Taking a look.
Eriri: Did you make a big splash on the first day of school?
Me: What splash? I haven't heard anything about it.
Eriri: Don't play dumb!
Eriri: I heard the biggest entertainment at today's entrance ceremony was some idiot saying something about aliens and espers during his self-introduction. I thought it over, and you're the only one who might've done that!
Me: Oh, the idiot you're talking about really was me.
Eriri: Try using your head for once. Tone it down a little, or you'll end up with no friends.
He didn't have any friends, but he'd gained an ally today.
He snarked to himself and kept typing.
Me: Don't tell me you're worried about me, Eriri.
Eriri: ?
Eriri: I'm just worried I won't know what to tell your mother. Anyway, I have to go practice drawing.
"Is it really so hard to just admit it?"
Hasegawa Izumi clicked his tongue.
The day of the official start of school had arrived.
When he walked back into the classroom, he immediately felt the many eyes fixed on him, each with a different look.
His speech yesterday had apparently given these sheltered kids a little shock.
"Izumi, I asked around on my way upstairs. Your existence power has increased noticeably, so yesterday's action worked... When should we start?"
As soon as Takanashi Rikka arrived, she came straight over to him.
The topic had taken a bit of a leap, but it wasn't hard to understand.
"Oh? What do you think I'm planning?"
He raised an eyebrow and asked.
Was she testing whether I was worthy of being her ally?
Takanashi Rikka understood at once. "Ordinary people don't know about the hidden world's undercurrents beneath the surface, so they'll dismiss the Sage's words. Your real goal is to draw out those with abilities."
Wasn't that just taking his words at face value?
He said nothing.
Seeing that her ally's expression hadn't changed, the girl paused, then continued. "Of course, aside from drawing them out, you're also showing those of our kind who have awakened abilities but don't understand their circumstances the right path. After all, stumbling into the Bureau of Unseen Boundaries without knowing anything would be extremely dangerous. The Sage is truly wise and benevolent!"
"The Bureau of Unseen Boundaries? What's that? It sounds pretty dangerous."
Hasegawa Izumi looked puzzled.
"It's an extremely mysterious organization. They hold the secret of the Invisible Boundary, an unknown realm. Someone very important to me disappeared there, and my goal in setting out on this path is to find it..."
Her expression shifted slightly, and her voice grew more serious.
"I see. If I find any clues about the Invisible Boundary, I'll be sure to tell you."
His expression softened.
He could feel her sadness.
"I understand the Sage's intentions, but I'm afraid it won't be easy. For some reason, my older sister, Takanashi Touka, became a magician for the Bureau of Unseen Boundaries. She's known as the Holy Chef. Their power is overwhelming. Even with the Wicked Eye of the Tyrant King unsealed, I might not be able to beat her."
Takanashi Rikka shook her head with a sigh.
"But with the Sage's help, I'm much more confident."
As she spoke, she clenched her fist, her eyes once again blazing with determination.
"Mm."
He nodded, a trace of confusion in his eyes.
Something about this felt strange.
Was it the complicated family relationships, or something else...?
Without knowing the whole story, he decided not to comment.
"Izumi, it's time we set up a base! We'll recruit suitable people, gradually grow our strength, and then search for the Invisible Boundary!"
Takanashi Rikka clenched both fists and gazed at him with bright, sparkling eyes.
"That's exactly what I had in mind."
He looked eager too.
So, at noon, he went to the classroom to ask a teacher for a club application form. After school, he and Rikka went to the office.
However, their ambitious plan hit a snag at the very first step.
"Even if I agree to be your advisor, two people aren't enough, Hasegawa-kun and Takanashi-san."
Homeroom Teacher Tsukumo Nanase smiled awkwardly and set the application on her desk.
Turns out I have multiple personalities.
You need five people to start a club?
I'd never paid attention to this sort of thing before. I really had no idea.
But finding three more people just to get a club started sounded like too much trouble.
I'd better figure out a way around it.
As Hasegawa Izumi was thinking this, Takanashi Rikka acted first.
"We actually have enough people."
She stepped forward, her expression earnest.
"Eh?"
Tsukumo Nanase waited expectantly for her to continue.
"It's just that you can't see them. People who aren't like us can't see spirits."
Takanashi Rikka pointed around at the empty air, as if she were counting off soldiers. Her finger rose and fell, as though someone really were standing there.
I see. So that's the approach she's taking? Like the emperor's new clothes... But will it work? It's not quite convincing enough.
He looked where she was pointing, then turned to the teacher.
The teacher seemed at a loss for words.
Did she think the teacher was an idiot?
"Takanashi-san, even if there are people there, you can't guarantee they're students at this school, can you? So that won't work either."
Tsukumo Nanase calmly explained.
"What? That's a requirement too?"
Takanashi Rikka looked shocked.
Suddenly, a hand rested on her shoulder from behind.
"Let me handle this."
The reassuring words instantly calmed her.
"I actually have multiple personalities. They should all count as Shuchiin students, right?"
Hasegawa Izumi spoke up.
"Hasegawa-kun, are you going to join Takanashi-san in fooling around?"
Tsukumo Nanase smiled faintly.
"If you don't believe me, I'll bring them out so you can see."
Suddenly, his expression changed.
"Teacher Kotsuna, please~ let us start a club, okay~?"
His voice instantly turned flippant.
The next moment, his expression grew serious. He clenched his fist and said, "I humbly ask for your support, Teacher. I'll never forget this kindness!"
"Teacher, I'd advise you to agree. When I get angry, even I'm scared of myself."
In an instant, he looked terrifying, like a hitman.
"Ah... oh."
Tsukumo Nanase's mouth fell open in an O.
That was so realistic!
It didn't feel fake at all.
"Ahem..."
She quickly composed herself.
"Even with such a spirited performance, Hasegawa-kun, I can't approve your application. But given how hard you've tried, I'll help you apply for a club association. You'll get your own clubroom, but you won't receive a club budget, and you'll have to agree to one small request of mine."
After the two of them pleaded with her, their homeroom teacher finally gave in.
"That's more than enough."
He and Rikka both breathed a sigh of relief.
"What's the request?"
Hasegawa Izumi asked.
"Well, the Animal Husbandry Department is disbanding this year, but no one's available to look after the animals they took in. The school was planning to send them away, but at someone's request, the administration finally decided to keep them, so..."
Tsukumo Nanase continued.
"How long do we have to look after them?"
He asked.
"The school is currently hiring someone, and they've given us half a month. So don't worry, you won't be stuck doing it indefinitely. Besides, feeding them won't take long."
The teacher had noticed his concern.
"Then leave it to us."
Hasegawa Izumi nodded, accepting the fair trade.
"Here we are. All the feed is in that room. Just come by and feed them once a day."
Following the teacher, they arrived at a secluded spot on campus.
Flowers and grass grew lushly here, clustered together, while a few birds wandered among them, at ease.
The animals also had plenty of room to move around, living in cages hundreds of times larger than their bodies.
The place was practically like the wilderness.
Was this what it was like to be rich?
It wasn't just that some clubs had dojos or sports complexes—even a small zoo was part of the deal.
"I'll be heading off now. Don't stay too late, and make sure you get home early."
After reminding them, Tsukumo Nanase left first.
The two turned to face each other, their eyes meeting.
"Great! We're almost through the first step! Now we just have to wait for good news from Kotsuna!"
Takanashi Rikka jumped with joy.
She was certainly full of energy.
Before you continue