"Where did you figure that out?" the girl—no, it had to be Hayasaka Ai—asked, her expression unreadable.
Ai had thought her disguise was flawless. Not only people like Hara Kei, who rarely interacted with her, but even colleagues she saw every day would be fooled by her perfect makeup.
Besides altering her hair, face, hands, and clothing, she had gone so far as to temporarily modify her voice.
And yet… Hara Kei had seen through it all.
That meant there was a massive flaw in her disguise.
Rather than despair over a failed mission, what occupied her mind was the burning question: Where exactly did I go wrong?
Human expressions were strange. Just a simple shift in expression could erase the innocent, refined aura she normally exuded. The stark contrast was almost frightening.
But Hara Kei wasn't afraid.
"Remember when I said, 'Well then, there's only one answer'?" Hara Kei asked calmly. "That was actually a test. It's a famous line from Kamen Rider."
He tapped on his phone for a moment, then showed Ai the screen—a looping gif.
It was of a slightly neurotic, four-eyed kid holding a staff, laughing maniacally toward the sky. Then he shouted loudly:
"Well then, there's only one answer!"
Snap. He broke the staff with his knee and yelled, "I swear loyalty to you!!!"
Ai stared, dumbfounded. Then realization struck. "You quoted that line, so that's the answer… But my reaction at the time clearly showed I didn't get the reference. That doesn't match the Kamen Rider fan persona I was trying to portray…"
"Wait a second," Ai's face flushed pink. This wasn't the usual mask of composure—she was genuinely embarrassed. "Are you saying… you realized from the start?"
She glared at Hara Kei with a mix of frustration and shame. He shrugged and swapped to another gif.
Now it was of a shirtless man with a bright grin, shouting "Abs Power!" as he flexed his abs in her direction.
Infuriating!
The worst part was the feeling that the other person was mocking her, yet she couldn't even tell exactly how.
Ai, who prided herself on being calm and collected, could barely suppress the rising anger. She opened her mouth to speak, only to find Hara Kei had already switched to a new gif.
On a beach, a mischievous blond lay prone, pointing at a black-clad woman lying beside him. "I've always wanted to see this expression—this jealous look at me. Ahahaha!!!!"
Ai's fists clenched tightly, her fury radiating like a tangible force. If this were a manga, the blank panel would now be filled with onomatopoeias representing pure intensity.
"Alright, that's even now." Hara Kei finally put away his phone, ceasing the torment of the nearly exploding Ai. "I can only say this: next time you pick a character to impersonate, stick to something you actually know."
"If you wanted to play the 'otaku girl,' you're twenty thousand years too early!" Hara Kei added another line that left Ai even more confused, then left in high spirits.
He didn't ask about Ai's motives. It was probably trivial matters—after all, she worked for Shino Kaguya, and the only connection he had with that family was through Fujiwara Chika, the clueless girl.
Whether her goal was to test if he could be swayed by appearances or simply gather leverage for the future… Hara Kei didn't care. It wasn't worth the effort.
Better to think about something more important—like what to eat tomorrow.
As Hara Kei walked off, Ai's mind and body were still ablaze with a fire called humiliation. The flames of irrational rage consumed her.
"Hara Kei," she muttered, repeating his name as if carving it into her heart.
Of course, it was with negative intent.
…
"After all, I think we should decide together."
During lunch, in Hara Kei's so-called exclusive lounge (though the name was becoming increasingly ironic), Yukinoshita Yukino stood at the blackboard, facing the other two.
Behind her, in chalk, were the words Name and Purpose written in large letters.
Today's topic: deciding the club's name and its purpose.
Hara Kei and Fujiwara Chika had both suggested letting Yukino decide on her own, but she insisted they discuss it together.
"My goal was already achieved the moment this club was formed," Hara Kei said, still seated at his desk. "I just wanted a quiet place to read. I don't care about the name or purpose…" He noticed Yukino and Chika staring at him with expressions that clearly said, you'd better say something or you're not done, and rubbed his forehead in mild frustration.
"Fine, okay…" Hara Kei thought for a moment. "How about The Hell Club? Its purpose: 'Those who enter, give up all hope.'"
No one would ever dare step into that classroom again.
"Your selfishness is way too obvious," Yukinoshita Yukino said. "And I must remind you, Saint Eden Academy still traces its roots to a church school. This name wouldn't pass, obviously. However," she mused, "the method of drawing inspiration from mythology or scriptures is actually a reasonable approach."
"I-I-I!" Fujiwara Chika raised her hand eagerly, wanting to give her own suggestion. "How about Mutual Aid Society? Little Yukino's goal is student council president, right? If she wants votes, she'll need to meet all the conditions set by other clubs. So having a club with the purpose of 'One for all, all for one' seems pretty perfect!"
Yukino seemed impressed, her brows knitting as she considered it. "The purpose of a 'Mutual Aid Society' fits well, but the name is too plain. I want something more striking—something that leaves a lasting impression…"
Religion… Mutual Aid. Yukino crossed her arms, repeating the words in her mind.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She picked up the chalk and began writing carefully on the blackboard, each stroke precise and deliberate.
Her penmanship was firm, flowing, without hesitation.