September 8th, Tuesday
You get up and get ready for school.
You greet your aunt, grab a piece of toast and head out the door.
Grey Springs - Outskirts
On your way to school, you spot a familiar girl leaning against a fence...
She is looking at you, but doesn't say anything. Her stare is unbroken, you subconsciously wait for her to blink but she doesn't. You stammer a hoarse greeting in an attempt to break the tension.
Temperance
“Hello again."
It's like she's waiting for you to do something. You ask her how she's doing, even though you feel like you'd rather run away with how uncomfortable she's making you. You grip the handles of your backpack tightly.
Temperance
“I didn't think I'd see you again, at least not yet." It seems she's ignoring your question. "It's still too early." When you ask her what she means by that, she simply smiles slightly. She gets up from the railing, and suddenly puts your hands in hers. They are a little cold. "You'll see. It's really not long now, I can tell."
You don't know what to say, and are keenly aware at students passing you and giggling at the weird sheltered girl holding your hands. You don't want Temperance to feel bad; but it's hard to ignore the judgment of your fellow schoolmates. You blurt out that you saw her father on TV. She lets go of your hands. You instinctively put them behind your back.
Temperance
“Oh yes, he is on TV almost every day." She looks away from you. "He has a gift." She seems to be thinking something over; she is still smiling slightly but the smile no longer reaches her eyes. "I should go. I will see you again soon."
She walks away, in the opposite direction of where you're going. She waves when you tell her goodbye, but she does not turn around. You continue your way to school, feeling slightly unsettled. You're so focused on your meeting with Temperance that you don't notice the magpie steadily following behind you in the air, letting out the occassional shriek.
[ Morning ]
[Lunch]
The morning went by quickly, as you're still getting used to all your classes. It is now lunchtime; who would you like to spend time with?
[Robin]
[Julian]
[Ezra]
[ Afternoon ]
[ Afternoon - after school]
Would you like to go to a club?
[Basketball 1]
[Hockey 1]
[Evening]
When you walk out of school you happen across Robin, who is standing at the school gates.
Robin
"Oh, Yon! I was just getting some things ready for tomorrow. I'm so glad you and the others joined!" She sounds so excited it unnerves you a little. "Do you want to walk home together?"
As you're walking Robin talks to you about school, her job, and the town. She occassionally asks you some simple questions.
Robin
"Were you in any clubs in your old town?"
[No. I'd rather spend time at home.]
Robin: "Oh, did you have a lot of homework usually? I guess it makes sense you didn't join any clubs then." She smiles absentmindedly.
[Yes, a few if they piqued my interest.]
Robin: "Anything like the occult club? Or did you prefer sports? I've been in the volleyball team since year 1 myself." She's smiling, but you get the feeling she's not particularly engaged in your conversation.
[Yes but only if there were cute girls in them.]
Robin: "Oh, okay." To your surprise, she smiles, staring ahead at nothing in particular. It's a little unnerving.
She asked you a question, but you feel like she didn't really care about your answer. It almost feels like Robin is running through a script, firing off canned questions and waiting for you to give rehearsed responses. It makes you feel a little uncomfortable. You want to say something, but before you can you've arrived in front of Kaminski books.
Robin
"See you tomorrow! I can't wait to introduce you and the others to the club." She smiles, the first genuine smile she's given you all afternoon, though something about it feels slightly off.
You make your way home, thinking over why Robin was acting like that.
Then your phone buzzes.
[Julian added you to the group: Guys]
Ezra: What kind of group name is that
Julian: U can change it if you want
Julian: Judgmental aass
[Ezra has changed the group name to: ]
Julian: tf
Julian: no
[Julian has changed the group name to: Guys]
Ezra: You said I could change it!
Julian: Yea well permission hereby revoked
Julian: anyway
Julian: I thought it dbe good to have a group chat for us
Julian: yknow for like
Julian: if you ever wanna hang our or smt
Ezra: You know you can write messages longer than a few words right? My phone buzzed like six times thanks to you
Julian: just mute it lol
You:
What is going on
Julian: Hey yon
Julian: did we have homework
Julian: for bio
Julian: i didnt write it down but idk seems sus
Ezra: Oi if you're just gonna talk about homework message yon privately! That has nothing to do with me
Julian:wow i thought we were friends
Julian:plus maybe you remembered
Julian:yknow from last year
Ezra: i love you but you are insufferable
Julian:oh wow
Julian:how do i delete someone elses message
You put your phone away and decide to ignore the chat for now. You'll check in a bit if Ezra and Julian have stopped bickering.
[Koizumi Residence - Your Room]
You've just finished washing up after having dinner with your aunt. You've settled in upstairs to get some homework done, and take a look at your phone for the first time after putting it in your bag. It looks like Ezra and Julian stopped pestering each other shortly after. The last message is a notification that Ezra has changed the group name back to ''. You wonder if Julian hasn't seen it yet. Then you notice you have a message in another chat...
Robin: Hi! This is Yon, right...?
Robin: Ezra gave me your number :)
You:
Yes, this is me.
Robin: Oh good!
Robin: Anyway, I just wanted to say again I'm super excited about you joining the club! I hope you're looking forward to tomorrow as much as I am :)
Robin: So yeah, see you tomorrow at school! And, sleep well!!
You:
Goodnight.
That same uncomfortable feeling that crept up your spine as you walked home with Robin has returned once more. It makes sense Robin is happy her club can continue on now that she has enough members, but she seems a little
too excited. You try to put it out of your mind as you begin your homework.
[Night]
You stretch out and yawn as you finish your last bit of tonight's work. When you look out the window you're surprised to see how dark it is. You should probably go to bed now. You quickly change into your pajamas, brush your teeth and pop downstairs to wish your aunt goodnight. Right when you're about to get in bed, your phone lights up again.
Julian:dude
Julian:DUUUUUUUUDE
Julian:look at this
[Julian has sent a screenshot of another text conversation. It is between him and Robin.
It is identical to your conversation with her.]
Julian:what does this meaaaaaaaaaaaaan
Julian:do you think???
Julian:maybe????????
You: is calling...
Julian
“Why did you call me?"
He sounds annoyed. It took him a second to pick up the phone after you pressed the call button. You had enough of your phone buzzing every three seconds, as you explain to Julian.
Julian
“That's stupid. People don't call anymore nowadays, just message me like normal. Anyway, did you see what Robin sent me? I couldn't believe it."
You tell him she sent you the same messages verbatim. Julian is quiet for a second. You can feel his disappointment through the phone.
Julian
“...Maybe she's just trying to keep her options open. She doesn't want to settle on one person just yet. I respect that."
You want to say you don't think he's right about that, but Julien cuts you off before you get a full word in.
Julian
“Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow. Don't be late, you can't miss the club!"
Club is after school, you couldn't miss it unless you skipped the whole school day. Julian doesn't give you a chance to retort though, he's already hung up. You sigh. You wonder how Ezra deals with this; Julian seems to always be going at top speed, he leaves no time for people to think over their part of the conversation. You put your phone under your pillow and go to sleep.