Amakusa Shino's expression was serious.
"Listen up, Chitanda. Boys are naturally born with two balls..."
"Stop it!"
Uchiha Ryo directly reached out and covered Amakusa Shino's mouth. "President, I don't think you need to say this."
Shirogane Miyuki gave Amakusa Shino a meaningful look. "Ahem, President, I don't think this is appropriate to say out loud."
Amakusa Shino nodded helplessly.
"Uchiha-kun, why can't you tell me!" Chitanda's curious eyes were fixed on him. Uchiha Ryo could only clear his throat and say.
"Simply put, it's that boys like to have the ball in their hands."
Amakusa Shino, having broken free, added, "Because boys really like the feeling of shooting and scoring a goal."
In the future, I should keep Chitanda away from President Amakusa in the clubroom... Uchiha Ryo thought to himself.
Amakusa Shino, however, didn't seem to feel that her reputation was in tatters at all. "Today was so much fun. All the members have arrived, so we can officially start our club activities tomorrow."
"President, I have a suggestion."
Amakusa Shino's eyes lit up. "What is it, vice president? Please speak freely."
Uchiha Ryo put on a listless expression. "It's almost six o'clock. Why don't we dismiss? We can talk about club matters tomorrow."
"...."
Outside Shuchiin Academy, Shirogane Miyuki pushed his bicycle up beside Uchiha Ryo.
"So this is what club activities are like..."
Uchiha Ryo shook his head. "I'm sorry for dragging you into such a strange club."
Shirogane Miyuki chuckled. "There's no need to apologize. Although we just chatted today, and President Amakusa is... uniquely humorous, I can tell that pure-bloods like them don't reject people like me."
"Of course. Not all pure-bloods look down on mixed-bloods who entered from the outside. They just feel pressured by the atmosphere of the small cliques in class and don't dare to approach you."
"Is that so..."
Uchiha Ryo nodded. "Yes. For most children of the wealthy, unless you can display a status or ability stronger than theirs, they won't even give you a second glance."
Shirogane Miyuki fell silent.
Uchiha Ryo stopped walking. "Let's part ways here. It seems our homes aren't very far apart."
Shirogane Miyuki smiled. "Ah, see you tomorrow."
Club activities ended around six in the evening. Toyogasaki should have finished classes long ago by now.
Strolling back home, just as he pushed open the door, Fujiwara Touko came out of the kitchen.
"Ryo, you're back. How are you? Are you getting used to the new school?"
"Yes, Shuchiin is great. I made new friends and also joined a club."
Fujiwara Touko smiled and carried plates of home-cooked dishes into the living room.
"Go on and call Takashi down."
Uchiha Ryo stood up, went to the second floor, and knocked on Takashi's door.
"Takashi... I'm coming in."
Pushing the door open, he saw Takashi sitting on the floor, looking down and rummaging through something.
"What on earth are you doing? It's time for dinner."
Takashi turned his head, and upon seeing Uchiha Ryo, he said directly, "It's my grandmother's... Auntie Touko told me that someone sent over things from my old home today. These seem to be things my grandmother left behind."
"Is that so."
→
Seeing Takashi organizing the messy items, Uchiha Ryo just nodded. His gaze swept over the [Book of Friends] lying in the pile of miscellaneous things, and then he paid it no more mind.
"You can organize it after dinner. How was your day at Toyogasaki?"
"It was good. The classmates are very enthusiastic, but I don't really understand some of the things they talk about."
Uchiha Ryo said, "Oh? They're just high school students. What could they be talking about."
Takashi gave a wry smile. "It seems to be about anime, games, manga, and things like that. I haven't had much exposure to that stuff."
Uchiha Ryo nodded. "If they try to get you into it, remember not to go too deep. Those waters are very deep... You won't be able to handle it."
"By the way, we can walk together for the first part of the way to school. We can split up after we get to that especially long slope."
Takashi nodded. "Okay, sure."
For the past few years, I've been the one protecting Takashi with my Sharingan. From now on, that cat should be appearing soon.
Thinking of that Book of Friends, Uchiha Ryo's gaze couldn't help but fall on Takashi, who was eating. Once I've farmed some more affinity and exchanged my G-Points for more abilities, I'll find a way to solve Takashi's problems.
During dinner, Uchiha Ryo let out a burp and suddenly looked at Fujiwara Shigeru with a serious expression.
"Uncle Shigeru, Auntie Touko. I'm in high school now, and at a prestigious school like Shuchiin. So... I'm hoping to learn to live independently."
Fujiwara Touko frowned. "Ryo, you said last year that you wanted to live on your own, but still..."
Uchiha Ryo shook his head. "Auntie Touko, actually, a few months ago, I already used my manuscript fees to pick out an apartment. I was planning to move in when high school started. As for my daily life, you don't need to worry at all."
That's right. About two years ago, when Uchiha Ryo was still in middle school, he had already started creating manga. Under the pen name [Naruto], he published his work "Naruto" through the largest manga publisher in Tokyo.
In this world where anime and manga were mostly focused on sword and sorcery, school life, and romance, the appearance of Naruto instantly gained immense popularity.
"Ryo, if this is your choice, then we will support you. Is the apartment close to Shuchiin?"
Uchiha Ryo nodded. "Yes, it's only about a ten-minute walk."
Choosing to live alone was a necessary choice. I can't possibly bring girls here to raise their affinity, can I? And as my abilities grow stronger, I'll need a better way to hide my secrets.
Fujiwara Touko looked reluctant, but she still nodded.
"Take care of yourself out there. This will always be your home!"
Uchiha Ryo scratched his head. "I'm only moving out to be closer to school and have more free time. I'll still come back often. What about you, Takashi? Want to come with me? My place isn't far from Toyogasaki either."
Takashi has a lot of secrets too. Rather than letting the Fujiwaras worry because of the youkai, it wouldn't be a bad idea for him to live with me.
"I'm fine. I like living here, and I can spend more time with Auntie Touko and Uncle Shigeru."
Right, I almost forgot that Takashi is a gentle guy. Since the Fujiwaras don't have children of their own, they've long treated the adopted Uchiha Ryo and their relative Takashi as their own sons.
Now that one wants to leave home to live independently, the other naturally has to take care of the family, so as not to let the middle-aged couple in front of him feel lonely.
"Okay, that's fine too. Well, Takashi, come visit my place when you have time. The apartment I rented is quite large."