"Tsuna, is there any club you want to join?" Shouko placed the club application forms she had collected over the past two days in front of a certain person.
"..."
Tsuna withdrew his gaze from the stars outside the window and quickly scanned the application forms on the desk. "Does the Go-Home Club count?"
Shouko didn't say anything, just watching him quietly, her meaning already clear.
Today, Nanase-sensei had briefly explained some reasons to them. The general idea was that everyone should ideally join a club.
However, most people didn't take Nanase-sensei's words to heart and forgot about them in the blink of an eye.
"Hmm..." Tsuna pondered for a moment, then slowly stated the name of a club.
"'Far East Magic Nap Society's Summer'? Does our school really have this club? Why do I have no impression of it at all...?"
Shouko was a little suspicious that the person in front of her had just made up a bizarre name to humor her.
"Yes, it's in an inconspicuous corner to the right of the club recruitment area." Tsuna nodded, seeing that she still didn't believe him, and patiently explained:
"If you don't believe me, you'll notice it when you look around tomorrow."
As for why he mentioned this club's name? It was because, if he really had to choose a club to join, that club was the optimal choice.
You could leave early, you could sleep, the club members had a good atmosphere, and there was little trouble... Probably...
Anyway, as long as you could tolerate 'a little bit' of minor issues, it was a perfect substitute for the Go-Home Club.
Shouko tried to see if he was lying by looking into his eyes, but after staring for a while, she saw nothing, only thinking that Tsuna's eyes were really beautiful...
Putting away those messy thoughts, Shouko started asking him about going to the Shibuya driving school this afternoon.
"The environment is okay. I just went to meet the instructor and get some study materials, then came back. Otherwise, I wouldn't have returned earlier than you."
Shouko nodded upon hearing this. After he finished speaking, she also began to share the interesting things she encountered while browsing the recruitment area with Ajitani this afternoon, and so on...
However, all she got were perfunctory responses from a certain person.
Finally, Shouko rolled her eyes, as if venting her dissatisfaction, rubbing Tsuna's cheeks hard with both hands, while pouting and mumbling:
"I want to go see the driving school in Shibuya with you tomorrow too."
Tsuna hesitated for a moment, but still agreed.
"Then you can't go back on your word tomorrow!" Seeing this, Shouko happily let go of a certain person's cheeks, turned back to her seat, and started drawing illustrations.
As for whether she still needed to check out the club Tsuna mentioned earlier, it was no longer important.
It wasn't until after ten o'clock at night that Shouko packed up her things, said goodnight to him, and left Miyamura's place. Tsuna read the materials for about ten minutes, then also chose to go back to bed and sleep.
He was now confident that, barring any major accidents, he would get his motorcycle driver's license by next week at the latest.
In early April in Tokyo, cherry blossoms had just sprouted new buds, and the mornings and evenings were still cool.
In the blink of an eye, it rained twice consecutively, and the temperature suddenly rose. The flower buds on the branches all bloomed, and people rushing to work and school on the streets also changed into light jackets.
By the weekend, looking again, the wind blowing through the cherry blossom trees in front of the station caused petals to fall rustlingly.
"Today is the last day for club recruitment. Remember to hurry up if you haven't checked it out yet. If you miss it, you'll have to wait until next year."
Nanase-sensei on the podium finally listed a few benefits of joining a club one by one.
A certain person below, engrossed in watching the sparrows outside the window, didn't hear a single word.
A week had passed since Shouko accompanied him to the driving school after they made a deal. He had already passed the written test and several subsequent tests, and now only the 'emergency braking' test remained.
He expected to pass the remaining test in the next couple of days and receive his motorcycle driver's license on the spot.
Regarding clubs, he chose not to join any, while Shouko and Ajitani signed up to join the Art Club yesterday.
As for worrying if Shouko would be ostracized or bullied by other club members, he had considered this, but he still trusted Ajitani.
Moreover, when Shouko and Ayumi went to submit their applications, they also encountered 'Miyagi Yuki' senpai, who was their senior and the Art Club Leader in middle school and had particularly looked after him and Shouko.
With these two present, he had absolutely nothing to worry about.
Takagi chose to join the Literature Club in the last few days, and there's no need to mention Nishikata; Takagi submitted her application, and Nishikata submitted his right after.
As for why Takagi, who was in the Go-Home Club, changed her mind and chose the Literature Club, he had heard Shouko mention it.
To summarize Shouko's explanation, the Literature Club allowed 'occasional' early departures and gave first-hand access to the latest manga and novels, which is why Takagi changed her mind.
And this was also one of Nishikata's reasons for joining the Literature Club...
And these past few days, he had already encountered everyone from the 'Far East Magic Nap Society' except for the male and female protagonists.
At first, he felt a strange 'hostility' from 'Isseki Makoto' senpai towards him, but later when they met again, that feeling was completely gone.
"Dong... Dong... Dong...!"
"Clap clap clap..."
Nanase-sensei on the podium clapped her hands forcefully, drawing the attention of the students who had been distracted by the bell back to her:
"Alright, everyone, class is dismissed. Be careful on your way home."
Before she could even leave the classroom, it erupted into noise, the sound of desks and chairs mixed with excited desk-slapping. Nanase-sensei shook her head helplessly and walked out of the classroom.
"Tsuna, it's the last day. Do you want to go see the recruitment area?" Shouko suggested while packing her school bag.
He had actually only gone to see it on the first day and hadn't been back since.
And when Shouko said this, she also had 'a little bit' of self-interest involved.
Tsuna hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and refused. Today, Shouko and the others had to go report to their clubs. If he went to look, he'd be alone, so he might as well go to the driving school.
Moreover, he genuinely had no interest in joining a club.
"Okay..."
Seeing this, Shouko didn't try to persuade him further. She had originally thought that if Tsuna saw a club he liked, she would apply for another one to join him.
Although there were pros and cons, since Tsuna had no interest, then so be it.
The advantage was that even though she couldn't be with Tsuna constantly after school in the afternoon, they could still go home together, and sometimes she could go to the club he applied for to accompany him.
The disadvantage... was that there might be some thoughtless girls trying to hook up with him when she wasn't around, although she knew Tsuna probably wouldn't pay attention to those people...
The few of them lingered for a while before leaving the classroom and heading in different directions. Although everyone was in different clubs, they could still go home together after school.
After all, the start and end times for club activities were the same, unless something caused a delay.