Club Recruitment

The following few days were rather uneventful, with the students of Class D continuing to slack off as they pleased. If anything, due to the indulgence of the school and the teachers, they were becoming more outrageous by the day, even going so far as to openly create ranking lists for their teachers.

Although Katsuya Shinjo had made up his mind to make money, he was troubled by a lack of opportunities. However, thanks to his handsome looks and the smile he wore year-round, he always gave off an approachable vibe, which helped him secure a certain status within the class.

Just as he was preparing to head to the cafeteria for lunch as usual, the school's broadcast system suddenly crackled to life:

"Starting at five o'clock this afternoon, a club orientation will be held in the first gymnasium. Students interested in clubs, please gather at the first gymnasium. At that time, the Student Council will also be holding a recruitment presentation~"

As for the clubs at this school, Katsuya didn't have much interest. Of course, if there were a Dessert Club, he would still be willing to take a look.

As for the Student Council... considering the unique nature of the school itself, the Student Council should also be an extraordinary organization.

"Hey, Shinjo-kun, are you going to attend the club orientation?"

"Hmm, I do have that plan. It would be best if there's something like a Dessert Club."

"Hahaha, you really do love sweets, don't you?"

Because Katsuya Shinjo frequently visited dessert shops and cafes, the girls had a very deep impression of this hobby of his.

Five o'clock in the afternoon, first gymnasium.

Although it was just a recruitment drive, the place was still packed. About a hundred first-year students had arrived, which was to say, the majority of them were there.

There were also many second and third-year students, likely the representatives in charge of club recruitment.

"Attention, first-year freshmen, thank you for waiting. We will now begin the club orientation led by the club representatives. I am Tachibana, secretary of the Student Council, and I will be the moderator for this orientation. Please treat me well."

Standing on the stage was a senior student with her hair tied into two buns. Although she was petite, she possessed an inexplicable air of authority.

After the opening remarks, the club representatives stood in a line on the stage of the gymnasium.

"Sports clubs... Tea Ceremony Club... Archery Club... Judo Club... and so on." All kinds of clubs were gathered here.

But there was simply no sign of the Dessert Club that Katsuya had been desperately searching for!

The various clubs introduced their own strengths one by one, along with formulaic welcoming phrases about how they welcomed those with no experience.

Additionally, he learned an important piece of information from Tachibana: it took at least three people to start a new club.

In other words, even if I wanted to establish a club to milk the system, I'd still have to find two accomplices?

Clubs could receive corresponding funding, and the amount of funding varied depending on the content of the activities and the results achieved.

For example, sports clubs, because they could most intuitively demonstrate results, often had more sufficient funding than cultural clubs.

About an hour passed, and the club introductions were almost coming to an end. It wasn't until the very last person remained on stage that everyone's eyes focused on him.

The man was about one meter seventy tall, with a slender build, clean black hair, and sharp glasses, giving off a feeling of being difficult to get along with and meticulous.

Just as everyone was looking forward to what kind of interesting club he would bring, they discovered that he didn't speak at all.

He just stood blankly in front of the microphone, scrutinizing the crowd below the stage.

"Do your best!"

Soon, jeering sounds came from the crowd.

"Did he forget his script?"

"Ahahahahaha!"

"I mean, what is he doing? Just standing there like a fool without saying a word? Could he be a senior from a mime club?"

However, from beginning to end, the boy on stage did not say a word or make a single sound.

Slowly, the gymnasium fell silent.

Perhaps because it was getting late, some people even inadvertently tightened their clothes.

After about another half a minute, the man on stage spoke:

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

Katsuya Shinjo raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. The surname Horikita wasn't exactly common; what a coincidence, he happened to know someone named Horikita.

The girl with long, straight black hair who often whispered with Ayanokoji in class... come to think of it, she should have come to attend the club recruitment today, right?

"Following the graduation of the upperclassmen, the Student Council will be recruiting candidates from the first-year students. The Student Council has no special requirements for applicants, but if you are considering joining the Student Council, please avoid joining other clubs. In principle, we do not accept those who wish to do both."

"We, the Student Council, do not wish for people with naive ideas to join. Our school's Student Council is highly anticipated because it has been granted the power and mission by the school to change regulations. We only welcome those who can understand this."

Having said that, Manabu Horikita walked straight off the stage and left the gymnasium.

It wasn't until the moderator, Tachibana, took the microphone again that the cold, chilling air was dispelled:

"Thank you all for your hard work. The orientation ends here, and we are now accepting club membership applications. Since applications will be open until the end of April, students can go back and think it over carefully before deciding; there is no rush."

As the crowd became chaotic, Katsuya Shinjo quickly found the duo of Suzune Horikita and Ayanokoji, who were frozen in place.

Seeing the younger Horikita sister like that, one didn't need to think hard to know it was likely because of that senior named Manabu Horikita.

Sibling conflict? What a common and cliché plot.

Since he wasn't familiar with this duo, he didn't step forward to strike up a conversation. Instead, he felt a bit dejected that he hadn't seen the Dessert Club he had been longing for.

It was probably for the best, though; he was already busy enough with his "odd jobs," and joining the Dessert Club would only make it impossible to balance everything.

And so, he took the initiative and walked over toward Akane Tachibana.

"Hello, senior."

Seeing that it was a first-year student, Akane Tachibana responded politely:

"Hello. Are you looking to join the Student Council?"

"No, no, no... I wanted to ask about the procedures for starting a new club."

"Oh, I apologize, I misunderstood. To start a club, you need at least three members, and you must pick up an application form from the Student Council, fill it out, and submit it to us for review."

Akane Tachibana answered Katsuya Shinjo's question with great professionalism.

"By the way, what is the name of your club?"

"It's... uh... let's just call it the Odd Jobs Agency for now."

Akane Tachibana looked slightly surprised and puzzled upon hearing this. Given the name, she understood what an "odd jobs agency" meant—essentially being hired for money to perform certain tasks.

However, establishing such a club within a school... it was simply inconceivable.

"An Odd Jobs Agency?"

"Well, is there a problem with that name?"

Akane Tachibana was stunned for a moment, then shook her head:

"No, there is no problem. At the very least, there isn't another club with that name currently. When you are ready, come to the Student Council to pick up the application form. Also, if you don't mind me asking, which class are you in, and what is your name?"

"Class D, first year, Katsuya Shinjo."