My name is Gotou Hitori, 15 years old. Just your average high school girl.
...Well, maybe not average.
I've always been shy and withdrawn. In my first year of junior high, I happened to see a band interview on TV. One of the lines stuck with me:
"Even socially anxious people can shine in a band."
That one sentence gave me hope. So I borrowed my dad's old guitar, locked myself in my room, and practiced. Every day. Six hours. Rain or shine.
One day, I thought… I'll form a band! I'll play at the school festival! Everyone will notice me!
...And then I blinked, and three years passed.
I didn't form a band. I didn't play at the festival. I didn't even make a single friend.
And somewhere along the way… I became what people call a "super social phobic."
"…Eh?"
When Kasumigaoka Touji said those words to me, my mind blanked out.
My signature cowlick—my ahoge—literally stood up in shock.
"EHHHHHHHH?!"
I flailed my arms like an inflatable tube man, nearly toppling over backwards in my chair.
"Waah—!"
Fortunately, I managed to grab onto my desk and save myself from a dramatic fall.
"Phew…"
My hands trembled as I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
Wait. Deep breath. Reboot.
What just happened!?
I quickly peeked at Kasumigaoka Touji-san. He looked completely calm, maybe even… kind?
But the moment our eyes met, I quickly averted my gaze. Too intense!
"I-I-I d-don't remember applying to any club…?" I said, my voice about as stable as jelly.
What was happening?! What did I miss!?
Did I apply in my sleep? Am I dreaming?
No… maybe I have amnesia?!
"That's right. You didn't apply," Touji-san said calmly. "But you can still apply now."
"Eh—?"
It took a second for my brain to catch up.
Oh. So I'm not already in the club. He just wants me to join it.
S-S-Scary…!
"I, um… uh…"
No!
I wanted to say no, but the words got stuck in my throat. I froze.
Kasumigaoka Touji-san noticed my hesitation.
But instead of backing off, he leaned in slightly with a soft smile, the kind that made you feel like spring just bloomed right in front of you.
"Gotou-san," he said gently, "you haven't decided on any club yet, right?"
I nodded weakly.
"I think you'd really enjoy a quiet lounge. Somewhere peaceful. Somewhere you can just… breathe, you know?"
I nodded again.
Touji-san… understood.
Watching this strange exchange from the side, Mayonaka Kokonoka-san tilted her head curiously.
She had been educated at home overseas and rarely interacted with other students until now. A classmate with such overwhelming social anxiety was new to her.
"Hey, hey… what's going on over there?" someone whispered nearby.
"Is it bullying?"
"No way, right?"
"Wait… that's Kasumigaoka-kun. He wouldn't do that…"
More and more classmates began turning their heads toward the scene in the back corner.
Kasumigaoka Touji sighed.
Great… now it looks like I'm the villain in a school drama…
Honestly, it was no surprise. In the system's character sheet, it said "Difficulty Level: ★★★" for Gotou-san making friends.
Two stars harder than starting a whole club!
As if things couldn't get worse—
"If she doesn't want to, you shouldn't push her."
That came from the front.
Touji looked up to see Kuriyama Takeshi—the bleached-blond dude from the 'cool guys' clique—standing with his arms crossed and a casual frown on his face.
Surprising. He actually seemed… reasonable?
ever judge a book by its frosted tips, I guess.
But Touji didn't take it to heart. Instead, he replied with his usual calm smile.
"I'm not forcing Gotou-san or anything, Kuriyama-kun. I just want to give a lonely outsider a soft landing into a world where she might feel… a little more at ease."
Kuriyama, however, narrowed his eyes.
It sounded noble, sure.
Kuriyama narrowed his eyes. "Hmph… sounds more like you just want a microwave club."
Touji twitched.
He heard that!?
Still… he couldn't deny one thing—Gotou Hitori was a loner. It wasn't bullying or anything malicious. Everyone had just quietly accepted the fact that she kept to herself, never joined group work voluntarily, and sat in the back corner like a decorative plant.
With her personality, it was clear she'd never take the initiative to join a club. And yet here she was, being offered a low-pressure way in.
Kuriyama sighed internally and shrugged. "Whatever. Do what you want."
Touji gave him a polite nod, then turned back to Gotou Hitori with a gentle expression.
"So… Gotou-san, do you think you could scoot your chair back over? You're kind of halfway to Narnia."
"…Y-Yes!"
Realizing her current position was drawing even more attention, Gotou Hitori quickly shuffled her chair forward, cheeks pink.
Touji placed his palm lightly on the edge of her desk, then began explaining, like a tutor patiently walking someone through an assignment.
"The Nap Club is still in the 'in-formation' stage. We need at least five members. Right now, we've got three. Two more and we're golden."
He tilted his head slightly toward Mayonaka Kokonoka, who perked up with a little sparkle in her eyes.
"Our current club president here is someone who truly treasures her naps."
"Mhm!" Kokonoka-chan nodded enthusiastically, hands clasped in front of her chest. "Napping is super soothing, you know? It's like… hugging a cloud. Wanna join us, Gotou-san?"
She leaned forward ever so slightly, looking like an innocent woodland creature inviting a stranger into its comfy little den.
Gotou Hitori was silent.
Refusal through silence. The classic move of the terminally shy.
To be honest, Gotou's brain was a mess. She hadn't spoken a full sentence since first period, and now she was being recruited into a club by two people she barely knew.
Still… something about the way Touji-kun said "suitable environment" tugged at her heart.
Is… is he being nice to me? Not as a joke, but seriously?
She peeked up at him, but the moment their eyes met, she panicked and looked away, like a squirrel caught stealing chestnuts.
Touji chuckled softly, then raised a single finger.
"In other words… the club president is basically just a mascot!"
"Ehhh!? I'm a mascot now!?" Kokonoka-chan gasped, visibly shaken.
Gotou glanced between the two of them again, startled by the dynamic.
But Touji kept going, brushing off Kokonoka's protest with practiced ease.
"Also, the other member and I won't be around every day. Which means…"
He pointed dramatically at Gotou Hitori, locking eyes for just a moment.
"If you join the Nap Club… you'll have the clubroom all to yourself! Just think about it—your own personal nap haven, no crowds, no noise…"
Touji spread his arms theatrically and leaned in like a salesman offering a limited-time deal.
"So, Gotou-san… what do you say? Nap Club. Yes?"
"...I-I'll join!"
The words slipped out before she could think.
Her brain had gotten stuck on "your own personal nap haven." Before she realized it, her mouth moved on its own—and now she'd committed.
W-Wait no… take it back! Abort!
Gotou Hitori wanted to pretend she hadn't said anything.
But Touji was too quick.
"Wonderful. Welcome to the Nap Club." He smoothly slid the club application form in front of her. "Now, if you'll just fill this out…"
"Clap clap clap clap!"
Kokonoka-chan broke into applause beside her, her eyes sparkling. Whether she was celebrating the new member or Touji's flawless persuasion skills was anyone's guess.
And just like that—
Gotou Hitori became the third official member of the Nap Club.
Three down.
Two more to go.
The dream was alive!
…Kind of.