Work Text:
When Mezato Ichi first arrived at Salt Middle school, all new uniforms and shiny shoes, it aggrieved her to learn that the school newspaper wasn't running.
So it was during her first year as a middle schooler that she took it upon herself the task of reigniting amateur journalism among the youths of this small Seasoning City school. During the first week of school, she spent the better half of after school hours running around trying to get enough people to form a club, which, by Friday, turned out to be a fruitless effort.
"Why," she asked one of the two first-years she persuaded to join (who has only the most passing of interests in newspaper) "do the kids in this school care so little about what happens in this school?"
"Well, I heard a story from someone once, from a third-year," started the first year. He was called Tako by his friends. "Word is that some time ago, a few years back I think, maybe. There was a huge incident in the old Newspaper club." Tako could see Mezato's spirit wavering. "I'm not sure what kind of incident it was. If I was to guess, I would say some kid in the club went snooping and died or something. Are you, uh, okay there, Mezato-san? I think we should give this up."
Mezato stared into space for a while. Then she stood up and turned to Tako. "That's fine, Tako-kun. You can join another club if you want. Tell that other kid too."
Mezato was at wit's end. She considered appealing directly to the student council or the administration to make a club without finding the members, but the sensible part of her shot the idea down flat. Besides, no matter how enthusiastic you are about running a club, one person doesn't make a paper.
While thinking she walked around, not noticing where her feet were taking her until she tripped over a stray two-by-four behind the school.
"Get up, kid. This is our place," said a girl's voice, gruff. Mezato quickly stood up and apologised to the delinquent girl standing in front of her. The girl was flanked by two meeker-looking delinquent girls. Then, an idea struck Mezato. She tried her best to mask the coy smile trying to grow on her face.
"Oh, yeah, I came here to ask for help," Mezato said, cautiously.
The main delinquent girl scowled slightly. "What's a pretty face like you doing asking for favours from people like us? You got no friends yet here?"
Mezato detected a kind tone beneath the tough demeanor. "It's nothing too hard. In fact, I'd say it's quite in your favour."
One of the other girls folded her arms. "State your case, then."
Mezato allowed herself a small smile. "I just need four people for my club. Nothing hard to do, and you guys get score some easy co-curriculum points. I'll throw in a favour, too."
The first delinquent girl raised a brow. "Sounds shady. What kind of club is this? Why can't you get normal students to fill in for you?"
Time to pull the sheet off the sculpture. "You see, the other kids are reluctant to join, cause it's a news club." Mezato was speaking quicker, noticing the shadow pass over the delinquents' faces. "I heard that one disbanded some time ago, but tough girls like you guys wouldn't be afraid of some bad luck, right?"
All three of the delinquent girls looked like they were about to say something, when they all simultaneously burst out laughing. Any trace of meanness was gone from their faces, at least for now.
The gruffness lessening from her voice, the first girl said, "Alright, alright. I don't know what you heard, but I'll explain it to you. We'll find some better place to talk."
The four of them found some benches under a tree and sat down. The first delinquent girl started, "You first years are adorable. My name is Mami, and these are Tachi and Hado." Tachi and Hado bowed their heads slightly, a nice-to-meet-you gesture.
"So," Mami said, "story time. My older brother was in the old newspaper club and he told me what happened. When the Newspaper Club closed down, apparently rumours went around that some kid died, but that's just not true.
"It was the end of March and the club, the News club, they were fooling around while editing, and made a joke edition of the week's paper. It was meant for Aprils' Fools, but they filled it with way too many dirty jokes and personal jabs that it couldn't possibly go out as a school paper. You can probably imagine what happened then.
"Somewhere along the line, things got messed up and the wrong paper was printed. The student council got furious, the admins embarrassed to hell and back, and the kids who got made fun of didn't take it well. Almost all of the members quit on their own and the club was disbanded. They'd recalled that paper, but the damage was done. After that, the admins were hard-pressed to open a new News club."
Mezato felt like a snowflake that had melted on a dirty car window. Mami leaned over, and seeing Mezato's forlorn expression, smiled sympathetically. "Don't look so down. Hado here has some tricks she can pull," she said, gesturing to the shortest of the girls, the one who hadn't spoken yet.
Hado grinned and said, "Of course, it comes with a price."
Mezato Ichi stirred her iced coffee while waiting for the girl from Saint Highso. Hado got the club approved, with the help of a few friends and her boyfriend in student council. Talking to one girl in exchange for a club was a piece of cake.
The girl, Bella, arrived a few minutes after. "Hi. Mezato Ichi, was it?"
"Yes, it's nice to meet you," Mezato said, idly toying with her straw. She glanced over in Bella's pixie cut and roundish features. Few would object to calling her cute.
After Bella had sat down and ordered a drink, Mezato begun the conversation. "So, you were in a robotics competition recently, right?"
"Yes, first place. Nothing huge, it was just inter-city. I learned a whole lot from it."
"Yours was the one that sorted stuff and could learn new ways of sorting, right? Super cool. Did you use neural networks or something?"
"Oh, something like that," Bella said as her drink arrived. She sipped her hot chocolate and continued, "A good portion of it was open-source, the rest was a bunch of fumbly code. Not the worst for an amateur, but I've got a lot to learn."
Mezato wrote some things in her notebook. They continued like that for half an hour, Mezato asking things about Bella's other hobbies, her basketball games, her love life, and the like.
"It was nice talking with you, Bella-san. I'd hope your achievements could inspire some of our own robot fans."
And they parted ways.
Arriving at the club room the next day, Mezato found Hado, Tachi, and Mami already waiting.
"I couldn't get any hint of dirt out of her. We only talked for a short while, but it seemed like she had nothing to hide. Like she's perfect." She took out her digital camera and handed it to Hado. "Some pictures in case I could salvage the interview and make it an article."
Awaiting disappointment or any other feelings that stem from anticlimax from the three delinquent girls, Mezato busied herself with doodling in her notebook. Then, Hado nudged Tachi.
"See, Tacchan? Your girlfriend is perfect. Nothing to be worried about."
Mezato looked up, nonplussed. Mami was flipping through the camera gallery and showing it to the others.
"You scored yourself a babe, Tachi!"
"Cute and smart, gosh!"
And Tachi was becoming redder by the moment, with both adoration and embarrassment.
"Hey, Tachi-san," Mezato said, "you could've asked her yourself, so-"
"She's shy!" said Mami, in the voice you use when talking about something cute. "See, Tachi? You need to talk to her more! Long-distance, my goddamn ass."
Someone knocked and walked in. It was Tako. "Sorry I'm late."
Mezato looked at him with surprise. "Tako-kun, you joined?"
"Can't believe you don't know your own clubmates," he said, looking hurt. He took a seat some distance away from the girls. "Can't believe I'm the only guy here, either."
Thus, the Newspaper Club was reborn.