CHAPTER 40

As terrible as it was, it took me a good ten seconds to register that Kazuya was Wannabe. Meaning, the man in front of me was Wannabe's dad.

If I could muster a gasp befitting a child forced into watching the entirety of Another, trust me, I would.

"I kept asking Kazuya to visit your club and see it in action but he's always been one to give me the cold shoulder," Taisuke-san drawled on, pacing in circles. "I even drop in almost every morning... Which reminds me, I do hope you've enjoyed those sweets I've left for you all."

        I was at a standstill. Hiro's hunch wasn't wrong after all? Those sweets and baked goods—they came from Wannabe's dad? And if so, had Wannabe gone to such lengths as to hide them from us because he knew?

        "Hoshino-san," Taisuke-san started over, the corners of his eyelids crinkling as he did. "How is Kazuya's club? Do you enjoy being there?"

        I straightened my posture, swallowing back all traces of my nervousness. "Did you call me here to ask these kinds of questions?"

        Taisuke-san's smile stretched to his ears. "Oh, of course not."

        He turned and took a seat on one of the sofas in this large room. He beckoned to the one across from him separated by a long table and with reluctance, I fell into the seat. Folding my arms across my chest, I stared right at him. He slipped out the lollipop stick from his mouth and went for the gummies.

         "I came to give my thanks."

        My eyebrows rose. Taisuke-san dropped his bag onto the table just as Fujiwara-sensei returned with a piping tray of tea and set it out for him. He also slid one cup over to me, offering me milk and sugar cubes as he did. It was an odd outcome, considering he was the principal and therefore had no reason to be serving me, but I accepted the cup anyway.

        After inhaling the aroma and taking a leisure sip, Taisuke-san set it down onto the coaster. "Kazuya is a tough one to deal with, isn't he? Always the odd one out, easily distracted by menial matters..." As he spoke, he possessed a light tone. "People always find it rather humorous whenever I tell them he's my eldest son—the one who'll be succeeding me one day. I bet you've thought so as well."

        I brought the teacup to my mouth, blowing it a bit before taking a sip. I set it back down, aiming a steady look his way. "And what exactly does this have to do with me?"

        "As I've said, I wanted to give you my thanks. For putting up with my son."

        My lips met in a purse. "Is that so?"

        He reclined into the sofa pillows. "I would've liked to have brought all of these... Humanity Club members to talk to, but after speaking to Suzuki-san, was it? Anyway, when she told me about you—the only member who didn't join willingly—I couldn't help but be intrigued. Though she might've recommended you, I would pin you would've realized how ridiculous a club like the 'Humanity Club' is and demanded to be liberated."

        He paused, inclined to hear a response. So that old hag talked to him already? Why wasn't I surprised she blabbed about me. I offered him a one-shouldered shrug.

         "Anyone would," I replied. "The Humanity Club isn't an amazing club, and has no superb feats in comparison to sports or other clubs. We barely have the amount of students necessary to keep it instated let alone new or older students interested in joining either. We've also come close to disbanding one too many times. I'd find it stranger for somebody to willingly join a club like that and not have any regrets."

         "And yet for some reason," Taisuke-san said. "My son wants to cling to that kind of club."

         He'd gained a particular edge. I fiddled with the hem of my vest as he took yet another painstaking sip of his drink.

         "Kazuya lied to me, you see," he said. "Because he knew how much I'd refute to him joining a club like that, let alone start it up, he found it easier to lie to me. For three whole years. If you hadn't said anything to my brother Takuma I would've believed he was off accomplishing amazing feats in the Student Council up until he graduated."

         "Are you trying to tell me now that you know you're going to bring it down?"

         For some reason, Taisuke-san laughed. "Of course not. Though I have the power to, Kazuya is my son, Hoshino-san."

         "But you're still unsatisfied," I reasoned.

         Taisuke-san shut his eyes. "Kazuya is my son, Hoshino-san," he reiterated, carefully gulping the last of his tea and setting it down. "I understand the stress I've placed on his shoulders his entire life has been heavy. Heavier than most. I'm a very important man with an even more important business to run. I've struggled many times throughout my life leading to where I am now, and I still struggle to this day. I know how painful it is to have the weight of expectations on your shoulders, dictating your life, but just because I understand doesn't mean I forgive Kazuya for what he's done and is trying to do."

       Me choosing that exact moment to slurp my tea threw Taisuke-san off focus for a bit. He blinked slowly and I sheepishly set down my cup, gesturing him to continue.

        "I've raised him with those expectations because I know he can reach them and yet he's chosen to run away. I've repeatedly told him that as long as he has the Hayashi name his life has already been decided for him; that every single one of his actions will set the image for our entire family; that he just can't receive the freedom that other people have no matter what he decides to do." Taisuke-san's fingers clenched into fists. "And yet look where he's come. Lying to his own father about the success he's never achieved, about his involvement in a club that would make all my business partners sneer in our faces. Even his grades are below his typical average, which I want to pin is due to this club as well."

        Wow, this really took a deep turn... I bobbed my head in agreement regardless to make him think I understood. Should this guy really be talking to me about this all? He should just talk straight to Wannabe's face...

         "I didn't come here to complain about my son, though I have a ton of stuff I could say," he said, regaining his poise with a cough. "It isn't your fault that my son is choosing failure over success, and that he's chosen to open up a club with no positives in the least. And there's nothing I can do now that won't inconvenience you and the other members of this said club. There's no reason for me to act, as by the end of this year when my son graduates, there'll be no other choice for that club to disband anyway."

          I carefully returned my gaze to him. He once again gained a subtle smile—a sweet one that suited him.

          "How about we change the topic? Let's see..." My eyelids fluttered as his smile expanded. "I hear you're an avid fan of anime and manga."

         This time my mouth parted from astonishment. "How do you know that?"

"My sources," he sheepishly responded. Suzuki-sensei, I had to guess. He lifted his finger and beckoned to my left side. I rotated my head to see what he was pointed towards. My bag strap; the one I'd gotten that day with Hiro. "That Sword Art Online keychain gives it away as well," he said.

There was no lying the sparkle that claimed my eyes as I learned over the table. "You know about Sword Art Online, mister?"

He chuckled. "I've have my fair share of anime binges when I was in my youth, and I sometimes check up on newer ones. I actually have some partnerships with a few animation studios as well as manga serialization businesses. You've got to keep up to date with the competition to be the competition."

       "No way!" I exclaimed. "That's like, so awesome!"

        His laugh grew more authentic as he gestured for me to receive a candy. This time, a whole lot more relaxed, I accepted a handful and immediately began filling my mouth.

        "Don't tell me you're involved with voice actors, too?" He nodded to which my heart reeled to a stop. "You're kidding me! Does that mean you've gotten to meet Miyano Mamoru or Kamiya Hiroshi or Suwabe Junichi or Kaji Yuki or, or..."

        The more I rambled the more Taisuke-san gave me certification. By the time my voice got lodged in my throat from suppressing a gasp, I'd become a starry-eyed mess.

         "You're so damn cool mister!" I shouted, lurching to my feet. "There's no way you're Tamaki-wannabe's dad!"

        Wannabe had these kind of connections and yet he pretended he hadn't heard of the stuff? I couldn't believe that bastard! I was so envious...!

        Taisuke-san's eyebrow quirked a bit. Then, he brightened. "Ah, is Kazuya 'Tamaki-wannabe' because he reminds you of that one character... Suoh Tamaki, was it? My close friend regularly mentions that to me as well. He also used to always compare that one Vocaloid character to my other son, Tatsuya—"

"Kagamine Len," I finished for him, my mouth stretching as far back as the sky.

His eyes lit up. "That's it! I've forgotten the name, but that is definitely it. Though, I would argue he no longer shares the resemblance... Um, Hoshino-san?"

His features shifted to one of concern, maybe because I had fallen to my knees, staring up at him with large doe-eyes. "Mister, you understand. I only just met you and you made me feel so awkward moments ago but now that I know what kind of person you are deep down, I take it all back."

"You're exaggerating, Hoshino-san," he nervously laughed. "Please, get up."

I scrambled to my feet but that didn't drop my spirits. "Man, I'm so jealous of Wannabe right now. I would kill to be connected to those kind of businesses. Whether it be creating my own manga or anime or even meeting those swoon-worthy voice actors. It'd be an utter dream come true."

"It isn't impossible."

Taisuke-san's seriousness reflected entirely on his countenance. Fujiwara-sensei was still idly watching from his position at the corner of the room, a grinning mess as well. Nonetheless, I poked my finger into my ear and removed it to find that there was no ear wax. Cocking my head to the side, I faced Taisuke-san properly.

"Pardon?"

"Being connected to those industries," he responded, and smiled. "In fact, I would gladly take in somebody as passionate about the anime community as yourself. You would be an amazing asset for not only my company, but I could also guarantee your choice of working with any department you wish."

         Fujiwara-sensei gawked, as if he couldn't believe his ears. I couldn't either. He was offering me a position... in his company? My shoulders squared as I robotically moved my jaw. "You're... kidding me, right?" I sputtered.

         "I would never kid when talking business," Taisuke-san stated. "Whether it be in the arts, education—even mangaka or voice actor if you wish—I would gladly welcome you into any department in my vast company or partnerships straight from post-secondary. Of course, it doesn't come without hard work. Depending on your academics and your performance in your final year of high school and which college you get accepted into will undoubtedly be the biggest obstacle. You're still in your second year, correct? How exactly are you doing right now academically?"

         "Academically?" I echoed, swallowing hard. I veered my gaze for a moment. "As in... you actually want me to tell you the truth?"

         Taisuke-san's features shifted to one of solemnity and after that gruelling pause on his end, I finally whispered the dreaded numbers for my averages that even caused a crack in my heart. Judging by the way Taisuke-san frowned, as if a wave of displeasure overcame him, he shut his eyes.

         "I'm sure I don't have to tell you but getting into post-secondary with those current grades of yours isn't even an option without upgrading, even if it's getting into the arts. You are definitely a bright kid, don't get me wrong, but every year the competitive average goes up and the amount of students each department accepts decreases... It may be a little early but I suggest you start working towards your future as early as you can. I would recommend maybe transferring into that renown Scheherazade Academy for your final year and see from there, but..."

Although I could've refuted to him and tell him I had already gotten my future in check, I knew that wasn't an option this time. Taisuke-san wasn't a bad guy, like the fathers in animes would typically be. And the words he was saying wasn't incorrect either. I knew better than anyone that I needed to get my act together, even at the expense of unburying myself from the 2D world I was so obsessed with. At least, until I could get my life together and pursue an occupation involved in the fictional arts.

"Well, you can consider it, alright?" he told me, rising to his feet. "I won't drop that window of opportunity so give it some serious thought. And if you would like to join my company one day and promise to produce better results in this academy or another institution, I'll be glad to accept you."

Biting the inside of my cheek, I politely bobbed my head. "It was nice talking with you, mister."

"I feel the same way," he replied. "Thank you for sparing me a bit of your club time. Kazuya is still resting from his trip so he'll be joining you again starting tomorrow. And if you could—"

"I'll keep him in check the best I can, sir," I said, flashing him a smile.

He kindly returned the gesture and after bidding him a final bow, I made my way to the doorway. The principal escorted me halfway, rambling about how fortunate I was and how an opportunity like this was rare and should never be discarded. Despite that, all of it had become an indecipherable buzz in my mind. I slipped past the two smiling secretaries at the front, out the doors to the office and towards the Humanity Club.

Wannabe's dad was just worried about his future. Anyone could tell that. As for why in the world he decided to talk to someone like me about it, I would never know, but the fact nonetheless was that I couldn't exactly shrug this entire thing under an invisible rug like I'd always done.

I hadn't really considered it. Wannabe was in his third year of high school. He'd always been a year older than us, but... When he finally left the school this coming April, we'd end up back down to four members. And unless we could miraculously find another student willing to join, the HC would be forced to disband.

My legs came to a halt, and I stared out into the courtyard abound in reddish-orange trees. More specifically, the five boys raking and collecting the fallen leaves into tall individual piles.

Propping my arms onto the windowsill, I watched wryly as Yuji continued to make snow angels in the pile of leaves Kouichi had raked up, Hiro with two garbage bags in his hands and shouting at him to get up and work. Then there was Hinata trying to bring peace into the situation, and Hibiki off lying in his own pile of leaves, the bottom half of his face hidden by the scarf he wore.

They'd been put up to another menial task, huh? And Hinata and Hibiki, being the freeloaders they were, were probably told by Hiro to give them a hand.

I rested my chin on my arms, the corners of my lips upturning the slightest. It was the typical craziness I was used to, and yet at this moment it felt a lot more melancholic that it typically would be.

Even if we were to find another student to join, without Wannabe with us, would the Humanity Club still be the Humanity Club? It didn't really feel like one without Saki to complete the picture, let alone that idiot. Suzuki-sensei was leaving for an unknown period of time, too.

The past me wouldn't have thought otherwise. In fact, the idea of the club disbanding would've made me all giddy. But now, all I could see was the fault in Taisuke-san's words.

The club Wannabe prided himself in starting wasn't a superficial one at all. It wasn't a failure. And there was no way it could have been full of negatives.

At least now I knew that somehow amidst everything that happened since I joined, it'd come to mean a lot to me. That in it, I wasn't the same loner girl who had acknowledged she'd never find a place to fit in.

And it was that one lonesome part of me that never wanted to see it go.