Before the founding

"So, will you be the astronomy club's president, Luo?"

In the faculty office, Takagi, a balding middle-aged teacher, prodded his bald crown with a Ballpoint Pen.

He looked up at Luo Shu, then at Utaha Kasumigaoka, who stood behind him wearing a polite, professional smile, and Eriri Sawamura, whose face was stiff. He couldn't help sighing.

"The others should be fine, but Sawamura, I believe you already belong to the art club. Would joining the astronomy club as well be a problem?"

At the teacher's words, Eriri desperately wanted to say that it would, but looking at Luo Shu's back, she could only grit her teeth and reply:

"Not at all, Teacher Takagi. I've actually always been quite interested in astronomical observation, and everyone in the art club is very accommodating, so there won't be any problem with me taking part in club activities here occasionally."

Hearing that, Takagi looked at Eriri, then at Utaha Kasumigaoka, and finally at Luo Shu.

Seeing what looked like a smile on Luo Shu's face, along with the way he stared straight at him, the middle-aged teacher couldn't help sighing.

"In that case, I'll serve as your club adviser for now and keep an eye on you."

Although he felt that one boy and two girls-especially such attractive ones-in the same club could easily lead to romantic trouble, he was only an ordinary teacher. Faced with the trio's insistence, Teacher Takagi could only sign his name on the club application.

"As for a classroom, there's an empty one near the chemistry classroom on the third floor. Hmm, I'll get you the key."

With that, Teacher Takagi stood up and went to look for the key in the cabinet against the wall.

Meanwhile, Eriri stepped forward and leafed through the signed application. The corner of her mouth twitched as she said to Luo Shu:

"The student council's approval stamp was only put on an hour ago. I can't believe you two actually pulled something like this."

Starting a school club required a teacher's signature before an application could be submitted to the student council, but somehow, Utaha Kasumigaoka had secured the council's stamp first and only then come to get a teacher's signature.

Thanks to that, the process went quickly-at least, faster than Luo Shu had expected.

"Once this form is approved, we'll be accomplices, too. So you shouldn't say 'you two.' You should say 'we.'"

Luo Shu turned to correct Eriri's choice of words.

His attitude toward this young lady of the Sawamura family, who had been "forced" to join, was lukewarm at best.

Unlike Utaha Kasumigaoka, with whom he had shared a dangerous ordeal, Luo Shu didn't actually trust Eriri.

However, while coming down from the rooftop earlier, he had checked with the system and confirmed that Eriri was also a protagonist on whom he could install an "energy absorption device." He therefore knew that he stood to benefit from her.

That was why Luo Shu had begun emphasizing their unity in his choice of words. As for whether Eriri would ultimately join, that wasn't up to her.

Of course, those thoughts were best kept private. Outwardly, Luo Shu was still willing to let Eriri believe that she had joined them of her own free will.

After all, he couldn't dampen a new member's enthusiasm.

Eriri didn't openly argue with Luo Shu's words. She merely muttered, "Who's this 'we' you're talking about?"

Ignoring Eriri's rebellious behavior, Luo Shu turned and exchanged a glance with Utaha Kasumigaoka. In less than three minutes, they received the key from Teacher Takagi, who asked a pointed question:

"You're a third-year, aren't you, Luo? Do you need me to show you to the classroom?"

Clearly, Teacher Takagi knew he was merely a means to get the club established, and he had no desire to get caught up in a romantic dispute involving one boy and two girls.

At a private school like Toyogasaki, there were too many rich, influential students. Most teachers preferred not to get involved, lest they offend a student and suffer retaliation.

In Teacher Takagi's eyes, Luo Shu, who had beaten up three third-years during his first year and left them too afraid even to call the police, clearly had powerful backing. It was best to avoid offending him if at all possible.

"No, thank you. Sorry for the trouble, Teacher Takagi." After that polite reply, Luo Shu glanced at Utaha Kasumigaoka and Eriri, signaling them with his eyes before leading them out of the room.

However, as they left the room and entered the corridor, the three unexpectedly heard an argument.

"Mr. Nakamura, I believe the rule prohibiting anime screenings in the media room is wrong. Declaring all anime unsuitable for students based on an arbitrary judgment is an extremely excessive act of dictatorship..."

Hearing this one-sided lecture, Luo Shu raised an eyebrow and glanced at Eriri Sawamura. Sure enough, her gaze had been drawn toward the voice.

Only then did Luo Shu turn to look at the bespectacled student who had stopped a teacher for a "friendly discussion."

"That's... Tomoya Aki from the first year, I think..."

Walking behind them, Utaha Kasumigaoka also noticed something off about Eriri's expression. She glanced toward the voice and said in surprise:

"Has he cornered another teacher to ask to use the multimedia classroom? Just like the rumors around school say, he really does whatever he wants."

Eriri Sawamura watched the boy across from them, who could just barely be called her childhood friend, with a complicated look in her eyes. She still thought there was something wrong with his head.

Pestering a teacher for permission to use the multimedia classroom during its free periods, just to watch anime at school?

Doesn't he find that embarrassing at all?

Didn't he hear the teachers watching from inside the office saying, "Otaku

are potential criminals, after all"?

You're part of the reason people look down on anime fans... After inwardly grumbling, Eriri realized she had been paying him too much attention, enough to attract Luo Shu's and Utaha Kasumigaoka's notice. She hurriedly said:

"Let's go. Enough watching. Let's hurry up and find the classroom so we can see how to get it organized."

Luo Shu didn't object. He simply glanced at Utaha Kasumigaoka, and seeing that she was still staring at Eriri, he smiled.

"Let's go, then."

With that, the three headed to the third floor with the key, one in front and two behind.

Meanwhile, Tomoya Aki, who was still holding the teacher captive with his lecture, also noticed the three of them. After a moment of puzzlement, he went right back to lecturing the innocent Mr. Nakamura.

In the end, Nakamura gave in. "Fine, fine. You win. I'll give you a key to the multimedia classroom, but you'll have to apply to the student council yourself for permission to use it."

"Thank you, sir! Long live our teacher!!"

Hearing Tomoya Aki's words, the young teacher Nakamura grumbled with a dark expression:

"Long live your teacher? I'll count myself lucky if you don't drive me to an early grave."

After saying that, the young teacher Nakamura gave the teachers watching from the office a helpless, self-deprecating smile, then went to fetch the key amid their laughter.

Time passed, each of them occupied with their own affairs.

Soon, it was three thirty in the afternoon, when school let out.

With the key in hand, Luo Shu led Utaha Kasumigaoka and Eriri to the empty classroom and pushed open its door.