One after another, everyone walked into the clubroom, and before long the room was buzzing with activity.
"Sato, what were you busy with yesterday?"
While waiting for Kotobuki Tsumugi to finish making tea, Yui rested her head on the table and looked up at Sato.
"Just a few minor things."
Sato smiled and brushed the matter aside. He then took several envelopes out of his school bag and placed them on the table.
"Here, everyone, take one. This one is Mio's."
He pulled out another envelope and handed it to Mio.
"Wow, what's this?"
Curious, Ritsu picked up an envelope and opened it, squinting inside.
A moment later, her eyes flew wide open.
"Th... this is..."
She looked at Sato in delight.
"Money! So much money!"
Meanwhile, Yui had already emptied her envelope.
She stared blankly at the crisp Fukuzawa Yukichi bills in her hands. In the next instant, she turned into a complete money lover.
"I... I can finally pay back my debt!"
Pouting pitifully, she gazed at the stack of bills.
Mio also took several Fukuzawa Yukichi bills (10,000-yen bill) from her own envelope. Even someone as composed as she was couldn't help the sparkle that appeared in her eyes.
"This is..."
She looked toward Sato.
Sato smiled.
"Your payment."
"Yay! I'm rich!"
"Waaah! I can finally pay off my debt!"
Ritsu and Yui were so happy they looked ready to jump into the air.
If there hadn't been other people in the clubroom, they probably would have started a celebration on the spot.
Sitting nearby, Nakano Azusa watched everyone with envy.
The seniors are all amazing...
To her, anyone who could earn money through their own abilities was incredibly impressive.
"Hehe! Azusa, I'll treat you this weekend!"
Ritsu suddenly wrapped an arm around Azusa's neck, waved the Fukuzawa bills in her hand, and grinned.
I'm rich now too!
"Idiot, we have social practice this weekend."
Mio shook her head.
"Huh? Oh, right! Then next week... Mugi, hurry over! This one's yours!"
Ritsu sighed regretfully after realizing her mistake, then excitedly waved at Tsumugi, who had just walked over carrying the tea.
Tsumugi had clearly been waiting impatiently.
As soon as she set the tray down, she immediately picked up her envelope.
Her bright blue eyes sparkled as she let out a long exclamation.
"Ooh..."
She seemed completely frozen in place.
Her eyes remained fixed on the envelope in her hands, shining brilliantly.
She looked almost like a pilgrim standing before a sacred relic.
"Sato-senpai, isn't Tsumugi-senpai supposed to be a rich young lady? Then why..."
Azusa hesitantly asked the question that had been on her mind.
She didn't finish her sentence, but Sato understood exactly what she meant.
At the moment, Tsumugi looked like someone who had never seen money before.
With a rather strange expression, Sato replied,
"Mugi really hasn't handled much money herself. After all, rich young ladies have everything provided for them. They never have to worry about earning a living..."
Azusa fell silent.
So this is what being a rich young lady is like?!
A moment later, Sato thoughtfully added,
"But more importantly, I think it's because this is the first money Mugi has ever earned herself."
I see...
But...
Isn't that reaction a little too exaggerated?
Azusa looked curiously at Tsumugi.
Are all rich young ladies this strange?
Thinking that, she glanced toward Yukinoshita Yukino.
She had heard Yukinoshita-senpai was also from a wealthy family, but she seemed completely different from Tsumugi.
"Good morning!"
Yuigahama Yui and Hikigaya Hachiman walked into the clubroom together.
As usual, Yuigahama naturally wandered over to the Light Music Club side.
The moment she noticed the envelopes everyone was holding, she let out a surprised cry.
Soon, the girls were all chatting away excitedly.
The noise made Sato's head ache.
He simply got up and moved over beside Hikigaya Hachiman to enjoy a little peace and quiet.
"What are you doing over here?"
Hachiman looked at him with obvious disgust.
Not only was this guy one of those irritating popular people, he even had designs on his little sister!
Seriously, what a pain.
"This clubroom doesn't belong to you."
Sato rolled his eyes back at him.
You're way too nosy.
The two of them ended up sitting together in the corner, staring at each other.
Bang.
Suddenly, the clubroom door opened again.
A mountain-like figure appeared in the doorway.
There were unusually many people visiting the clubroom today.
"My friend, one month apart feels like three autumns!"
A hearty voice rang out as the newcomer strode inside wearing a trench coat and speaking in an overly dramatic tone.
That voice couldn't be...
Hachiman covered his face helplessly and muttered the visitor's name.
"Zaimokuza Yoshiteru."
"Haha! My friend, I never expected... Ah, Sensei, you're here too!"
Zaimokuza had been greeting Hachiman, but the instant he spotted Sato, he abandoned him without hesitation and enthusiastically greeted Sato instead.
Sensei?
Ah, right.
After Sato had given him advice last time, Zaimokuza had started calling him that.
"What brings you here?"
Sato asked curiously.
Looking excited, Zaimokuza declared,
"Sensei, after receiving your guidance last time, I devoted countless days and nights to my work. At last, I have completed a masterpiece that will shake the ages!"
"So... you want me to read your new work?"
Sato was genuinely interested.
After all the advice he'd given him, it couldn't possibly be as bad as before... right?
"No!"
To Sato's surprise, Zaimokuza shook his head.
He pulled a still-sealed book from inside his coat, respectfully handed it over, and said,
"My book has already been published, so I wanted to show it to you, Sensei."
"What?!"
Hachiman practically leaped to his feet.
He stared at Zaimokuza in utter disbelief.
This guy actually pulled it off?!