The long table had quieted down, the muffled hum of conversation giving way to a gentle breeze coming through the window. The scent of paper, ink, and a faint trace of something sweet from the floor below hung in the air.
Kokoro shifted slightly in his seat, brushing a stray lock of hair behind his ear. He looked up just in time to see the pink-haired senior stand up gracefully beside him. She placed her fingertips lightly on the table and gave a warm smile.
"Well then," she said with a calming voice, "since we have a new member with us today… it's time for introductions."
Immediately, five heads perked up—each one radiating a unique vibe.
Starting at the far end of the table was a tall, lean third-year boy with messy ash-gray hair and a stoic expression. He raised a hand lazily. "Yo. I'm Ishikawa Ritsu. I do backgrounds… and drink all the club's soda. Don't expect much talking from me."
Next to him was another third-year—a boy with an easygoing grin and perpetually sleepy eyes. His dark hair fell in waves, slightly covering one of his cheeks. "Hoshizaki Tooru. I do digital inking and special effects. If I'm asleep, just draw around me."
Kokoro gave a small, polite nod. "Understood…"
Then came the girls.
The first was, of course, the energetic lime-haired girl from earlier, who now had on a pair of cat-ear headphones. She stood up dramatically, one hand on her hip and the other pointed to the ceiling. "Second-year, Inoue Momo! Colorist extraordinaire and mood manager of the group!"
"More like mood chaos," Ritsu muttered from the end of the table.
Momo stuck her tongue out at him before plopping back in her seat.
The next girl was a quiet one with long, wavy chestnut hair tied in low twin tails and round, curious eyes. She adjusted her scarf even though they were indoors and spoke in a small voice. "U-Um… I'm Fujimiya Yura… I help with storyboards… Nice to meet you."
Kokoro gave her a soft smile, finding her demeanor oddly comforting.
Finally, there was the last second-year girl—a tall and striking one with red-framed glasses, dark blue hair in a low bun, and the aura of a strict literature teacher. She stood up and adjusted her tie. "Sasaki Ena. Scriptwriter. I run a tight ship when deadlines are near. If you're slacking, I will hunt you down."
Momo visibly shivered. "She's not kidding."
Then the pink-haired senpai gently clasped her hands together.
"And I'm Aikawa Sayuri. Third year. Club president. I mainly handle drafts, layouts, and panelling… and I suppose I'm everyone's emotional support, too." She chuckled softly, then turned toward Kokoro with a smile. "And that's everyone!"
Six club members—all unique, all talented in their own ways.
Kokoro blinked and realized it was his turn.
"Ah… Katsuragi Kokoro," he said, keeping it brief. "I mostly just draw for fun. But I'd like to learn more."
Sayuri beamed at him as if he had just passed some invisible test.
But then Kokoro tilted his head a little and asked curiously, "So… am I the only first year here?"
At that, the atmosphere shifted just a little.
Sayuri's smile dimmed ever so slightly, and a wistful expression crossed her face.
"…Yes," she said softly. "We… didn't manage to recruit any other first-years this year."
Kokoro blinked in surprise. "Really?"
"Mm," she nodded. "Most students nowadays… they're more into gaming clubs or sports. Not many are interested in writing or drawing manga and light novels anymore. It's gotten harder to get new members."
There was a gentle silence after that. Even Momo had stopped fidgeting with her tablet. Yura looked down at her notes. Ritsu was unusually quiet.
But Sayuri smiled again—this time, more genuine, more tender.
"That's why… we're really happy you joined, Kokoro-kun."
Kokoro scratched his cheek awkwardly, a slight blush creeping up his ears.
"…I'll do my best," he muttered.
And with that, the tension dissolved like a quiet ending panel. Outside, the sakura leaves stirred gently, brushing against the open window.
__________________________________________
As the discussion settled and club members returned to their tasks, Aikawa Sayuri gently turned her body toward Kokoro, her pink twin-drill hair swaying softly with the breeze coming from the open window. Her pink eyes sparkled behind her glasses, reflecting the golden hue of the afternoon sun streaming into the room. She leaned forward slightly, hands folded on the table.
"Katsuragi-kun," she began softly, "since you mentioned you're good at drawing… I wanted to ask you something." Her voice had a warm, careful tone, as if she was afraid to sound demanding. "I'm currently working on a personal project—a short manga—and I'm a little behind since everyone's so busy with their own work."
She glanced around the room. Ishikawa Ritsu was quietly focused at his tablet, headphones on, eyes fixed on the background he was crafting. Tooru was half-sprawled on his seat but diligently working through digital effects. Momo bobbed her head as she colored a panel, while Ena was typing something intensely with furrowed brows. Yura, the shy twin-tailed girl, was bent over her storyboard like a monk in prayer.
Sayuri turned back to Kokoro and bowed her head slightly.
"I know it's selfish of me to ask when you've just joined. You can absolutely say no. I won't hold it against you."
Kokoro blinked. For a brief moment, he saw not just the club president, but a girl quietly burdened by responsibility and deadlines. He smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean… I don't have anything better to do anyway. Of course I'll help."
Sayuri's face lit up instantly, like a flower blooming in spring. "Really? Thank you very much!" She nearly clapped her hands, but restrained herself, instead giving him a grateful bow. Then she looked back up with a slight blush. "In that case… you can just call me Sayuri. No need for formalities. I think it would help us get along better."
Kokoro blinked again, slightly surprised. "Oh. Uh… then you can call me Kokoro too. If that's easier."
Just as their exchange was starting to settle, a voice chimed in—cheerful and full of life.
"Then call me Momo!" shouted Inoue Momo, popping up from her desk, her cat-ear headphones slipping slightly off her lime-colored hair. She pointed a stylus at Kokoro like she was presenting a character introduction. "If we're doing this first-name-only thing, I'm all in!"
Kokoro chuckled nervously, but before he could respond, another voice mumbled from across the room.
"…Ritsu is fine."
It was Ishikawa Ritsu, eyes still fixed on his screen. He didn't even look up, but clearly heard everything.
Tooru, lying back on his chair with a lazy smile, gave a small wave. "You can call me Tooru. Not that I'll respond fast either way."
Fujimiya Yura peeked from behind her storyboard with a shy look and then whispered, "Yura is okay…"
Finally, Sasaki Ena adjusted her red-framed glasses and said without looking up, "Sasaki Ena is acceptable. But… fine. Ena is okay. For now."
Kokoro blinked again, overwhelmed by the sudden wave of first-name invitations. He glanced at Sayuri, who was smiling at him like a proud older sister.
In just a few minutes, the entire dynamic of the club had changed. What had once felt like stepping into a structured club now felt warmer… more inviting. Like being part of something.
Kokoro scratched his cheek, muttering softly, "So this is what a club feels like, huh…"
Sayuri smiled again and began sliding over a sketch pad filled with layout thumbnails. "Alright, Kokoro. Let's get to work."
And with that, the air in the Manga and Anime Club room grew just a little brighter.
_________________________________________
As the faint rustling of paper and light tapping on drawing tablets filled the clubroom, Sayuri stood up from her seat with graceful yet deliberate motion. Her twin drills bounced lightly as she stepped to the nearby shelf and retrieved a sleek black drawing tablet—a bit larger than the others. She gently brushed off the surface with a sleeve before returning to Kokoro's side.
She sat down beside him, their chairs now close enough that he could faintly catch the soft scent of strawberry shampoo from her hair. With a few quick taps on her screen, she opened a folder titled:
"May Your Wish Be Fulfilled"
A soft blue light emanated from the tablet as the file loaded. The title screen alone already had Kokoro's eyes narrowing slightly with curiosity—beautifully handwritten, a bit shaky, but heartfelt. Sayuri turned the tablet slightly to show him better and navigated to the draft pages. The screen was filled with rough sketches arranged into manga panels.
"I haven't done much proper work yet..." she admitted, her voice low and slightly sheepish. A faint pink hue colored her cheeks. "These are just thumbnail sketches, and I still haven't added detailed linework… or even finished the bubble placement."
Her finger hesitated for a moment over the tablet before she tapped to scroll down. Kokoro's eyes followed the flow of each panel: the depiction of a melancholic boy in a hospital corridor… his hollow eyes, a wilted flower in his hand. The story was clear even through the simple pencil lines—a family grieving, a mother lost to illness, a home empty with silence. The protagonist, worn down by guilt and despair, wandered toward the edge of his own life.
But just before the story slipped into full darkness, the appearance of a mysterious girl broke the gloom. She was vibrant and honest, drawn with sharp eyes and windswept hair. In the panel she first appeared, she stood under a sakura tree with a gentle smile, her hand stretched out to the reader—almost like an offering of hope.
"I thought of a story," Sayuri continued, "where the girl helps him rediscover reasons to live. She's not magical or anything. Just… someone kind who listens. Someone who saw his pain." She looked away, twirling a strand of her hair as her voice became softer. "It's a little cheesy, I know."
Kokoro didn't answer right away. He kept looking at the rough pages, mentally adjusting panel sizes, imagining how he would shade the alleyway scenes, how he would use silence in certain frames for emotional impact. His brow furrowed, then lifted.
"It's good," he finally said, looking up at her. "The story's heartfelt. The message hits you quietly. It's not cheesy—it's warm."
Sayuri froze for a second, visibly caught off-guard. Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. "Y-you really think so?" Her voice cracked slightly with disbelief and something else—hope.
Kokoro nodded with a soft smile. "I've read a lot of drafts from aspiring artists online. Some just feel like they're copying something else. But this… this feels personal. It's genuine."
Sayuri, caught between relief and surprise, tucked her chin down and gave a shy smile. "Thank you, Kokoro."
She fiddled with her stylus for a moment, then spoke again. "Um… if it's not too much to ask, do you think you could help me clean up the sketches? And maybe… maybe help with placing the dialogue too?"
Kokoro gave a confident shrug, cracking his knuckles lightly as he leaned closer to the tablet. "Sure. I'd be happy to help."
Sayuri's eyes lit up again. This time, she didn't try to hide it.
"Thank you… really." Her voice was full of sincere joy, quiet but glowing like a lantern lit under a blanket.
And so, under the soft hum of tablet screens and the gentle breeze flowing through the open windows, the two of them began their quiet collaboration.
Little did Kokoro know, this simple promise to help would start a new chapter of its own.