Horikita Manabu Appears

Kitagawa Kai had just arrived at the classroom and set down his bag.

A slender finger poked him from the side.

"Kitagawa-kun, I made a new trial batch. Could you give it a taste?"

He paused for a moment, then took the lunchbox that still held a trace of warmth.

"Thanks, Ichinose."

Her eyes were bright, as if she was waiting for something.

Today it was tamagoyaki, cut into neat blocks, topped with fine bonito flakes.

"It's really delicious."

Kitagawa Kai saw the corner of Ichinose's mouth lift slightly. "But isn't it tiring for Ichinose to wake up this early to make breakfast?"

"Not at all." She shook her head.

Ichinose Honami paused, her smile turning a little shy. "Besides, seeing someone seriously enjoy the food I make makes me really happy."

The classroom gradually filled with people. A few classmates glanced their way and smiled knowingly.

"Testing, testing..."

The school broadcast rang out with a sweet girl's voice.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Tachibana Akane, secretary of the Student Council."

"At three o'clock this afternoon, a Club Orientation will be held in Gymnasium 1. Interested students are welcome to attend."

"Repeating once more..."

That voice was unmistakably that of a cute girl.

Kitagawa Kai pictured Tachibana Akane in his mind—adorable face, hair tied in a bun.

Was this Horikita Manabu's classic moment from the original?

His first appearance silenced the entire gymnasium.

Perfect timing to test the system's narration skill.

The previously quiet classroom buzzed back to life.

"Club recruitment!!" A boy's drawn-out voice came from the back row. "Finally, my time to shine has come!"

It was Toyama Asahi. He shot up from his seat, swinging his arm dramatically, nearly knocking over a girl's eraser on the desk next to him.

"Basketball Club! It's gotta be Basketball Club! I've been waiting for this day forever!"

"When we play basketball, you can't even make one shot," the boy next to him said coolly, pushing up his glasses. "Shine? On what, the rim?"

The area around them burst into laughter.

Toyama Asahi's face turned red, and he lunged to lock the other guy in a headlock.

Everyone's faces carried a hint of excitement.

"Ichinose, what are you planning to join?" Kobashi Yume, nearby, leaned in to ask.

Kobashi Yume, a friend of Ichinose Honami, was also quite active in the class.

"Ah, me? I'm thinking of checking out the Student Council."

"Student Council? Honami, you want to join the Student Council?"

The boys who had been discussing sports clubs stopped talking. Even Toyama Asahi temporarily released the glasses-wearing guy from his headlock and looked over curiously.

Ichinose Honami was cheerful and always willing to help others. Not only was she incredibly popular in Class B, but she was also one of the most prominent figures in the entire school.

Joining the Student Council did seem like something she would do.

"Mm!" Ichinose nodded lightly. "I feel like... the Student Council is a place where you can really do something for everyone."

"Whoa~~" Kobashi Yume drew out her tone. "Then do your best! I hear the Student Council selection is pretty strict."

"I'm just going to take a look first." She waved her hand a little sheepishly, then turned to look at Kitagawa. "What about you, Kitagawa-kun? Any clubs you want to join?"

"Yeah, yeah. There are nine clubs I want to join, and every single one of them is..."

"Then after class, anyone interested in clubs, let's all go check it out together~"

Ichinose Honami suggested excitedly.

"Ooh! That's a great idea!" Kobashi Yume was the first to clap in response, eyes sparkling. "More people means more fun, and we can look out for each other!"

The club recruitment event was at three in the afternoon, but it was only a little past two, and the venue was already buzzing.

All kinds of clubs, from the Cooking Club to the Sports Club to the Cosplay Club—everything was there.

Senior students were going all out, handing out flyers to passing freshmen and loudly introducing their clubs.

Most freshmen came in pairs or small groups.

So when a large crowd from Class B showed up at the gymnasium, they stood out a bit too much.

"Hey, look over there... that's Class B, right? So many people!"

"Is that Ichinose-san's class? Quite the turnout."

"Is it a group activity? Or..."

Whispers came from several directions, tinged with surprise and curiosity.

Ichinose Honami was surrounded at the front of the line. She was clearly aware of the attention.

So she turned back to her classmates and said softly, "Everyone, don't crowd the entrance. You can spread out and look around. Find a club you're interested in, and don't worry about checking out a few!"

A few of the more active ones couldn't hold back any longer and eagerly dashed into the crowd.

Taking advantage of the flow, Kitagawa Kai slipped over to Class A's area.

Class A's area was noticeably quieter than Class B's.

Kitagawa Kai's gaze swept across and quickly caught sight of a familiar figure.

Kamuro Masumi was standing next to the Art Club's simple signboard, earnestly reading their flyer.

"Kamuro, I'm here~ Miss me?"

"What are you doing here?" She closed the booklet and looked away.

"Are you interested in drawing?"

"Just browsing." Kamuro Masumi folded the flyer twice. "I need to find something to do, so certain people won't keep nagging me."

"Drawing's nice. I'd love to see your art too, Kamuro." Kitagawa Kai feigned a sigh, his tone carrying obvious teasing and anticipation.

"Come on, let's try it together."

"I..." Kamuro Masumi opened her mouth. "Trying it out is fine. It's not like I have anything better to do."

"All first-year students, thank you for waiting. Next, each club will take turns explaining their activities."

"I'm Tachibana Akane, secretary of the Student Council, and I'll be hosting this orientation. Please take care of me!"

Tachibana Akane, in her neat uniform, gave a slight bow. Her bun swayed gently with the motion, making her look sharp and cute.

After a brief opening, representatives from each club began their introductions in an orderly fashion.

First were the sports clubs. The captains of the Basketball Club and Soccer Club spoke with booming voices, waving their arms, trying to ignite passion in the newcomers.

The cultural clubs were more composed. A senior from the Calligraphy Club demonstrated brushwork on the spot, while members of the Tea Ceremony Club performed an elegant tea-making motion.

Kitagawa Kai watched the club introductions with keen interest.

Before long, the club introductions were nearing their end.

At that moment, a tall, black-haired young man with a stern expression slowly walked to the center stage.

He didn't speak, didn't pick up the microphone, just coldly stared at the new students.

Seeing his incompetent younger sister standing alone, he felt deep disappointment in his heart.

"Is the mic broken..."

"He's scared stiff~"

"Did this guy come up without notes?"

The crowd below the stage watched the serious man say nothing, and many began to joke.

Especially Yamauchi Haruki's trademark voice, tinged with a bit of schadenfreude, rang out: "Go home, kid, go home~"

The moment the words left his mouth, the black-haired young man's gaze suddenly locked onto Yamauchi.

Yamauchi froze on the spot, the rest of his taunt stuck in his throat.

Seeing this, Kitagawa Kai timed it with Horikita Manabu picking up the microphone and activated his Narrator skill.

A robotic voice echoed through the Gymnasium:

"Pay attention, this man's name is Handsome Guy..."