The morning classes ended quickly.
Other than a dead-fish-eyed boy being dragged away by a very angry-looking Hiratsuka, nothing interesting happened.
The normies gathered together chatting happily, the girls huddled in circles whispering and occasionally commenting about the boys in the class.
The boys each had their own cliques. They were different, but not particularly exclusionary.
Sometimes a really talkative guy would wander between groups, chatting here for a bit and then heading to another group to continue chatting.
The guy who dragged over a little stool and sat next to Sakamoto and Rojin was the perfect example.
"So, did you need something?"
Looking at this overly cheerful guy, Rojin felt a slight headache.
How could he quietly get rid of him?
Would casually revealing a tattoo work?
But he didn't have a tattoo.
Maybe he could draw one himself?
"So, how about it? Do you want to join my club?!"
Eyes sparkling, Tomoya excitedly looked at Rojin and Sakamoto.
He didn't know exactly what happened yesterday, but the fact remained—his club had been officially approved.
After a morning of daze, excitement, and euphoria, Tomoya had finally calmed down…
Well, no, he hadn't calmed down at all.
He had already begun searching for members.
Although the club was established, if they didn't have enough members soon, it would be disbanded.
Tomoya's "bad luck" was that the club audits were in just one week.
If they didn't meet the minimum number of members, they could be ordered to dissolve.
Even if the club was newly formed, the student council didn't care.
If anything, they wanted fewer clubs like his.
They required budget, but they produced no achievements.
Such clubs were utterly meaningless.
Unless it was a club that didn't care about budget at all, every other club treated the audit seriously.
"What was your club supposed to be again?"
Although Rojin really wanted to say he had zero interest, considering Tomoya's ordeal last night, he softened his tone.
"I'm going to make the best galgame ever!"
Feeling that Rojin showed some interest, Tomoya began passionately explaining his views on galgames and his ultimate goal.
To be honest, Rojin did admire Tomoya's enthusiasm.
At least he had the first requirement for success:
A love for his own work.
In that regard, Tomoya surpassed most people.
While others were still aimlessly enjoying high school life, he already had a goal.
That alone was deserving of praise.
Hiratsuka approved his club exactly for this reason.
"No no, I'm not interested in galgames."
After listening to Tomoya's entire explanation, Rojin responded "gently."
He simply had zero interest in that kind of thing.
Let alone participating in its production.
"Then, what about you, Sakamoto?"
Sensing Rojin's firm rejection, Tomoya froze.
He looked at Sakamoto with hopeful eyes.
If Sakamoto joined, he wouldn't need to worry about numbers anymore.
A little promotion would bring in plenty of girls too.
"Sorry, I've already joined a club."
Though he felt bad, Sakamoto still firmly refused.
He knew the type of person Tomoya was.
If you wanted to refuse him, you had to be absolutely firm.
Otherwise he'd interpret it as "some interest."
"This…"
His hands waved aimlessly in the air. Tomoya clearly wanted to say something more.
If he could, he truly wanted to say, "Quit that club!"
But he still gave up.
After all, they were just classmates.
Saying something like that would only make him look unreasonable.
"Alright then…"
A little dejected, Tomoya carried his stool away. His back looked lonely.
Watching him, Rojin merely shrugged.
Before approaching them, Tomoya had already tried asking many boys.
Without exception, all had refused.
In fact, if Tomoya had chosen a different time and place to ask, someone might have joined.
After all, he did say that Eriri, the beautiful artist from Class A, might join.
Although it was likely bragging, most boys did have a tiny bit of interest in making a galgame.
But saying all that loudly in the classroom?! What was he thinking?!
Now all the girls in class were giving Rojin weird looks!
Tomoya, who habitually ignored others' gazes, failed to notice anything—and his recruitment plan ended in complete failure.
The little episode ended and the classroom returned to peace.
Those who needed to study studied; those who wanted to sleep slept.
---
Unknown Scene—Another world.
"Mr. Joseph!"
The white-haired doctor stumbled into the luxurious hospital room.
This private room built by the SPW Foundation for Joseph was more luxurious than most villas.
Even if Joseph didn't care, the company insisted.
Not just to curry favor, but out of genuine respect.
The doctor, who had followed Joseph for decades, had seen more storms than most people could imagine.
He was long past the age of panic, yet today, he had lost his composure once more.
"Mr. Joseph!"
Looking at the man on the bed, the doctor didn't know how to begin.
The old man's body was at its very limits. Any shock could take him away.
"Something happened to Jotaro, didn't it? Just tell me."
Joseph slowly opened his eyes and asked in a low voice.
His voice was so hoarse even he was startled.
"…Yes."
"And Miss Jolyne as well…"
The doctor turned his head away, unable to continue.
For an old man, the blow was too overwhelming.
"I see."
Joseph weakly closed his eyes.
The pain carried through the bloodline made him tremble.
His heart screamed.
He wanted revenge for his family.
Just as he had fought Kars long ago.
But he had grown old. His body was decaying. His mind was no longer sharp.
Throughout his life, Joseph's greatest weapon was not Ripple or his Stand—
But his mind, able to stay calm no matter what.
Now, he could no longer rely on it.
But his younger self could.
A spark flashed in Joseph's eyes.
He made an outrageous decision.
He would go wild one last time before death.