New members

Three Portlands Observatory.

[This isn't a fucking Starbucks!]

The dashing old Philip was baking pastries today. His mechanical arm was remarkably nimble, and the "cat-shaped bread" he made was absolutely adorable.

As a result, whenever Xia Xiu ate one in a single bite, the two girls opposite him looked at the bread in his hand as though they couldn't bear to watch.

"...This bread really is delicious. Why don't you try some?" Xia Xiu suggested to Camille and Ushas as he bit the head off a "calico cat" pastry.

"The kitties are so cute. How can you eat them...?" the Three-Eyed Girl said mournfully, provided one ignored the drool at the corner of her mouth.

"...If you're drooling that much, just eat them," Xia Xiu said, speechless.

"But they're all so adorable." Camille cupped a "Garfield cat" pastry in her hands. The old man's craftsmanship really was excellent. They looked so lifelike that anyone who saw them couldn't help growing fond of them.

"...Let me help you get over this pointless sentimentality." Xia Xiu took the "Garfield cat" from Camille, snapped its head off, and tossed it into his mouth.

"Delicious! Boss, save me a portion for later. I'll take it to go." Xia Xiu called over to old Philip, who was baking some distance away, then placed the headless "Garfield cat" back in the dumbstruck Camille's hands.

"There. Now it isn't cute anymore."

"..."

"..."

Ushas opened her mouth, stopped, then tried again. At last, she blurted out:

"Squinty, you're definitely never going to be a playboy!"

"Oh," Xia Xiu replied indifferently.

Afterward, the kindhearted Xia Xiu helped the two girls overcome their unnecessary sentimentality by biting the heads off all their pastries. To hell with cuteness.

The two girls ate the headless pastries with feelings they couldn't quite describe. They really did taste good, but after Xia Xiu's little stunt, something about it felt strange.

"All right, time to talk business. How are the club preparations going?" Xia Xiu asked them.

Camille had always been responsible for the Mysterious Animal Research Club. She had written and submitted the application, and she handled recruitment too.

"I posted on Deer College's campus forum like you suggested. A few people contacted me, but things usually fell apart when we got to allocating grade points..." Camille replied with a sigh.

"But I did arrange to meet two... gentlemen today. Since everyone's here, we can discuss things in detail."

"They should be here soon," Camille said, glancing at the clock hanging in the Cafe.

Ding-

The Cafe's door opened, and a frog in a suit entered on a flying carpet, followed by a ghost wearing Deer College robes.

The newcomers were Muji, a member of [Dimension Express], and Lifenel, a member of [Haunted Spirit Street].

"Ribbit. Boss, one Cool Mint." After glancing at the menu board overhead, Muji ordered a Cool Mint from old Philip.

Once he had ordered, Muji steered his flying carpet toward Xia Xiu's table. Their seating area consisted of four sofas, and he settled down opposite Xia Xiu.

"Boss, one Soul Infusion, please." Lifenel still spoke softly. After ordering his drink, he followed Muji to Xia Xiu's table and sat beside him.

"These are the two students here for today's interview," Camille told Xia Xiu.

"Oh-ho, hello there." Xia Xiu regarded the pair with interest.

"Hello," Muji and Lifenel replied politely.

There were now two humans and three nonhumans sitting at the table.

Camille and the Three-Eyed Girl, Ushas, gazed at Muji and Lifenel with wide-eyed curiosity. The frog and the ghost, however, were somewhat reserved, their attention involuntarily drawn to the young man directly in front of them.

The blond, golden-eyed young man was the most relaxed person present. He propped his cheek on his left hand while idly stirring the bubbling soul drink before him with a straw in his right. His gaze looked rather languid.

Xiu Abraham...

Muji and Lifenel looked at Xia Xiu at the same time, something unreadable flickering in both their eyes.

Muji, of the Traveling Frog Tribe... I remember from my previous life that the future regional manager of [Dimension Express]'s Youyang branch was named Muji. He studied abroad at Deer College, so this should be the frog.

Lifenel, a ghost... Doesn't ring a bell. But a ghost capable of wearing physical clothes... He should be from Haunted Spirit Street. Oh-ho, a ghost from Haunted Spirit Street appearing before Heaven. How interesting.

Xia Xiu narrowed his eyes as he studied the pair. For some reason, Muji and Lifenel felt an inexplicable pang of dread.

"You two wanted to learn about the Mysterious Animal Research Club, right?" Camille asked them.

"Ribbit, yes. I think this club sounds very interesting," Muji replied.

"Yes. A club dedicated to protecting and researching mysterious animals-I find it very interesting too," Lifenel said timidly.

"Really?"

Camille immediately perked up. She began explaining all the plans she had drafted for the Mysterious Animal Research Club, while the pair kept nodding and saying, "Yes, yes, exactly."

"...So our future activities will largely center on the House of Languages."

"That covers the general overview. Do either of you have any questions?"

Camille picked up her drink and took a sip to soothe the thirst brought on by her torrent of words. Then she looked expectantly at the frog and the ghost before her.

"Ribbit~ I understand the general situation now. But there's one thing I'd like to ask," Muji said.

"Go ahead," Camille said.

"Ribbit. My question is, isn't he the club president?" Muji pointed at Xia Xiu, who was yawning.

"You mean Xiu? He's a member. Well, I did consider asking him to be president, but he didn't want to..." Camille explained to Muji.

"Ribbit. So you're the president." Muji scrutinized Camille.

If Xiu Abraham were the president of the Mysterious Animal Research Club, Muji would naturally have accepted it, given his usual classroom performance and the strength he had demonstrated during the practical assessment.

But this girl in front of me is going to be president? Why?

Because you're pretty?

Because you've got big ambitions?

What a joke. Don't look down on frogs! Ribbit!!!

(End of chapter)