A small, roughly folded together paper lightly hits my open notebook. I don’t really have any doubts about who it’s from, but I still turn around to check. Ritsu is looking expectantly at me, impatiently beating a subdued waltz rhythm against the soft pages. I fold the paper open, her handwriting is pretty rough, not that I’m one to speak, I just always thought that neat handwriting came naturally with being a girl.
“How do we approach Hanako?”
I’m tempted to write: “knock on her door”, but I resist, besides, I’m not confident enough in my throwing abilities to not generate attention when I inevitably miss her desk.
Instead, I give her a glance that tries to say: “We’ll talk about it when Mutou divides us into groups”, but I don’t think any of it gets through, so I make sure to take the initiative when the opportunity rises. Mutou is pretty predictable in all his unconventionality.
Normally I’d work with Shizune and Misha, so they both seem a bit confused. I suppose it would be possible for all of us to work together, but I don’t think it’d be too good an idea, especially since Ritsu and I don’t intend on working, or at least it’s not our primary task.
Hogging the space next to Ritsu isn’t very difficult, as the person sitting beside her has moved his desk an uncomfortable length to the right, which leaves the whole classroom with an air of chaos and dissymmetry.
Maybe not that dire.
I carry my desk and chair over to the unoccupied space, and the classroom settles into a comfortable buzz of talking, more often than not about everything else but the assigned work, not that I blame them. I’m not much better.
R: So?
H: I don’t really know. I’m not sure if she’s even comfortable enough around us to even hang out outside band practice.
R: So would having practice be the best way to do it?
H: I don’t know, if I knew, we wouldn’t need this conversation in the first place.
It came out angrier than intended. Not unreasonably much though, so I don’t comment on it.
R: I guess you’re right, but we have to do something, the concert is just a few days away, we can’t play without her!
Ritsu’s voice is a tad too loud, but it doesn’t matter as long as Misha is talking, this time to the boy in the seat behind me, who they’ve captured as some sort of substitute. it makes me feel a little special. Or not special, since I’m that easily replaced. It doesn’t matter.
H: and because she’s our friend and doesn’t deserve to get locked inside her room for days, but I guess that goes without saying?
R: Of course, of course!
She grinning sheepishly and rubbing the back of her head in a way I didn’t know people did in real life.
R: I guess we’ll go for the practice plan first, and if it doesn’t work we’ll think of something else. I think most of the problem will be gone if we get her out of the room.
 
The lesson ends before we even get to start at the assignment, but it’s not a big deal. I already have established a high grade for this class and Ritsu doesn’t seem to take it too seriously. Or any of the other classes, really.
She grabs my hand enthusiastically and leads me out of the classroom and down to the entrance. I’m not sure if it’s really necessary, and I can’t think of a way to ask about her motivation without either making her stop or coming onto her hard, so I decide not to, even if the latter choice would’ve probably been smart. A part of me wants to imagine that she did it to show Shizune, but it’s a silly thought. I don’t even know if any of these girls like me, although I’m rather confident about the one that I’m currently resting my hand in.
Her skin is less soft than I’d imagine from a girl, but I guess it comes with drumming. Especially the fingers are rough. It still feels good to hold onto, like a mold to fit my hand in.
She let’s go when we reach the entrance, as she uses her left hand free to open it. I’ve noticed that she seems to avoid using her right hand as much as possible. It’s understandable. I don’t strain my heart when I can avoid it either.
 
For the second time in a short while, I’m following Ritsu up through the girl’s dormitory. It’s less crowded today, as we were quick to escape after class ended. Before we really decide on anything, Ritsu has already knocked thrice on what I assume is Hanako’s door.
There isn’t an answer from the other side. It’s a little unsettling. Ritsu knocks once more, a little more determined.
R. Hanako!
There are sounds on the other side of the door, But I’m not sure whether that’s good or bad.
Ritsu raises her fist for a third round, but I interrupt her before she knocks again.
H: Is there any reason? She has heard us. She’ll open if she wants.
Ritsu lowers her fist, the same goes for her eyes, which are now focusing on something close to the doorsill, or rather nothing close to the doorsill, as that is what is there.
R: You’re right.
She slumps down on the floor with her back leaning nonchalantly against the walls. I try to copy her pose, but it feels stiff so I assume a more straight position.
We wait for what feels like at least an hour with the silence and focused listening to sounds from the other side of the door, even though it’s only 7 minutes on my wristwatch. The door is slowly opened, before it’s suddenly cut short by a chain. Hanako’s face is barely visible in the gap.
Ha: H- hello?