Buntoku High School Literature Club Oogiri Research Society—Ema are Treasure Chests of Wishes

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Koharu
“Happy New Year.
I look forward to working with you again this year.”

Tsumugi
“You’re so formal.”
After a beat,
“……But, we’re in our usual club room.”

The air is dusty.
Old desks.
Even though it’s the New Year’s holiday outside the window,
time has stopped right here.

Koharu looked around a little.

Koharu
“……I suppose so.”
“I haven’t even been to the first shrine visit of the year yet,
but I’ve already given you my New Year’s greetings.”

Tsumugi
“You’re here in the club room
before visiting the gods.”

Koharu
“……Yes.”

Tsumugi sits on a desk and laughs.

Tsumugi
“Shall we do our first Oogiri of the year?”

Koharu
“Yes.”

Tsumugi
“The topic is, let’s see……”

A beat.

Tsumugi
“Found at a shrine! A crazy Ema.”

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⛩️ Oogiri ① (Tsumugi)

Tsumugi
“The painting on the Ema is by Banksy.
The kind that makes you look four times.”

Koharu
“It… wouldn’t violate the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties.”

Tsumugi
“That’s not the point……”

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⛩️ Oogiri ② (Koharu)

Koharu
“It has an election manifesto written on it.”
“The smile in the guts-pose photo is dazzling.”

Tsumugi
“That’s not ‘It wouldn’t violate the Public Offices Election Act’!”

Koharu
“I know that!”
“It’s a no-go outside the official campaign period.”

Tsumugi
“It’s out of bounds to begin with!”

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⛩️ Oogiri ③ (Tsumugi)

Tsumugi
“A testimonial that says, ‘Thanks to this Ema,
I’m now in a mutual relationship with my boyfriend.’
“Holding the Ema, all smiles with her boyfriend.”

Koharu
“……It seems effective.”

Tsumugi
“Absolutely not.”

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⛩️ Oogiri ④ (Koharu)

Koharu
“‘To all of you writing wishes on Ema.
First, let’s all calm down.’”

Tsumugi
“Hey!”
“Where did the person who said it was effective go?”
⸻

The voices of children echo from afar.

Tsumugi
“It’s quiet…”

Koharu, still looking down at her notebook,
said softly.

Koharu
“……The craziest thing is,”

Tsumugi
“Hm?”

Koharu
“The ‘people inside’ who are thinking up Oogiri
without even going to a shrine.”

Tsumugi
“……That’s us
right now.”

The two of them laughed a little.

Tsumugi
“Well then.”

Koharu
“Yes.”

Tsumugi
“Let’s go for our first shrine visit.”

Koharu
“To write an Ema, right?”

Tsumugi
“Isn’t it ineffective? Which is it?”
Koharu

“It is effective.
It’s important to visualize good things.”
Koharu closes her notebook, stands up, and turns off the club room lights.

Just before closing the door,

I saw the cover of the notebook left on the desk.
Koharu, with a small bow,

“I look forward to working with you again this year.”

The End

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