"Wait—so the reason Hara Kei was called to the Student Council is because Goko wants him to join?"
During the break after the third period that morning, a blonde maid found her mistress in the classroom.
Normally, intelligence reports like this would be delivered after school, once classes were over. But this piece of information was important. So, the moment the bell rang, Hayasaka Ai lingered near her mistress's classroom to signal that something significant needed reporting.
A short while later, the two met quietly in a secluded spot.
It was a place Hara Kei had once marked as a potential hiding spot: the small staircase leading to the rooftop.
"Is this information reliable?" Shirogane Kaguya furrowed her brows, confirming with Hayasaka Ai.
"Milady, I heard it with my own ears," Hayasaka replied.
"Hm… so the 'Lamb Club' will return to just two members…" Kaguya mused, resting her chin in her hand as she pondered.
"I don't think Hara Kei will just join the Student Council so easily," Hayasaka Ai offered her opinion, watching Kaguya's thoughtful expression.
"Oh?" Kaguya arched an eyebrow, glancing at her maid. "It seems you think quite highly of Hara Kei."
Hayasaka Ai smiled faintly, not taking the bait in her mistress's comment.
"I've never met this so-called Hara Kei, but I don't think our Student Council President will fail," Kaguya shook her head, dismissing Hayasaka's concern. "She's the kind of woman who has outsmarted even our family elder."
"So, what does milady intend to do? Fujwara-san is your friend, and you seem to have wanted to get close to Yukinoshita Yukino. Perhaps this is an opportunity."
"It is indeed an opportunity." Kaguya's lips curved into a cold, sharp smile, accentuating the icy, untouchable aura she exuded. "But I will not help the Lamb Club, nor allow Hara Kei to fall under the Student Council's grasp."
She turned to Hayasaka Ai, who looked slightly taken aback. "You mentioned before, didn't you? Hara Kei eats lunch in the Lamb Club's room every day and casually meets the two members?"
Hayasaka Ai felt a twinge of unease but nodded in affirmation.
"Then today at noon, you will keep him occupied," Kaguya said calmly. "I don't care how you do it—spill his lunch and invite him to compensate, or manipulate some girl into confessing to him—whatever it takes. I do not want to see him in the Lamb Club's room at noon. Do you understand?"
"…Understood, milady," Hayasaka Ai swallowed the question rising to her lips when she saw Kaguya's unyielding expression.
Strange. Why hasn't Hara Kei come today?
During the lunch break, the Lamb Club's room was unusually quiet.
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at Hara Kei's designated seat, then at the small watch on her wrist, frowning. Usually by this time, he would have finished lunch and be seated, reading.
But today, not even his shadow was present.
She wanted to ask why the Student Council had summoned him.
Next to her, Fujwara Chika fidgeted slightly, also sneaking glances toward Hara Kei's seat.
At that moment, both of their phones chimed simultaneously.
Unlocking the screens, they saw Hara Kei's message:
"I have something to attend to at noon. I won't make it to the clubroom today."
Huh? That was unexpected.
The two of them, somewhat relieved, were about to respond via "e" to ask what exactly had come up when—
"Knock knock knock."
A polite knock echoed from the door. Surprised, the girls exchanged a glance and set their phones down.
Fujwara, being closer, went to open the door, while Yukino straightened in her seat, preparing to greet the visitor properly.
To their surprise, it was someone they both knew: Shirogane Kaguya.
The heiress of the Shirogane Group, Fujwara's close friend, and—Yukino's classmate.
Even more unexpected: this wasn't a "request." It was an application.
"Wait, Kaguya, you want to join the Lamb Club?" Fujwara Chika asked, genuinely astonished. "Aren't you in the archery club?"
"I had a minor disagreement with the club president," Kaguya replied lightly. "I've since withdrawn."
"Oh… I see." Chika hesitated but accepted the explanation. "Then why join the Lamb Club? We're not exactly famous yet…" She paused, noticing Kaguya's gaze, and realization dawned on her. "Ah, it's because of me, isn't it? Kaguya, I'm so touched!"
Chika's joy was genuine—she even hugged Kaguya lightly, expressing her excitement.
Kaguya patted her back gently, but her eyes were already fixed on her true target.
"Yukinoshita-san, may I have my application approved?"
Yukinoshita Yukino's brows furrowed slightly. She didn't answer directly. Instead, she reached into her desk and pulled out a sheet of paper.
"Technically, as a club, we shouldn't reject applications like this," she explained. "But one of our members prefers quiet, so we established a rule."
"If you want to join the club, you must pass a test."
Yukino handed the white sheet to Kaguya. On it was a reading comprehension exercise.
It was unmistakably authored by Hara Kei.
Instructions: Read the passage below, then choose the correct options and explain your reasoning.
I followed my eldest and second brothers to campaigns across the land. Eventually, the realm was at peace for the moment. I had thought that even if I couldn't be made a marquis, I would at least earn a noble title. Unexpectedly, corrupt ministers obstructed the virtuous. The eldest, despite his great merits, was only granted the rank of county magistrate, while my second brother and I remained commoners. I was discontent, believing my eldest's talents deserved more. Yet, he showed no signs of resentment. Since taking office, he served diligently, causing no harm to the people, who adored him.
A month after taking office, the court sent an inspector. My eldest led my brothers and me to welcome him, but the inspector was arrogant and disrespectful, falsely accusing us of inflating our achievements and attempting to extort bribes. My eldest, honest and upright, had no gifts to offer. Angered, the inspector left in a huff.
The next day, the inspector's aides captured several elders to coerce false testimony, but I stumbled upon them. Furious, I lost control and dragged the inspector out, tying him to a tree and whipping him without regard to his cries. If my brothers hadn't intervened, I might have killed him.
My eldest, observing the battered inspector, sighed but did not scold me. Instead, he hung his official seal around the inspector's neck, bid farewell to the villagers, and departed with us.
I do not regret my actions, for in my eldest's eyes, I finally saw the flame called ambition.
Questions:
Which of the following statements is incorrect?
A. The second brother is weak and incompetent; "I" and the eldest look down on him.
B. After leaving, the three brothers wandered and lived in hardship, but ultimately gathered many capable men and achieved great success.
C. "I" used bluff to scare off pursuing forces and saved the eldest and the villagers.
D. The second brother was arrogant, and this arrogance led to his downfall.
Choose the correct statement:
A. The eldest was of humble birth and felt ashamed, vowing to rise above.
B. The second brother was modest and courteous, a model gentleman.
C. The three brothers grew apart due to personality clashes, despite initial closeness.
D. "I" enjoyed painting and calligraphy as a personal cultivation, despite being a warrior.
Which single statement is correct?
A. Despite great merit, the eldest was only made county magistrate and was melancholic.
B. "I" regretted actions, believing he ruined the eldest's career.
C. The second brother, though strange-looking, had unmatched courage and was the eldest's right-hand man.
D. To welcome the inspector, the eldest prepared gifts in advance.
Choose two statements you think are correct:
A. "I" is a liability among the three brothers, causing trouble without merit.
B. The eldest, of noble birth, had high public esteem, but his son was frivolous.
C. The three brothers swore to live and die together, and despite hardships, their brotherly bond remained strong.
D. After hanging the seal and leaving, the eldest was immediately recognized and achieved great success.