"Tsuna, over here!"
As Tsuna walked out of the gymnasium, Shouko's voice rang out.
He looked over and saw Shouko and Ajitani hiding in the shade, with Shouko waving at him.
"Why aren't you going back to the classroom?" Tsuna quickly walked over to Shouko, asking curiously.
"Waiting for Takagi-chan, she's right behind me, should be here soon."
As soon as Shouko finished speaking, Takagi Sana walked out of the gymnasium and immediately saw the three people in the shade.
Nishikata was following behind her.
"Let's go, let's go back to the classroom first, this weather is melting people," Ajitani kept pulling at her collar to fan herself.
Shouko quickly raised her hand to stop her action. "Mind your image, Ajitani-chan. How bad would it be if someone saw you?"
"It's okay, Shouko, aren't there only a few of us here?" Ajitani held Shouko's hand and then let go but didn't continue the action from before.
"..." The speechless Tsuna and Nishikata.
"Let's go, let's go," Takagi urged with a light laugh, being the first to step out of the shade.
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"Dong... dong... dong..."
"That's all I have to say. Classes officially start tomorrow, remember to rein in your hearts today."
Teacher Fujiro, who was on the podium, slightly bent her fingers, tapped the podium, and walked out of the classroom.
"Oh, right." Just as she reached the classroom door, she suddenly thought of something, stopped, and looked back at the students in the classroom:
"If any of you have applied to join a club, remember to tell me tomorrow."
As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly walked out without stopping, and behind her, the students in the classroom immediately burst into noise.
After putting all the new books into her schoolbag, Shouko turned around and asked:
"Takagi-chan, do you want to go check out the club recruitment area with us?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" At this moment, Ajitani, who had quickly walked from the front row to their seats, raised her hand to answer.
She hadn't gone to check it out on the first day of last semester because of the Chickenzilla exhibition, although the club recruitment area would be held for three or four days.
The next day, she didn't find friends to go with her, so it just fell by the wayside.
But now it's different!
"But..." Takagi subtly glanced at Nishikata, who was tidying up his books next to her, a little hesitant...
"Takagi-chan, if you have something to do, we can do it next time. There's no rush anyway," Shouko caught the fleeting hesitation in her eyes and waved her hand.
"Sorry," Takagi nodded to them apologetically and stood up. "I'm leaving now, bye."
"Wait for me."
At this moment, Nishikata had also just finished packing his schoolbag and quickly stood up to follow Takagi, not forgetting to wave to the three people in their seats:
"Three of you, see you tomorrow, bye."
"Bye."
"See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," Tsuna nodded to Nishikata.
He could vaguely guess why Takagi was leaving so early...
"Let's go too."
"Let me think, was the club recruitment area on the field or at the back door?" Shouko raised her hand and poked her forehead, closing her eyes to recall.
"Let's go, neither is correct. The recruitment area is on both sides of the main road of the teaching building."
Tsuna put on his schoolbag, stood up, and rubbed Shouko's head as she was sitting.
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The campus in early September was bathed in the scorching sun, and the club recruitment area was set up on both sides of the main road of the teaching building, with a sense of youthful ritual amidst the noise.
As the three of them walked downstairs and changed into their respective shoes, they saw the sports clubs occupying the edge of the field as soon as they exited the teaching building.
The cultural clubs occupied the corridors and the shade of the trees, with stalls made of desks and display boards forming temporary "positions."
The sound of wooden swords hitting from the Kendo Club, the impromptu performances from the Brass Band Club, and the cheers from the cheerleaders filled the air, intertwining into a boiling wave of sound.
New students held multiple flyers, hesitating. Some were pulled by upperclassmen (male) to try swinging a bat, and some huddled in corners comparing activity schedules.
The 'Girl with glasses' was tracing line art in the Manga Club, and the short-distance running demonstration from the track and field club next door distracted her, making her look around.
The advisor teacher stood in the distance, smiling and taking notes, occasionally reminding them: "Don't block the passage! Be careful!"
"It's so lively!"
Shouko looked at the bustling club recruitment areas, almost unable to take it all in.
"Mhm mhm!" Ajitani also nodded in agreement, her eyes fixed on the Gourmet Club.
Tsuna simply scanned the area and withdrew his gaze. "Are we going straight to the Art Club, or should we look around first?"
Since it was the second semester, the number of people visiting the club recruitment area was already less than half of what it was at the beginning of the first semester, but there were still plenty of students who loved to join in the fun.
The main reason was that school ended early.
"Let's look around first, there's no rush anyway," Ajitani withdrew her gaze and suggested.
Tsuna had no opinion on this and looked at Shouko, wanting to see what she thought first.
"Mhm mhm, let's go."
Shouko took Ajitani's hand, gave Tsuna an apologetic look, and pulled her ahead.
Tsuna also quickly followed the two of them, walking side by side with Shouko.
At school, and this school was strict about puppy love, he understood completely that Shouko was too embarrassed to hold his hand on campus.
As the three of them walked forward, they could see colorful hand-drawn posters stuck to iron cabinets with magnets, with the title "Join us and create a legend!"
Sports club stalls hung yellowed certificates and trophies, and the cultural clubs' work walls were covered with exhibition photos and newspaper clippings.
Wigs from the Drama Club, vintage cameras from the Photography Club, and succulent potted plants from the Horticulture Club were scattered around the stalls, attracting Shouko's curious gaze.
The caramel scent from the Science Club's cotton candy machine mixed with the bitter taste of matcha from the Tea Ceremony Club, intertwining into a subtle aroma in their nostrils.
Upperclassmen (male) wearing team uniforms had loud voices: "New students, come fill out the experience form! Free guidance on the first day!"
Or upperclassmen (male) holding megaphones shouting slogans: "Youth only happens once, don't leave any regrets!"
"Let's go check out the cultural club area first!?" Shouko shouted loudly to Tsuna beside her.
She was afraid her voice was too low and would be drowned out by other sounds.
"Mhm," Tsuna nodded, letting the two of them go first, and he followed behind them.
The cultural club area included the Brass Band Club, Art Club, Tea Ceremony Club, Science Club, and Manga Research Club.
Why were there a Manga Research Club and an Art Club? Weren't these two clubs the same?
No! They were completely different.
Under Shouko's guidance, the three of them first went to the Tea Ceremony Club.
They saw tatami mats laid out in a corner of the aisle, third-year upperclassmen (male) in kimonos kneeling and serving tea, while new students lined up to receive mini matcha and wagashi.
And Shouko and Ajitani became interested in the small snacks they were lining up for.
Shouko looked around, confirmed there were no supervising teachers present, and boldly took Tsuna's hand, walking quickly towards the Tea Ceremony Club's queue.
Tsuna looked at the long line and estimated that there were at least twenty students in front of the three of them, saying helplessly:
"No way, aren't these just some wagashi and matcha? I'll buy them for you on the way back?"
"Tsuna, you don't understand," Shouko shook her head playfully.
"That's right, Miyamura, you don't understand," Ajitani also followed closely behind Shouko, shaking her head.
"..."
The way the two of them were shaking their heads made Tsuna want to give them each a headbutt.