clock they had to leave, and that was really pushing it a bit. Kuri-chan wanted to be home before nine, and they had some shopping to do first.

After that they'd prepare a late dinner and study until midnight.

***

Kyoko looked around when her name was called out. What now?

It was the class representative, Okada-san. A girl about her own length with short hair and glasses. She didn't belong to Ryu-kun's fan-club, and she most definitely didn't belong to Kuri-chan's. She was one of the girls who openly disliked the blond foreigner.

Kyoko could understand her to a degree. Kuri-chan was visible, very much so and she talked too much despite her poor Japanese. Which was a problem because by now Kuri-chan's Japanese had become good enough for her to put her foot firmly in her mouth from time to time.

“Okada-san?”

“Takeida-san, we're preparing for swimming lessons.”

Pool opening, yes that should be about now.

“We first years are assigned the duty to clean the pool.”

Kyoko could see where this was going.

“Each class has to contribute two students the coming Saturday. Those who are not yet members of a club or are members of a culturally oriented club are less likely to have a full schedule that weekday.”

Which was correct. The reasoning was perfectly sound, Kyoko admitted. That didn't make the prospect of cleaning out the pool any more appealing.

“Our PE teacher will oversee the work. From our class I have assigned you and Ageruman-san.”

There were more students in their class who could have been chosen given Okada-san's earlier reasoning but there was nothing improper Kyoko could complain about.

“I understand, Okada-san. Time?” Kyoko asked curtly.

“Saturday. Ten am. Do you know where I can find Ageruman-san?”

“I'll tell her myself. We have club hours after this anyway.”

“Thank you.”

Wednesday the first of June. The midterms were behind them and Kyoko was grateful Himekaizen had them a week later than most schools. She had needed that week.

This year it looked like the long weeks when you befriended your umbrella had already started, so the pool would already be moist when it was time for cleaning it out. That was a plus. The downside was that the cleaners would also already be moist when it was time for cleaning.

But secretly she was happy to have been picked out by Okada-san. After a prior run-in with his English teacher Urufu-kun had been picked from 6:1 and Yu-kun had received the other spot due to guilt by association.

Kuri-chan wouldn't mind neither. She threw far too many glances in the direction of the left wing during breaks. Whenever it rained during lunch she ate her food in their classroom with destitution written all over her face, but if the weather allowed. Well she certainly had the legs to compete with Ryu-kun sprinting down the stairs.

In short Kuri-chan behaved more like a love-struck middle schooler than the second time high schooler she was.

Like I'm behaving all grown up. Gah! I know Yu-kun likes me. Not even I could be blind enough not to see that but I just can't bring it up after what I did to him.

Kyoko left their classroom and headed through the main building to their club room. They were planning Urufu-kun's insane outdoor dinner and bouncing ideas for a summer break field trip.

Soon they would have to wave goodbye to their Skype friends. Some of them forever but most of them just for the long summer ahead.

***

The pool was indeed moist as was she. To her right an equally moist Kuri-chan scrubbed the bottom with a brush. Urufu-kun was hanging precariously over the edge scrubbing one side of the pool together with Yu-kun and the two delinquents from 2:1.

5:1 and 4:1 were pouring in clean water from one end while 3:1, that would be her and Kuri-chan, and 1:1 scrubbed frenetically. 8:1 mopped up the wet and dirty results and 7:1 carried the residue away from the pool.

Normally Kyoko wasn't one to pay too much attention to clothes. But there were two obvious exceptions. Two Swedish exceptions. She might be uninterested in fashion but you just didn't make best friends with the tall bombshell without learning something. And that covered the female part of high school fashion.

Probably covers a lot more than just high school fashion, Kyoko thought wryly.

She put some weight to her brush and watched brown pool bottom become blue and clean water become brown.

“Dive, dive, dive!”

Urufu-kun vaulted clumsily but exactly over the edge and landed on the bottom. He took up scrubbing the sides again.

“There he goes!”

And that was the other exception. He wore, well how should she put it… strange clothes. If she wanted to be kind. Outright harmful to the eyes was probably a better description.

The worst part was that he considered it fashionable casuals from back home. Which she might have believed if it hadn't been for Kuri-chan. In a fit of frustration she had opened up a computer and shown Kyoko what was considered fashionable among teenagers in Sweden. While foreign and a bit rustic it wasn't hurtful to your eyes.

Kyoko transformed some more pool bottom with her brush and looked at her friend. She was busy following Kyoko's example and made an obvious attempt not to throw too many glances at her boyfriend. Whenever she failed she shook her head.

Did he have to mix neon orange with olive green? I mean, really!

For once she followed Kuri-chan's example and shook her head.

Both friends took a stare at each other and laughed.

And rain started pouring down.

Moist, you bet!