"We're so sorry, Reina-chan! We didn't mean to be late!"
Asamura immediately begins apologizing as soon as we meet up with Kurebayashi. Talk about frivolous things. Kurebayashi isn't even the type of person to chew your neck out for being five minutes late, so there's no need to apologize like you've just committed a murder. Actually, the mental image of Kurebayashi actually biting my neck kinda makes me–
"Hey, Sugiyama-kun! Come here and apologize too!"
I hear Asamura say as I'm dragged out of my mini fantasy. You can't let me have at least this much, huh? I won't even dignify you with a response. Here, have a cold distant stare instead.
"... Why are you staring at me like that? You're starting to creep me out. Gross."
Not my intended reaction, but at least she's not being pushy anymore.
"N-now now, it is no bother to me at all. While waiting, I took the opportunity to catch up on some light reading."
"Ohhh! What're you reading, Reina-chan?"
"It's a novel telling the story of a young woman who holds the ability to travel to the past but holds no control over her destination."
"That sounds so scary! Who would even want to have that kind of power?"
"It does seem quite terrifying. But the author tells the tale so beautifully that it feels endearing and curious with each paragraph."
As the two of them prattle on about that totally awesome sounding novel, I take the opportunity to quietly slip out so I can enjoy a quick nap in the classroom before classes start. Or at least that's what I intended on doing. Unfortunately, I bump into someone as I cautiously walked backwards away from Kurebayashi and Asamura.
"Good morning, Jo. Fancy meeting you here."
I turn around and see Mr. Hirashi, in all his goofy glory. He's looking a bit more unkempt today. I wonder why.
"You sound surprised to see me but I'm sure you were already waiting for me before I even got here."
"Haha! Well, you're right about that. I actually need you to come with me to my office."
Upon hearing this, I skillfully took four quick steps to position myself in between Asamura and Kurebayashi.
"Sorry, no can do. We kinda have this thing we have to do."
"Really? What thing?"
I open my mouth to respond but realize midway that I don't actually know why we're even meeting up this early in the morning. I look to Kurebayashi for help. Hopefully she gets my telepathic message asking her to answer the question for me!
"Good morning, Mr. Hirashi. We were just about to make our way to the drama club to discuss a request they had submitted to us."
"And I'm tagging along! Morning, Mr. Hirashi!"
Nice hit, Kurebayashi! And not really necessary, Asamura. But the more witnesses on my side, the better.
"Hmm, I see. Can I ask that the two of you go on ahead and let me borrow Jo for a bit? I promise as soon as I'm done with him, I'll send him straight to the drama club."
Done with me? What am I, a soon to be homicide victim? That actually sounds kinda enticing. I send Kurebayashi another pleading look. Come on, you did it once, you can do it again!
"Yes, that would be quite all right. Well then, Sugiyama-san, we shall see you later."
"And you better not skip out on us, you hear?"
And with that, my last hope of avoiding Mr. Hirashi walks off to the drama club. I then feel his hand clasp my shoulder with his signature soft but firm touch.
"Now then, why don't we go to my office so we can talk about that little stunt you pulled."