"Come in, we'll follow the process step by step."
The Art Club Leader ignored the interaction between the two people behind her and led the way into the Art Club's activity room.
Tsuna and Shouko followed closely upon seeing this.
"Leader, are some juniors joining?"
The girl inside waited until the three people at the door walked in before asking, but her gaze remained fixed on the palette without moving.
"Hmm..."
The Art Club Leader seemed to have long been used to this. Seeing only her in the classroom, she asked in confusion:
"Hsiao-Hsueh, why are you the only one here? Where are the others?"
"Teacher Fujiro called them out." The girl finally shifted her gaze from the palette, turned her head to look at the three, "But I don't know exactly what they were called out for."
To be precise, it was the two honest people behind the Art Club Leader.
Tsuna noticed that this black high ponytail girl also had a pair of beautiful emerald-colored pupils.
"Let me introduce you, this is your second-year senior, named—"
"My name is Miyagi Yuki, please take care of me in the future, both of you." The girl's clear voice interrupted the Art Club Leader's words. She stood up and smiled at the two, nodding her head.
"My name is Nishimiya Shoko, please take care of me in the future, senior."
"My name is Miyamura Tsunayoshi, I also ask for your care in the future, senior."
The two spoke at the same time and gave Yuki a slight bow.
Japanese schools emphasize hierarchical relationships, and lower-grade students need to show respect to higher-grade students.
They usually use a slight bow (such as a 15-degree "eshaku") or a slightly more formal bow (a 30-degree "keirei"), especially during initial self-introductions.
Tsuna expressed that it was a very troublesome aspect of Japanese culture.
"Joining the Art Club means we're all one family, there's no such thing as troublesome or not troublesome." Yuki quickly waved her hand and promised:
"If you have any problems with art or academics in the future, feel free to ask me."
After speaking, she added, "Provided I'm not busy..."
"Hsiao-Hsueh, these two haven't passed the club entrance test yet." At this moment, the Art Club Leader, who had been neglected on the side, reminded her faintly.
"Our Art Club still has an entrance test??" Yuki looked at her with a surprised expression, then reacted belatedly and said, pretending to be serious:
"Yes, there is, but will I be disturbing you by being here? How about I go out for a bit?"
The Art Club Leader reached out and stopped Miyagi Yuki from leaving: "No need, it's just a matter of a few minutes."
"Didn't you say before that you would just ask a few small questions, senior? Why is there still a test?"
Shouko felt a bit nervous now. If she didn't pass this, she would have to find a training class outside.
Yuki caught the unease in Shouko's eyes and reassured her, "Don't worry, it really is just asking a few questions."
"Come, let's sit down and talk." The Art Club Leader interrupted their conversation and pointed to the row of wooden chairs on the left.
As she finished speaking, she was the first to walk over, moved one chair from the very end, and placed it directly in front of the center of that row of chairs.
Yuki returned to her previous seat and got busy with her own matters.
"Let's go, Shouko."
Tsuna decisively took her hand and didn't forget to poke her palm firmly with his thumb to distract her a little.
"Mhm." Shouko didn't struggle either, letting him lead her to the middle seat of that row of chairs and sit down.
Yuki and the Art Club Leader noticed the hands they held, and withdrew their gaze after just one look.
Although the school prohibited early romance, there were quite a few couples behind the scenes at this school, and the two had long been used to this.
"Cough, cough, cough." After the two were seated, the Art Club Leader crossed her legs, coughed lightly, and the small expression on her face instantly became serious:
"You two, from now on, you will answer whatever I ask!"
"..." Tsuna felt a bit speechless. Why did it feel like interrogating criminals?
After getting a nod of response from the two, the Art Club Leader continued to ask, "For what reason do you two want to join the Art Club?"
"I want to become a light novel illustrator, that's why I applied." Shouko said the thought in her heart without hesitation.
The Art Club Leader nodded, then her gaze slowly moved towards Tsuna beside Shouko.
The meaning was already very clear.
"Because I love drawing, and I want to get into the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts in the future..." Tsuna said casually, facing the two people's gazes.
It's not like he could tell the truth, that it was because his childhood sweetheart wanted to learn art, and he came along because he was worried, right?
Although there was also the element of being forcibly dragged here by his childhood sweetheart...
The Art Club Leader stroked her chin with her left hand and nodded thoughtfully.
She was a little surprised by Tsuna's dream, not expecting him to even know about the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts.
However, completely opposite to her was Shouko, because she knew Tsuna too well and immediately saw the perfunctoriness in his words.
There wasn't a single truthful word in that sentence of his.
In the following ten minutes or so, the Art Club Leader asked a few more questions about drawing and learned that the two people in front of her had no basic foundation at all.
When they joined the club, someone would have to teach them hand in hand.
And Yuki, not far away, nodded and took on this task, saying that teaching just some basics was no problem for her.
"Alright, the last question."
"Huh?" Shouko was a bit surprised. She glanced at the clock on the wall, "That fast?"
"Then should I add a few more?"
Shouko quickly closed her mouth and shook her head.
"Are you two a couple?" The Art Club Leader instantly leaned her face closer to the two with a gossipy expression.
"We will be in the future."
"Not yet..."
The two spoke in unison. After saying the words, they exchanged glances and quickly looked away.
Shouko could clearly feel the temperature of both her ears rising.
Admitting this in front of two people she wasn't very familiar with still made her feel shy inside.
If the two people in front of her were replaced by Ajitani and Takagi, she would confidently guarantee that Tsuna was hers and no one could take him away!
Tsuna on the side was much calmer, with no significant expression on his face. His peripheral vision also noticed Shouko's reddening ears.
He just felt that Shouko was very cute.
"Cough, cough, cough!" The Art Club Leader coughed, drawing the attention of the two people in front of her back:
"Then what is your relationship now?"
"Childhood sweethearts."
"Art Club Leader, this question doesn't seem to have much to do with the Art Club, does it?" Tsuna raised his hand, pinched Shouko's reddening earlobe, and said speechlessly.
"Hehe..." The Art Club Leader awkwardly waved her hand and smiled, "Alright, your club applications have been approved. Just come directly to the Art Club after school tomorrow afternoon.
As for the miscellaneous fees, just give them to Teacher Fujiro when you come tomorrow, and I will guide you then."
As for welcome parties or anything like that, there's none of that, okay? At most, you'll just introduce yourselves to the other club members.
"Mhm." Shouko happily slapped his hand away and stood up, "Then we'll be going now, Art Club Leader and Senior Miyagi , see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
"Bye-bye."
The four people said goodbye to each other. Shouko waved her hand, took Tsuna's hand, and left the Art Club with him.