The Opening Move

"But eventually, one must leave the family and live independently."

Kitagawa Ryo nodded and said:

"These past three years have only been a rehearsal for the future. After all, Honami can't possibly spend his whole life taking care of his sister and mother."

"Yes, one day I will leave my original family and start my own."

Ichinose Honami's lips curled up, but then she felt that her words might have been a bit too blunt, so she quickly lowered her head and pretended to concentrate on eating.

"Hello, nobody's here, right?"

Turning his head, Kitagawa Ryo saw Karuizawa Kei blinking her blue eyes, holding a plate, and sitting down next to Kitagawa Ryo.

Logically speaking, when two people are dining together, sitting face-to-face is the most comfortable option.

Not only can you easily observe the other person's expressions and movements, but their legs under the table will sometimes touch each other unintentionally before quickly separating.

However, all of this is predicated on the fact that no one is sitting next to the other person.

Ichinose Honami looked at Karuizawa Kei, who had squeezed in to sit next to Kitagawa Ryo, she felt a nameless fire inexplicably welling up from the bottom of her heart.

She can be gentle to anyone, but Karuizawa Kei is the only exception.

For a long time after Ichinose Honami's rebirth, she would have the same nightmare every night, tossing and turning, and then wake up in a cold sweat.

That was the scene of her knife piercing Kitagawa Ryo's chest.

Along with the fireworks bursting in the sky, what came into Ichinose Honami's view was the blood gushing from her childhood friend's chest, which then gradually stained her own hands.

Although I know it's unreasonable to pin the blame on one person, although I know this is something that can never happen again, a mere illusion existing only in the past, although I know Kitagawa Ryo is standing right here, talking to me.

However, Ichinose Honami still refused to see Karuizawa Kei.

She doesn't blame Karuizawa Kei, nor does she harbor any thoughts of revenge against Karuizawa Kei. Ichinose Honami knows, understands, and approves of this, and even applauds their wonderful performances on stage when she works at the Theater Troupe.

But I just can't accept it.

Perhaps it's because seeing the other person reminds me of that unhealthy version of myself.

Even before they enrolled in school, they tacitly avoided each other. Karuizawa Kei Ichinose Honami went to the Kitagawa Family more often in the morning, while Karuizawa Megumi chose to go to the Kitagawa Family in the evening.

However, this is the Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School completely enclosed school.

The two finally had nowhere to avoid it.

"Isn't Karuizawa representative of Class B?"

Ichinose Honami asked a casual question, and her meaning was very clear.

"Ryo and I have been partners for a long time. It's just that we weren't assigned to the same class this time. Back in junior high, we weren't even in the same school, but we still ate together all the time."

Karuizawa Kei casually waved her hand and explained that she didn't actually know why Ichinose Honami always harbored inexplicable hostility towards her.

"Honami plans to join the Student Council. Does Megumi have a club in mind?"

Feeling that he couldn't let the two of them continue talking, Kitagawa Ryo quickly changed the subject.

"A club? I even looked it up. Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School doesn't have Drama Club. That's such a shame."

Karuizawa Kei complained, a spoon still in her mouth.

"So just go and take a look around, and if you find someone you like, sign them up."

Is it cold?

"I haven't decided yet."

Kitagawa Ryo shook his head. He had no intention of joining the Student Council. He planned to give the two spots he and Miyabi Nagumo had gotten to Ichinose Honami and Horikita Suzune. Both of them wanted to join the Student Council and did have the necessary abilities. Moreover, they were both students in Class D, so they should be able to play a significant role in the Special Exam in the future.

"How about Liang starts a new club with me?"

Karuizawa Kei nudged Kitagawa Ryo's left arm with her elbow:

"Although the process is complicated, the Student Council is basically responsible for reviewing them."

She glanced at Ichinose Honami and clapped her hands in delight:

"Perfect timing! Ichinose is planning to join the Student Council."

"If Karuizawa is going to start a new club with Ryo, then I might lose interest in the Student Council."

Ichinose Honami smiled:

"It seems Horikita is also planning to join the Student Council; we can ask her for help together then."

In the Student Council's reception room, Horikita Suzune suddenly sneezed.

"It's still important to keep warm in spring."

Sitting opposite her, Horikita Manabu spoke with concern, as the two had been separated for over a year since their reunion at the Cultural Festival.

"Knew."

Horikita Suzune nodded; she had just finished listening to Horikita Manabu's complete report on the current state of the Student Council.

"So, is your brother worried that Nagumo will again use his power to recruit new members without authorization this year?"

"Yes, although I myself am planning to give up this recruitment drive, Nagumo will definitely not let go of this opportunity to expand his influence."

"Don't worry, I'll also participate in the Student Council recruitment."

"Yes, I believe Suzune."

Horikita Manabu nodded gently. After two years apart, he was keenly aware of his sister's growth, including the bento box she had brought him, which he was currently eating.

"Suzune actually noticed that I don't eat cilantro."

Horikita Suzune blushed slightly as she accepted her brother's praise.

After all, she was too embarrassed to say that it was because her brother was eating it, but it was actually meant for Kitagawa Ryo.

However, Ichinose Honami was even faster than her.

Horikita Suzune bit the end of her chopsticks, looking somewhat sullen.

Chapter 43: The First Move

"There are more people from Class D than I expected."

After the afternoon classes ended, Kitagawa Ryo walked towards the First Gymnasium with the students of Class D. To Kitagawa Ryo's surprise, nearly 30 out of the 40 students in Class D had chosen to attend the Club Orientation.

However, after hearing the boys' conversation about joining the swimming club to see the girls' swimsuits, Kitagawa Ryo could only sigh helplessly. He could only say that he shouldn't have too high expectations for the students in Class D. Most of the boys' minds were basically empty except for all sorts of lewd thoughts.

The atmosphere at the First Stadium was even more enthusiastic than the students in Class D had imagined. Roughly estimated, there were at least a hundred students gathered there, with upperclassmen forming large and small circles to give the freshmen a brief introduction to the clubs.

In keeping with the reputation of Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, the school's clubs are also quite outstanding. Upon entry, you can receive a booklet that is distributed to introduce the clubs. Just by flipping through it, you can see a large number of awards, which are mostly at the prefectural or even national level.

Moreover, they seem to be very wealthy, even possessing high-end facilities such as a hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

On the high platform in the center of the Gymnasium stood a purple-haired girl with a bun hairstyle. She was Tachibana Akane from Class 3-A, but now she was appearing as the Student Council secretary. She checked the time, turned on the microphone, and said:

"Dear First Year students, I apologize for keeping you waiting. Next, the club representative will begin the introductory session. I am Tachibana, the Student Council secretary, and I will be hosting this session. Nice to meet you."

After a brief opening speech, Tachibana Akane stepped off the stage, and then the club representatives lined up in the Gymnasium.

The representatives from various clubs were all different, ranging from strong-looking senior students in Judo uniforms to senior students in beautiful kimonos. Their presentations were also quite simple, generally following the same formula as the speeches given by the school board members at the opening ceremony: looking back on the past, boasting about the present, and looking forward to the future.

"My name is Hashigaki, and I'm the captain of the Archery Club. I think many students' impression of Kyudo is that it's old-fashioned and simple. But it's a very interesting sport and well worth learning. We welcome beginners, so please be sure to join our club."

When it was the turn of the Archery Club seniors to introduce themselves, Kitagawa Ryo noticed that the boy standing next to her seemed quite interested; it was Miyake Akito, who was in the same class as her.

Kitagawa Ryo had some impression of him. In Karuizawa Kei's second mock exam, Class 1-C and Class 1-D faced off at the Sports Festival. Miyake Akito represented Class D in the Kyudo event and scored a point.

It's fair to say that even among the entire First Year, their Kyudo skills are among the best.

However, he seemed somewhat reserved, and when Kitagawa Ryo looked over, he simply nodded slightly in response.

Although the two are classmates, it's only the second day of school, and they barely know most of the other students.

Turning his gaze away from Miyake Akito, Kitagawa Ryo refocused it on the next man to come up on stage.

Horikita Manabu.

The man, who had effortlessly overwhelmed all the freshmen with his calm demeanor and extraordinary presence, bringing the noisy Gymnasium back to silence, finally spoke slowly:

"I am Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President."

"The Student Council will be recruiting candidates from First Year students this year, coinciding with the graduation of upperclassmen. No special qualifications are required for candidates, but if you are considering running for Student Council, please avoid joining other clubs. Those who wish to participate in both the Student Council and other clubs simultaneously will generally not be considered."

His tone was gentle, yet it created a tense atmosphere that seemed to pierce the skin, gradually making people feel that he had the entire atmosphere of the stadium under his control.

"New students who wish to join the Student Council, please proceed directly to the top floor of the club building, the Student Council headquarters, for an interview after today's Club Orientation."

After delivering his speech smoothly, he stepped off the stage and walked out of the Gymnasium.

"Thank you for your hard work. This concludes the information session. We will now begin accepting applications for membership. Please note that applications will be accepted until the end of April; therefore, if you wish to apply afterward, please bring your application form directly to the club you wish to join."

Thanks to the composed host, the tense atmosphere gradually dissipated, and things returned to their initial lively state.

After the senior students finished their presentations, they went to a designated area on the right side of the Gymnasium, where tables and chairs had been set up in advance. After the presentations, the student clubs would directly hold their membership application meetings there.

"It feels really special to Student Council."

A student who also noticed the difference remarked, and another senior student standing nearby nodded in agreement, explaining in a friendly manner:

"The Student Council is the hardest club to get into; they only recruit two or three people a year."

"So, junior, you should consider joining our baseball club. Our goal this year is to make it to Koshien!"

"Huh?"

Looking at the freshmen being pulled apart, Kitagawa Ryo chuckled. Apart from the Student Council, none of the people who remained, from the teachers acting as supervisors to the club representatives, showed any annoyance towards the noisy First Year students; their attitudes were quite friendly.

"It's simply because the number of new members recruited each year affects the club's funding for the following year."

Horikita Suzune had somehow walked up to Kitagawa Ryo's side. She glanced at the lively club recruitment event and began to explain.

"Did Suzune just come back from the Student Council?"

"Yes, I went to see my brother."

Horikita Suzune rubbed her temples, a headache creeping over her, as she recalled what her brother had told her about the Student Council's inner workings at noon.

"Does Liang have any intention of joining the Student Council?"

"That's too much trouble. Suzune can go in alone."

Kitagawa Ryo put his arms behind his head and strolled leisurely toward the club recruitment area.

"Is Liang going to join another club?"

Horikita Suzune quickly followed, quite curious about what kind of club Kitagawa Ryo was going to join.

"Suzune, you should go to the Student Council to prepare for your interview first. I saw quite a few people from Class A go there in the short time I was there. The Student Council only recruits two or three new students a year."

"Of course, Suzune can also talk about her 'Student Council President brother' during the interview."

"If there are many people, there's no need to rush the interviews. I just need to see what kind of club Liang wants to join."

"... Then you can come along."

Kitagawa Ryo walked to the baseball club's recruitment booth. Perhaps to attract new students, the sports clubs' reception staff were mostly girls, and the baseball club was no exception. Sitting there was a second-year student, who was filling out a form with her head down.

Hello, senior.

The second-year student looked up and, upon seeing Kitagawa Ryo's smile, her mind went completely blank in amazement.

The golden talent [Peerless] almost brought Kitagawa Ryo's personal charm to its highest point. Even girls like Horikita Suzune and Karuizawa Kei, who spent a lot of time with Kitagawa Ryo, would occasionally be moved by some of his unintentional actions, let alone the senior who was facing Kitagawa Ryo face to face for the first time.

Actually, when Kitagawa Ryo was still young in the Theater Troupe and hadn't fully matured, he had already attracted a group of "mommy fans" who had no interest in theater and were only attracted by his looks. These fans were definitely the most willing to spend money. Back then, Kitagawa Ryo also sold autographed shirts to make money, which is why Sakayanagi Arisu said before that what he did was similar to what Sakura Airi did.

Pulling her jumbled thoughts back to reality, Kitagawa Ryo gently tapped the table with her fingers, and her senior snapped out of her reverie.

"Hey junior, are you here to join the baseball club? Have you had any experience with this before... no, no, no problem! Our club welcomes beginners the most, and I'll personally teach you step by step!"

Seeing the senior student's sudden surge in enthusiasm, almost to the point of practically begging him to sign his name on the club application form, Kitagawa Ryo simply shook his head.

"I just wanted to ask what steps are involved in creating my own club?"

"Please let me join!"

"No, no, no, it's just an idea right now..."

Before Kitagawa Ryo could finish speaking, Horikita Suzune couldn't help but grab his sleeve and pull Kitagawa Ryo back to where they started.

"If Liang wants to ask these questions, why don't you just come to me directly?"