Club Recruitment

Noon.

The Class A classroom had shed the morning's bustle, leaving behind only a lazy, quiet atmosphere.

Uesugi Hara sat at his desk, leaning back in his chair while scrolling through videos.

He had already finished his lunch by this time.

A few people were scattered around the classroom.

Some had already returned after eating, while others were still finishing up their bento boxes, whether homemade or store-bought.

However, a sweet, clear female voice suddenly burst from the speakers, shattering the peaceful mood.

"Starting at five o'clock this afternoon, a club orientation will be held at the First Gymnasium. Students interested in clubs, please gather at the First Gymnasium this afternoon. Repeating once more. Today—"

Just by the sound of it, one could tell it was a cute girl.

Club activities, huh?

Uesugi Hara stopped scrolling and muttered to himself—come to think of it, he hadn't joined a single club yet.

He hadn't paid much attention to these things before because he was busy with part-time jobs, but now might be a good time to check them out.

He turned his head and poked Kamuro Masumi, who was tidying up her bento box next to him: "Hey, Kamuro..."

"What?" Kamuro Masumi didn't even look up, her tone tinged with impatience.

"Are you interested in club activities?"

"Average."

"Oh." Uesugi Hara pondered; "average" probably meant she didn't care one way or the other. He pressed further: "Want to go check them out together?"

He didn't know much about these things, and having Kamuro along would make things easier.

Kamuro Masumi's hands paused, clearly tempted, but after hesitating for a few seconds, she shook her head: "No, thanks."

"Are you worried about Sakayanagi having other plans?" Uesugi Hara saw through her concerns instantly. "Why don't we just ask her to come along? It'll be a good chance for her to relax, too."

"Well... alright then." Kamuro Masumi thought about it, decided the logic held up, and nodded in agreement.

After school, people began to leave the classroom one by one.

Seeing Morishita Ai packing her things with her head down, looking quite lonely, Uesugi Hara extended an invitation: "Morishita-san, would you like to come check out the club orientation with us?"

"I refuse." Morishita Ai rejected him without mercy.

"Oh." Uesugi Hara didn't press the issue and prepared to leave.

Seeing that he had nothing more to say, Morishita Ai stopped what she was doing and couldn't help but ask: "Don't you want to know what I'm going to do?"

"Uh... so what are you going to do?"

"I'm going on an adventure around the campus. That's all, see you later." After saying that, Morishita Ai grabbed her packed bag and jogged out of the classroom.

Uesugi Hara had originally wanted to add a "good luck," but she had already run off. He turned to the other two and spread his hands helplessly.

Kamuro Masumi, clutching her forehead: I understand.

Sakayanagi Arisu, smiling: Interesting~

Inside the First Gymnasium.

The club orientation hadn't officially started yet, but the gymnasium was already buzzing with activity.

Uesugi Hara brought the two girls along to join the crowd.

Hashimoto had originally clamored to come along, patting his chest and claiming he needed to "protect the princess," but Sakayanagi Arisu had simply said, "Uesugi-kun is enough; it would be more appropriate for you to stay and organize the class schedule for the week," and dismissed him just like that.

When Uesugi Hara left, he caught Hashimoto's resentful gaze. He didn't want to laugh, but he really couldn't help it—after all, no one could ever refuse Sakayanagi's words.

Passing by the Art Club booth, Uesugi Hara noticed Kamuro Masumi's gaze lingering on a canvas, her eyes showing a curiosity she hadn't displayed for other clubs, even a faint hint of interest.

"Kamuro, are you interested in the Art Club?" he asked, nudging her arm with his elbow.

"Average." Kamuro Masumi immediately withdrew her gaze, stubbornly retorting.

"Eh~ I thought you'd be interested in more violent clubs like the Taekwondo Club or the Karate Club. I didn't expect you to like art. Is this what they call a gap moe?"

"None of your business, get lost!" Kamuro Masumi instantly bristled and reached out to shove Uesugi Hara.

"Uesugi-kun really likes teasing Kamuro." Sakayanagi Arisu stood to the side, leaning on her cane, watching the bristling Kamuro Masumi with a smile in her eyes. "But if Kamuro is interested in the Art Club, why not give it a try? I don't mind~"

"We'll see..." Kamuro Masumi turned her head away, her tone perfunctory. "I was just looking; it doesn't mean I'm actually going to join..." But her slightly softened attitude clearly showed she had taken Sakayanagi Arisu's words to heart.

"Attention, first-years, thank you for waiting. Next, the club representatives will begin today's orientation."

A girl with her hair in a bun stood on the stage, looking dainty and charming. She bowed slightly, her voice clear and bright: "I am Tachibana Akane, secretary of the Student Council, and I will be hosting this orientation. I look forward to working with you all!"

After a brief opening, the club representatives standing in a row on stage took turns introducing themselves—from sports clubs like the Judo Club and the Kyudo Club, to ball-game groups like the Basketball Club and the Tennis Club, and finally to cultural and lifestyle clubs like the Art Club, the Tea Ceremony Club, and the Cooking Club. It was a dazzling array that left one overwhelmed.

The upperclassmen on stage had already begun introducing their respective clubs.

"Is there no club that interests you, Uesugi-kun?" Sakayanagi Arisu asked casually, watching Uesugi Hara look around.

"Are there any clubs that are particularly wealthy?" Uesugi Hara asked curiously.

"Hmm... the Student Council is quite wealthy." Sakayanagi Arisu thought for a moment before answering.

"I see." Uesugi Hara nodded, then turned to ask her, "So, is there no club that interests you, Sakayanagi?"

"I was originally interested in the school's Chess Club, but after beating everyone in it, I lost interest." There was a hint of regret in Sakayanagi Arisu's tone.

"Uh... so you went there to stomp on noobs?" Uesugi Hara pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized something, "Is that where you earned your points, too?"

"Perhaps." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled somewhat mysteriously.

"Then remember to come find me for a game once you have some points next time~ I like stomping on noobs, too." Uesugi Hara suggested with a straight face.

Sakayanagi Arisu's face darkened instantly: Am I a noob?

Maintaining a polite smile, she raised her cane and gave Uesugi Hara's calf a light tap: "Uesugi-kun, you are truly impolite."

Uesugi Hara felt the tap, but it didn't really register, so he simply acted as if nothing had happened and turned his head back to stare at the upperclassman introducing the clubs on stage.

Sakayanagi Arisu: Angry.

Not long after, the club representative on stage stepped down, leaving only one person behind—Horikita Manabu.

He stood before the microphone, his back straight, yet he didn't speak for a long time. Uesugi Hara stared at him for a few seconds, muttering to himself: Horikita Manabu? Why isn't he saying anything? Is the microphone broken?

It wasn't until he noticed the upperclassmen around him stopping their discussions one after another, their gazes turning serious, that he belatedly realized—this guy was waiting for the entire room to go quiet. Uesugi Hara rolled his eyes inwardly: This guy is such a show-off.

"What is he doing?" Kamuro Masumi asked in a low voice, confused by the atmosphere.

Uesugi Hara made a shushing gesture: "Shh~ you'll find out in a moment."

After some banter, the gymnasium finally quieted down.

And Horikita Manabu finally spoke, his voice steady and powerful, carrying through the microphone to every corner of the gymnasium: "I am the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu... We only welcome those who can understand this matter." (Content omitted in the comments section)

After a fluent and oppressive speech, he didn't linger, turning directly to leave the stage and striding out of the gymnasium, leaving the entire hall of students in silence.

Immediately after, the familiar, cute voice of Tachibana Akane rang out again, breaking the stagnant atmosphere: "Thank you all for your hard work; the briefing ends here. We will now begin accepting club membership applications. Additionally, as applications will be accepted until the end of June, students who wish to apply later should take their application forms directly to the club they wish to join."

Thanks to this composed and cute host, the tense atmosphere gradually dissipated.

Following this, the upperclassmen who had introduced the clubs began accepting membership applications all at once.

The atmosphere gradually became lively.

"This Student Council is quite overbearing." Uesugi Hara remarked after Horikita Manabu had left.

"Indeed." Sakayanagi Arisu nodded gently, her tone calm, "But this also goes to show the status of the Student Council from another perspective, doesn't it?"

Kamuro Masumi chimed in from the side: "I was holding my breath just now; his presence was just too oppressive..."

Uesugi Hara raised an eyebrow: "I didn't really feel any oppression; could it be that you're just too sensitive?"

"Could it not be that you're just too dense?"