[clum! '96 #19] Uncompromising Direction

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A summer afternoon in 1996.

Behind the school building, in a quiet 'sanctuary' surrounded by shrubbery, a boy was crouching.

...Can you do it, Jin-senpai? Maybe put your arm around Rei-senpai's shoulder. Oh, and Rei-senpai, look down as if you're a bit shy... Yes! That's the contrast I'm looking for!

From behind the bushes, Nose held up his SLR camera and gave instructions with a desperate look on his face.

In his line of sight, Jin Oritate stood there with a look that suggested he was about to punch Nose at any moment.

Meanwhile, as promised, Rei was looking down with her face red to the tips of her ears, still wearing her cooking club apron.

Nose... Explain to me how this relates to the 'survival of the cooking club.' ...Otherwise, I'm going to smash that lens.

Hii...! I'll explain, I will! We'll use the tagline 'Love-filled dishes made by a dream senior couple' to lure in first-year recruits! Jin-senpai, this is for Rei-senpai's sake, you know!?

Rei gently grabbed Jin's hand.

...Jin-kun, I'm sorry. Nose-kun said he'd draw the promotional poster if I let him take this photo... please.

Stared at by Rei's moist eyes, Jin groaned, 'Ugh...', turned his face red, and looked away. He was the weakest man in the world only when it came to Rei's 'please'.

...Just this once. Hurry up.

As if making up his mind, Jin pulled Rei's slender shoulders toward him.

The blonde, blue-eyed quarter-Japanese boy held the girl as if to protect her.

The dappled sunlight beautifully framed their silhouettes.

Ahhhhh! Perfect! Jin-senpai, keep it like that and bring your face closer to Rei-senpai's hair! Rei-senpai, smile just a little!

The sound of Nose's shutter clicked repeatedly.

...Like this?

Jin, though clumsy, moved behind Rei and leaned in as if whispering something in her ear.

Rei looked up in surprise, and their eyes met at close range.

In that moment, Rei gave a soft, truly happy smile, like a flower blooming.

Click.

...Got it. This is a shot that will go down in history...

Nose wound the film with trembling hands.

It was the moment 'love' was truly burned into the analog camera of 1996.

--That's enough.

With a cold voice, Itsuki appeared from the other side of the shrubbery, wearing his lab coat.

In his hand, he held a large school-issued reflector board—who knows where he got it from.

...Jin. The elapsed time since you got close to Rei has exceeded 30 seconds. Any further contact will have a negative impact on Rei's mental stress and the durability of my blood vessels. Shooting is over.

Itsuki!? Why are you here...

Itsuki, you... did you have that reflector board and watch the whole time?

When Jin let go with a look of exasperation, Itsuki snorted.

I just thought light adjustment was necessary to improve the accuracy of the scientific record. ...Nose-kun. Bring that photo to me first when you develop it. It needs to be censored.
Understood, Brother!

A few days later.

The poster specially made by Nose and posted in front of the cooking room didn't end up being the 'two-shot' of them, but rather a shot of 'Jin tying Rei's apron from behind,' an image that exquisitely stirred the imagination.

Nose, he actually gets it, doesn't he?

Rikka said with a grin while looking at the poster.

...But, Oritate-senpai. What did you whisper during that photo?

When Kazuyori asked him secretly, Jin only replied, '...It's a secret,' and looked out the window, looking a little embarrassed.

A summer afternoon in 1996.

A special moment just for them, one that couldn't be saved digitally and could only be seen once developed.

Leaving behind such bittersweet lingering memories, the school finally plunged into a hot summer with no escape.

[Bonus this time]

Inagi: 'There are a lot of outtakes of Nose getting too excited.'

Nose: 'Well, I just couldn't help it.'

Inagi: 'What exactly were you filming?'

Nose: 'Well, my tension got too high and I kind of lost track of what I was doing.'

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