Club Orientation Meeting

Hearing this, Sakayanagi Arisu began to ponder.

She was using the momentum of her class to pressure him, while he, in turn, had handed over dirt on his own classmate.

At a time when the school had yet to truly clarify its rules, there were few who could genuinely understand her actions, and the two of them were likely not much different in terms of their moral standing.

He must have been aware of this, which was why he dared to speak to her in such a manner.

"Hah—you really are interesting. But even if you try to drag me down with you now, I will be the one to emerge victorious in the end."

As time passed and the veil of mystery shrouding the school was gradually lifted, Sakayanagi Arisu was confident that she would gain everyone's understanding.

Doing what was necessary for her class was only right.

But Toru Hasegawa, who chose to hand over his classmate's secret to save his own skin, was different; his moral compass was undoubtedly lower than her own.

"But time must be very precious to you, right?"

Unexpectedly, Toru Hasegawa simply offered a faint smile, striking precisely at Sakayanagi Arisu's current pain point.

"If I'm not mistaken, you had already noticed the hidden information in the teacher's words yesterday, yet you said nothing at the time."

"Everything changed after you met that boy named Ayanokoji yesterday. You specifically asked me to spy on Class D just now, presumably because he is there, right? Your behavior this morning, too—you're being a bit too impatient."

"...You are very clever, but that only makes me want to hold onto you even more."

Sakayanagi Arisu was silent for a moment, then said softly.

"So, how about we both take a step back? I will help you spy on Class D, but only for one week. Of course, I will be absolutely dedicated to the task. Leave the rest to Kamuro, and you will give up on using this matter to attack me. I know you must be recording this as well."

Toru Hasegawa proposed a reasonable suggestion.

"You should know that I could have announced the existence of the recording before showing you the photo, but I didn't. You should understand what that implies, right?"

In other words, he was actually looking out for Sakayanagi Arisu.

Don't misunderstand; it wasn't romantic feelings, but rather a premonition that life would become very inconvenient for Sakayanagi Arisu if she lacked a tool, and Kamuro Masumi, as a girl, could help handle many things.

As a boy, there were ultimately many matters that Toru Hasegawa had to avoid to prevent suspicion.

"...Fine, I agree."

Whether persuaded by Toru Hasegawa or swayed by the thought that he was willing to betray his classmate just to look out for her, Sakayanagi Arisu agreed to his proposal and then took out her phone to stop the recording.

"Then, happy cooperation."

Toru Hasegawa extended his hand.

"Happy cooperation. But be careful, I'm not the type to give up easily."

Sakayanagi Arisu extended her hand as well.

With the help of Toru Hasegawa, she rose from her seat and left without the slightest hesitation.

Sigh, finally managed to send off this big shot.

Toru Hasegawa glanced slightly at Kamuro Masumi, who had absolutely no idea that a dirty deal involving her had just taken place right beside her.

Hope you have a good time staying by Sakayanagi Arisu's side.jpg

After a small prayer in his heart, the lunch break ended, and the afternoon classes began.

5:00 PM, First Gymnasium.

Toru Hasegawa did a rough count and found that nearly a hundred first-year students had arrived.

Each grade was divided into four classes—A, B, C, and D—with 40 students per class, not one more, not one less.

In other words, at least half of the students had come here hoping to join a club.

"There are really a lot of people!"

Incidentally, he was currently standing next to Sakayanagi Arisu and Kamuro Masumi, the latter of whom was looking at him with a very angry expression.

To this, Toru Hasegawa could only pretend not to notice.

"It seems there is no Gaming Club here."

Flipping through the pamphlet received upon entering the gymnasium, Sakayanagi Arisu said nonchalantly.

"But didn't you just say that it only takes three people to start a club? As long as you are willing to join, I can also fill the void of the missing Gaming Club for this school."

Toru Hasegawa said with a straight face.

"I will absolutely not join!"

Before Sakayanagi Arisu could speak, Kamuro Masumi responded through gritted teeth.

"It looks like your plan has fallen through, Hasegawa-kun, who has no friends~"

The silver-haired girl added a final blow.

"You, who use blackmail to force others to do your bidding, have no right to say that."

"Yes, indeed. Hasegawa-kun, who chooses to betray his classmates for his own convenience, is just the best~"

凸(艹皿艹)

Thinking about how he had clearly been acting in the interest of Sakayanagi Arisu, only to have that very point used against him, a wave of indignation rose in Toru Hasegawa's heart.

He would absolutely never consider her feelings again! No one could stop him!

"Hi-hello! Everyone in the first year, sorry to keep you waiting! We will now begin the club orientation session led by the club representatives. I am Akane Tachibana, the secretary of the Student Council, and I will be your moderator for today. Please treat me well."

As the purple-haired girl with a bun, who introduced herself as Tachibana, spoke from above, the three of them stopped their bickering.

After that sentence, the club representatives lined up on the gymnasium stage, featuring upperclassmen who looked incredibly formidable alongside beautiful upperclasswomen.

I don't think I need to say who everyone was looking at, right?

Humans have had a tradition of appreciating beautiful things since ancient times, so Toru Hasegawa openly and generously admired the made-up upperclasswomen on the stage.

"It seems there are many national-level clubs and competitors here."

Masumi Kamuro, who hadn't wanted to join any group in the first place, said while looking at the pamphlet in her hand.

As long as she threw herself into something wholeheartedly, time would pass quickly; that was the method she had chosen.

"Is that so? Then is the level of the Chess Club at a national level?"

Toru Hasegawa became interested.

Because the three of them had entered together, there was only one pamphlet, which had been passed back and forth between Sakayanagi Arisu and Masumi Kamuro, leaving him without even a chance to glance at it.

"...It seems so."

Masumi Kamuro first rolled her eyes at Toru Hasegawa, then answered honestly.

Refusing to join a Gaming Club was a reasonable action, but not answering his question would be unacceptable.

Classmate Sakayanagi had said that he was a very useful talent, so she should try her best to provide any information he needed.

"I see..."

In other words, did Sakayanagi Arisu's own level of chess reach a national level? No, perhaps even world-class.

Seeing the smile blooming on her face, Toru Hasegawa felt from the bottom of his heart that she was just a trashy loli.

"What a coincidence, are you all looking to join a club too?"

A familiar voice came from nearby; it was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Suzune Horikita, with the former being the one to strike up the conversation.

"Yeah, do you want to join the Gaming Club?"

"Does such a club exist?"

"It doesn't, but isn't it written right there? That as long as there are three people, a club can be established."

Toru Hasegawa had not yet given up on the idea of establishing a Gaming Club.

"So, aren't the two people beside you plus yourself already enough to make three?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka asked, puzzled.

Seeing this, Toru Hasegawa could only sigh:

"They don't want to join my club. Would you be willing to be my first member? That way, I'd only be one person short."

As he spoke, he cast his gaze toward Suzune Horikita, who was standing beside Ayanokoji, and the meaning could not have been more obvious.

Join! Join!

"I refuse."

Suzune Horikita had no intention of joining a club at all, especially not a club like the Gaming Club that looked like a waste of time, she said coldly.

At the same time, Toru Hasegawa saw the number above her head drop from 70 to 65, which meant that his invitation had just caused her dissatisfaction, right?

"As you can see, I have no intention of joining a Gaming Club either."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka also refused; he had no experience playing games, though if it were those experimental types of games, he had certainly experienced many of them.

However... he really shouldn't know anything about him.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka made a preliminary judgment in his heart, but what exactly was that look from earlier?

"I see, then forget it. Besides, I don't think I'm the first person to propose this idea, but since there is no Gaming Club until now, it means the school likely won't approve such a request."

Toru Hasegawa shrugged, finding an excuse for his failed attempt to establish the club.

It wasn't that he couldn't find enough members, but rather that the school wouldn't agree to it.

"Indeed, aren't you able to figure out what a student's duty actually is?"

The progress bar above Suzune Horikita's head returned to 70.