Who: Masami, Kajiko What: Rank 10 When: After the commencement ceremony Where: Tea Club room Why: Because it's the Tea Club.
The graduation ceremony had finished, and Masami had given her congratulations to the third years she knew, including both Youko and Hitomi of the kendo team. She’d only been unable to find one person after the ceremony: Yamaguchi Kajiko, the president of the Tea Club, who had in the last days of the school year announced Masami as her successor. Masami felt it’d be wrong to not give Kajiko proper congratulations, so she’d come to the Tea Club’s room, guessing that the founder and now-former president would be there.
Masami was right, as when she stepped into the Tea Club room, she found Kajiko sitting calmly in her usual spot at the table, sipping tea from a cup with a floral design. Kajiko had been looking out the window, but turned her head upon hearing Masami enter the room.
"Sakuraba. What brings you here?" Kajiko asked simply. "Come, sit down. Have some tea."
Masami did as she was told, taking a seat across from Kajiko and pouring herself a cup from the tea kettle on the table. From the smell, she could tell it was chrysanthemum tea; Kajiko’s favorite. It was definitely in the top percentage of teas for Masami, but her true favorite was Tieguanyin, a type of Oolong tea. "Well... I couldn’t find you anywhere else, and I wanted to congratulate you on graduating," Masami answered, "Why are you here, senpai?"
Kajiko nodded, and took a sip of tea before answering. "I figured I’d come back and have one last cup of tea here for memory’s sake. You know, a final cup for the road." She turned to look back out the window.
"I’d never figured you for the sentimental type, senpai," Masami offered, also looking out the window. The Tea Club room overlooked the school’s baseball field, which was now empty.
"Normally I’m not," began Kajiko, "but well... I’ve probably spent more time in this room than any other place in the school. You could say I have a lot of memories here."
"Yeah, you were always here. It was a nice constant, to always be able to come here and find you. The Tea Club really won't be the same without you, senpai."
Kajiko gave a short laugh. "Of course it won't be the same without me. This was my club from the very beginning, and I made it into my own personal sanctuary... A place where I could come and relax and enjoy after school tea time in the good company of a select few."
Masami was startled. Kajiko was admitting to taking advantage of the club for her own enjoyment? Sure, it had been pretty clear to Masami for quite some time now, but to actually hear the words straight from her senpai's mouth was unexpected. "Senpai... why are you telling me this?"
"Well, it's nothing you probably haven't realized yourself anyway. We know each other well enough after these past two years. I don't have to hide something like that from you," Kajiko said with a smile. It was perhaps the first smile Masami had ever seen on Kajiko's face without suspecting that it was a part of some act or scheme. Masami couldn't help but find it ironic(or perhaps symbolic, depending on one's view) that on this day of the graduation ceremony, she was experiencing so many firsts.
"So anyway, Sakuraba. I expect you to do good things with the club. I may have founded the club and kept it well-funded, but you'll be the one who actually gives it a future. I'm sure you can handle it, though you might have to make due without all the club trips."
"Thank you, senpai. I won't let you down," Masami said with a nod.
They sat for a few more moments sipping their tea in silence before Kajiko spoke up once more.
"Well," the now-former Tea Club president said, "I suppose I should get going. It's been a good two years, Sakuraba. Do keep in touch. You know how to contact me." With that, Kajiko stood and made to leave.
"Senpai, thank you for everything these past two years," Masami said, standing up to bow politely to Kajiko.
Kajiko turned back to face Masami again. "Thanks to you too, Sakuraba. And... I'm counting on you."
A dubious look crossed Masami's face. "Counting on me? For what?"
"To make the Tea Club into one of the most successful clubs at Nanakamado, so that next year, I'll be able to look back and say 'All according to plan.'" These words were accompanied by a final mischievous smile before Kajiko left the Tea Club room one final time.
Masami sat by herself in the room for another few minutes finishing her tea and cleaning up before at last heading out herself. Her year as the president of the Tea Club would be a good one, she thought. It was the Tea Club, after all.