Chapter Text
The day was an ordinary day, it’s not supposed to be a special day for her at all, but it somehow became special by pure coincidence. Though she didn’t realize it until the day was long in the past.
As usual, Noto spends her day after school in the club room. It’s getting close to evening so everyone has already gone home, the literature club activities are pretty relaxed considering most of what they’re doing is just reading books and discussing them sometimes.
Sometimes a member will write a short story or poem and they will ask other members to give their thoughts. The members also attend a few writing competitions here and there. But for the most part, their activity is just reading whatever they want.
Noto is currently doing just that, immersing herself in the words she is reading. Until that immersion is broken by a loud thud of the door opening.
She can’t help but feel annoyed that her tranquility is broken, even if she is currently reading the part where the serial murderer is stalking his new victim.
She turns her head at the intruder and glares at them. It’s a girl. Freshman it seems, considering her blue ribbon.
“Uh… sorry, is this the track club?” The intruder finally speaks after catching her breath.
“No.” Noto showed her books to the intruder, the cover depicts someone holding a bloody knife, “Does the track club read books?”
“I… uh… maybe? Sorry. I was lost, I’m new, well I guess it’s obvious since this is the first week of school.”
“Oh well, maybe I can help you.”
Noto stood up, putting a bookmark on her novel.
“Oh! Thank you! My name is Komatsu Mio!” The intruder bowed deep, “You’re… red ribbon, hmm 3rd year?”
“Correct." Noto introduced herself while resisting an urge to pat Mio, looking closer she actually looked really cute.
Mio’s bob cut hair sways a little bit as she rises up from her bow, the bright brown color almost looks blonde in a certain light. It contrasted completely with Noto’s own long and jet black hair. She speaks in such an energetic way that it might be possible for everyone in school to hear her, another contrast to how Noto always sounded calm and collected when she speaks.
But the cutest thing Noto sees from Mio is her impossibly radiant bright smile as she introduces herself, it’s almost blinding.
“Great! Nice to meet you, Noto-senpai!”
The urge to pat her head gets stronger, Noto clenched her fist in order to make it stay.
“Come on. The track club is this way.” Noto tries to get out of the room and is ready to lead the way, but Mio doesn’t budge, “Are we going?”
“Hmmm… what is this club?” Mio peeked behind Noto, “It’s empty. But there’s a lot of books.”
“Literature club.”
“Ooooh! What do you do?”
“Read and sometimes write.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s most of it, yes.”
“Can I join?”
“What?”
Noto tilted her head, the question is so contradictory with Mio's first intention that she can’t help but think this 1st year is playing with her. But her tone is completely serious.
“I thought… the track- why?” Noto is at a loss for words, something that rarely, if ever happens.
“Well… it looks interesting.”
Noto thought about it. This girl, who probably can’t stand to be quiet for more than a few seconds, wants to join a club where all you do is sit down and stay quiet. The notion is completely absurd. But then again, who is she to deny a prospective member to a club she is not even leading.
“You’ll need to submit an application form. Come again tomorrow, earlier. So you can meet the rest of the members.”
“Okay!” Mio salutes jokingly while beaming with a smile, “I’ll be going now! See ya, Senpai!”
Mio ran away. Running in the hallway is strictly forbidden, that is, if someone sees you. But the school is completely barren apart from some insanely diligent club member or couple secretly making out. And, of course, Noto herself.
Noto smiled unconsciously. She touched her cheek, completely surprised at what her face just did.
She went back to the club room, closed the door and sighed. Mio may look cute, but dealing with how loud she can be is still an ordeal for Noto.
Still… She is cute.
“What am I even thinking?” She shook her head and prepared to go home, having no more energy to continue reading.
She doesn’t think too much about their first encounter, she regarded it as just another student meeting another one, they might see or talk to each other occasionally but that’s all there would be. If she ended up joining the club, they might talk a lot more but that’s just what happens if you’re in the same club, nothing much to it.
Little did she know their involvement would go on for longer than she expected, and it would develop into something beautiful, but also hurtful.