Faced with Yukinoshita's questioning glare, Kyousuke let out a pained chuckle.
He couldn't tell if she was criticizing his attitude toward club activities or simply upset that a club member might be outshining her.
"The Service Club is still the second club I've ever joined in my life. I do take it seriously," he replied.
"Is… is that so?"
For some reason, Yukinoshita who had just been brimming with authority—suddenly turned her head away.
But when she noticed Sakura's knowing smile, she quickly turned back.
"This must be Mitshuhashi-kun, right?"
It didn't surprise Kyousuke in the slightest that Yukinoshita knew Ryouma Mitsuhashi's name.
With her intelligence, remembering everyone in the grade might be a stretch, but memorizing the entire Red Team roster? Child's play.
She probably did that on her first day as vice captain.
"Yes, nice to meet you, Yukinoshita-sama," Mitsuhashi responded politely, nodding.
Though they were both part of the Red Team and had met briefly during Kyousuke's celebration dinner, this was the first time he'd spoken to her this closely.
Just as he'd felt during her campaign speech, she was a girl with an overwhelmingly powerful aura.
Even a simple, casual question from her was enough to make his whole body tense up like he was being interrogated in some medieval water dungeon.
No wonder Boss could tame someone this fierce...
"I've been meaning to say this since earlier. This is a school, there's no need to call me 'sama' anything. Just Yukinoshita-san is fine."
She frowned as she spoke, and that subtle expression made her voice even colder.
For some reason, that title "sama" just felt wrong to her.
Mitsuhashi blinked, clearly not expecting that to be the issue.
But calling the girls around Boss "sama" was practically a rule among his crew.
Fortunately, Yukinoshita didn't press the issue.
She didn't really care about such things from outsiders—she was only reminding him out of a sense of manners.
Then she continued:
"Also, if you're here to request something from the Service Club, shouldn't you be speaking to me, the club president?"
Her face showed a clear and undisguised look of annoyance as she said this.
'Ahh~ So that's what this is about.'
Kyousuke gave a knowing nod.
So that was what the club president was feeling.
"Right. Our club runs on a strict one-vote veto system. Whether or not we accept a request or conduct activities all depends on President Yukinoshita's decision," he said cheerfully.
"Don't make me sound like some dictator!" Yukinoshita snapped back.
"Ahaha~ But Yukino-chan's only a dictator in her personal life," Sakura chimed in with a giggle.
"I'm sorry—my apologies, President Yukinoshita. I do have something I'd like to ask the Service Club. If you have time, I'd really appreciate it."
"We'll be holding our usual club meeting today. You're welcome to come and consult with us then," she replied with professional composure.
In Kyousuke's eyes, she now looked like a public servant working for some "Dream Fulfillment Office" set up by heaven itself.
"Got it. Thanks. Then I'll leave you all to it," Mitsuhashi said with a bow to Kyousuke and the others before heading off to rejoin his group.
Hojou turned toward his three dumb teammates, trying to guess what kind of issue Mitsuhashi would even bring to the Service Club.
Guys like him didn't really seem like they had school-life troubles.
As a member of a sports club, with plenty of friends and a simple mind, life must be nothing but sunshine and good times.
So that left only one possibility...
"Hojou-kun," Yukinoshita suddenly called out.
"Hm? What is it, President?"
"Will you be joining the club activities today?"
"I…"
Before Kyousuke could finish, Yamauchi Sakura cut in, pulling tightly on the straps of her backpack as she spoke just as seriously.
"If it's Kyousuke, he's probably busy with sports festival prep. Both the baseball club and kendo club need him to help with their training.
Unless the Service Club has a mission that only he can handle, he probably won't have time to come~"
That's not it at all.
It's Monday, the best day of the week.
—I have zero interest in getting crammed into the kendo dojo, yelling with those idiots, or running around the dusty baseball field with another bunch of meatheads.
For those reasons alone, unless the Create a Happy Life Club somehow launched today, I fully intended to go to the Service Club instead.
Just imagining myself sitting in that quiet clubroom, sipping tea in peace while Shouko and Sakura worked on homework and chatted, and Yukinoshita read by the window…
Even if we did absolutely nothing, just seeing that kind of peaceful scene would make for the perfect end to a school day.
"…There's no special reason," Yukinoshita said quietly, her right hand brushing the strap of the bag on her left shoulder.
After a short pause, she added:
"It's just… since Mitsuhashi-kun is your friend, I thought the only reason someone like him would come to an obscure club like ours was because of you.
And even if that's not the case, having you there could provide useful insights that might help us better analyze the request. It would benefit both the club and the requester."
Her voice remained cool and confident—but unlike usual, she didn't meet his gaze head-on. She turned her face slightly to the side.
"Soo~ I thought maybe Yukino-chan had some special—"
"Don't say weird stuff!" Yukinoshita cut Sakura off in a panic. "Anyway, your time's your own, but today you must attend club activities!"
Throwing out that final command, she adjusted the bag on her shoulder and stormed off toward the school gate.
She moved so fast it looked like she was in a speed-walking competition.
Seeing her tightly drawn face, everyone she passed instinctively stepped aside.
Some started whispering, wondering who had managed to piss off the Ice Queen so early in the morning. Maybe her personal chef botched breakfast?
Sakura stood on tiptoe, shielding her eyes from the sun as she watched Yukinoshita's hasty retreat.
"Hahaha. Yesterday, Eriri wanted to have Hojou all to herself. Looks like today it's mine and Shouko-chan's turn to give them space. So lonely… I kind of want to slice Hojou into pieces and share him with everyone."
"Don't make me sound like a cantaloupe. If you're going to do that, you might as well take the seeds and grow a whole field so everyone can have one."
"Oh? That's true! If we don't sell them, the agricultural board won't come after us! Then I'll take the first melon all for myself! I feel so much better now—I'm going to celebrate by breathing twice as hard today!"
Saying that, Sakura dramatically opened her mouth and started taking exaggerated deep breaths.
The sight made both Shouko and Yukino giggle out loud.
Kyousuke raised a hand, playfully reaching out to pinch Sakura's lips shut.
But just before his fingers touched her mouth, a flower petal fluttered down and slipped right in.
"Hm?" Sakura's golden eyes widened, lighting up in a mesmerizing glow.
As Shouko reached for a tissue to help her spit it out, Sakura's lips moved slightly—then, with an audible gulp, she swallowed it.
"Ah! I just ate spring!"
Sakura shouted dramatically, then tilted her head back and stuck out her soft pink tongue to show Kyousuke her empty mouth, a smug grin spread across her face.
"You idiot. That wasn't an edible cherry blossom,"
Kyousuke said with a helpless smile as he opened his bag, pulled out a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to her.
"Sakura, that was reckless," Shouko scolded lightly.
"Oh come on, what's the big deal? They sell spring-limited sakura bentos at the convenience store too! This one's the Zouhoku High School Limited: Special Cherry Blossom on the Road to Spring Classes!"
"Even in Japan, that name's way too long—it won't fit on the packaging!"
"Then just call it 'Yamauchi Sakura's Top Recommendation'!"
"Yeah, and then the focus shifts from 'spring-limited' to 'who the heck is Yamauchi Sakura?'"
"Outrageous! Absolutely insulting! Don't they know I'm Hojou Kyousuke's childhood friend!?"
"Hehe~ Then why not add Hojou's name on the label too?"
"Soga! That's why Shouko-chan's the smart one!"
"…"
Laughing and joking, the group made their way into the school building.
As soon asKyousuke stepped into the classroom, the usual noisy chatter abruptly paused for a split second—only to erupt moments later in a roar of excitement.
A nationally awarded author who shattered three major records on live TV… a name being talked about across magazines and online… is actually my classmate!?
To understand why Japanese high schoolers care so much about sports, aside from the benefits it brings to their future academics or job prospects.
The allure of making it to nationals is a massive draw.
For most, it might be the only chance in their entire lives to stand under the spotlight, have their names known nationwide, and be cheered on by countless strangers.
That's one of the biggest reasons why events like Koshien are such a big deal.
And now, the boy who sits in class with them every day, Hojou Kyousuke, had already achieved a level of fame they could only dream of—appearing on the very TV shows and magazines they all followed.
Even though Kyousuke still wore his usual warm, easygoing smile, everyone couldn't help but feel like they were watching something out of a dream.
Before he could even hang up his bag, he was swarmed by a crowd of enthusiastic classmates.
"Hojou-kun, I watched the Bookstore Grand Prize ceremony! You were amazing!"
"You're the youngest winner ever! And with a debut mystery novel too—so cool!"
"Yeah, yeah! I reread The Devotion of Suspect X twice last night—every time hits differently, I cried both times!"
"I saw the magazine too! Man, that Kasumi Utako-sensei is gorgeous! Of course, that host lady wasn't bad either!"
"…"
If Kyousuke didn't have such heightened senses, he might not have been able to respond to everyone accurately amidst the chaos.
But the calm, friendly way he answered every comment only fueled their excitement further.
One by one, they began pulling out their books for him to sign—including a newly reissued version with the Bookstore Grand Prize label already printed on the cover.
Kyousuke's smile grew even brighter as he glanced at the shiny new edition.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Sakura and Shouko had also gathered their own crowd.
"Hey, Sakura, I voted for you! Of course, I voted for Shouko-chan too!"
"Between all the candidates, I really just wanted to see you and Hojou-kun together!"
"So lucky… You must've met a bunch of famous writers, huh?"
"…"
Shouko looked flustered, but did her best to explain that the other girls were great too—Eriri was the perfect, refined lady; Miyamizu Mitsuha was a talented shrine maiden skilled in both academics and athletics...
Meanwhile, Sakura happily accepted every compliment with a huge grin.
"Wahahaha, really? Ohhh, thanks for voting! I'll keep doing my best—hahahaha, I totally agree!"
Her laugh was so loud and unfiltered it bordered on maniacal, and yet that unpretentious charm only made her classmates like her more.
The buzzing energy didn't settle down until their homeroom teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka, entered and loudly announced the start of class.
As the no-nonsense Japanese teacher took roll call at the front, Kyousuke couldn't help but think back to all the frantic online posts she'd made campaigning for votes for Yukari and Miki.
Seriously, Hiratsuka-sensei… If you have that much free time, can't you just download a few more dating apps?
And hey, if you could act like a normal teacher online the way you do in class, you might actually be able to land a date with some poor soul out there.
"Hojou Kyousuke!"
Hiratsuka gritted her teeth as she called out his name.
This bastard… How dare he flirt with so many girls!
'My poor Yukari and Miki…'
'Wait a minute—now even little Yukino-chan is at risk?!'
If Haruno finds out her precious little sister is hanging around this two-faced playboy, who knows how much she'll panic?
That unusually intense roll-call shout had everyone glancing up in surprise.
Why was Hiratsuka-sensei so emotional just calling out Hojou's name?
Was she just overwhelmed by having a celebrity in class?
Well… fair enough.
Even someone like me, a total 2D otaku, practically trembled when I saw Mars Corporation and the Ice Queen Kosaka Akane publicly apologizing to our "Minister Hojou" across every major online platform.
Never in my life did I think I'd end up in the same classroom as someone that important.
Wait, just realizing that makes me want to take a few extra deep breaths.
'Maybe I'll even catch a bit of air just exhaled by him…'
With that absurd thought, Hikigaya Hachiman began looking forward to today's kendo club practice.
He already had it planned—tonight, he'd snap a photo of the bruises on his arms and post it to SNS with the caption:
"Hojou Kyousuke-buchou's training is as brutal as ever. I'll work twice as hard to live up to his expectations!"
With luck, that might even get him a few likes.
No, scratch that—definitely! Just the name "Hojou Kyousuke" was guaranteed to bring in views.
Believe in yourself, Hachiman!
"Here."
Kyousuke raised his hand, still clueless as to why Hiratsuka was glaring at him like that.
Did she just realize she'd wasted her entire weekend too?
As a side note, Kisaki Tetta didn't show up to class today.
He was busy at the studio, organizing production for the Attack on Titan committee with support from Mars and Kosaka Akane.
There were endless documents to sign and deals to finalize.
As for school? He'd long since outgrown it.
If not for helping his boss handle campus affairs, his focus would've shifted fully to the business world ages ago.