"You, it's been almost a week—where's that third club member you promised?"
Early in the morning.
At Sobu High's faculty office, Hiratsuka tapped the desk irritably, her appearance with a lollipop in her mouth resembling a female delinquent.
Standing before her, Yuu replied obediently: "I'm looking, I'm looking, just haven't found the right one yet."
"I told you to find a club member, not a girlfriend! Didn't I say you could just borrow a name?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she studied his expression.
"Or… don't tell me you forgot about it?"
Yuu immediately chuckled.
"No way! Hiratsuka-sensei, your teachings are always taken to heart, engraved in my soul, never to be forgotten!"
His tone was enthusiastic and respectful, no different from a top-ranking honor student.
"You… your knack for being annoying is top-notch…" Hiratsuka shook her head with a sigh, biting her lollipop. "Forget it, I didn't call you here for that. Let's drop it for now."
"Not for that, yet you talked about it for so long…"
The corner of his mouth twitched. Yuu felt cheated… his precious break time, wasted.
"It's about your grades."
Ignoring his speechless expression, Hiratsuka pulled a sheet from a folder, slamming it on the desk like summoning a monster, then glanced at him with a faint smile.
"Jumping from rank 103 in your year to the top three? You're really something."
Hearing that, Yuu couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
"What, the school suspects I cheated?"
The corner of his mouth curled, looking eager and ready.
Here it comes, the classic show-off-and-revenge plot!
Next, they'd probably make him retake the exam on the spot, right? Then some teacher who didn't like him would secretly swap the questions for ones even the top student couldn't solve, aiming to humiliate him, only for everyone to be shocked when he answers them all perfectly…
"You've been watching too many school dramas?"
His fleeting fantasy was ruthlessly crushed by a right fist.
Hiratsuka propped her head on her fist, leaning on the desk, looking at him with exasperation.
"It's not unheard of for grades to spike dramatically. You weren't exactly a delinquent who never studied. Who'd bother suspecting you of cheating? If anything, we should reward your effort to improve."
"At this morning's assembly, the school will commend you as a model of progress to motivate others, so I'm telling you in advance. Also, I wanted to ask if you have any study tips to share with your peers or inspiring experiences… Just following procedure."
His expression soured, and Yuu pursed his lips lazily: "Nothing special, just studied like crazy."
Her eyes lit up, and Hiratsuka clapped her hands excitedly: "Good, excellent!"
"For the sake of making your family proud, turning pride and disappointment into motivation, forcing yourself to study day and night, spending one summer break striving to reach the top… The heavens reward the diligent, and nobles must keep fighting! Tenkuji, well said, very well said!"
"…" Her overly enthusiastic tone left Yuu speechless.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Hurrying out of the weirdly tense faculty office, Yuu returned to class, immediately finding Totsuka and pitching his idea to join the Service Club.
But Totsuka gave an awkward, wry smile: "Uh, Yuu, did you forget… Only student council members can join two clubs at once."
"…" Yuu smacked his forehead.
Now this was awkward.
He'd thought just borrowing a name would do, that he could ask anyone to sign the club approval form. He had no idea there was a rule about loyal members not serving two clubs.
Excluding strangers he'd never spoken to, in the vast Sobu High, he could probably only ask Yuigahama Yui, Natsukawa Masuzu, or his junior from his part-time job, Isshiki Iroha, for help.
What else could he do? Yuu's social circle was pathetically small, barely enough to count even new transfer students. Still, if he really tried, the odds of convincing Masuzu to join the club were pretty high.
Like, trading it for keeping quiet about that time she wasn't wearing underwear…
"I'd be an idiot to do that."
Sighing in frustration, unable to find a good solution, Yuu pushed the issue out of his mind.
On the way to the main hall for the morning assembly, blending into the class crowd, he discreetly pulled out his phone.
Though he wasn't sure if the other person would see it, Yuu sent a message anyway.
Yuu: {You there?}
About five minutes later, when Class 2-F had reached the main hall, she finally replied:
Asuna: {Messaging at a time like this… Something super important?}
Yuu: {Yeah, chatting with you}
Asuna, hiding in the bathroom and secretly using her phone, couldn't help but giggle. Then she quickly straightened her slightly flushed face, typing on the screen with a serious expression.
Asuna: {I snuck out to reply to you. If you're messing with me, watch out, I'll unblock you!}
Yuu: {Alright, I was going to practice being your virtual boyfriend in real life. Since you hate it so much, I'll get to the point}
Seeing the suddenly serious message, Asuna frowned, her cheeks puffing out in displeasure.
Asuna: {I didn't say I hated it… I can only be in the bathroom for two or three minutes, or people will get suspicious}
This prestigious all-girls school, known for its high graduation rates, wasn't overly strict and relied on student discipline, allowing phones—but staying in the bathroom too long could draw odd looks and gossip.
So, holding her phone, Asuna felt a bit anxious and restless.
She wanted to relax and chat with him but was also afraid of getting caught by a teacher or friend. While replying, she quietly grumbled about why he didn't pick a better time.
Wouldn't the lunch break have been perfect?
He had to choose the first class period—what a guy who can't read the room!
Of course, as Yuu said, this was just to practice being her virtual boyfriend, so Asuna wouldn't feel shocked by his initiative to chat.
After all, it was all just for Grandma Martha's mission!
After some mental gymnastics to justify it, Asuna guiltily glanced around the bathroom stall before focusing back on the messages.
Yuu: {Suspected of constipation, huh? That'd be rough. I'll tell you at lunch, get out of the bathroom}
"…"
Veins popped on her fair hand, Asuna's cheek twitched, and the faint sound of grinding teeth came from between her lips.
If humans could travel through signals, she'd rush to him right now, like back in Aincrad, grab anything, and stab him full of holes!
(I ran out here for you, and now you say that—aren't you just toying with me?!)
Yuu: {Anyway, something came up I need to handle. Let's talk later}
After sending that message, Yuu closed the chat interface, then raised his hand, covering the head of someone peeking from behind.
"Yuigahama-san… Excuse me, what are you spying on?"