"The explanation for the archery club is now over. Next up is..."
Hello. I'm Saitou Tsugumi, and I'm steadily growing closer to Ayanokouji-kun. It's only been two days since we met, but he's so interesting when he gets excited over little things that it makes me want to teach him all sorts of things. He got so fired up just by us sitting together for lunch... Was he a truant in elementary and middle school?
"So, what's up? We're in the middle of this, but have you decided on a club you want to join?"
Jokes aside, I asked Ayanokouji-kun, who was vacantly listening to the presentations next to me. Given his personality, he doesn't seem like the type to join a club.
" ...Honestly, the bar seems too high. Especially for sports clubs."
"Are you still bothered by what Horikita-san said?"
I felt sorry for both of them in a way. Ayanokouji-kun, for being told, "If a club has a lot of members, they can get a lot of funding, so they'll probably welcome beginners. But their ideal is for you to become a ghost member after that." And Horikita-san, for being so twisted that she would genuinely think such a thing.
"What is it? I don't believe I said anything wrong."
Maybe she noticed my gaze, because Horikita-san turned her sharp eyes toward me.
"I don't think it's wrong, but I don't think it's something you should say to someone who wants to join a club, either."
"Why should I be considerate of Ayanokouji-kun? Besides, with such half-hearted intentions...!"
At that, Horikita-san's body suddenly jumped. The words coming out of her mouth cut off, and her face turned pale as she stared at the stage.
"What's wrong?"
Ayanokouji-kun called out to her, but she didn't seem to notice at all. This is rare; I've never seen her so flustered. A representative from the baseball club is on stage right now. There's nothing particularly strange about him.
It's impossible for her to have fallen in love at first sight, so what I'm sensing from her reaction is something much deeper.
It felt like a jumbled mix of surprise, awe, and joy.
"Are you okay, Horikita-san?"
I spoke to her again, but she still didn't react. I met Ayanokouji-kun's eyes and shrugged. I guess we'll just have to wait a little longer.
One representative left the stage after finishing their explanation, then another, until it was finally the last person's turn. Everyone's gaze was fixed on them. It was then that I first noticed the person Horikita-san was staring at.
"No one's even trying to get them to quiet down, even with all this noise."
"Yeah, it really is a more relaxed school than I thought."
The student in question stood at the front. Well, this is the person who caused Horikita-san's reaction. I wonder what he'll say.
My expectations were immediately betrayed. The student didn't say a single word. He didn't seem to be dazed, so...
"Good luck~"
"Don't you have a script~?"
"Hahahahaha!"
Some first-year students yelled out heckles. But even so, he just stood there, completely unfazed. Amazing. For a high school student to do this.
He probably hasn't forgotten what he was going to say; he's "waiting" for the other students to quiet down.
And after about a minute passed, the hall fell into a silence so profound you'd think the previous commotion was a lie. In the middle of it, he slowly looked around the entire room and began his speech.
"I am the student council president, Horikita Manabu."
Wow. Horikita... this is amazing.
It's impossible for them to have the same last name by coincidence. Horikita-san's reaction also makes sense if you consider that the senior on stage is her older brother. So, she's also the type of person with family issues, huh?
His voice echoed throughout the gymnasium. His clear voice carried well in the silent space.
"That student council president is amazing."
"?"
I intended to whisper, but Ayanokouji-kun, who was next to me, seemed to have heard and was looking at me with a question mark on his face.
I laughed it off and thought about the relationship between the speaker and Horikita-san.
Her brother is undoubtedly excellent. He couldn't have used that technique with just a mediocre level of skill. The technique he used was a kind of public speaking skill.
It's a technique that creates tension and makes the audience more receptive to the speech, said to have been used by the famous Adolf Hitler. It's easy to say, but how many people can actually pull it off? To have the guts to do it as a high school student, and in this setting, is something a normal person would never have.
That made Horikita-san's emotions make sense. It's "admiration." Her harshness towards others is probably a reflection of her inferiority complex. I'm sorry if I'm wrong.
"And—we, the student council, do not want candidates who have a weak mindset. Such people will not only fail to be elected but will also leave a stain on the school. The student council of this school has been recognized and expected by the school to have the right and mission to change the rules. We will only welcome those who understand that."
With that final statement, he left the stage.
"Thank you all for your hard work. The orientation is now over. We will now begin accepting club applications—"
"Horikita-san? Hey."
I waved my hand in front of her, but she showed no reaction. I was tempted to play a prank on her, but I stopped myself because I didn't want to be called a pervert like Ayanokouji-kun.
While Horikita-san was still zoned out, Ayanokouji-kun seemed to be talking to someone.
"Huh? Someone you know?"
"Yeah. A little, from yesterday."
"Oh, really? Is he a classmate? He wasn't there during the self-introductions. I'm Saitou Tsugumi, nice to meet you!"
The person Ayanokouji-kun was talking to was a big, intimidating-looking student who looked like a delinquent.
"Sudo."
"Nice to meet you, Sudo-kun. Hey, aren't those Ike-kun and Yamauchi-kun behind you? Are you two joining a club, too?"
Behind Sudo-kun were Ike-kun, who livened up the class yesterday, and Yamauchi-kun, who supposedly went to the Inter-High in middle school. I would have come up with a better lie than that.
"Well, we're here to liven things up, I guess. It just seems fun. And we're hoping to have a fated encounter."
"A fated encounter?"
Ayanokouji-kun asked back at Ike-kun's words. Well, a "fated encounter" from guys like him can only mean one thing.
"My goal is to be the first one in Class D to get a girlfriend. So I'm looking for a new one."
Here we go. I think it's very high school-like, but declaring it so openly might backfire.
While I was thinking that, Ayanokouji-kun exchanged contact information with the three of them. For a guy like Ike-kun, who is so upbeat, it should be easy if he just has a little guts... Oh well, at least Ayanokouji-kun made new friends, which is great.
----------
"Still, it's rare to have a swimming class at this time of year, isn't it?"
It was a week after the school started, and I was preparing for class after having lunch with Ayanokouji-kun as usual.
"Yeah. I thought we'd do it a little later, when it gets warmer."
"Well, I don't hate it, so it's fine."
Swimming is something you're either good at or bad at. I'm glad I had a little experience.
"Hey, you guys! Hurry up! I'm itching to see them!"
I heard Ike-kun's voice and rushed to the locker room. In the past week, I've become pretty close with him.
Ike-kun apparently has a thing against handsome guys, but it seems I'm not on his hit list. Yousuke-kun, on the other hand, is hated exceptionally. Well, he probably doesn't like his entrance ceremony speech or the fact that he only eats lunch with girls. When I don't have plans after school, I go to karaoke with Yousuke-kun and his group, but I probably shouldn't mention that.
I'm not going to explain what he wanted to see; it'll become clear later.
"Whoa, this school is amazing! This is probably better than a public pool!"
"I know. It's a 50-meter indoor pool. I used to swim a bit, but it's rare to see a facility this good."
To be honest, I think they've spent too much money, but I'll happily enjoy the perks.
"Wow~, it's so big, way bigger than my middle school's~"
"Th-they're here!?"
A little while later, I heard the girls' exclamations and Ike-kun's voice. By now, you should know. What he wanted to see were the girls in their swimsuits.
He was talking to Ayanokouji-kun about something earlier, but I'm keeping my distance because I don't want to be seen as one of them.
"Aren't you going to join that group?"
As I was stretching, Horikita-san spoke to me. With those words, she was looking at them as if they were trash. She's scary. I'm glad I didn't go.
"I'm not completely uninterested, but I wouldn't do something so obvious..."
"I see. I'm glad you're not a person who would do something so stupid."
The "stupid thing" she mentioned was probably the bet from this morning. They were betting on the cup sizes of the girls.
Honestly, I was disgusted. It's not the kind of thing a guy who wants a girlfriend would do. Apparently, Ayanokouji-kun was part of it, too.
"I finally got away..."
"Oh, Ayanokouji-kun. Have you had enough of your vulgar betting?"
"No, that was just going with the flow..."
As we were talking, a slightly dejected Ayanokouji-kun slowly walked toward us. Of course, Horikita-san threw some sharp words at him, but he must be used to it by now.
Normally, Horikita-san would hit him with another jab, but to my surprise, she closed her mouth and looked at Ayanokouji-kun's body.
"...Ayanokouji-kun, did you play any sports?"
"Huh? No, not really. It's not a boast, but I was a member of the 'go home club' in middle school. Tsugumi is pretty much the same."
"He said he did some sports, and for you to be on the same level as him is strange."
"Maybe I just got a good body from my parents?"
She remembered that. I'm a little happy.
Anyway, I agree. There are undoubtedly genetic factors, but a physique like that can only be built with a lot of exercise, and I mean a lot. As Horikita-san said, it's strange that he's on the same level as me, who played sports like crazy since I was a kid.
"I don't believe that's the only reason."
"Well, he said he didn't, so let's just believe him."
Horikita-san still didn't give up. It would be rude to pry into his secret... but that's a lie. I felt that same sense of unease I felt on the first day of school. And I realized one thing.
Ayanokouji-kun probably has something in his past. Anyone has a past, big or small, but his is something more mysterious. I don't want to stir up trouble, so I'll stop here. I know we're close, but it's only been a week since we started school. I can only hope he tells me himself.
"...Okay, I understand."
I think that's the smart thing to do.
Oh, class is about to start. Alright, I guess I'll show off a little.
============
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