Re: Rideable Minecart High School and possibly other short stories tbd
EDIT 2: I've now also moved the first two books of the main story to this post because I hit the character limit trying to expand the index in the first post
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ToroKoko Rideable Minecart High School 1st Book
The critically acclaimed adaption of an ancient irc in-joke Now available in format other than minecraft book!
Track 1
A Ridable Minecart High School?!
My name is Umeko Takenaka. Age; 14. Residence; Kanagawa Prefecture. For as long as I can remember, Ive been shy and clumsy, so I only have a few friends. Today though I'm finally going to go past that, because today I officially become a high school student... so I'm going to wear sailor fuku, join a club, do all sorts of fun things with my new friends... Under these cherry trees my dream is finally going to come true! I thought, making a triumphant pose and expression.
"I'm going to become a beautiful and confident high school girl!" I said aloud, before I realized how many other students could hear me and became horrified, running to sit behind a tree. "Soembarrassingsoembarrassingsoembarrassingso-"
"U-me-chii!~". I looked out from behind the tree through my tears of embarrasment. "...Ringo-chan?"
This girl with the red hair and huge grin is Ringo Yutani, one of my childhood friends. She's a huge nerd but she's really really fun to be friends with.
"I-I-I didn't know you were going to Shin Ojimachi, Ringo-Chan", I said, stuttering. "Uhuhu... I was just really busy and didn't manage to tell you", she replied, leaning forward, "I couldn't pass up seeing you in a high school girl's uniform though; it's just like anime! uhuhuhuh-"
"Don't be such a troublesome person", another girl said, abruptly cutting Ringo off and pulling her ear. This is my other childhood friend, Shiori Kusanagi; she's really smart and serious. And so, the three of us started walking together.
"What clubs are you thinking of joining, Ringo-chan, Shiori-chan?"
"Redstone club"
"Uhuhu... the doujinshi club! What about you Umechii?". I wasn't ready for that; I tried to think, but I wasn't sure. Then, I felt my shoe get caught on a loose brick and found myself tumbling at the ground. I saw Shiori try to grab my arm but she missed and I fell flat on the brick walkway.
"Uuueee... maybe if I do a sport I could learn not to be such a clutz"
The rest of the morning passed uneventfully through the entrance ceremony, but I still kept going over the question of what club to join without getting anywhere, and was so focused on it I totally spaced out through almost everything. Soon lunchtime and afternoon classes came and went, and I rose from my seat in a bit of a daze, hoping to walk home with Ringo and Shiori. Joining a club could wait a few days, right?
I was shocked out of my daze by the loud bang of the door being opened. "Everyone who isn't in a club, stand up now!"
I looked around and saw no one else standing except the girl in the doorway, who turned her eyes toward me with an intense look. "You! You're going to come to our clubroom!"
"Uuueee?! Right no-" before I could even finish, the girl grasped my arm and ran out, dragging me along behind her at what felt like light speed until we were standing in front of another door, which we seemed to barely avoid crashing into. Inside the room, I collapsed dizzily onto a cushion and tried to look around. At the table, a gloomy looking girl was building something that looked like a rollercoaster out of toothpicks. Off to the side there was a very elegant girl with long hair who looked a bit concerned. The girl who dragged me in cleared her throat dramatically and spoke up.
"Welcome to the Shin Ojimachi High School Minecart Club!"
"Minecart... Club?"
"Mhm, mhm", the girl emphatically nodded, closing her eyes and crossing her arms before clearing her throat.
"The Shin Ojimachi High School Minecart Club is about furthering the appreciation and understanding of minecarts among high school students in the modern day so as to educate productive members of society who will contribute to the global economic and social wellbeing and to generally enrich the high school experience", she said breathlessly, lowering her voice to a mock dramatic tone. There was a period of silence.
"...I, uh... I don't really get it?". The girl's eyes got really wide.
"You need to understand the beauty of minecarts! The dedication and spirit that goes into crafting each one! The smell of lubricating oil...", she trailed off, probably noticing my distant expression, and hung her head. "The truth is we just really need two more members or the club is going to get shut down, so...", she kneeled, clasped her hands together, and looked up at me pleadingly.
"If you don't have any other club to join, please join the Minecart Club! If you don't, I'll shave my head and become a monk!"
"Oh my, Subaru-san...", I heard the elegant looking girl say. "You're going to frighten her"
"No fair, Yasu-chan", Subaru replied, standing up. "I'm sorry if I creeped you out. I'm Subaru Hashibami, club president."
"U-u-umeko Takenaka", I replied, bowing uneasily. "I-It's ok really, you just surprised me. I didn't know people were so passionate about minecarts. I...", I gulped. "I'm interested in learning why you love them so much, Hashibami-san!". Subaru stood there blinking and then turned away from me.
"Ooohh, I didn't expect you to join that easily... I'm really that good?!", she mumbled, quickly turning back to me. "Anyway, you just need to fill out a form and it'll be official, where is that...", as she looked over the messy desks off to the side of the room, the gloomy looking girl pushed a piece of paper into my face.
"I-Is this it Hashibami-san?". She flipped around and saw the paper. "
Oh, yes!", she shouted, in English I couldn't quite understand, as the other girl poked my cheek with a pen. I took it and hesitantly filled it in and handed it to Subaru.
"And with that", she said dramatically, "You're officially a club member, Umeko-chan!"
Track 2
An Official Club Member?!
That night, I went to sleep dazed from everything that happened that day. It was only the next morning on my long walk to school that I came out of my daze and started thinking again. I don't understand minecarts at all! I don't know anything about them! I decided that during lunch I needed to go to the library and find an easy book about minecarts.
I spent morning classes still fumbling while getting in to my new high school routine and freaking out about the club. Before I knew it, lunchtime came and I made my way to the library. Somehow I managed to find a book that looked helpful without making any other books fall off the shelf, and hurried to the spot on the roof where I had lunch with Ringo and Shiori yesterday.
"Umechii!", I heard Ringo calling me over to the corner of the roof. "What took you so long?"
"Eh? Oh, I went to the library for a book I really needed"
"That isn't very like you, Umeko-chan", Shiori quipped. "Uueeee... that's not nice Shiori-chan... Actually, I needed it for a club"
"Eeeeeehhhh? You already joined a club Umechii?", Ringo asked, leaning towards me, "Which one? Tell me, tell me!"
"Uueee... The minecart club...". Ringo and Shiori looked at me blankly. "Minecart club? I never would've thought you'd be interested in something like that", Shiori finally said.
"To tell you the truth", I started, "Neither did I, but I met a girl who really really loves them, so I wanted to understand what it is in her heart that makes them so beautiful to her". "UhuhuhuhuUHGKU", I heard Ringo start to giggle before Shiori interrupted her with a chop to the head. "Don't be such a troublesome person, Ringo-chan".
Soon enough lunch and afternoon classes slipped away. As I got up from my desk, just as quickly as last time I found Subaru dragging me breathlessly to the clubroom.
"Ok, listen up Takenaka-... Eeehh, that doesn't sound right", she shouted, "Can I call you Umeko-chan? Ok! Listen up Umeko-chan! Today, first I want you to meet your club comrades!". I don't understand how Subaru can talk so fast after running all the way here unless she doesn't have to breathe. "This is Yasuko Matsuoka-chan, club vice president", she gestured at Yasuko. "And this is Ran Kimura-chan!", she gestured towards the gloomy looking girl from yesterday, who was totally engaged with a model minecart she seemed to be repairing.
"Pleased to meet you, Matsuoka-san, Kimura-san", I said, bowing towards each of them. "Yasu-chan, Ran-chan, you already met Umeko-chan", Subaru finished. Yasuko closed her book, got up, and bowed. "Pleased to meet you, Takenaka-san. I hope you have a fun time with our club and that you can handle Subaru-san's boisterousness", she smiled. "Yes", Ran said flatly before looking up and adding in the same monotone "Good evening, Umeko-san".
"Eh?", I blinked, confused by her mannerisms, before my chain of though was interrupted again by Subaru. "Ok! Umeko-chan, how much do you know about minecarts?"
"I, uh... They have wheels that go on rails, and you can ride them or put chests on them to put things in?", I replied as best I could. "Mhm, mhm", Subaru nodded her head, looking to be deep in thought. "We can move on to your first test". She paused a moment.
"Eehh! I mean, don't get scared or anything!", she added quickly. "It's just, I want you to come see our gear. It's nothing scary", she said meekly. "C'mon!". With that, I followed her, Yasuko, and Ran out behind the school, past the track and down a short path through a copse. I found myself in a field, the afternoon light coloring it orange. In it stood a shed and a small oval of track. Not far from us, a minecart sat on the rails.
I approached it and ran my hand along the side. It was cold and felt solid, and I could see parts were dented and rusted. I gave a small push and heard the wheels grind and groan without turning.
"This... It feels sad". I turned around to face Subaru. "I really really want to help you fix this up". She smiled.
"Let's have lots of fun this summer!"
ToroKoko Rideable Minecart High School 2nd Book
Track 1
A Very Unique Minecart?!
My name is Umeko Takenaka. Age; 14. I'm a student at Shin Ojimachi High School. Recently, because of someone I met, I became a member of the Minecart Club, even though I'm shy and clumsy and don't really know what it's about. But the girl I met, Subaru Hashibami-san makes it seems really fun, and she needed help or her club was going to get shut down, so Ive decided to try it. Ill do my best!
"What are you thinking about, Umeko-chan?". I looked up and realized I'd been idly swishing my broom across the same patch of floor.
"Eh?... Oh, nothing really, Shiori-chan... Just club stuff, you know", I answered, conspicuously stepping over to sweep a different bit of the corridor. "What do you even do in that club Umechii?", I heard Ringo ask.
"Uuhhh... I'm not too sure? We haven't done anything yet", I heard the bell ring as I finished sweeping my new patch of floor. "Ah, I'll put the brooms away, Umeko-chan, Ringo-chan".
"Thanks, Shiori-chan". I handed my broom to her and turned to walk to the club room, but quickly felt myself slip and topple forwards. "Uuuueee..."
"Are you alright Umeko-chan?", Shiori shouted after me. "Uuee... I'm used to it by now". I picked myself up. "Have fun at your clubs, Shiori-chan, Ringo-chan". With that, I skipped off toward the clubroom, soon finding myself at the door. I knocked and entered, seeing a scene much like always.
"...Hmhm, hmhm... I agree we need to take our time and do it right, Ran-chan... Oh! Umeko-chan! You're here!". Subaru was also as excited as always. She bolted up from her chair and dramatically cleared her throat.
"For our first club activity of the school year, we're going to build a new minecart!". I felt confused. "Don't we already have a minecart, Hashibami-san?"
"Mhm, yes, we do but, as it turns out... This is a very unique minecart!". I noticed Ran opening a book and flipping through pages. "And even if it wasn't, the beauty of every minecart demands respect! It would be a crime to skimp out on restoring any minecart! Ever!". Ran turned the book around to face me. "Model Vk71. Produced FrVZ Frunze, Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic 1977 to 1989". She closed the book so I could see the cover. "Minecarts of the Soviet Union?... Kyr... Gyz?...". Ran nodded emphatically. "Silk Road."
"...China?". Just as emphatically, she shook her head no. "Anyway!", Subaru picked the conversation back up. "It would be easier to just build a new one. And in doing so we will learn important lessons about craftsmanship and further our understanding of the beauty of minecarts!"
"Y-you think so, Hashibami-san?". She looked deep in thought for a few moments.
"Maybe!" Uuuuee?!
"I wouldn't worry, Takenaka-san". I glanced over at Yasuko. She's pretty quiet in the clubroom. "Matsuoka-san... Uuee, I didn't notice you there". She put down her book. "No, it's fine. You might not see it, but Subaru-san is very dedicated and talented when she puts her mind to something"
"Might not see... Hey! Meanie!". Yasuko stood up and smiled. "I apologize, Subaru-san. I suppose we should go the the workshed, then?". And so, we walked down the same path into that field past the trees, and then into the little shed. "Hashibami-san, dont we need plans first to build a minecart?", I asked as Subaru opened the door. "Isn't it hard?". She closed her eyes and crossed her arms, looking like she was concentrating intently.
"It's true we will need to do some drafting work, but it's simple... Well, kinda simple... If you compare it... Anyway!", she opened a large wooden drawer in a storage chest. "It's useful before a project to clear out your work space and take inventory... Huh?". She turned around, showing a flustered expression. "Ehehehehe... I, uh, I remembered something...". She hung her head and continued in a low, embarrased tone. "We only had one iron nugget left over last school year"
"How much iron does it take to build a minecart?". Wait, wasn't there... "Hashibami-san, don't we have a mining and smelting club at this school?". Hearing that seemed to cheer her up. "Then it's settled! We're going mining tomorrow!"
Track 2
An After School Mining Trip?!
"Oi... Oi, Umeko-chan!"
"Shiori-chan?... Uuuueee... I was spacing out in class again wasn't I?". Shiori sighed. "Just forget it... Me and Ringo-chan were going to check out that new cafe since its Saturday if you want to come along"
"Oh, the one in Midorimachi?... Actually, I have club activities after class... I'll have to come try it some other day, hehe..."
"Wo-ah, you're really getting serious about your club, Umechii!". I shook my head. "Uuee, actually, we still haven't done any real club activities yet, Ringo-chan..."
"Huuuh?! You've been going there everyday, Umechii". Ringo gave me a mischievous smile. "Don't tell me... Uhuhuhu...". I noticed Shiori roll her eyes. "So, what have you been doing at your club, Ringo-chan?". Her face got red as soon as Shiori said that.
"Uhu... Actually... That is... Yknow... Uhuuuuuu". She gulped. "I like drawing yuri art! I'm bi! Is that bad?!". It seemed like other people in the classroom noticed her yelling, and Shiori looked exasperated. "Uueee... I'll just be going now, ok Ringo-chan, Shiori-chan?"
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"Uuueee, let's see... Was it here?". I turned the corner to find Subaru, Yasuko, and Ran already standing at the door of the mining and smelting club room. "Ooh, Umeko-chan! You're here finally!". As soon as I got to the door, another girl opened it.
"You must be Takenaka-san?". I nodded. Her school uniform was dusty all over, she was wearing an orange mining helmet with a lamp, and had two cases that looked like they were for musical instruments slung on her back. "I'm Hinagiku Akane. It's nice to meet you". She bowed.
"Uue, you too". I clumsily bowed slightly in return. She seems nice but there's something weird about her. There's weird tags on those cases too. "Nathan?... William?..."
"Ah", she nodded and carefully placed the cases on the floor. She unzipped one and twirled a pickaxe around in one hand, prompting me to jump back and fall. "Silk touch diamond pick, Nathan", she placed it back in the case and took out another pickaxe. "Fortune diamond pick, William. Oh, we should get going"
Hinagiku led us past our club's shed and across the field until we reached the side of the mountain, coming to a small cave entrance propped up by logs. She stood her pickaxe cases up beside the rocks and turned to face us.
"This is our school's mine! We have iron picks and mining helmets in that shed...", she gestured to her right, "...so get some equipment you like and we can start!". After we gathered up our gear, Hinagiku led us into the mine that spiraled downward into the mountain, lit sparsely by torches on the wall. "Students have been using it for a REAL long time, so most of the ore that's left is REAL deep!". I was starting to get chills.
"Uuueeeee... Akane-san... Do you hear something?". She stopped and turned around, and I had to cover my eyes against the glare of headlamp. I noticed Ran put her ear to the wall, then turn around to face me with an unsettling smile on her face. "Ah. It sounds like giant cave spiders. Umeko-san."
"G-G-GIANT CAVE SPIDERS?!". She nodded yes and pointed to a page in a guidebook that I couldn't read even if I squinted. "It says 'highly poisonous'". I tried to scream but stifled it into a squeak. Yasuko and even Subaru looked worried too.
"Now, now", Hinagiku started, not sounding very reassuring. "I'm sure we'll be just fine... After all, I've never seen one before... Anyway, we should keep going". We continued deeper in. I heard a sound, but it was different from before, like the soft trickle of a faucet. "Just a little further. Ah, there's some iron here I think!". I squinted to look up ahead at Hinagiku. Then I felt myself slip, and let out a scream.
"UMEKO-CHAN!". Subaru? I saw a headlamp up ahead that got smaller as I fell. I closed my eyes when I couldn't bear to look at it anymore, and felt myself hit the bottom of the hole with a splash. I felt relieved, and my eyes shot open just in time to see Subaru crash down on top of me. The two us managed to pull ourselves out of the water and onto a rock.
"H-Hashibami-san...". She put her hand behind her head and ruffled her hair, looking embarrased. "Ehe... I wanted to save you but now we're both stuck, Umeko-chan"
"Subaru-san! Takenaka-san! Are both of you ok?"
"Ah, yeah, Yasu-chan! There's an underwater lake, so we just need to find a way to get back up!", Subaru replied, then turned back to me. Suddenly she had a surprised look on her face. I froze. Did she see one? A g-giant cave spider?! Her face widened into a huge smile. "Umeko-chan, look, look!". I cautiously turned around. In the light from Subaru's headlamp I saw cave walls glittering with iron and gold. I felt around my backpack, and sure enough my pickaxe was still there, and I pulled it out. I saw Subaru had hers balanced on her soldier. "Let's go, Umeko-chan!"
Track 3
Umeko's Side. After
The sun was totally gone by the time we all made it out of the caves and back up to the mining and smelting club room. Finally able to relax I slumped down in a chair while Hinagiku emptied our backpacks of ore onto a table and carefully counted it.
"Uueeee, I'm so exhausted... I could eat so much..."
"I'm just glad all of you are safe", Hinagiku replied, looking up from the table. "I couldn't live with it if someone had gotten badly hurt!". She went to a cabinet and got a magnifying glass to examine the ore with. "But we managed to get this much ore... Hmm...", She looked up again. "This should be enough for almost half a stack of iron ingots and maybe a dozen gold ingots". She smiled.
"You can leave it to me! I'll have our club smelt it after school Monday and help you move it to your workshed". I saw Subaru walk in. There was something off about her. Maybe just that she was wearing her casual clothes and her hair thingy was weighed down? "Thank you so much for everything, Hina-chan! I even got to be cool and save Umeko-chan!". She ruffled her wet hair sheepishly again. "But, I guess it didn't quite work out, ehe?..."
"Is something wrong, Hashibami-san?"
"Eh? Ehe, no, I'm just great, Umeko-chan! Ehehe!..."
Subaru's Side. Before
"I'm gonna go to the gym and wash off some, ok Umeko-chan? I'll be back!"
"Uuuue...". She sounded exhausted. "Ok, Hashibami-san... Matsuoka-san and Kimura-san already went home?...". I nodded and rushed off down the stairs to the girls' locker room.
"...Is that true, Wakagi-san? Because it's too far?". Ehe? There are still people here? Wait, Wakagi?... The student council president?
"Yes. I heard maybe this could be the last school year here, then they're going to close it. Ah well... What can we do about it, if students don't want to come all the way out here. Not much of a loss anyway"
"Wakagi-san..."
The school could... Close?
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EDIT: Moved this here due to character constraints
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Omake track
Shiori's Side. (never before seen! deleted because it wasn't good!)
Eh? Oh, my name is Shiori Kusanagi. High school student, age 14, Redstone Club member, resident in Kanagawa Prefecture. I'm childhood friends with Umeko and Ringo. Of the three of us I'm the only one who takes things seriously. These other two are always slacking off!
Umeko doesn't seem to paying attention to cleaning. Seriously now... "What are you thinking about, Umeko-chan?".
"Eh?... Oh, nothing really, Shiori-chan... Just club stuff, you know". She doesn't seem too sure about it. "What do you even do in that club Umechii?", Ringo asked back. "Uuhhh... I'm not too sure? We haven't done anything yet". Ah, so she isn't sure. Well, it's good that she's trying to do new things anyway. Oh, there's the bell.
"Ah, I'll put the brooms away, Umeko-chan, Ringo-chan". The two of them eagerly handed them to me. "Thanks, Shiori-chan", Umeko replied, turning to leave. Eh?! What's that? Before I had time to react, Umeko slipped on the piece of paper and fell flat. "Uuuueee..."
"Are you alright Umeko-chan?"
"Uuee... I'm used to it by now". She got up. "Have fun at your clubs, Shiori-chan, Ringo-chan".
"Ah, yeah". I glanced over at Ringo and saw she had a surprised expression on her face. Wait, does she have a nosebleed?
"UhuhuhuhuUHGKU", I quickly put a stop to Ringo's giggling by slapping her. "I saw something I shouldn't have, Shiorin".
I put my hand to my forehead in frustration. "Ay ay ay..."
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Eren Jäger said:
