"One last thing, regarding club activities."
Nanase Teacher, who had returned to the classroom, saw that the students below were already a bit listless, so she went straight to the point:
"Club recruitment starts tomorrow. Everyone can go take a look after school tomorrow. If anyone is interested in signing up, remember to tell the teacher."
As for why not today? That's because today is the first day, and there's only half a day of classes.
The older students, on the other hand, had a full day of classes today, so recruitment couldn't be done.
Immediately after, Nanase Teacher explained a few more points to note, arranged the daily duty roster, and then let everyone go home after school, adding a reminder: "Be careful." Then she walked out of the classroom.
"I'm going to the restroom."
Tsuna casually said a word to Shouko, who was sitting next to him, then got up and left the classroom through the back door.
"Mhm."
"Shouko-chan, are you planning to join a club in high school?" Ajitani turned her head and asked curiously.
"Hmm..." Shouko paused while packing her bag. This question seemed to have really caught her off guard.
The illustration request for the second volume of 'Anohana' that Tsuna gave her hasn't had a single drawing completed yet...
She slowly shook her head and answered truthfully, "Probably not... It's more likely I'll join the Going-Home Club..."
She also asked, "Ajitani-chan, do you want to join a club in high school?"
Ajitani didn't answer. Instead, she took out her phone, opened a popular high school topic thread, and showed it to Shouko.
"High school life is imperfect if you don't join a club?" Shouko read the large text inside, feeling even more confused.
"Ajitani-chan, joining the Going-Home Club is also joining a club, so it's still a perfect high school life."
Just then, Takagi, who had finished packing her bag, walked to the aisle left of the two and took the phone from Ajitani's hand.
"Takagi-chan, are you also not planning to join a club in high school?" Ajitani asked, puzzled. She didn't seem to mind Takagi directly taking the phone from her hand.
Ajitani's voice wasn't loud, but it still managed to catch someone's attention, especially since he was also curious about this.
"I'm not sure." Takagi briefly scanned the popular topic, returned the phone to her, and shook her head. "Shall we all go check out the recruitment area tomorrow?"
"Okay."
"I have no objection."
"What about Nishikata?" Takagi turned to look at Nishikata, who seemed to be spacing out.
"Huh...? Oh... Mhm, okay!"
Afterward, the few of them chatted about clubs for a bit. Seeing that there weren't many students gathered around the timetable area, they walked over together to check it out.
——————————
"Shoya, why don't you even say hello when you see an old classmate?"
Originally, as soon as school ended, Ishida Shouya quickly packed his textbooks, grabbed his bag, and hurried out the back door. But unexpectedly, someone called out to him just as he reached the stairwell.
People were coming and going all around. With his head lowered, he could clearly feel everyone's gaze on him, and his ears were filled with the surrounding discussions, as if they were all talking about him.
His hands unconsciously tightened their grip on his bag straps. He wished he could escape immediately.
"What's wrong? I'm greeting you like this, and you won't even acknowledge me?"
Listening to the other party's teasing words, he could tell that the other party was likely Shimada.
"..."
After a moment of hesitation, he still decided to look up and say hello to the other party, then escape this place.
Meanwhile, Tsuna, who had just finished washing his hands in the restroom, witnessed this dramatic scene.
At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh that fate was truly wondrous.
He didn't expect that even in high school, the few of them would still be in the same school: Shouya with his head lowered, Shimada with his squinty eyes, and Hirose Keisuke standing beside them, choosing to ignore the situation.
Between returning to the classroom to find Shouko and stepping forward to help resolve the situation, Tsuna chose to watch first.
Putting everything else aside, he had been quite curious about Ishida Shouya's state before.
"Shimada—"
Tsuna saw Shouya raise his head and meet the gaze of Shimada opposite him. Unlike Shimada's squinty eyes that showed no emotion, the emotions in Shouya's eyes seemed a bit complex.
But before he could observe further, he saw Shouya suddenly cover his mouth, push past Shimada opposite him, and run downstairs.
Seeing the protagonist leave, Tsuna didn't linger either and walked straight toward the Class 2 classroom.
He became more certain about his previous thoughts. It seemed like something was wrong in Shouya's heart.
But perhaps that's also right...
In sixth grade, he was betrayed by someone he considered a good friend, receiving glares from most of the class and being ostracized by the entire class.
Then in the first year of middle school, because of the other party's half-truths, the middle school life he thought was a new beginning was shattered by the other party again.
Transferring classes in the second half of the semester, there might not have been bullying, but isolation and exclusion were definitely present. As for what happened after that, he wasn't very clear.
From the start of the second year of middle school onwards, he rarely heard any news about Shouya, mainly because he wasn't very interested in knowing or asking about him.
"Tsuna, you're so slow."
"Sor—"
Shouko raised her hand and covered his mouth, saying, "That's not what I meant."
"You two, we don't mind you showing affection as you walk, but can you please not stop in place to do it?" Ajitani said faintly.
The two apologized in unison and walked downstairs with the others. It was already late morning, and they were all a bit eager to rush home for lunch.
After leaving the school gate and walking together for a distance, the five of them parted ways as usual.
"Tsuna, classes will be from 8:30 onwards. Lunch break is from 12:40 PM to 1:25 PM." Shouko explained the high school timetable to him on the way.
"Only a little over 30 minutes for lunch break...?"
"Yeah, we'll have to eat quickly from now on." Shouko nodded. "School ends at 1:30 PM to 3:20 PM. There's also an elective class after that, but we probably won't be taking it."
"Hmm... Then there isn't much difference from middle school, except the lunch break is shorter."
"Oh, right." Shouko shook the hand she was holding. "How about we go take a look around the club recruitment area together tomorrow?"
Tsuna nodded without hesitation. He was still a bit interested in those high school clubs.
The two waved goodbye between the two houses. Shouko also said she would come over to play with him after eating.
"I want to take a nap at noon. How about in the afternoon?" Tsuna hesitated...
"It's fine. You take your nap, and I'll just quietly draw illustrations next to you." Shouko nodded, suppressing the corners of her mouth that wanted to curve upward.
The two chatted for a few more sentences before finally entering the house, unable to bear the scorching sun any longer.
"I'm home."
"Where's Shouko?" Shizuka's puzzled voice came from the dining room.
"..."
Tsuna changed his shoes and followed the sound into the kitchen before answering, "She went home to eat."
Lunchtime passed with Shizuka's questions. When he returned to the second floor to prepare for sleep, he received a message from Shouko.
「Tsuna, plans have changed. Ajitani-chan asked me out this afternoon, I'll come find you tonight」
「Be careful when you're out」
「(frantic nodding.jpg)」