“...Y-Yes...”
“I see... You shouldn’t have done that, Saya-chan. This book belongs to everyone.”
“I know... I’m sorry.”
“As long as you understand. I won’t get mad if you know what you did was wrong.”
Harumi and the children all seemed cheerful. Koutarou found the sight of the quiet Harumi smiling and talking to the children to be quite refreshing.
I shouldn’t disturb her. All right...
Koutarou decided not to interrupt, and took a seat behind the rows of children. Fortunately, Harumi didn’t notice him.
“Onee-chan, keep reading!”
“Okay, I will.”
“I’m sure this is where the Sun fights back!”
“What was it they said on the TV the other day?”
“Beat him to a pulp!”
“That’s it!”
“Everyone, you shouldn’t be watching that kind of channel yet. Wait until you’re older.”
“Huh? Why not? They’re all strange and funny.”
“There aren’t any adults like that around anymore.”
“Goodness... Listen, everyone. Don’t become adults like that, okay?”
“Okaaay.”
Ha, I’ve never seen Sakuraba-senpai make that face before...
Watching Harumi happily play with the children, Koutarou thought back to when he first met her.
Koutarou and Harumi first met about a month ago on March 1st. Koutarou was visiting the school as the results of the exam were announced. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy, cold day for March, and bad weather had made it even colder.
“The soccer club is recruiting! We’re looking for fresh meat!”
“The choral club is recruiting! We placed second in the tournament last year, and we’re aiming for first this year! Come help us out!”
“We’re not just fat people; we’re fat people that can really move! If you’re concerned about your weight, we want you! Welcome to the sumo club! Feel free to visit!”
“Back off! The karate club is the only club for real men! Get lost and take your bellies with you!”
“What was that?! Just try saying that again!”
However, even in early spring, things were heating up in the Kisshouharukaze High schoolyard because of hot-blooded club members engaged in a recruiting battle over the newly accepted students. At Kisshouharukaze, club activities were an active part of high school life. And with plenty of club events at such a large school, the club life was far more prevalent here than most others. As a result, the more members a club had, the more power they held within the school.
That’s why every club wanted as many members as they could get their hands on. Consequently, the recruiting started earlier and earlier each year. It wasn’t long before the recruiting battles began on the day the entrance exam results were announced. They wouldn’t be able to secure any members if they just casually waited until the entrance ceremony.
And so the schoolyard was filled with recruiters from every club looking to snatch up the newly accepted students that day.
“Th-The knitting society is recruiting, um... Would you like to join the knitting society?”
Harumi was one of those recruiters.
“Um... Please, at least just listen...! I, u-um...”
However, her recruiting wasn’t going well.
The knitting society wasn’t very popular, and the shy, timid Harumi was acting as the face of the club. Because her voice was so quiet, it was easily drowned out by the surrounding commotion.
“Hey, if I join the knitting society, will you go out with me?”
“I, um... I’m sorry. Y-You’re making me uncomfortable...”
The only people that approached her were good-for-nothing boys that were attracted by her looks. She was at a loss trying to find the kind of club members she was hoping for.
“...Hmm?”
Koutarou noticed her by chance. As he was passing through nearby, he happened to hear Harumi’s small cry for help. If she had been recruiting like normal, Koutarou probably wouldn’t have noticed her at all.
“P-Please stop! Let go!”
“It’s fine, right? You want members, and I want to go out with you. It’s win-win, don’t you think?”
“That’s not what this society is for!”
“But you don’t have enough members, right? Time to face facts.”
“No! Let go of me!”
A powerless, delicate girl was trying to escape the grasp of a persistent, sleazy guy. She seemed to be recruiting for some club, but the boy was just there to hit on her. Koutarou had picked up on the situation just by watching them, and casually approached.
Jeez, could you at least think twice about where you pull this kind of stunt?
Seeing someone be so selfish irritated Koutarou.
“Welcome! Oh my, aren’t you a cutie?”
Koutarou spoke in a flamboyantly feminine voice like something out of a TV show, and threw his arms around the boy.
“Wh-What?!”
“You’re joining our club, aren’t you? That’s great! You’re just my type!”
“L-Let go! Who the hell are you?!”
Surprised by Koutarou’s sudden hug, the boy let go of the girl’s hand. Seeing that, Koutarou kept talking while forcibly separating the boy from the girl.
“Oh, I thought you wanted someone to go out with?”
“Wh-Who would want to go out with you?!”
“You want to go out with someone, and I want to go out with a boy. It’s win-win, don’t you think?”
“The hell it is! Let go of me, you freak!”
“Oh, don’t be so shy!” Koutarou spun around and let go of the boy. “You’ll join, won’t you?”
“Who the hell would join a boring club like this with a freak like you in it?”
“Oh, you’re breaking my heart...”
“Ugh, disgusting!”
The boy spat out those words and ran off. Since he was only there for the cute girl, he left as easily as he had come.
“Phew. There are so many idiots this time of year... I sure hope he’s not in my class.”
While he was relieved that he’d been able to resolve things safely, Koutarou still let out an irritated sigh. Even after the boy was long gone, Koutarou continued staring in that direction for a while.
“Um... Thank you very much.”
“Wha?!” Koutarou let out a strange yelp in surprise at the sudden voice.
“Ah, I’m sorry for startling you!”
The voice belonged to the girl who the boy was pestering. Seeing Koutarou’s surprise, she frantically bowed her head.
“Oh, no, I’m sorry. I forgot you were here too.”
Koutarou had been so irritated at the boy that he had completely forgotten the girl was there at all.
“He was pretty relentless, so you really helped me out...”
“I was out of line. I even chased away a potential member when you’re out here recruiting.”
“No, that’s okay. He wasn’t interested in knitting anyway...”
The girl’s expression finally relaxed.
She has such serene eyes...
The girl had a mild, soothing aura about her. Just looking at her made Koutarou feel at ease.