Club Recruitment

Of course, the risks are also obvious. The Yun Family is a behemoth with intricate internal relationships; to be rashly entangled in them is to risk total ruin at the slightest misstep. The attitude of Yun Lan himself is even more critical, as he is clearly no puppet to be manipulated at will.

But Chie Hoshinomiya has long been accustomed to dancing on the edge of a blade, accustomed to weighing every person and event on the eternal scale of her war with Sae Chabashira. In her eyes, the "heir" status of Yun Lan is, first and foremost, a massive "variable" that cannot be missed. This variable alone is worth her investing attention, calculations, and even physical stakes far beyond what she would offer an ordinary student.

"So, little Yun Lan," she murmured to the nonexistent image of the boy in the air, the corners of her mouth curling slightly. Her smile held inquiry, greed, and the excitement of a gambler spotting a high-stakes bet. "Whether you like it or not, from the moment you stepped into this school—no, from the moment you were born into that family—you have already been standing in the focus of certain gazes."

"The club points only made your lamp burn a little brighter, allowing me to... see you earlier and more clearly." She stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the campus as the lights began to flicker on. "But even without that light, your silhouette had long since been carved by people like me into the top of the list of those who must be watched."

"After all, who could ignore a star... that might one day illuminate or incinerate an entire territory?" Her whisper vanished into the thickening night.

The slightly lethargic air of the afternoon was cleanly sliced through by an electronic chime that rang out without warning.

"Ding-dong."

The crisp, standard, and emotionless syllables echoed in every classroom, every corridor, and every open space on campus. All ongoing low-voiced conversations, the rustle of turning pages, and the scratching of pen tips against paper stalled for a moment under the mandatory broadcast.

Immediately following, a steady, clear, and modulated female voice—so polished it sounded almost inhuman—began to announce in a uniform, uninterruptible tone:

Attention, all students and faculty.

The sound pierced through the walls, reaching every corner equally. Tetsuya Hamaguchi, who was organizing his notes, lifted his head; Ryota Beppu and his group, who were chatting, stopped their movements; the fingertips of Yun Lan, who was spinning a pen by the window, paused slightly; in the teachers' office, the fingers of Chie Hoshinomiya, which had been tapping the desk, hung suspended in mid-air.

The notice is as follows: At exactly five o'clock this afternoon, the club recruitment event for this semester will be held at the First Gymnasium.

"Club recruitment? Five o'clock? Isn't that after school?"

"I heard the clubs at Advanced Nurturing High School are ranked among the best in the country..."

"The First Gymnasium, where is that?"

"Tsk, what a pain. I was planning on going to the arcade..."

Excited discussions, dissatisfied grumbles, curious guesses, and utilitarian calculations—all sorts of emotions fermented and collided in the classroom. The unified atmosphere of "post-lunch rest" was thoroughly shattered, replaced by restlessness and anticipation for the upcoming collective activity.

Yun Lan slowly set down the pen in his hand and cast his gaze out the window, as if he could see the silhouette of the iconic First Gymnasium through the buildings. His expression remained unchanged, but deep within his eyes, a fleeting thought flashed by. For him, whether or not he joined a club was unimportant; what mattered was joining the Student Council.

Honami Ichinose, in the front row, turned around. Her face wore its usual gentleness, but her eyes held a hint of calculation. Her gaze met Yun Lan's briefly before shifting to other classmates; she was clearly already thinking about how to organize the class to attend and how to use this opportunity to understand the underlying rules of this school as quickly as possible.

Ryuji Kanzaki adjusted his glasses and silently recorded the words "17:00, First Gymnasium, Club Rules" in his notebook. For him, this was undoubtedly an excellent window to observe the operation of the school's club system at close range and collect more information regarding the rules of point circulation.

Meanwhile, in the teachers' office, Chie Hoshinomiya withdrew her fingers and leaned back into her chair, a meaningful, almost joyful smile appearing on her face.

"Club recruitment... the timing is truly excellent." She whispered to herself, her gaze seemingly piercing through the walls to land on the gymnasium that was about to become the center of attention, and on the boy who would inevitably draw her extra focus. "So, little Yun Lan... on this new stage of rules, what will you do? Will you join a department with real power? It's truly something to look forward to. Sae Chabashira... how will those proud little ones in your class respond?"

The Student Council President's office is located on the top floor of the administration building, occupying an excellent vantage point overlooking the courtyard and the main teaching buildings. The heavy solid wood door blocks out the noise of the corridor; the room is spacious and bright, yet it permeates with a rigorous, almost sterile atmosphere. Filing cabinets are perfectly aligned, books are arranged by height, and every object seems to have its own fixed coordinate. Sunlight streams through the clean glass windows, casting sharp-edged patches of light on the floor. The only sounds in the air are the low, steady hum of the central air conditioning and the occasional rustle of a pen tip against paper.

Manabu Horikita sits behind the large desk, his spine as straight as a ruler. He is not wearing his standard uniform jacket; the cuffs of his white shirt are meticulously rolled up to his forearms, revealing his clearly defined wrists. The terminal screen in front of him displays a summary of today's campus activities, with one record regarding a massive flow of points highlighted. His gaze lingers on that line of text for a moment before moving away, revealing neither anger nor joy.

"Tachibana."

He speaks, his voice not loud, yet clear and cold, like the first crack in a sheet of ice.

Akane Tachibana, who is standing by, immediately steps forward. She wears the well-fitted uniform of a Student Council officer, her posture respectful and capable. Her hands are naturally folded in front of her, and her gaze is focused on the floor one step behind the President, waiting for instructions.

"The club recruitment briefing this afternoon," Manabu Horikita says without looking up, his fingertip tapping lightly on the smooth desk. "It was originally scheduled for Vice President Miyabi Nagumo to attend. The plan has changed. I will go myself."

The eyelashes of Akane Tachibana tremble almost imperceptibly. It is rare for the President to personally attend such "routine" or even "noisy" events aimed at all new students. There must be considerations behind this that go beyond the event itself. However, she shows no sign of questioning, merely nodding slightly. "Yes. I will adjust the arrangements immediately, notify the Vice President, and ensure that the flow and procedures at the First Gymnasium meet your standards for attendance."

"Mm." Manabu Horikita responds, as if this were merely an unimportant prelude. He pauses slightly, and his gaze finally lifts from the screen to turn toward Akane Tachibana. Those eyes are sharp and calm, like a winter lake, reflecting no superfluous emotions.