The afternoon sun filtered lazily through the classroom windows as students settled back into their seats after lunch. The noise level dropped from cafeteria chaos to classroom chatter, though whispers and laughter still floated around.
Axel leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms. "I'm still full," he muttered.
Akira scoffed. "That's what happens when you eat like you're being threatened."
Megumi smiled quietly from the seat behind them, opening her notebook.
The teacher hadn't arrived yet, which meant conversations naturally drifted toward plans.
"So," Axel said, turning slightly, "what are you guys doing after this class?"
"I've got club work," Akira replied instantly. "Student council prep. Again."
Axel nodded, then glanced back. "Megumi and I have a club meeting too."
Megumi looked up, surprised he mentioned her so casually. "Yeah… the comics club."
"Oh?" one of Axel's male friends leaned over. "You two are in the same club?"
"Since first year," Axel said. "Right?"
Megumi nodded. "Mm."
Sato, who had been quietly listening, suddenly lit up. "Hey, Axel! Akira! After school, want to play games? There's a new co-op mode I've been dying to try."
Axel hesitated. "Ah… sorry. Club meeting today."
Akira shrugged. "Same."
Sato sighed dramatically. "Figures. Guess I'll go with Kenji and the others."
"Next time," Axel said apologetically.
"Yeah, yeah," Sato waved him off. "Don't forget me when you become famous or something."
The bell rang soon after, cutting off the conversation.
When the final class ended, students poured out once again, but this time in calmer waves. Axel slung his bag over his shoulder and waited near the door.
Megumi stepped up beside him.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Always," Axel replied easily.
They walked down the hallway together, footsteps echoing softly. Posters for various clubs lined the walls—sports teams, music clubs, debate societies.
They stopped in front of a door with a handmade sign:
COMICS CLUB – ROOM 3-B
Megumi pushed it open.
Inside, the room smelled faintly of paper and ink. Shelves lined the walls, packed with manga, graphic novels, and comics stacked in careful chaos. A few members were already there, chatting excitedly.
Axel smiled. "Still my favorite place in school."
Megumi's lips curved upward. "Mine too."
This club was special to her.
Not just because of the comics.
But because this was where she had first talked to Axel—not as "Akira's friend," not as part of a group, but just… them. A conversation over shared favorites that turned into something comfortable.
The club president, a third-year with glasses perpetually slipping down his nose, clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone! Let's get started."
Members gathered around the tables.
"Today's meeting is important," the president continued. "We've been given a chance to publish a feature in the school newspaper."
Murmurs spread through the room.
"Our task," he said dramatically, "is to rank the Top 10 Comics of All Time."
The room went silent.
Then—
"What?!"
"In one week?!"
"That's impossible!"
Axel raised his hand halfway. "Uh… president?"
"Yes?"
"There are like… ten thousand comics here."
Several members nodded vigorously.
"How are we supposed to pick the top ten in one week?" Axel added. "That's not even human."
"I agree," someone else said. "We need at least a month!"
The president sighed. "I know. But we only have this week. Other clubs also want space in the newspaper, and if we want to be featured, we need to act fast."
Groans filled the room.
Megumi had been quiet, listening carefully.
She raised her hand.
"Yes, Megumi?" the president said.
She took a small breath. "What if… we don't try to read everything?"
The room stilled.
Axel turned toward her.
Megumi continued, voice calm but steady. "We could each choose our personal top ten. Then, after everyone submits their lists, we compare them."
Someone tilted their head. "Compare… how?"
"We look for overlaps," she explained. "Comics that appear frequently across different lists. Then we discuss and narrow them down to the final ten."
Silence.
Then—
"That's… actually smart."
"Yeah."
"That could work."
The president's eyes lit up. "Excellent idea!"
Axel stared at Megumi, impressed.
"Alright," the president said, energized again. "We'll divide the collection. About two thousand comics per group. Choose your top ten from those."
The room buzzed with renewed excitement.
As members started organizing stacks, Axel leaned closer to Megumi.
"You know," he said quietly, "that was really smart."
Megumi blinked. "Huh?"
"You're the best at this," he added honestly. "Seriously."
For the first time since he'd known her—
Megumi blushed.
It was faint, but unmistakable.
She looked down, fingers tightening around her notebook. "Th-thank you."
Axel smiled, completely unaware of the effect his words had just had.
They spent the rest of the meeting surrounded by comics, discussing art styles, arguing over story arcs, laughing over ridiculous plot twists.
"This one fell off after volume five," Axel said.
Megumi nodded eagerly. "Exactly! People only remember the beginning."
"Finally, someone who gets it," he laughed.
Time passed faster than either of them realized.
As the meeting wrapped up, Megumi packed her bag carefully, her heart still beating just a little faster than usual.
He noticed me today, she thought.
Outside, the sky had started to soften into evening.
Axel stretched again. "Good meeting."
Megumi smiled. "Yeah… it was."
And as they walked out together, neither noticed—
That timing, once again, was quietly shifting.