PROTAGONIST is A SHIPPER part 1-3

CHAPTER 20: "A gal's birthday"

    Time has moved forward since we came back from Puerto Rico. That time was one filled with fun, site seeing, note-taking, and romantic developments for some of my friends.

   After we returned home, it took some time to return to our routine. John, Panchikikku, and I had to spend three weeks in detention. Them for their stunt at the Arecibo Observatory, which they ditched in favor of going someplace even I don't know about. And me, for getting lost again and boarding the plane from the All-Girls High school. It seems their teacher wasn't the only one who suspected that I had done it on purpose, even if I had not. At least Sanagi, Gita, and their friends believed me, and so did John, Ao-sen, and the four girls crushing on him.

   Despite being back home, the routine has changed quite a bit. John and Panchikikku are still on awkward terms, and none of the girls have asked for any plans. But that makes sense, working on those essays took a while, and as third years, John and the others have more to worry about.

   It is December, and finals are in sight, and even if this causes dread and pressure on every student, no matter what grade or year they are in. But for the third years, they are of utmost importance. Throughout my mission I have made the oversight that this will be their final year in high school, after this they might go separate ways to fulfill their dreams.

   As the New Year keeps approaching, and their final semester glares at them from the other side, the threat of college entrance exams looming from beyond, I am reminded that time is running out. My mission won't last forever, it will come to an end.

   But on a more positive note: this free no shipping time has allowed me to work on other areas of my life, and help in other ways as well, also giving me some downtime that I needed and wanted.

   I've been able to keep up with work more regularly, instead of cramming impossible hours whenever I'm free. I was even able to have a shift with John, something that NEVER happens. We were scolded by our boss though, then again work is not for goofing around.

   I've also had anime-watching sessions with Gita and watched confidence-boosting videos with her, as she continues to better herself in confidence, for self-improvement. As well as guitar practice sessions, to which I accompany her.

   I haven't been able to see Sanagi or Fasshon since the plane, but we have made movie-watching sessions on Thursdays through group calls. What started as a fun idea of watching an anime this way with Sanagi, became a tradition, in which Fasshon was eventually invited to participate. Next time I'll ask if I can invite John too.

   I've also had some chats with Mattari, and how the roles have inversed as she, much like Sanagi, reminds me I can call her by her first name. At least she is becoming more open about how she feels, even if her face remains unreadable. We've had chats to help her p[practice her verbal expression, since overly emotional facial, or physical expressions, go against her 'kuudereness'. She also asked me if I wanted to become a school patrol member, since the previous guy transferred out, given my community service I see why she'd ask, and I told her I'd give my answer next week.

   Panchikikku and I talk more often now, about things unrelated to John. We've also continued to work on trying to control her explosiveness, without losing who she is. She is very tenacious; I'll give her that.

   And well Kiken is still Kiken. When we got back to Japan, the first two nights were ones of break-ins to acquire my shipping notebook and all its secrets. Thankfully my defense system handled them. What did surprise me, was her apology, as she explained she was pissed off at Panchikikku and John's development, and that is why she went for the notebook. This of course didn't mean she wouldn't return, as next week she broke in again, but what surprised me, is that she broke in for no reason. She said she just found it fun to try to outsmart my traps even if she always failed, I don't know if I should be more, or less worried that she broke in because it was fun.