While Bai Li enjoyed the tonkatsu bento made by Chihaya Anon, he listened to the band girl beside him recount recent events.
"It's like this... yesterday, before everyone went to the live house for practice, Rikki saw what looked like a fierce argument break out between Sayo and that Toyokawa Sakiko..."
"Who won the argument?"
"I'm being serious, Bai Li-kun."
"If you can tell who won, it proves who held the initiative."
Bai Li popped a piece of tonkatsu into his mouth and continued, "For example, when I was still in the band, even though they were all willing to listen to my arrangements, there would still be dissenting voices, and I always managed to win them over."
"I didn't realize Bai Li-kun was so assertive during his time in the band."
"If you act weak, you can't lead a band, and I'm not good at playing the gentle type."
Nagasaki Soyo, and Ijichi Nijika, whom he hadn't met yet, both belonged to the 'older sister' type, or perhaps the 'same-age mom' type of character?
No matter what, Bai Li didn't have that kind of persona.
"Assertive, huh..."
"Exactly. There must be a conflict between Nagasaki-san and Toyokawa-san. If they ignore it, neither side can move forward. This is where an outsider doing something might be useful."
"I see."
"But you have to be assertive."
"Hmm... I understand."
Chihaya Anon nodded repeatedly.
She straightened up, puffed out her chest, and looked at the sky.
"I! Chihaya Anon! Will definitely solve MyGO's problems!"
"..."
Did she overdo it a bit?
The now invigorated Chihaya Anon returned to her seat.
"I'll go find Rikki and the others later."
"No problem."
"By the way, how much is today's bento worth?"
"Today's a bit higher, 1500 yen."
"Yay!"
Chihaya Anon pumped her fist triumphantly again.
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After imparting his experience on assertively intervening in band issues to Chihaya Anon in the morning, Bai Li soon welcomed dismissal time.
He didn't immediately call Mai to go home but instead arranged to meet her in the clubroom.
Because after the dismissal bell rang, he was once again called to the office by Kirisu Mafuyu.
"The club's establishment application has been approved, but for now, it's just a hobby group. If you want funding, you'll need to recruit enough members."
"I'll act according to the situation, Teacher Kirisu."
"Because Bai Li-kun's grades are very good, I wasn't worried before, but I still have to say, don't neglect your studies because of club activities."
"Of course."
Bai Li nodded solemnly.
After discussing these matters, he left the office.
But as soon as he reached the corridor, he was called by someone behind him.
Hiratsuka Shizuka stood at the office door, asking curiously, "Bai Li-kun, the Service Club is next to that clubroom, right?"
"That's right, is there a problem?"
"Not really a problem, it's just... you haven't interacted with them? The students in that clubroom."
"Are you referring to Yukinoshita-san?"
"Yes, what's she like?"
"She's very suited to over-the-knee socks."
"???"
Hiratsuka Shizuka's head filled with question marks.
She shook her head gently and immediately changed the subject.
"Bai Li, I'm not joking with you. That student... Yukinoshita-san hasn't talked to you about anything strange?"
"Strange?"
"It seems not yet. Perhaps it will happen later... you'll encounter it sooner or later. Anyway, I'm counting on you."
Hiratsuka Shizuka's words left Bai Li bewildered.
With his doubts, he parted ways with Hiratsuka Shizuka and walked along the familiar corridor towards the clubroom.
During this time, he received a message from Sakurajima Mai.
[Sakurajima Mai: I'll be a bit late. Teacher has some things to clarify with everyone.]
After sending an 'No problem' message, Bai Li slightly increased his pace.
Since school had just ended, students could still be seen active everywhere.
Some were discussing the school festival a few months away;
Others were talking about the unusual incidents mentioned in the news.
Bai Li walked straight towards his destination, passing by them.
As Bai Li was about to reach the door, he noticed a girl standing there.
It was Yukino Yukinoshita.
The president of the Service Club next door.
She stood straight at the doorway, holding a book, gently turning the pages and reading its contents.
"Is that book good, Yukinoshita-san?"
"..."
Hearing the voice, Yukinoshita closed her book and met Bai Li's gaze.
"If Bai Li is truly interested, I am willing to explain and elaborate in detail. If it's just polite small talk, I hope we don't waste each other's time."
"Just polite small talk, a casual question."
"Then let's get straight to the point."
"Let's go inside first."
Bai Li pushed open the clubroom door.
"The door wasn't locked. Yukinoshita-san didn't need to wait outside at all."
"I don't like to enter other people's clubrooms without permission."
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Isn't there only mineral water here?"
"That was polite small talk."
Bai Li replied casually.
Yukino Yukinoshita didn't respond but sat down on one side.
"Excuse me for intruding."
"It's fine. Anyway, my club doesn't get many visitors. Having a beautiful girl here might change this boring environment a bit."
"Bai Li certainly has the potential to be a beautiful girl."
"I was talking about Yukinoshita-san."
"Casual compliments can be worrying, you know."
Yukino Yukinoshita sat up straight and emphasized, "Before I deeply understand, I don't believe I can make Bai Li-kun think I'm excellent based on appearance alone."
"Most people's first impression is based on looks."
To put it bluntly, this is a world that judges by appearance.
Getting back to the main topic.
Bai Li-kun took the floor again.
"Yukinoshita-san, why are you looking for me?"
"This place is called the Mysterious Research Society, and Bai Li-kun is the president, right?"
"That's right, Mai-senpai is the vice president."
"To be honest, I don't believe in supernatural mysteries; there are only unknowns that haven't been understood and discovered."
"Different worldviews certainly lead to different ideas."
"However, I want to give it a try."
Yukino Yukinoshita stood up and bowed her head, "I've encountered a problem, Bai Li-kun... could you please help me?"
On the second day Bai Li-kun established the club, Yukino Yukinoshita sent him her first request.