白ゴリラ(おかもと) (Pixiv)
~
I push open the door to the classroom and greet the girls.
"Hey, every-"
"Ow!" A squeal comes from behind the door. I move the door back to its original position and peer around it. There sat Yui, guitar in her lap. "Sorry, Yui. Are you okay?" She groans in response. "Wait, what are you doing down there anyway?"
"It looks like the heat has made her weak," Mugi says.
"It seems like it," Mio agrees. "Let's move her onto the couch." Mio sets down her bass and approaches Yui. She grabs one of her arms and lifts her. Yui groans once more at this sudden movement. "Can you give me a hand?" I set down my guitar and left Yui by her other arm. Yui, refusing to cooperate, drags her feet along the ground. As we approach the couch, Yui sinks into it. "Mugi, can you grab a wet rag?" Mugi nods.
"Work with us, please!" I plead to Yui. Unsurprisingly, I received another groan — it was muffled due to her face being smothered by the fabric on the couch. I sigh. "Ritsu, pass me something to use as a pillow." I request. "Mio, help me roll her over." We grab Yui by her arms and flip her onto her back. Mio took off Yui's school shoes and placed them on the floor. Ritsu returned with a pink blanket, and I set it behind Yui's head. "Now we wait for Mugi to come back with the rag."
I sit at the table.
"Darn..." A realization hits me. "I should have bought some ice cream to cool us down on my way here."
"Why didn't you?" Ritsu complained.
"I didn't think of it until now."
"It probably would have melted by the time you got here anyway," Mio says, attempting to console me.
"I have your rag, Yui." Mugi returns with a wet rag in her hand and places it on Yui's forehead.
"I wish there wasn't summer." Yui moaned.
"You'd be saying the opposite in winter," Ritsu says.
"No..." Yui whined.
"Yui, I brought you some water." Azusa handed Yui the water bottle. Yui removed the rag from her eyes to look at Azusa.
"Thank you, Azunyan!" Yui jumps up and hugs Azusa. "Azunyan!" Yui begins to regret getting up. "So hot..."
"Then don't do that," Mio advised.
"But it is hot," Mio admitted. "I have long hair, so my neck gets sweaty."
"Then you should tie your hair up," Ritsu suggests. And she does just that. Within a few minutes, Mio's hair transformed into something that looked similar to Azusa's style. It seems I wasn't the only one who thought that.
"You look like Azusa," Mugi says excitedly.
"It doesn't look good on yo-" Ritsu is cut off by Mio pulling on her bow, causing Ritsu to choke.
"You tied it!" Mio says, irritated.
"I-I can't breathe..." Ritsu gasps for air.
Suddenly, Azusa lets out a gasp, which catches our attention.
"Ton..." Mio says in a concerned tone. And for a good reason. Ton looked a little different.
"Did he get sunburned?" Ritsu's question makes us all slightly mad.
"Of course not!" Mio yells.
"He shed his skin," Mugi explained.
"Shed his skin?" We all question her.
"Shed his skin?" Even Yui piped in.
"A turtle can shed its skin?" Azusa asked.
"It can, since it's a reptile," Mugi says. "Our turtle back home also sheds its skin."
"What a relief," Azusa says, content. "I was worried that he was sick."
"I know!" Yui yells from the couch. "We should shed our skin too!"
"Humans can't shed their skin." Ritsu insists. Yui laughs mischievously.
"But we can." She leaves the room and returns moments later wearing a swimsuit. "Bring it on!"
"I see what you mean..." Ritsu was unimpressed.
Yui picks up Giita and gives him a strum.
"It's pretty cool. And I think I'm playing better."
"No, you're not." Ritsu disagrees.
"You did one strum. How do you know you're playing better from that?" I say in disbelief.
"Hey, do you want to try it too, Mio?" Yui asks her.
"Never in a million years!" Mio refuses her immediately. "Nobody besides you would wear..." She cuts herself off when she sees Mugi wearing a swimsuit like Yui.
"There is someone!" Yui hugs Mugi.
I give up trying to stand and slowly fall to my knees due to the heat.
"Are you okay?" Ritsu asks. She's concerned about me?
"I'm fine. Just let me lie here for a bit."
"Don't die. I don't want to deal with your body while it's this hot." Ritsu retorts.
"Gee, thanks a lot," I mutter sarcastically. "I genuinely thought you cared about my well-being for a moment there."
"Do you think the desktop is cold?" I turn my head to see Yui staring intently at the table.
"Probably not," I weakly reply.
"Hey, don't tell me..." Ritsu peers over her shoulder. Yui, ignoring what I said, climbs onto the table anyway.
"So? How does it feel?" Mugi asks as she climbs on the table with Yui. They both let out a relaxed sigh before it turns into disappointment. They get off the table and sit on the floor.
"It wasn't that cold," Yui says, saddened.
"No," Mugi confirms.
"I'll muster up my last bit of strength to say this:" I mumble into the floor. "I told you so."
~
"Hey, let's play a word association game." Ritsu proposed. "What do you associate with 'Japanese Summer'?"
"Watermelons!" Yui yells.
"Windchimes!" Mugi shouts. Ritsu clicked her tongue in response.
"Ice cream!" Yui yells.
"Fireworks?" Azusa questions.
"No, no, no," Ritsu says smugly.
"It's a story that originated here." Ritsu started.
"I have a hard time believing that," I doubt.
"Don't interrupt!" Ritsu barks. "One night, a student returned to school to retrieve something she'd forgotten. And from the music room that was supposed to be empty, she heard the sound of a piano playing."
Mio screams. "Mugi!" She turns to find Mugi playing on her keyboard. Mugi smiles and gives a peace sign.
"Thinking it was odd, she peeked inside. And inside... was Sawa-chan coaching a girl who was preparing for a conservatory's admission audition!"
"Not responsibilities!" I fake cowering in fear. Mio, however, doesn't need to fake it. I watch as her chair slowly tips towards the floor. She collides with the ground with a small thud. We all silently stare at the floor that Mio now occupies. As if out of a horror movie, Mio's hand emerges from below the table and slams onto it with a thud. As she manages to stand back up, her eyes shot daggers toward Ritsu. I doubt I need to explain what happened next.
~
"Isn't there any way we can cool off?" Ritsu groans.
"Being irritated isn't good for you," Azusa says.
"The harder I fan myself..." Ritsu starts.
"...the hotter it is when I stop." Yui finishes.
"You probably feel hot because you keep thinking it's hot," Mugi says.
"Is it all about your attitude?" Azusa asks.
"Ricchan, let's think about cool things then," Yui suggests.
"Cool things, huh?" Ritsu and Yui begin mumbling before crumpling back onto the tabletop.
"Yui! Are you okay?" Azusa asks in concern.
"It's so hard..." Yui whines.
"I can't think of cool things when it's so hot," Ritsu complains.
"You know, I think I put an electric fan into storage when we cleaned the room..." Mio remembered.
"Bingo!" Ritsu, who was once crippled from the heat, perks up once she hears what Mio says.
"You're a genius!" Yui praises Mio. Unsurprisingly, we all got a little excited at the fan Mio mentioned.
After close to five minutes of searching, Mio, Yui, and Ritsu leave the storage closet carrying a box. We all stand around it, waiting for it to bless us with the joyous feeling of cold air, and what we're met with is...
"It's old..." Ritsu mutters. She's right. The thing was an antique. But as long as it works, I'm not complaining.
The fan is plugged in and set in front of the girls' instruments. Not wanting to melt, I stand by the door. The wind blowing from the fan can reach me if I stand here. At least, it would if someone wasn't maneuvering themselves in front of the fan every time it oscillated.
"I know how you feel..." Mio empathizes with Yui. Mio lifts the fan and moves it closer to the wall. "Now it'll blow on everyone. Here we go." She presses the button. I close my eyes and wait for the cold air to wash over me.
"Hm..?" Why is it taking so long for the air to reach me? I open my eyes to find the source of the problem. And not just my problem,
"Excuse me! I'm not getting any air!" Ritsu shouts.
"I second this," I say.
"You're in the back, so we can't help it," Mio explains. Frustrated, Ritsu snatches the fan and moves it closer to her drumset.
"Now, set it to the highest power... Turn it on!" Ritsu sticks her face up against the fan. "It's so cool!" She says happily. Before long, I see the screws of the fan begin to shake loose. That can't be good. And I am (unfortunately) correct. The guard over the fan collapses, sending the fan flying across the room, and cutting off a strand of my hair.
"I almost died..." I clutch at my chest in an attempt to slow my heartbeat.
"It broke..." Yui looks saddened. "We should build a memorial for it."
"A memorial for the thing that almost turned me into a shish kabob?" I say sarcastically. "No thanks."
"Aw, please!" Yui begs.
"You can go ahead, but I will not be participating."
"Boo!"
"You can boo me all you want, Yui. I'm not changing my mind."
I sigh as I look over our handiwork. "I can't believe I gave in." Yui places a note next to the fan. 'Thank you for all you've done. May you rest in peace.' Ritsu and I gathered a random assortment of items, like tissues and candy, and set them next to the fan.
"It distracted you from the heat at least," Mio says.
"It didn't." I groan.
"Not even a little bit?"
"Not even a little bit."
~
"There's nothing else we can do..." Ritsu complains.
"Guys..." Mugi grabs everyone's attention. "I brought ice cubes."
"Yay!" Yui cheers.
"Y/N, why are you on the floor?" Ritsu is perplexed.
"Oh, my dear Watson. It seems to me like you don't know how heat works. Hot air rises, so if I stay closer to the ground, it will then be colder."
"And how is that working out for you, Sherlock?"
"...Pass me one of those ice cubes." I sigh in defeat as I stand up.
"Mugi, when did you-"
"Take that!" Mio is interrupted by Ritsu sliding an ice cube down her shirt. She yelps in response.
"What was that for?!"
"Just playing with ya." Ritsu shrugs it off.
"I wanted to use these to make shaved ice," Mugi explains. as we all cheer. "But I forgot to bring the machine," Mugi explains as we all grow upset.
Yui forms a plan to place the ice into a bucket of water. "It's so cool..." Yui says as she dips her feet in the bucket.
"Really!?" Ritsu hops over the couch and places her feet in too. "Yeah, it's cold!" However, it isn't too long before another problem arises.
"It's getting warmer..." Yui groans.
"It's hot, so it melts fast," Ritsu says.
"Ricchan, go get some more ice cubes." Yui orders.
"You go."
"But I hate being hot."
"Are you a snowman or something?"
"It's such a waste to throw these ice cubes away," Ritsu says, mopping up the floor with a rag.
"Then let's put it in Ton's aquarium," Yui suggests.
"No, you mustn't!" Azusa interjects. "There's a temperature controller, so he'll be all right."
"I was just joking, Azunyan," Yui reassures.
"Your jokes don't sound like jokes." Azusa picks up a book and scans through it.
"This says that we need to change the aquarium since he'll grow according to the size of the aquarium." We all observe Ton in his natural habitat.
"And he's shedding his skin, so..." Mio starts.
"He wants to grow bigger," Yui adds.
"My house has an extra aquarium that's bigger," Mugi says.
"Really?" Azusa says. "But how would we bring it here?"
"Doesn't Sawako have a car?" Mio remembers.
"Yeah, let's ask her." Azusa agrees.
"By the way, she hasn't come here in a while." Yui points out.
"That's fine by me," Ritsu says. "Having her around will make us hotter. Maybe she's passed out somewhere because of the heat." Ritsu and Yui let out a condescending laugh.
"Like you're one to laugh..." Mio says. Ritsu and Yui continue laughing as they leave the room to fetch Sawako.
"So hot..." Sawako collapses into an unoccupied chair.
"Sensei, take a look at Ton." Azusa requests. Sawako sighs.
"Isn't he comfortable in the water?" Sawako groans. "He's shedding his skin..."
"So we want to give him a bigger aquarium that Mugi has at home," Mio explains.
"Would you help us bring it here with your car?" Azusa asks.
"What a pain..." Sawako groans louder.
"Sensei, I have an ice cream float for you," Mugi speaks up.
"I'll go right away!" Sawako stands up and salutes as if taking orders from higher command.
"I guess we all have our trigger points," I say. "But for a teacher to take orders from a student?"
"I may not be your teacher, but I'm still an adult; watch your tongue," Sawako advises.
~
After half an hour of waiting and arguing over car seats, we finally have the larger aquarium for Ton. It doesn't take too long to assemble and it's ready for Ton in no time.
"Now..." Sawako stands up. "I'm heading back to the faculty office."
"Please wait!" Ritsu grabs her wrist.
"Did you need something else?"
"We have a favor, especially for you!"
"No. I'm leaving."
"Sawa-chan!"
"No!"
"Mugi!" As if preparing for this moment, Mugi brings out another dessert.
"Sensei, would you like some chocolate frappé?"
"I would!" Sawako replies in an instant. I glare at her. "Don't give me that look!"
"An air conditioner?" Sawako says.
"Can you arrange one somehow?" Yui asks.
"Dunno."
"I see." Mio gives in.
"All right!" Ritsu interjects. "Then, let's buy one ourselves!"
"And how are we gonna pay for it?" Mio says sarcastically.
"Let's find a job!"
"Yeah!" They all celebrate Ritsu's idea.
"There's one problem with that plan," I say. "College admissions exams."
"Oh, I know," Sawako says. "Why don't you ask the student council?"
~
"We're back."
"How did it go?" Azusa asks.
"I'll be making a request at tomorrow's Club Presidents meeting," Ritsu informs us.
"Meeting?" Mugi says.
"What do you guys talk about in those meetings?" Azusa wonders.
"I've never attended one, so I have no idea!"
"Don't brag about it!" Mio scolds.
"Why is she the Club President again?" I sigh.
"So, the request can be denied at that meeting too?" Mugi points out.
"Probably," Mio replies.
"What?!" Yui says, irritated. "But I really want the air conditioner!"
"I guess we need to ask earnestly." We all sigh. "Should we rehearse the meeting?"
"What? Why?" Ritsu asks.
"We can think of possible objections and prepare counters for them."
"Yeah! Good idea!"
~
"If anyone has a topic for discussion, please raise your hand." We had set up a small table for us all to sit by while we enact what we imagine the meeting would be like. Mio had a small, off-brand pocky box and used sellotape to stick a piece of paper saying "Chairperson" onto it.
"Me!" Ritsu shoots her hand up to the sky. "I request an air conditioner for the Light Music Club."
"Who approves her request?" Mio asks.
"I approve!" We all raise our hands, causing Mio to sigh.
"It's not a practice if you all approve!" Mio clears her throat. "Any objections?" We all sit in silence, attempting to come up with an argument.
"Objection!" Mugi raises her hand. "We were supposed to make our request earlier. It is unfair to ask for one so late."
"W-well, but..."
"Objection!" Azusa interjects this time. "I've rarely seen the Light Music Club practicing. Do they really need an air conditioner?"
"Objection!" It's now my turn. "Ritsu hasn't been to a Club Presidents meeting until now. From our perspective, she only comes to these meetings if she needs something."
Ritsu is silent until finally caves in. "I'm sorry! I'll forget about the air conditioner."
"Don't give up!" Mio shouts.
"It's so hard."
"You need to counter them somehow," Mio says.
"It's okay! You can do it!" Yui motivates the sullen president. "You're our president! And you're a big sister! And you're a drummer!"
"Ritsu has siblings?" I question. "Wait what does this have to do with an air conditioner?"
"Yeah. Bring it on Azusa!"
"And it worked..." I say, unsurprised.
"Let me start over then. The Light Music Club doesn't practice, so they shouldn't need an air conditioner."
"We do practice. We've been practicing in secret."
"Why does it need to be a secret?" Mio raises her voice.
"I have one!" Yui is the last of us to raise our hands. "Practicing is not the only reason for having a club!"
"Yui's actually making sense!" Ritsu is just as surprised as I am.
"We build our friendships, and get to know students from other classes and grades, and..."
"Yeah! Yeah!" Ritsu agrees.
"And get to eat cakes together, and go to the beach together!" Mio forces Yui to sit back down.
"I feel like we can salvage Yui's argument if we leave out the cake stuff." I defend Yui.
"See? The Light Music Club doesn't need an air conditioner." Azusa still keeps up the pressure.
"We will practice if we have an air conditioner!" Yui interrupts once more.
"Really?" Azusa has a look of genuine excitement once she says this.
"We sweat a lot when we practice hard."
"And the drummer is constantly moving, so not having an air conditioner in the summer is especially hard on her!"
"B-But..."
"Also, the air conditioner will let us perform cool songs!"
"It will!" Ritsu seconds Yui's statement. Azusa looks defeated.
"Objection withdrawn."
"Now I'm totally ready!"
"Go, go, Ricchan!"
"I'll show them what I've got!"
~
I push open the door to the classroom and greet the girls.
"Hey, every-"
"Ow!" A squeal comes from behind the door. I move the door back to its original position and peer around it. There sat Yui, guitar in her lap.
"I'm getting a sense of Déjà Vu."
A rush of cool air hit me as I enter the room. "Good job on getting the air conditioner." I congratulate Ritsu. "Now what's wrong with Yui?"
"She doesn't do well around air conditioners."
"..." I stand in stunned silence. "You didn't think to mention this?"
"I forgot..." Yui sinks
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