original author some more time to make an important plot decision. I remember Daiichi walking me home, and then me mixing all the ingredients for the bake-free cheesecake and sending it to harden in the fridge. Unpacked my suitcase, which took no time at all, I have gotten used to traveling lightly. I packed my lunch last night as well with the tub of vegemite I smuggled over in my luggage. It makes my life easier especially when I am too lazy to make lunch.

It’s 7:20 am, I am all ready to go, I had my lunch bag, my school bag and the plastic container in another bag with cheesecake for Sachi-nee in it. I figured Suu can come over and get his this afternoon. I made one extra for myself. Damn it Suu, if I put on any weight I am blaming you because the ramen last night was nice to me.

I got down the elevator and walked out of the entrance only to find Matt trying to ring the intercom to my room. Michelle’s the only one with him today.

“Is it a ritual for us to all go to school together every day?” I asked

“Of course, Suu lives the furthest and get up the earliest, so he usually comes to see me first, then we go and pick up Matt, Shion and Chihiro and Tomo. Daiichi was last until you moved in as the closest to the school.” Was Michelle’s detailed explanation. These people must be very good friends.

“Really? I never had Friends picking each other up on the way to school.”

“Some cold world you live in.”

“Oh that means we can go pick up Shiori after me, she lives closer to the school than I do. And today we have more representatives from the female population, so I don’t think Shiori will mind too much.”

I passed the bag with the cake for Matt to hold while I texted Shiori that we will be there to pick her up in 5 minutes.

“What’s this?” Matt asked

“Bribe.” I answered, “where are Daiichi and Suu?” I asked. Assuming the others will be late for the same reasons as usual.

“Daiichi had some business to take care of, he suddenly got busy lately. And Suu left me a text message saying that he needs to stay home and make some money today, something about a few bills showed up last night that he needs to pay for.” Was Matts a detailed explanation.

I got a reply from Shiori, with the @///@ emoji, and then the anime cat happily purring, the same one my mother sent me the other day. Not sure if Shiori is a 40-year-old woman on the inside or my mum is a better JK than me. Most likely the later, Uhm, most likely.

We walked down the streets towards Shiori’s apartment building, the traffic already picking up and there are people traveling to work and school. I felt like I forgot something.

“SHIMADA!” I screamed.

“What’s wrong Kelly?” Michelle asked, confused and panicking.

“I forgot to catch up on the animes I missed.” I sobbed, “In fact, I haven’t watched anime or read any manga in the last 72 hours! All I’ve been doing is normie stuff like clubs and hanging out with friends and cooking and baking!”

“Normies must die.”

“72 hours? Are you feeling ok Kelly?” Matt is now concerned

“Do I look okay to you?” I asked.

“No.” was the answer.

“Here Kelly,” Michelle handed me an MP3, in this day and age. Her face full of concern. “plug your earphones in, it should help with your symptoms.” I did as Doctor Michelle prescribed.

“Are you stupid or something?” Matt scolded, “How can you survive so long?”

“I don’t know.” I had no excuse. I put the earphones on and pressed play. It seems to be a drama CD, with male-only voice actors, I can hear the intense romance between young men. This is it, this is what I need, I can picture the scenes vividly in my mind, I hope I am not drooling.

“Better?”

“Better.” Now I understand why this is in a separate MP3 and not on her phone. This particular one is rotten to the core and if this was a phone and someone brushed past and accidentally took the earphones off, I can’t even begin to imagine the filth that is going spring forth out of the loudspeakers.

I let the filth, I mean art form, in through my ears to my brain and through my body. Is this what drug addiction feels like? Who cares, I am a filthy otaku, and this is my daily bread. You don’t know hunger until you are starving. I preached in my mind.

Shiori is already waiting when we reached her Apartment building, she is dressed every bit the high school girl, instead of the blazer, she had the loose jumper that is just a little too big for her. Her shirt tucked underneath her skirt, complete with school socks and leather loafers, Her shirt is button all the way up with the ribbon neatly tied.

“Good morning.” She smiled at us

“Good morning.” We replied

“Kelly, you ok?” Shiori asked, “you have a weird look on your face.”

“I’m Ok,” I replied as I wiped the drool off the corner of my mouth. I can’t exactly explain to Shiori I am listening to “borderline” explicit boys love material as therapy.

I got a message on my phone, its Michelle telling everyone lunch will be at the club room today in the group chat.

“What is this?” Shiori asked Matt and the suspicious bag his holding.

“Bribe apparently.” Matt handing it back to me while replying to Shiori.

“Eh?”

“Cheesecake, I made them for Sachi-nee as a thank you gift.” I quickly explained, “Michelle, you want to come over with Shiori this afternoon and have some cheesecakes?”

“Just us girls?”

“Oh, I was supposed to invite Suu as well.”

“So just girls then.”

“Pretty much.”

“Let me see if I can wiggle out of some responsibilities tonight.” Michelle looked towards Matt.

“What you looking at me for?’ Matt asked cautiously

‘Please Matt.”

“Please Matt.” Failing to understand what the relationship of annoying Matt and Michelle getting to come over for the girls night in, I joined the plea.

“I’m coming too?”

“Yes.” Me, Michelle and Matt. Replied at the same time to Shiori.

“For Shiori’s sake, I’ll do something about it.” Was Matts final answer.

“Yada!” Michelle happily hopped in front of Shiori and gave her a hug. Which Shiori didn’t mind too much. I can imagine Shiori getting used to girls her age hugging her randomly all the time. Whenever we are happy, we will find the cutest thing around us and hug it. And most of the time, the cutest thing around will be Shiori.

We hurried to school, dropped the cake off to Sachi-nee and joined everyone in the class. Shion arrived 32 seconds before the bell, a new record it seems. I am not sure if Daiichi made it to his class but Suu is nowhere to be seen, he really isn’t coming today.

“Ok class,” Ellen Sensei started the homeroom. “We’ve got a big announcement to make.”

Are we getting another transfer student? Are we finally going to have plot development? I hope she’s a cute childhood friend I’ve forgotten and calls me Kelly onee sama.

“No, we are not getting another transfer student. Even though we get about 10 of them every year.”

Damn it, way to shatter my delusions sensei.

“Our school trip has been decided for this year.” Ellen Sensei continued. “we will be going to Hokkaido in 10 days time.”

“10 days? Why so sudden?”

“I thought it would be Kyoto or something more traditional.”

“Come down everyone, let me explain.” Ellen Sensei begins, the class quiet down miraculously. “The world economic forum will be conducted in Sapporo next week, and it is hosted by the Sapporo University of Commerce. So the story goes that they couldn’t get enough people to attend and don’t want to sell discounted tickets, so all the third-year students from our school are invited to attend.”

“So basically we are seat fillers to make some other schools look good,” Michelle observed next to me.

“Because of that, we don’t have to pay for the $1,000 USD ticket, but since we booked late, the only place that can fit us all is the grand hotel’s twin share or triple share rooms. Of course, the costing had been submitted to your parents last night.”

“So basically we still have to pay a premium for this school trip, not that any parents will mind.” Michelle kept up with the explanation.

“Why does no one question sending a bunch of kids to the international economic forum was a good idea?” I asked Michelle.

“They must be really desperate.”

“The plane is booked next Monday at 11 am, you are instructed to arrive at school 0700 sharp on the day. The relevant information has been sent to your student email. Are we all clear.” Ellen sensei had fun with her military act. You know, one of those battle high school animes where the teachers go “Move out!”

“Yes Ma’am” was the classes answer

“Any questions?”

I was half expecting all the class will reply “No Ma’am” military-style to play along with her.

“Are we going to decide our own groups and roommates?” Matt asked.

“I believe there is a form in the package for you to fill out.”

I looked at Michelle, she gaves me a thumbs up.

“We do have a limited number of twin share rooms though so some of you might have to triple share.”

Michelle looked at me and I gave her a thumbs up.

Wait a minute, we are going to Sapporo, there is something….. something I am forgetting, happens a lot today, I must be getting old.

“AHHHH,” I screamed as I stood up.

“Yes, Kelly?”

“Ramen.”

“Yes Kelly, you can get your ramen during free time.”

The whole class burst in laughter, even Matt smirked at me and shook his head at the same time.

Well that answered my question, I looked at Michelle and she is shaking her head this time, I guess she is not joining for ramen then.

.....................

Skip to mid-class break, I rushed towards 3B and slipped through the door. I saw Daiichi, he made it to school sometime between the homeroom and now, sitting at the far side of the room, probably because of his height, chatting with a few other boys in the class. Shiori sits by the window in the front row, because of her height. Tomo and Chihiro are sleeping on their desks, are those games worth it? Are they?

I rushed my way to Shiori, she seems to be drawing something on an art pad.

“Shiori~~~~” I appeared in front of her desk.

Shiori ignored me and kept on drawing.

“Shiori channnn~~~~~” I tried again. No answer? What if I blow some air in her ear, is that considered sexual harassment?

In the corner of the eye, I can see Daiichi got out of his seats and saying to his friends that one of his club members showed up so he needs to talk to her. Then made his way to us.

“Shiori,” Daiichi called out. “Kelly is here to see you.”

Shiori’s hand stopped, she looked up at me and her eyes slowly focused on mine. She must be in her trance when she draws, just like Suu when his writing. But wow what was that difference in treatment, I know Daiichi is like yours… important person…. But what is this difference in treatment? You two should just get hitched already. Damn normies.

“I am so sorry Kelly when I started drawing I somehow forget everything else.”

“It's fine, it's fine. It means you enjoy what you are doing.” Forget everything else but Daiichi that is. Hmph. “Anyway, about the school trip, join me and Michelle~” That wasn’t a question, still salty about not noticing me.

“Can I?” her eyes went wide with excitement, damn it Shiori, you are forgiven.

“Of course, and also when you think of Sapporo, you think of.”

“Ramen!” We said that together. I grabbed both her hands with mine and we looked towards Daiichi.

“Neeeeeee~~~,” I think that chunked off some of Daiichi’s Hitpoints, I can feel that handsome poker face cracking just a little.

“Alright then, I’ll pick you up after club today~” I let go of her hand and waved goodbye to them both as I made myself disappear through the door.

.............

“How did it go?” Michelle asked, holding what appears to be a piece of registration paper.

I gave her a thumbs up

She then proceeds to put all our names down, gave me a thumbs up.

“We’ll put this through at lunch.” She said as the bell for 3rd-period sounds.

Honestly, I didn’t listen at all in class, I was daydreaming about Anime Bishies and Ramen, mostly bishies from this morning's drama CD, that was some potent stuff, a lot of potent stuff. There must be something wrong with me, there are all these hot guys and cute girls around me all the time, yet I am still fantasizing about anime shipping.

As soon as the bell rang, Michelle and I made our way to the faculty office and dropped off the form with Ellen Sensei, she put her stamp to it and tossed it in one of the piles of paper on her desk. Is that ok? Is that safe?

Lunch was supposed to be in the club room, so we headed upstairs.

Shion is checking on the new PC and finishing up the updates, Chihiro and Tomo are asleep on the meeting table, their lunch untouched, Are those Games really worth it? Are they? Matt is munching on a store-bought sandwich and reading something, mostly likely manga or about the school trip. Daiichi already done with bento and is calling someone again. Suu is nowhere in sight.

I checked my message on the phone, Suu replied that he will not be coming to school today. I text him wither he is coming over for the cheesecake plus Shiori and Michelle will be joining and have he got the materials for the school trip.

“Yes.” Was his only answer, I can safely assume that’s the answer for both.

Michelle sat down near the door and unwrapped her nicely packed lunch while I choose to sit crossed-legged on the floor by the window, seems like Sachi-nee made my trousers very flexible. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and logged into my subscribed anime service, don’t pirate kids, its not good for you nor the anime community, the more you pirate the fewer budget animators get next season. My “to watch” list has been getting longer and longer, I started with the one that requires the least attention, one of those brainless feel good animes while chewing on my vegemite sandwiches. This club is weird, one moment we are high-performance ultra elites and the next we are just happy anti-social otakus who would want to be left alone with their own devices. Pun intended.

“say, why are we going to an economic forum?” I asked the members in general.

“From what I am reading, it seems to be a very big event. The main event is held once every year and there are businesses and professionals from all over the world. There are even some big names that will be attending this year.”

“Don’t you think it would be a better place to hold it in Tokyo instead of Hokkaido? Isn’t that place just all farms?” Not that I’ve been there before. I had an image of New Zealand and all the eye can see is mountains, grass, and sheep, lots of sheep.

“The last time they held it was in a small city by the bay in China. Because the economy and population are declining rapidly there.”

“That sounds a lot like Hokkaido.”

“That’s why the tourism board wants it there, foreign business’s with a lot of money sounds like a good boost to the economy, plus, Otaru beer is there I am sure it would be a popular destination.”

“Yet they still couldn’t sale all the tickets.”

“I blame that on the marketing department of whatever university is hosting this event.” Daiichi joined the conversation, “I remember them approaching our company to advertise for them but the couldn’t afford the fee. They get what they paid for.” Alpha Prez is ruthless as always.

After that, we all crawled back into our otaku holes and indulged in some anime, contributing to the GDP of this wonderful country. Girls and Boys cannot live on bread alone.

It was Math class again in the afternoon, all I could think about is Suu making money out of Mr. Math teachers retirement funds on the stock market right now. I felt like I learned something about graphs and functions, but Chihiro was right, its something I will never use in the real world out there. And this school knows it very well, but we got to follow the international curriculum, unfortunately.

..............

The club went on like a war zone again and I was useless, trying to do something helpful without shooting my comrades in the back. So I offered to be the errand girl. Matt is covered by print outs that Alpha prez dumped on his side of the table, all the prices from Vietnam and production costs. Most of the time Matt would simply enter the numbers into the template he made. The three Bakas are making a dummy testing model apparently, and Michelle spends most of her time in front of the computer trying to figure out generic NPC designs. All I have been doing is running around between cafeteria fetching everyone Coffees and teas and the library with all the print outs. I am confident in my athletic abilities, but two years of no training and 12 flight of stairs is proving to be quite the challenge. I need to let Matt know the club should invest in a printer and perhaps a coffee machine.

“uhhhhh, I’m tired.” I dropped my head onto the table, I can feel the imaginary steam coming out of the top of my head. “I think I overworked myself.”

“Consider it payment for all the calories you going to consume next.” Michelle reminded me, “Let's go, we going to pick up Shiori.” She dragged me up and pulled me out of the door.

“Bye~~~” I waved at the boys and left them to their own devices, pun intended, and made ourselves disappear down the stairs.

.................

We got home just fine, it’s weird walking to my apartment with only 3 of us girls, I found out that Shiori has dabbled in shoujo manga before and reads them regularly when she isn’t drawing or looking after the family business. It’s odd, besides anime and manga we really don’t have any interests that a-line. I rather go and play some soccer with the kids in parks and Shiori would prefer to go hunt for pretty scenery and preserve them as artworks. And Michelle, she has some more normie old man interests such as world politics and high-end male fashion, even though she is a textbook fujo.

I fished my keys out of my trouser pocket and unlocked the door. It seems Suu isn’t here yet. I checked around the living room and kitchen, there isn’t anything I would hide from these two and I signalled them in. I lock most of the private staff in my room anyway, things like my yaoi collection and all, no one will ever find it. Not even my mother or Suu, one day I am going to fall half asleep and start calling Suu ‘mum’.

I gave a quick instruction of where the bathroom and laundry areas are and settle the girls in the living room.

“So, should I start making dinner? What would you two like.”

“I thought we here for the cake,” Shiori asked.

“Eh?”

“Eh? Don’t people eat cake for dinner?”

“Eh?” Me and Michelle looked at each other, it seems like a whole new world had just opened to us. If you don’t have dinner, you don’t have to count the calories from the dinner that you never had, AND you can eat so much more desserts!

The bell rang, I checked the time and it is already 6 PM, Suu must’ve arrived. I went to the intercom and let him in. Doesn’t he have a key? Maybe he is just being considerate and warn us he is on his way up so we can hide whatever we need to hide.

“Sorry I’m late, had to pick up some tea.” Suu arrived in his school uniform for some reason, kicked off his shoes, arranged it nicely and put on his pair of slippers, the one with the frills on it.

“Is Darjeeling ok with everyone?” He asked. Why am I not surprised about his choice of tea, in fact, apart from the Chinese teas, I think this is the only one he can recognize from all the anime references. “Also, Kelly, help me cut the cake please.”

“Yes, mum,” I replied, it just seemed so fitting. Shiori and Michelle giggled as I got up. It seems like Shiori is very comfortable around Suu, most girls I know from middle school would either be drooling or downright making moves on him. I took the now firm Cake out of the fridge, cut them into smaller slices and took out plates, forks, and cups for four and carried them to the dinner table.

“Ahh, these are some really cute cups and plates, even the forks are bought to pair with them.”

“Thank you,” Suu replied, “I had a hard time picking them out but glad you like them.” Now that I think of it, isn’t this set a Christmas present from the Suu family a few years back?

Suu had the tea in a stylish teapot, we had that in our house?

“Suu, you sure you don’t want some dinner?” Michelle asked, “Knowing you, probably haven’t had any lunch yet.”

“I thought we here for the cake.”

“Eh?”

“Eh? Don’t you eat cake for dinner?”

“Eh?” I looked at Michelle, she nods her head at me, no it’s not just me, we are having a Déjà vu, could it be that Suu is on the same girly level as Shiori? I know we joke about him being a girl all the time, but I am just not sure anymore.

As the host, I helped everyone with their share of the cheesecake and Suu is pouring tea for everyone, with the filter and all professional gadgets that I didn’t know we had in this house.

“Suu, aren’t you glad that you are here having tea with three cute high school girls.”

“Well, I just hope I don’t get my head cut off by the boys in class if they find out about this,” Suu answered, not a sliver of sarcasm in his voice, in fact, I don’t remember hearing one sarcastic comment from him ever. “Also if we just put up some shoujo anime on tv it would be indeed a good tea party.”

“I am sure some of the girls are already planning my death,” Michelle followed Suu and took this conversation down the Dark Path.

“I can totally understand, I can sometimes feel people glaring daggers at my back.” Even thinking about it giving the tingles. Shiori gave us a pained smile, she understood our meaning but can’t exactly contribute.

“Why do people get so jealous anyway,” I asked. “Shouldn’t they be happy for the person they like?”

“It clearly sounds like you never liked anyone,” Suu said, Shiori and Michelle nodded their heads.

“Oi.” I gave them a flat look. “Have you?” I asked Suu

“Of course, I will never let anyone else touch her and get jealous if another character talks to her.”

Oh, we talking about anime or a game, he even used the word “Character” instead of ‘person’.

“Not that I can contribute but if I like something I will use all my power to obtain it,” Said Michelle “That goes with clothing, investments, cosmetics, and Yaoi.”

Its weird hearing “Investment” and “Yaoi” in the same sentence but that is our Michelle Ojou sama for you.

I looked at Shiori, she is happily eating her cheesecake while listening to us, I can smell the faint scent of her shampoo as she shuffled some of her hair behind her ears. I am making a cucumber sandwich for lunch tomorrow.

“I think Suu is right, when you like someone you just want to have all of them when they are with someone else you feel empty on the inside and all the doubts start to eat at your insides.” Shiori took another bite out of the cake as she went on, “It must be painful to see them talk to some other girls but you know they are harmless.” Shiori poked her fork in the soft cheesecake, with a little more force than needed.

“It sounds like Shiori has the most experience out of all of us!” Michelle started, “tell us about it.”

“Eh?”

“Yeah, I want to hear it too.” I nudged.

“Me three.” Suu joined in.

“Eh?” Obviously embarrassed, Shiori stared into her teacup.

“Come on, it’s one of the girls bonding activities.” I changed my approach.

“That’s right.” Nice one Suu-chan.

Shiori went to poking her cheesecake, I was expecting her to be red to her ears and start crying with all the pressure but she looked at me straight in the eye.

“You won’t tell anyone else right?” Shiori asked. Why is she directing her question only at me? Am I not as trustworthy as I thought.

‘Shiori, you can trust Kelly.” Suu answered for me, it escapes me some time that I only knew this girl for 3 days. Suu and Kelly had known her for at least a year, of course, she would be cautious with one of her biggest secrets.

Shiori took a deep breath and calmed herself, the same amount of determination and focus you would see in a world-class athlete, I am sure she is experiencing a torrent of emotions right now and they are tearing her apart on the inside. But she let none of that show on her face, a truly strong woman.

“The co-director of Kyoto commercials and an art enthusiast, who transferred to our school because of family traditions, and now the club president of the Multimedia production club, Ito Daiichi.” Shiori declared with her eyes closed and the sweetest smile on her face when she repeated all that. And then comes a few seconds of silence as her words carrying all the burdens with it fades out and all that left is the traffic outside and my kitchen clock ticking.

“The first part sounds a lot like Daiichi’s self-introduction.” Michelle observed, “Remember when he transferred to our class 2 years ago?”

“I think that was his exact lines, I remember the class was in a huge uproar hearing a young man with such background transferred in, I remember it because that’s why I recruited him as prez.” Suu filled me in.

Shiori went back to her normal high school girl self, tried to pick up the teacup with her shaking hand and realizing it’s not going to happen, stared at it and mumbled. “Of course, I think that’s when I had a crush on him.”

What is this? Love at first sight? What Youth Romcom is this? I reached out my arms and gave her a big hug, I have no idea what she is feeling on the inside right now, but I know instinctively she needs a hug right now.

“Well done Shiori, well done.”

“Wait you knew?” Michelle asked.

“It’s public information.” I pirated Suu’s catchphrase, “Besides, Suu told me about it.”

Michelle glared at Suu, to which he just shrugged. If I took the “book of public information” from Suu and put it on the market, how much money would it fetch?

“I thought Suu would’ve known,” Shiori wiggled gently in my embrace, signaling that she will be alright now. “Nothing escapes Suu.”

“That’s true,” Michelle agreed, “But why does Kelly know this before I did?”

“Kelly is something like a daughter to me,” Suu said that with a straight face, taking a sip of his tea.

Shiori giggled at that, I reluctantly let go of her and let her go back to eating her cheesecake. “Ok Kelly, Daiichi is mine.” She joked.

Being stabbed to death by Shiori doesn’t sound like a bad way to go, some enthusiasts out there might even enjoy it. I quickly brushed that thought bubble aside. Too dark Kelly, too dark.

“It’s ok, He’s not my type anyway.” I said truthfully, “I know he is handsome and cool as hell when he is in that Alpha mode.”

“It’s funny because that’s how he normally acts when he just got transferred in. Daiichi is a lot toned down now.” Suu explained.

“Ohhh, so that’s why he would have that introduction.” I can hear Daiichi sneezing in my imagination.

“Ok Kelly, Your turn.” Shiori looked at me.

“sadly Kelly is Kelly, forever single because she has no interests in real men or women, and Suu is my mother.” I confessed, “But if Shiori wants to marry me I will have no complaints.”

“No thank you,” Shiori gave me a polite smile. “I already have someone I like dearly.” And rejected me.

No, it didn’t hurt, didn’t hurt at all, I just need some tea to wash done this cheesecake that might get stuck in my chest.

“what about you Michelle? You got someone you like?”

“Not Matt, if that’s what you are asking.”

Ouch, sorry Matt, be glad you are not here, although I don’t think he would care anyway.

“I think I am into older men, those in their mid-20s with a good future perspective and good work ethics.” Michelle continued, “Or someone who I will meet one day and I will lose it like miss love at first sight over there.”

“Who me?” Suu asked.

“The other one.” Michelle pointed at Shiori, who is already bright red to the ears.

“Hold on, isn’t there going to be a lot of elite men in their middle 20s in this economic forum thing we going?”

“Oh, good point.”

“Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.” Michelle went deep in thought, “Maybe, just maybe.”

“Is it my turn yet?” Suu asked.

“Don’t bother, it's going to be some character anyway.” Michelle and I dismissed him as Shiori giggled happily.

We ended up finishing the whole cake that I was saving for myself. Suu packed his cake in a plastic container that I don’t even know we had and relocate it in a bag. Before leaving, Suu asked if Shiori wants us to help her with her Ito Daiichi conquest, even though both he and I know his “Dokidoki Meter” Is already maxed out. To that Shiori simply said no thank you, because of Daiichi’s family and his position making a move on him will only bring misfortunate and that Shiori will figure something out.

I let Suu walk both of them home and washed the dishes, the room is once again quiet, I closed all the lights in the living room and started reading some manga that I was supposed to finish ages ago, I feel like something innocent and sweet after today. Why do people fall in love in the first place? Not that I want to understand it or anything.

I text everyone goodnight, there are too many things all swimming in my head at the same time and all I want to do is roll in bed and sleep. We have P.E first thing in the morning and I am looking forward to it.