Terra Calendar 1589.2.18
It was raining in Three Portlands as usual that day. When Xia Xiu got up early that morning, Jarvis notified him of an unread message sent through Deer College's alumni messaging service.
Xia Xiu opened the message. It was an invitation from Camille.
[Message from Camille: Xiu, we're planning to start our own club. I sincerely invite you to join us in creating an interesting club. Location: Three Portlands Observatory-{This is not a fucking Starbucks!}]
For a moment, Xia Xiu felt as though his lost youth had returned... well, he was still young, so his youth hadn't actually slipped away yet.
It's so good to be young!
Xia Xiu sighed with feeling.
And so, Xia Xiu happily took the light rail to a familiar place.
Three Portlands Observatory
[This is not a fucking Starbucks!]
"Ding-a-ling-"
As Xia Xiu pushed the door open and entered, the bell at the entrance chimed right on cue.
Xia Xiu looked toward the counter. Old Philip was leisurely grinding coffee beans. After Xia Xiu came in, the old man glanced up at him, then returned to his work.
"One latte."
After speaking to the old man, Xia Xiu scanned the café and soon spotted Ushas, the tall Three-Eyed Girl, with Camille beside her, animatedly talking about something.
Xia Xiu's latte was ready in no time. It was worth mentioning that the old man hadn't made it himself. The tools had prepared it on their own, and then the latte had flown straight into Xia Xiu's hand.
Latte in hand, Xia Xiu walked over to Camille and the Three-Eyed Girl's table. Whatever they were talking about, they were laughing.
"Ladies, might I join this pleasant conversation?"
"Oh, Xiu, you... you're here."
"Camille, why are you suddenly getting shy?"
"I-I'm not! Drink your chocolate milk," Camille said, blushing.
"So you're the boy called Xiu. You look even younger than our Camille," Ushas said to Xia Xiu as he sat down opposite them.
"Ladies, I don't believe age was supposed to be today's topic," Xia Xiu said with a smile.
"That's right. We were just discussing clubs," Camille said.
"We looked into it. You need five people to establish a club at Deer College.
"Of course, students can also choose to join clubs run by upperclassmen, such as major clubs like the Roller Club, the Literary Club, or the Thaumaturgy Club. But those clubs have strict requirements, and it's hard for freshmen to earn many grade points in them."
"So, in terms of return on investment, starting a club of our own is the best option for first-years," Camille said earnestly, pushing up her glasses.
As Camille explained, she radiated the charm of an intellectual woman.
"Aww, Camille is so cute! Come here and snuggle!"
Suddenly, Ushas excitedly hugged the visibly resistant Camille and rubbed her big, round face vigorously against Camille's cheek.
"Exactly."
Xia Xiu nodded in agreement. He had looked into clubs the previous night.
Deer College encouraged interaction and cooperation among students. Joining a major club certainly had its benefits, but it was difficult for first-years to earn the corresponding grade points in one.
Through Jarvis, Xia Xiu had searched through clubs from previous years and discovered that most first-years formed temporary clubs of their own. Only after getting through their first academic year, when they needed grade points the most, would they decide whether to leave their original club for one they liked or continue running their own.
"So, ladies, what sort of club are you planning to establish, and who are the other two prospective members?" Xia Xiu asked.
At Xia Xiu's question, Ushas stopped fooling around. She picked up the chocolate milk on the table and drank it as though nothing had happened, her gaze wandering a little, while Camille smiled awkwardly.
All right, it seemed they hadn't thought that far ahead.
"Ahem, Xiu. Ushas and I have been discussing what kind of club to start. I used Cinderella to look through past editions of the Deer College Club Directory. I found lots of interesting clubs. Deer College doesn't impose many restrictions on clubs. I even saw something as ridic... interesting as the Walking Club in the directory," Camille continued, her eyes shining.
"Mm, I was planning to start a Women's Mixed Martial Arts Club. Too bad you're a guy. Camille absolutely insisted on having you join," Ushas sighed beside her.
"Ushas!! Even without Xiu, I wouldn't start some martial arts club with you!" Camille said angrily.
"What about you, then?" Xia Xiu asked Camille curiously.
"Camille? She wants to start some fairy-tale writ... mmmph... let go..." Ushas was blithely about to reveal the club Camille wanted to establish, but Camille ignored the difference in their builds and reached straight over to cover her mouth.
Once she was certain Ushas wouldn't blurt out anything else, Camille returned to her seat and said with a dignified expression:
"I haven't decided yet. We wanted to hear your opinion."
"Clubs, huh..." Xia Xiu rubbed his chin, searching his memories.
A club-a sacred and romantic place within the wonders of campus life!
At least, that was how certain anime in Xia Xiu's memory portrayed them. Following that inexplicable train of thought, he voiced his ideas.
"I remember plenty of clubs. For example, there's one called SOS. They formed their group to search for interesting things. Hmm, their president is an incredibly outrageous girl.
"Then there's a club that seems literary on the surface but is actually good at deduction. They're curious about everything.
"There are also groups like the Service Club, whose guiding principle is: 'Those who have, out of compassion, give to those who lack. People call them volunteers. Lending a hand to those in need is what this club does.'"
"Oho, there really are clubs that interesting!" Ushas was thoroughly intrigued after hearing him.
"Well, uh..." Camille didn't know what to say either.
"But we can't start any of those clubs. If you ask me, first-years should form clubs primarily to earn grade points, so we can only focus on notable landmarks where those points are relatively easy to get," Xia Xiu continued.
"You mean Deer College's other residential areas..." Camille immediately caught his meaning.
"What the hell?" Ushas looked utterly confused.
"The residents of the House of Languages, the Cooperative Apartments, Canyon House, and the Haunted House issue 'community tasks' to Deer College's clubs. Those tasks reward grade points," Camille explained to Ushas.
"Right, so ideally, our club should be one that can work closely with those four places, like a neighborhood committee."
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