After entering middle school, the world of club activities suddenly grew far larger and richer compared to elementary.
Eriri, with her clear sense of passion, had already decided—she was joining the Art Club.
Minamoto Senya and Rikka, on the other hand, were still hesitating.
Rikka's personality leaned toward laid-back and introverted. She felt that aside from occasionally being able to spout a few chuunibyou lines with a straight face, she didn't really have any other talents worth showing off.
That made choosing a club especially agonizing. And yet, not choosing wasn't an option either.
The school had rules: every student had to join at least one club, and that decision would be reflected in their graduation record.
So, Rikka decided not to rush. She would first see which club Senya chose. And if it really came down to the wire, she could always pick a large club and become a ghost member.
Senya's situation was the complete opposite.
Thanks to his absurdly high stats, he had compatibility with practically every sports club—no matter what he tried, he could pick it up with speed and skill.
And with the help of "study goddesses" like Yukinoshita and Eriri during elementary, his cultural and creative talents were also polished.
In short, unlike Rikka, who didn't know her strengths, Senya's problem was that he was good at too many things. And that led to the worst illness of all: indecisiveness.
"Still haven't decided on a club yet, bro?"
During a break, his classmate Sunohara Youhei leaned over, all too familiar.
This was the same blond delinquent Senya had once saved on the street.
Because of his injury, Sunohara hadn't been able to attend class during the opening week. That was why, even though they'd already met, neither realized they were in the same class.
"Don't overthink it. Just join the soccer club with me! With your physical skills combined with my unstoppable footwork, we'll dominate the school league!"
"Yeah right. You've been in the soccer club for two weeks and haven't even touched the ball—you've just been warming the bench."
Senya originally had no intention of getting close to Sunohara. But the guy was persistent, clinging to him like gum on a shoe just because Senya saved him once.
Still, after spending some time together, Senya realized that beneath the noisy exterior, Sunohara wasn't actually a bad guy.
And then—he made a discovery.
Ever since Sunohara started sticking to him, the number of love letters he received had dropped drastically. Even the frequency of stares from girls had lessened!
This was a godsend.
Could it be that Sunohara Youhei… was the perfect counterbalance to his overflowing charm stat?!
At this rate, Senya couldn't not be friends with him.
Sunohara shrugged. "Well, I am a first-year. Newbies gotta respect their senpai and do the grunt work first."
Senya shook his head. "That's nonsense. Age-based seniority is outdated. Look at any big company—the ones with ability rise to the top."
"…Bro, I'm touched."
"Hm?"
"I didn't know you had that much faith in my soccer skills! Saying stuff like that just to cheer me on—"
"You should just go back to napping."
"Nap during class? No way. I've decided. Tomorrow, I'll share one of my most treasured possessions with you, my best bro. Look forward to it!"
"…"
Senya wasn't looking forward to it. He already knew what middle school boys considered "treasures"—a game console, manga, anime DVDs, or maybe a figure.
After school, Eriri went straight to report to the Art Club. Rikka waved him off and went home early.
Senya, as usual, toured the Tennis Club, Ping-Pong Club, and Basketball Club.
At each stop, his impressive "trial performances" caused a stir, and the club leaders desperately tried to recruit him. A physical talent like him wasn't something they wanted to let slip away.
He managed to escape with a polite "I'll think about it," but by then it was nearly six in the evening.
The sun was setting, the campus emptying as club members trickled home.
Walking toward the school gates, Senya pulled out his phone.
Several unread messages.
Toka had gone home early to cook dinner and asked if he wanted something spicy.
Rikka had a craving for taiyaki, asking him to grab one if the shop near the station was still open.
Eriri had texted forty minutes ago: "Done with club visits yet? I'm waiting at the gate." Then, ten minutes later: "You seem busy, I'll just head home first."
The moment he read it, Senya pictured her—standing alone outside the school gate, waiting.
He replied to her first:
[Just saw your message. Next time, don't wait around—go home if I'm late.]
Her reply came instantly.
[Got it. How were the clubs?]
He chatted with her for a bit, then responded to Toka and Rikka's messages.
Just then, another message popped up—Sunohara again.
[Don't get too hyped, but tomorrow morning you'll get your surprise! Oh, by the way, random question—do you prefer flat or big?]
Senya: "…"
So it was porn.
He wanted to ignore it, but the chat already showed "Read." After a moment of thought, he typed back:
[Kids make choices.]
With that, he put his phone away as he left the gate.
Because of his past experiences, he always treated roads and moving cars with a certain wariness.
The snack shop was still open. He bought the taiyaki for Rikka and headed toward the station, same as always.
And that was when he noticed it—
Out of the corner of his eye, across the street, a red exclamation mark appeared above a girl's head.
Senya froze mid-step.
He blinked.
No mistake—it was deep red, like blood.
In all the years since he'd gained this "God's-eye" ability, this was the first time he'd ever seen such a warning.
What would happen to her?
Was she about to face life-and-death danger?
His thoughts raced, but his legs were already moving.
Charging up the overpass, he switched to God's-eye view.
The girl wore their school uniform. Pretty, carrying her bag in one hand and a long object wrapped in black cloth in the other.
Senya crossed the street and tailed her from a distance.
The blood-red exclamation mark kept his nerves sharp. His curiosity pushed him onward.
Down quieter and quieter streets, he spotted them—two shady-looking men following her.
Kidnapping? Ransom? Assault?
But after five minutes, the path became eerily desolate. Half-built, abandoned buildings all around. No houses. No people.
She clearly wasn't just walking home. Something else was going on.
The girl and the two men slipped into a narrow alley.
Senya grabbed a steel rod off the ground and followed.
No God's-eye view here—just his own eyes.
And the moment he reached the alley entrance, he saw it—
The men lunged at her, grinning wickedly.
Crisis!
Senya didn't think. He sized up the odds—if he ambushed them, he had a ninety percent chance of winning.
He sprinted forward—only to skid to a halt, stunned.
One man had just yanked her bag away when—thunk!
He collapsed, clutching his head, screaming.
What?!
Senya hadn't even seen how she moved.
"Guh!"
The second man doubled over, eyes bulging, dropping to his knees.
This time Senya caught it—the girl held a wooden sword.
In the blink of an eye, she'd floored them both.
Strong. Way too strong.
But then—his breath caught.
The men were already disabled.
And yet—she didn't stop.
Knee to the jaw. Wood blade raised high, slamming down on a leg with a sickening crack.
The bone was definitely broken.
She spun to the other man, thrusting the wooden sword into his shoulder with precision and cruelty.
His scream split the night.
"…I was attacked… I'm so scared… I'm so scared…"
Her words sounded like fear, but her face—smiling through blood—was pure madness.
Hair flying, blade dancing under the streetlight, she practiced her art on them, savoring their agony.
Senya froze, transfixed.
Finally, it ended.
The two men lay in broken heaps, too wrecked to move.
The girl's frenzy faded. She turned toward the alley entrance.
Dropping her wooden sword, she walked up to Senya.
Hands raised to her eyes, she feigned tears.
"I… I was so scared just now…"
Senya: "…"
He glanced at the two broken men—likely crippled for life—then back at the unscathed girl.
With a sigh, he tossed away his steel pipe.
"Yeah, I saw. Want some taiyaki? Red bean."
She blinked, lowering her hands. No tears, no act left.
"…Mm."
Stepping forward into the light, she stood beside him under the glow of the streetlamp.