Later that day something was still troubling Yukio . He brought his lunch to their cla.s.sroom and approached Urufu-kun . They seated themselves on opposite sides of Yukio's desk, making good use of their status as geek and loner friend . Chances were they wouldn't get disturbed . After all, geekiness might be contagious .

"Isn't this a bit too underhanded for you?" Yukio asked, referring to their conversation that morning . "The club and Ageruman-san," he added to make Urufu-kun get the connection .

They sat in silence while he allowed his friend to muse over the question . Scattered sounds of conversations in the cla.s.sroom reached him while he waited for an answer . It was, he noted absent-mindedly, emptier here than at the start of the year . Wakayamsan, and later, Ageruman-san were the obvious reasons for their cla.s.smates to be elsewhere . 3:1 was probably crammed beyond capacity .

"Underhanded, yes, wrong, no . No one gets hurt," Urufu-kun finally answered . "Club or no club, guys will make pa.s.ses at Christina anyway . "

After making sure no one had noticed whom they were talking about, Yukio shot Urufu-kun a long glare .

"Sure, I'm selfish . I admit that . Still it's not wrong . I'm planning to make this a club for the benefit of its members . I'm honest about that part . " Urufu-kun removed his gla.s.ses and played with them in his hands .

"And," Yukio said, fis.h.i.+ng for more .

"And," Urufu-kun agreed, "I want to find out what happened to me . Some kind of anchor in Sweden could help me with that . So you're right about that part . "

"Look, you went hiking in what pa.s.ses for the Alps in Sweden, got caught in a freak snowstorm and wound up in our Alps . "

Yukio watched the gla.s.ses pa.s.s from hand to hand in front of him . They served no purpose other than giving Urufu-kun the occasional headache . He had perfect eyesight . Well, they helped keep up the illusion of members.h.i.+p in geek squad, Yukio thought as Urufu-kun returned them over his nose .

"About sums it up, disregarding a sudden loss of 35 years, and the fact that the older version of me has never existed in this world . " Urufu-kun grinned back .

The conversation had been interspersed with English whenever Urufu-kun's j.a.panese was too poor to convey some concepts . You're changing, and in doing so, you're changing me, Yukio thought while he waited for Urufu-kun to continue .

"And how can a club help me to understand? That's your real question, isn't it?"

Yukio nodded

"I don't know, but I have to do something," Urufu-kun continued . "Look, it even gives her a way to speak Swedish if it comes to that . "

"If it comes to what?" Yukio teased .

This time Urufu-kun's face went all the way to a deep tomato red . Yukio knew the reason wasn't any ulterior motives but rather the thought of ulterior motives . Urufu-kun was funny that way . One reason why he made such a good friend .

A right way and a wrong one . No simple truths, because truth was relative . Still, a right way and a wrong one . Urufu-kun, a contradiction in terms walking on two legs .

In the end, after school, they agreed upon one week . If in one week Ageruman-san still hadn't joined a club, and Yukio had gathered enough courage to approach Takeidsan, he would venture over to 3:1 and ask not one, but two questions .

"Be honest with your feelings," Urufu-kun had said, "but suggest starting out as friends . That's the lesser commitment . Still, she should know where your real interests lie . She'll know what you want, but it'll be less awkward this way, and you can let things proceed from there . "

After that promise they parted ways . Urufu-kun unlocked his bike and wheeled down the street .

Yukio watched as Urufu-kun's back vanished behind an office building .

'I wonder what's on your mind . '

Later that day something was still troubling Yukio . He brought his lunch to their cla.s.sroom and approached Urufu-kun . They seated themselves on opposite sides of Yukios desk, making good use of their status as geek and loner friend . Chances were they wouldnt get disturbed . After all, geekiness might be contagious . Isnt this a bit too underhanded for you? Yukio asked, referring to their conversation that morning . The club and Ageruman-san, he added to make Urufu-kun get the connection . They sat in silence while he allowed his friend to muse over the question . Scattered sounds of conversations in the cla.s.sroom reached him while he waited for an answer . It was, he noted absent-mindedly, emptier here than at the start of the year . Wakayamsan, and later, Ageruman-san were the obvious reasons for their cla.s.smates to be elsewhere . 3:1 was probably crammed beyond capacity . Underhanded, yes, wrong, no . No one gets hurt, Urufu-kun finally answered . Club or no club, guys will make pa.s.ses at Christina anyway . After making sure no one had noticed whom they were talking about, Yukio shot Urufu-kun a long glare . Sure, Im selfish . I admit that . Still its not wrong . Im planning to make this a club for the benefit of its members . Im honest about that part . Urufu-kun removed his gla.s.ses and played with them in his hands . And, Yukio said, fis.h.i.+ng for more . And, Urufu-kun agreed, I want to find out what happened to me . Some kind of anchor in Sweden could help me with that . So youre right about that part . Look, you went hiking in what pa.s.ses for the Alps in Sweden, got caught in a freak snowstorm and wound up in our Alps . Yukio watched the gla.s.ses pa.s.s from hand to hand in front of him . They served no purpose other than giving Urufu-kun the occasional headache . He had perfect eyesight . Well, they helped keep up the illusion of members.h.i.+p in geek squad, Yukio thought as Urufu-kun returned them over his nose . About sums it up, disregarding a sudden loss of 35 years, and the fact that the older version of me has never existed in this world . Urufu-kun grinned back . The conversation had been interspersed with English whenever Urufu-kuns j.a.panese was too poor to convey some concepts . Youre changing, and in doing so, youre changing me, Yukio thought while he waited for Urufu-kun to continue . And how can a club help me to understand? Thats your real question, isnt it? Yukio nodded I dont know, but I have to do something, Urufu-kun continued . Look, it even gives her a way to speak Swedish if it comes to that . If it comes to what? Yukio teased . This time Urufu-kuns face went all the way to a deep tomato red . Yukio knew the reason wasnt any ulterior motives but rather the thought of ulterior motives . Urufu-kun was funny that way . One reason why he made such a good friend . A right way and a wrong one . No simple truths, because truth was relative . Still, a right way and a wrong one . Urufu-kun, a contradiction in terms walking on two legs . In the end, after school, they agreed upon one week . If in one week Ageruman-san still hadnt joined a club, and Yukio had gathered enough courage to approach Takeidsan, he would venture over to 3:1 and ask not one, but two questions . Be honest with your feelings, Urufu-kun had said, but suggest starting out as friends . Thats the lesser commitment . Still, she should know where your real interests lie . Sh.e.l.l know what you want, but itll be less awkward this way, and you can let things proceed from there . After that promise they parted ways . Urufu-kun unlocked his bike and wheeled down the street . Yukio watched as Urufu-kuns back vanished behind an office building . I wonder whats on your mind .