The Story Starting from Classroom of the Elite

It was a waste of time and effort.

Two o'clock in the afternoon, the auditorium.

Sunlight cut diagonally through the stained-glass windows, casting colorful shadows across the raw wood floor.

By now, recruiters from various clubs had already set up their promotional materials.

Thirty-seven club booths spread out like miniature city-states along the red carpet, the air filled with the scent of fresh printer ink from flyers and the sweet, charred aroma of sample cookies.

The Kendo Club claimed the high ground in volume with the sound of bamboo swords clashing, as two third-year students in protective gear engaged in a sparring demonstration.

The wooden floor vibrated with every thrust, and cheers of "Men!" and "Do!" erupted repeatedly from the crowd of freshmen onlookers.

The Tea Ceremony Club, meanwhile, used stillness to overcome motion; a senior in a sunset-colored kimono knelt on a cushion, her wrists turning to create emerald ripples in the matcha, the phrase "Ichigo Ichie" written on the bottom of the tasting cups.

In front of the Light Music Club tent, the bassist deliberately plucked her strings to reveal a collarbone tattoo, while the mixing console looped their original song, Bronze Gallows, which had won the school festival championship last year.

"Join now and get a limited-edition life-sized standee!"

As a few girls filled out application forms with blushing faces, a loud crash of metal scaffolding erupted from behind—the Model Club's space battleship had been accidentally knocked over by a glow stick, and the Club President was roaring while holding a bottle of superglue: "This is a 1:200 Yamato that could have competed in the nationals!"

Amidst this chaos, Karuizawa Kei was dragging Tanaka Yukishin through the maze of club booths.

"Yukishin, which club do you like?"

Walking through the crowd, Karuizawa Kei asked as she watched the spectacular performances nearby.

She didn't have a club she was interested in.

So, she planned to join whichever one the person she liked chose.

Tanaka Yukishin felt a bit awkward and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand.

To earn off-campus privileges, he had already joined three clubs, and he would eventually need to join about 15 in total.

Logically, the same person wasn't allowed to join multiple clubs, as it raised suspicions of embezzling funds and resources.

However, since he was destined to join the teams for competitions, he was brought in as a core member.

After proving he truly had the ability, the school administration granted him permission.

After all, if they hadn't, he could have flexibly cycled through joining and quitting based on his schedule.

The school administration, having considered this, readily accommodated him.

"My situation is a bit special..."

Tanaka Yukishin suddenly grabbed Karuizawa Kei's wrist, his posture as he leaned in to whisper causing several girls to stop and peek.

After explaining the specifics, Tanaka Yukishin proposed a flexible suggestion.

Since he was joining other clubs solely for off-campus privileges, he wouldn't be spending much time in them anyway.

Since Karuizawa Kei wanted one, why not have her start a club that could serve as their fixed meeting spot?

"But if you aren't going to be at the club, why would I need to start one?"

Karuizawa Kei turned her head, her brows arching in curiosity.

If he wasn't going to be there, she could just stay with Tanaka Yukishin directly.

Why waste the effort on something meaningless?

"There are three reasons."

Chapter 41: Restless Mind, Hard to Control

Tanaka Yukishin establishing a club.

The primary reason was to have a fixed base of operations.

There would inevitably be gatherings, discussions, and similar activities in the future.

Tanaka Yukishin didn't want to bring classmates he wasn't close with to his big house.

In comparison, a club activity room that he had carefully decorated and arranged would not only be comfortable and pleasant, but perfectly suited to his preferences.

It could be used at any time.

Furthermore, in terms of information privacy, it was much better than a dormitory or a private booth.

The second reason involved the delusions and hormonal explosions of a teenage boy.

For example... a Harem Club.

And then there was that stubborn girl from last night.

But her stamina was just too weak.

He had only just started to get into the mood before he had to force himself to stop.

He couldn't exactly pause every thirty minutes or an hour to let her go eat something.

That would be too abstract.

As miserable as an adult film actor.

Some people always think that being an adult film actor is a great job.

Enjoying yourself while making money.

That is not actually the case.

1. It is physically damaging.

The saying that one drop of essence is worth ten drops of blood is no joke.

2. Filming never happens in one go.

Just think about it, an adult film.

You have to pause dozens of times in the middle.

When the director calls for action, you have to be hard when you need to be, and soft when you need to be.

Without a bit of talent.

A few films would break your body and mind.

3. You have to take on whoever comes, regardless of their looks.

You don't get to choose.

The third reason is the need to create a suitable excuse.

In life, there are always people you cannot directly refuse, and at such times, a proper way out becomes especially important.

Karuizawa Kei nodded.

She didn't have much of an emotional reaction to the blunt words of Tanaka Yukishin.

At this moment, she was still feeling a dull ache below.

Since she couldn't satisfy him herself, she couldn't just let Tanaka Yukishin keep holding it in.

Thinking of this, she suddenly remembered something.

"Tell me, you didn't cook at noon, was that to subtly remind me of this?"

Karuizawa Kei had self-taught the exclusive skill of girls.

She twisted her right hand into the waist of Tanaka Yukishin, pinching a small fold of skin on the boy's waist.

Her tone carried a hint of teasing.

"How could that be?"

Tanaka Yukishin didn't cook mainly because he wanted to teach the idiot a lesson.

As his woman, Karuizawa Kei had a close relationship with him and was protected by his fortune.

He wasn't worried about anything happening to Karuizawa Kei.

Turning bad luck into good was normal.

For example, his cute little sister was once followed by a perverted molester on her way home.

Then, a righteous martial artist happened to pass by and paralyzed the guy on the spot.

However, after he found out, he still swept through the surrounding area several times to clear out delinquents, yakuza, and perverts—any unstable factors that might affect his family.

He even became the subject of urban legends in the surrounding area based on his actions.

Of course, that is a story for another time.

But he didn't deny that there was a small element of revenge for the prank Karuizawa Kei played on him while changing clothes that morning.

Karuizawa Kei let out a soft hum through her nose, and the force in her fingertips increased by another thirty percent.

It wasn't until the muscles under the boy's shirt tightened slightly that she suddenly let go and smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes.

As she lowered her eyes, her eyelashes cast wisps of light and shadow in the sun, and the tips of her ears turned a begonia red.

"Anyway... if you're in a hurry to start a club, you might as well find a ghost member first."

After stating her position, Karuizawa Kei hooked her right arm back into his.

The scent of cherry blossoms brushed past his nose with the draft, and Tanaka Yukishin suddenly remembered the way Kushida Kikyo had clutched her skirt while speaking in the classroom on the first day of school.

That girl who said she "wanted to be friends with everyone" was probably weaving a web of interpersonal relationships in some corner right now.

Now that she was focusing on their class, she would surely come looking for him in a few days.

When that time comes, we'll see if she chooses to sacrifice herself or overcome her psychological trauma and grow.

Even without her.

Other girls would work too.

Ichinose Honami, Sakura Airi...

He suddenly felt that he could fully understand the joy of those villainous bosses in the novels he used to read.

After years of bitter cultivation and bloody battles, standing at the peak.

When you have been lonely and bored for years, a qualified toy appears.

Using it to pass the time is truly excellent.

However, he was slightly better than a villain.

He did not do this solely to enjoy the youthful, vibrant bodies of young girls.

He simply hoped that they could all overcome their shadows, pass the trials, and grow into better people.

The personal brilliance they radiated while growing was just as pleasing to him.

As the saying goes, My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror; everything I do is justice.

"I'm fine with anything."

"Then let's start by establishing it, and pull someone from our acquaintances who doesn't want to join a club to make up the numbers."

As she said this, she rolled her eyes at Tanaka Yukishin.

In her view, his lavish spending yesterday had been a bit too extravagant.

Now that he wanted to recruit people, she might as well try to recoup some of the losses.

If they were targeted by some bad guy.

She would still be the big sister in charge.

"You?"

"Go set up the club room first. Speaking of which, when are you moving houses?"

"Next week. I have to go see the place in person before making a final decision."

The two of them walked toward the entrance of the auditorium.

They happened to run into Hirata Yosuke and Sudo Ken.

"Hirata, why do you look like you haven't woken up yet?"