Arthur looked for Emiko but couldn't find her. Disappointed, he entered the classroom and saw Emiko reading something. Before he could approach her, Daichi appeared.
"What's up, Arthur? I heard Emiko hit you."
Hearing that, Emiko lifted her head and glared at Daichi with murderous eyes. Daichi fell silent immediately and went to sit down.
When the class began and the teacher entered, Arthur couldn't stop thinking about how to apologize. Before he realized it, it was already lunchtime. Taking out his lunchbox, he wanted to ask Emiko something, but she simply walked away without looking back.
Daichi, watching the whole thing, gave Arthur a pitying look.
"You know, Arthur, women are complicated," he said before leaving the classroom as well.
Left alone, Arthur sighed and decided to go to the cafeteria. There, he found Emiko eating and talking with Takashi. Takashi nodded quietly as she spoke. When Takashi noticed Arthur, he made space for him to sit, but Emiko didn't look at him at all, completely focused on her meal. When she finished, she simply said goodbye to Takashi and left, leaving Arthur confused.
Takashi just shook his head.
"I won't lie, Arthur. She's really mad at you," he said, walking away.
Arthur could only stare at his friend's back, wondering what exactly had happened.
Later, in the literature club, Aiko noticed Arthur deep in thought and gave him a warm smile.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly.
Arthur turned toward her, surprised that someone was talking to him.
"Nothing really... but thanks for asking."
Then he picked up his notebook and began to write something. Aiko watched him, confused, as he became completely absorbed in his writing. With a sigh, she turned away and began reading a book. A few minutes later, Takashi entered quietly, and seeing Arthur so focused, didn't disturb him.
Arthur flipped through the notebook and finally looked up at Takashi.
"This… is a short story I wrote," he said. "I called it The Whispering Origami."
Takashi raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds… intriguing. What's it about?"
Arthur began to read aloud:
"It's about a boy named Jack. His mother, who comes from a faraway country, makes him paper figures that come to life. At first, Jack is fascinated and plays with them every day. But as he grows older, he wants to fit in with his friends and starts ignoring them… and his mother too."
Arthur glanced at Takashi, trying to convey the emotion he felt.
"In the end, when his mother dies, he discovers that one of the figures had a message inside — a reminder of how much she loved him and what she sacrificed for him. It's sad, but it teaches that sometimes we lose what truly matters just because we want to belong somewhere else."
Takashi nodded slowly, thoughtful.
"That's very… human, Arthur. It's sad, but there's a deep message about family and our roots."
Arthur looked down, fiddling with his pen.
"Yeah… I wanted to show that sometimes we don't realize what we have until it's gone. And that love can hide in the smallest things, even in a simple piece of paper."
Takashi smiled.
"I like it, Arthur. You should develop it more. It could be a great story for the club."
When everyone heard this, they all asked to read Arthur's story. Aiko listened as the others read and soon began to cry quietly. She gave Arthur a sad look, which confused him.
Takashi laughed softly.
"Aiko's the most sentimental one in the club."
Aiko only looked out the window, her eyes still red from crying.
"It's a good story, Arthur," Takashi said. "Maybe we should send it to a publisher."
Arthur nodded, then shook his head.
"For now, I'd rather it stay in the club."
Everyone looked confused, but Takashi simply nodded.
"All right, I respect that."
When Aiko saw that everyone had finished reading, she picked up the story again and started rereading it. Before she reached the end, her tears soaked the pages.
Takashi, startled, handed her some tissues and gently took the manuscript before it got completely wet.
Aiko looked at Arthur, eyes shining with tears.
"You're so cruel," she said before storming out of the literature club.
Takashi sighed.
"Don't worry, Arthur. Aiko's very emotional and innocent. She comes from a powerful family, always been sheltered… she's like a princess."
Arthur stared at the closed door, unsure what to say.
Takashi stood and gave him a curious look.
"My advice: don't fall for her. Her family already arranged a marriage for her."
Arthur nodded, puzzled, as Takashi laughed and left the club.
Arthur was surprised Takashi didn't invite him to walk home together. Then he remembered Emiko. Picking up his bag, he decided to head to the kendo club.
Before arriving, he bumped into someone — it was Mika.
"Watch where you're going!" Mika said, still on the floor, glaring.
When she realized it was Arthur, she smirked.
"Well, if it isn't the foreigner. What's wrong? You want to fall for me now, foreign boy?"
Arthur helped her up and bowed slightly.
"Sorry, I was in a hurry," he said before walking away.
Mika stared at his back, confused, until Takashi appeared.
"Idiot, you're late," she said, pouting. "And the foreigner bumped into me! You could've come save your princess."
Takashi rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Mika, we're going to be late."
"Oh, come on, don't you want to know what's going on between those two?" she teased.
"We've seen this before, Mika. Let them be," Takashi said, picking up her bag and walking down the hallway. Mika followed him silently, realizing he wasn't in the mood to argue.
Arthur reached the kendo club and saw Emiko already packing up. When she noticed him, she tried to walk past, but Arthur blocked her path.
"Move," she said coldly.
Arthur said nothing. Then she struck his shoulder — a dull thud made him wince in pain.
"What did I do to make you this angry?" he asked.
Emiko was silent for a moment.
"You don't want me to help you, Arthur. You won't let me come to your house."
Arthur said nothing.
Seeing that, Emiko sighed and started walking away.
Arthur called after her, "Fine. You can come to my house — but only if I can go to yours too."
Emiko turned and looked at him with clear eyes.
"All right. Shall we walk to your house, then?"
Arthur blinked, surprised.
"So soon? You really want to go now?"
She gave him a sharp look.
"Why, can't I?"
"N-no, of course you can," he stammered. "I just didn't think you'd want to go right now."
"You lead the way," she said firmly.
Together, they walked to Arthur's house. On the way, Emiko caught him looking at her.
"What is it?" she asked.
Arthur hesitated.
"Would you like to read a story I wrote?"
Curious, Emiko followed him to the literature club. She wondered what kind of story he had written, remembering Matilda, and felt a spark of anticipation.
But when Arthur handed her the manuscript, she noticed it was damp.
"Don't tell me someone spilled water on it," she said.
Arthur scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed.
"Well… some people cried a little too much."
Emiko burst out laughing.
"Well, don't worry. I doubt I'll cry."
Arthur looked at her expectantly as she began to read. But as she read, tears silently streamed down her cheeks. Arthur handed her some tissues.
She finally realized she was crying but continued until the end. Then, with teary eyes, she looked at him sharply. Arthur turned away, confused.
Emiko grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the club. They walked together without saying a word.
When they reached Arthur's house, Emiko finally asked,
"Arthur, did you really write that story?"
Arthur nodded.
She said nothing more and followed him inside.
Yumi was surprised to see her son with a girl, but Emiko greeted her politely.
Arthur quickly said, "She's a friend — we're going to study together."
Yumi gave Emiko a curious look — she was young, athletic, with calloused hands that revealed kendo practice. Finally, she nodded and let them go to Arthur's room.
Arthur was embarrassed to see his messy desk.
"Well… this is my room," he said.
Emiko looked around and sat on his bed.
"You're not very organized, are you?" she teased.
Arthur nodded sheepishly and handed her another paper — the lyrics to Plastic Love.
She read them carefully.
"So this came to you… when I left you at the traffic light?"
Arthur nodded.
"Let's practice — Japanese for me, English for you," she said.
Hours passed. When Arthur looked at the clock, it was already 10 p.m.
"It's late, Emiko. Don't you think you should go home?"
Emiko looked at the clock, then back at him.
"I'm so sleepy," she said, lying down on his bed and closing her eyes.
Arthur froze, unsure what to do.
Then Emiko opened her eyes again and said softly,
"You really are an idiot, Arthur."
Arthur blinked.
"Why?"
"Do you know why I cried reading your story?"
Arthur shook his head.
"My mother died," she said quietly. "I was raised by my father. I never had the love or warmth of a mother. That's why I act tough. My father always told me to act like a lady — but how can I, when all my life he taught me to fight?"
Arthur stayed silent.
"It's confusing, Arthur," she continued. "I got mad at you because I thought you didn't like me — that's why you didn't want me to come over. But your story made me realize something… I can't change who I am, even if my father wants me to."
Emiko started crying again.
Arthur, not knowing what else to do, hugged her gently. She buried her face in his chest, sobbing harder and soaking his shirt.
Hearing the crying, Yumi smiled faintly from her room.
"Young love…" she murmured and went to bed.
When Emiko finally stopped crying, she looked up.
"I don't want a relationship, Arthur. Not right now," she said, closing her eyes.
Arthur remembered something.
"I saw a woman pick you up before — is that your mother?"
Emiko shook her head.
"That's my stepmother. My father remarried. She's the one who keeps telling me to be more ladylike."
Arthur nodded, understanding now.
"I guess she'll be the one picking you up, then."
Just as he said that, they heard a car honk outside.
Emiko sighed.
"That's her."
She picked up her bag, gave Arthur a small smile, and they walked outside together.
Yumi watched them from the doorway. Before her son could go back to his room, she said,
"No dating, Arthur. Not yet."
Arthur rolled his eyes.
"So… when I'm eighteen, you'll finally allow it, right?"
Yumi didn't answer.
Arthur sighed, said goodnight, and went to his room. Exhausted from everything that happened, he finally lay down and fell asleep.