"This point should be understood by our honorable and beautiful club president, Yukinoshita."
In the Service Club, the girl by the window closed the book she'd barely read a few words from, letting out a soft, helpless sigh before brushing back the long hair falling over her delicate shoulders.
Then, a pair of clear, pristine eyes lifted, looking at the boy who entered with little warmth.
"Your attitude is too hypocritical. Even if what you say isn't a lie, it's still annoying."
"Alright, looks like I can't praise you anymore later."
Heading to the storage area in the back to grab a chair for Yuigahama, Yuu sat in his usual spot, placing his school bag on the long table.
As if familiarizing herself with the surroundings, Yuigahama stood in place, looking around briefly before cautiously sitting between the two, greeting Yukino with a smile.
"Ehehe, Yukinoshita-san, good afternoon…"
"Good afternoon, Yuigahama-san." Nodding, Yukino responded briefly but politely, her gaze quickly passing over Yuigahama to the boy.
"Tenkuji-kun, what point did you say I, the honorable and beautiful, would understand?"
Yuigahama blinked, surprised by Yukino's narcissism, and shifted her gaze to Yuu.
"Humble in action, proud in work—standing above everyone in every aspect yet unafraid of being ostracized. You should understand this better than anyone."
As he spoke, Yuu didn't look at anyone, pulling the club list from his school bag and lowering his head to write and draw.
"Challenging clubs is like an exam. We can't deliberately score low just because we're afraid of getting beaten up in the bathroom by those at the bottom, right? Let alone Sobu High, no school in Tokyo operates on such logic."
Her fingers gently touched her fair, beautiful chin. Yukino quickly realized the two must have been discussing the club festival.
"So… Yuigahama-san is worried you'll be bullied for being too arrogant, and you used me as an example?"
Yuigahama's face flushed slightly, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her skirt, but she didn't deny it.
Yuu answered casually, "Pretty much."
"Then Yuigahama-san is worrying too much," Yukino's cherry-colored lips curved slightly, her head tilting as she showed a sweet, pleased smile.
"Someone like Tenkuji-kun, the moment he shows a bit of his true nature, even without challenging any clubs, there'd be people who dislike him."
Before Yuigahama could respond, Yuu's pen paused, and he glanced sideways.
"Based on experience?"
"…"
Her smile froze on her face. Yukino seemed to recall an embarrassing past, covering her forehead with her palm, gritting her teeth reluctantly and humiliated. "…That's based on experience."
"Then forget it, I don't want to hear your sob story."
Yuu sighed, shifting his gaze and continuing to number the club list. "I just want to tell Yuigahama that if even Yukinoshita can live just fine without being beaten to death, then even if I end up on those clubs' hit lists, I can still enjoy my school life."
"…You, third in our grade, have you never learned conversational etiquette?"
Openly mocked, Yukino's expression turned furious, glaring at him with a chilling aura, as if a blizzard could erupt in the clubroom at any moment.
Glancing left and right, Yuigahama, caught in the middle, was no longer flustered. She quickly spoke to defuse the tension.
"That's because Yukinoshita-san is so pretty! Even if Yuu-kun is a bit handsome, guys and girls are different—you can't compare them!"
"Hey, too many uncertain words there, huh?" His brow twitched, Yuu put down his pen, looking at her irritably. "What's wrong with guys? Can't guys be number one and trample all the students in school? I'm so mad I'm shaking—you're disrespecting us guys. Watch out, or a martial artist might come for you."
"I-I didn't mean it like that…" Shrinking back, Yuigahama clutched her hair bun, pouting at him sadly.
"Such a narrow-minded guy." After taking a few deep breaths, her face brightened slightly, Yukino unexpectedly defended her. "Yuigahama-san just didn't explain clearly. Don't accuse her carelessly."
Yuigahama looked at her, touched. "Yukinon… Thank you!"
"Y-Yukinon? What kind of nickname is that…" Blinking in surprise, Yukino somehow shied away from Yuigahama's warm gaze, quickly clearing her throat twice to steer the conversation back on track.
"Anyway, what about Hiratsuka-sensei? Even if you don't care about other students' reactions, if the school fears a big commotion, your plan might get canceled outright."
"That shouldn't be an issue. Hiratsuka-sensei will handle it… You can ask her for details. I'm pretty relaxed about it."
Yuu didn't continue the debate, handing the club list to Yuigahama, asking her to pass it to Yukino at the end of the long table. "What we need to do is simple: select the clubs to challenge later, inform them in advance, then defeat them one by one on the festival day, and try to draw as much attention as possible to aim for first place in the ranking competition."
"F-First?!" Yuigahama's small mouth dropped open, staring at him in disbelief. "That's too ambitious…"
"If you're going to do it, aim for the best, right?" Taking the list, Yukino nodded in agreement. "I don't dislike this idea, though the chances are slim."
"That's what makes it challenging." Yuu leaned back, hands behind his head, speaking casually. "Anyway, I'm the main player. You two just watch from the sidelines, so don't worry too much about it."
"We're clubmates—how could we not care?!" Yuigahama raised her voice, as if to prove herself, racking her brain. "There's got to be something I can help with, right? Like, like…"
"Like negotiating with the organizing committee to set the stage time for the overall club evaluation and preparing various small details."
"Exactly! That's it!" Yuigahama's eyes sparkled, nodding vigorously in agreement.
"I just hope you don't hold us back… Never mind."
Yukino pressed her forehead helplessly, calming her emotions. When she spoke to Yuu, her tone carried a hint of reproach.
"Tenkuji-kun, since you're the one performing on stage, it's only natural for us backstage staff to bear some responsibility… Though I'm reluctant, since it's come to this, the concept of teamwork is crucial."
"Exactly because I understand teamwork, I'm showing you this list."
Yuu gave a faint smile, then suddenly grabbed his school bag and stood.
"So, I'll leave communicating with those clubs to you two, the logistics staff… The ones I numbered are the clubs I've decided to challenge this time. Just inform them in advance; don't worry about their reactions."
"Polite first, then strike… Wait, where are you going?" Before she could think it through, Yukino saw him about to leave and asked reflexively.
Yuigahama also looked at him, surprised—they'd only been in the clubroom a few minutes, and Yuu was already leaving?
Too fast.
Yuu shrugged. "What can I do? I've got tutoring after school lately, so not much time for the club… If there's an issue, talk during lunch. I've got to go now."
"Tutoring…" Yuigahama hesitated, then changed her question. "Yuu-kun, can I join you guys for lunch?"
"We're in the same club now, after all." Walking to the door, Yuu shot a mocking smile at the girl by the window. "You're okay with that, right? Club president who always eats lunch here."
Yuigahama blinked, looking at Yukino with a hint of hope.
Setting the list on the table, Yukino took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, her flat chest rising and falling.
"…Sure, I have no reason to refuse."
She lowered her head, answering resignedly.
"Yay!" As Yuigahama clenched her fist in excitement, Yuu quietly opened the classroom door, stepping into the quiet autumn breeze-filled corridor.
Yukino's gaze from behind stung his back slightly, so he didn't turn or say goodbye, choosing instead to close the door, blocking her view.
Hearing Yuigahama's complaints to Yukino after realizing he'd left silently, Yuu looked up at the empty classroom sign, scratching his hair with slight irritation.
"Even if it's livelier than before… I don't know if that's a good thing."