Interview with the Yokai

Chapter 12

It was in a state of focus, that Shoji had never known, that he spent the week. All of the girls noticed the change in Shoji, but they had also increased their own intensity with the election coming up on Saturday. The girls were so busy that they were taking short lunches and Noriko didn't have the free time to study with Shoji. The girl's aura's were also more intense than Shoji had ever felt them, classmates were flocking to them, several of them putting in time after club activities to help with the final campaign pushes. Shoji was truly impressed by Mari's ability to put in work on her campaign and then turn around and help him with preparations at night. Shoji knew she wasn't doing it for him though, Mari was doing it for Noriko, for better or worse, Mari was a loyal friend who would do anything for Noriko's happiness.

Finally it was Friday, the girls were all tired as election day was Saturday. Noriko seemed ready to collapse, she had not only been running her campaign, but had been getting ready for her first Judo match that was coming up the week after. How tired the girls were became clear when they all sat down to have lunch.

" Wake me when it's time to start class again," Mari said and promptly plopped her head on the desk and fell asleep. Mari was so tired that she hadn't even bothered doing her hair in pigtails.

" I don't know what she's been up to, but she's been doing too much lately," Noriko said patting Mari on the head.

" Yaaaawn! Oh, sorry," Benihime said embarrassed by her yawn.

" Maybe you should take a nap to, Beni-chan," Yayaka said looking at her tired friend.

" Yayaka-chan might be right all of you look like you need a nap," Shoji said, laughing internally at the situation.

" If you wanted to say you slept with all of us at the same time, you just have to ask," Yayaka said, but her heart wasn't in her flirting.

" I think i'll take your advice, as soon as I finish this curry bread I'm taking a nap," Noriko said.

" Well if Noriko-chan is going to nap so are we," Yayaka said looking at Benihime, who seemed to be the most tired of the three who were awake.

" No that's alright Yayaka-chan, yaawn," Benihime tried to argue but was betrayed by her own sleepiness.

" Stop being so hard headed, would you rather fall asleep during a lesson?" Yayaka asked Benihime. She didn't wait for the answer though, " you don't think Shoji-kun would actually molest you or let anyone touch you in your sleep do you?"

" No, I wasn't thinking that," Benihime said, caught off guard by Yayaka's reasoning.

" Well we're taking a nap then," Yayaka said and that was the final word soon all four girls were napping. Shoji noticed some of his classmates looking over, it was a pretty funny scene. Shoji almost didn't want to wake the girls when it came time to start classes again, but he knew he had to. Waking Yayaka was the most problematic as she let out some moans that sent all the boys minds racing, fortunately, Benihime was there to give her an elbow in the ribs that jolted her awake.

The rest of the day went by without incident. When Shoji met up with Noriko to study, Mari was in the room sleeping. Noriko was pretty tired herself and after Shoji promised to help her with her homework over the weekend, he left her room so she could sleep. When Shoji reached his own room he decided to get a nap in before dinner. Shoji had been sneaking out at night past curfew the whole week and didn't want to be tired that night.

The time finally came for Shoji to sneak out, he was a bit more worried about being caught than usual. Tonight he didn't have Mari with him, the girl was an expert at sneaking out, Shoji had found. Shoji made it down the stairs and out the doors to the boys tower, then crouching low to the floor he scurried across the lobby towards the front door. Just as he was about to make it past Kurasawa-sama's apartment, the door slide open. Shoji froze as he was caught in Kurasawa-sama's sights.