[The next day.]
Yesterday, Mocha-san said something that bothered me. "You're more alike than you think," she remarked. I closed my shoe locker, telling myself, "Yeah, right," not fully convinced by her comments. However, I was willing to humor the idea.
Throughout the day, I discreetly observed her every move and habit, trying to understand how she thinks. 'How is she another shadow hero?' I pondered, attempting to figure out our similarities. At the same time, I was also contemplating the details of the club I was trying to establish.
During lunch, at our usual spot, I met up with Mocha-san. I didn't want to stay in the classroom, especially since I noticed Aria-san had brought another spicy lunch once again.
As I sat on my throne, arrogantly resting my chin on the back of my hand, I asked Mocha-san, "Have you sent the letter?" To which she replied, bending on one knee, "Yes, Yukiya-sama."
The letter was meant for a specific person I was trying to recruit—someone perfect for the job. That person's name was... "I already sent the letter to—"
"Aria-sama," Mei-san reported, having secretly listened in on our conversation. Aria-san was curious to know about the relationship between the two of us and why Mocha-san and I always disappeared during lunch. So, she sent Mei-san to investigate.
"Hm, did they mention anything about me?" Aria-san asked.
At first, she didn't want to intrude on other people's private matters. However, Mocha-san mentioned something that piqued her interest: 'It seems they're recruiting members to form a new club,' she deduced.
"I'm not sure, Aria-sama. I accidentally stepped on some clutter, but with Yukiya-sama's sharp senses, he could have easily discovered my location. So I quietly retreated to make my report," Mei-san explained.
"Hm, is that so?" Aria-san mused.She couldn't help but understand that, given my abilities, I could have apprehended Mei-san on the spot. This led to one conclusion: 'He intentionally let her go.'
However, in reality, I didn't bother chasing after her, assuming it was just a passing student. What would they even use knowing two chuunibyous roleplaying in the old building, right?
After gathering all the evidence, Aria-san placed her hand on her chin, deep in thought. 'If the minimum requirement to form a club is four members, they only need one more to make it official.'
Considering the possibility, Aria-san assumed she will be the next person tho recruit. And so she waited. The day progressed, and classes for the day eventually came to an end.
[After school]
The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. As I walked side by side with Mocha-san, we arrived at the front gate, where we encountered someone I was all too familiar with.
"Ayaka!" I called out, noticing her waiting by the gate.
Mocha-san looked puzzled. "A middle schooler?" she wondered aloud, clearly surprised that we were trying to recruit a girl who appeared to be in middle school.
"Who's your friend?" I asked, referring to the girl with long orange hair, who wore a hat, glasses, and a facemask, along with a different uniform than ours.
The suspicious-looking person discreetly lowered her mask and whispered, "It's me."
"Haruka-san?!" I exclaimed in surprise. In response, Haruka-san quickly put a finger to her lips to shush me, signaling me not to mention her name.
I began to wonder about her. Right in front of me stood a fully disguised Haruka-san. 'She even wore hair extensions to hide her identity,' I thought. But why was she doing this? Could she be another shadow hero? Or was a secret organization after her? Whatever it was, it certainly seemed over the top. I approved. [Still unaware that she's an idol.]
"She wanted to tag along when she heard you were trying to form a club," Ayaka explained, clarifying Haruka-san's reason for joining us.
"Hm, I see. So Haruka-san is interested," I replied, assuming her motivation stemmed from my love of roleplay.
"By the way, this is Mocha Tsukiyo-san, my classmate." I introduced Mocha-san, who was nervously hiding behind me.
Ayaka smiled and introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Ayaka Saito."
Haruka-san, still hesitant to reveal her identity, said, "I-I'm Haruka Yoshioka. Nice to meet you."
"L-Likewise," Mocha-san said awkwardly, clearly starstruck by the two beautiful girls before her, especially since one of them was a real celebrity.
After our introductions, I handed the club application forms to the two of them. As Haruka-san and Ayaka filled out the sheets, Mocha-san leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Is it alright to recruit members from other schools?"
Mocha-san assumed Ayaka was simply a student from another section or year, not realizing that they came from a completely different school.
I then proceed to reassure her, "Don't worry. I got permission from the student council president. She said it's okay to recruit members from Hokkyokusei high."
"But still," Mocha-san can't help but worry.
We then proceeded to elaborate that, "Hokkyokusei and Polaris Academy have a close relationship as they are essentially owned by the same chairperson/founder. Hokkyokusei High, being the older sibling of the two, was originally an all-boys school, while Polaris Academy got erected a year later as the all-girls school counterpart. The two only became co-ed fifteen years ago, adapting to more inclusive method of learning in the new era."
Mocha-san then become to noticed that our uniform with Haruka-san was oddly similar in design. Aside from the color scheme, it was essentially the same uniform. 'Now that I think about it,' she also noticed the color of their uniform, which was majorly teal, minor white, and black accents was a total contrast to our red, black, and white accents.
After receiving their application I told them they could go ahead without me for I still have some things I have to take care of.
...
[At the faculty room.]
"Hm. So this is what you want, huh?" Shirogane-sensei sighed as she read my club proposal and the reasons for why she should be our club adviser. I simply nodded in response and asked, "So, what's your answer? Will you join us, sensei?"
Shirogane-sensei pondered for a moment before replying, "Only if you call me Nee-san again like you used to." She proposed with a cunning smile, knowing full well that I couldn't agree to that.
"T-That can't be appropriate for a teacher to request!" I complained.
"Eh, why not?" she teased.
This is exactly why I didn't want to bring Mocha-san and the others along. An unattainable winter flower, my foot! She was nothing more than a childish adult pretending to be mature in front of others.
"I'm just kidding. Of course, I'd be glad to be your adviser, even in clubs," she said, impressively maintaining a straight face while saying such childish things. "You really want to spend time with me that much, huh?"
Glancing over that additional comment, I asked again to reaffirm her answer, "Does that mean you agree?"
"Yes, yes. I'll be your club adviser." Shirogane-sensei signed the application, which would later be signed by other people in positions of power within the school. Though those signatures were still pending, it was almost guaranteed that the club would become official in a matter of days.
Now that my objective was accomplished, it was time to make my exit. But before I passed through the door, Shirogane-sensei asked me something.
"Does school still seem too boring for you?"
I simply nodded and replied in my typical vague manner, "Hm, I don't know," before walking away from the faculty room.
As I walked through the halls, I reflected on my progress so far. 'Since I started acting like a side character, everything seems to be falling into place,' I thought to myself as the plot of the story progressed smoothly. Too smoothly, in fact.
Also, there was something else I noticed: 'I'm being followed.'
Using my peripheral vision, I discreetly identified the person behind me. To my surprise, it was Aria-san, trailing me quietly.
Knowing this, I quickened my pace, and she matched it, walking faster to keep up. I sped up further, and Aria-san, slowly struggled to keep up with me.
'That's not good,' I thought, still curious about what she wanted to say or why she was following me in the first place. However, I couldn't just slow down. What kind of shadow hero would I be if I let myself get caught on purpose?
To make my entrapment seem seamless, I pretended to trip over myself, tumbling down the hallway and exaggeratedly hitting the wall in a rag doll fashion. *"Behold. Mob Fu Series First Form: Ragdoll Ala Mob!"* I shouted in my mind, feigning defeat as I lay against the wall, looking exhausted.
Before I could stand up, Aria-san caught up to me, breathless as if she wasn't used to running this fast. But before I could utter a word, she slammed both of her hands against the wall, effectively trapping me.
'So this is what a wall slam feels like... It's a lot less intimidating than I thought,' I reflected while being the recipient of a kabedon this time around.
"W-What is it?" I inquired, pretending to be intimidated.
With a frown, Aria-san asked in a calm but frustrated tone, "Why didn't you invite me?"
So she was secretly monitoring the formation of our club, huh?
With a sad and pained expression, I pouted and told her, "You said you hated me."
"Ha?" Aria-san tilted her head, looking dumbfounded, trying to recall when she had said she hated me. Then she remembered our conversation with the boys the other day.
With a loud and heavy sigh, she said, "Hey, listen." Aria-san locked eyes with mine, as if the words she was about to say contained all her sincerity. "Let's make one thing clear," she began, covering her mouth in embarrassment. "I-It's not like I hated you or anything."
Why did the atmosphere suddenly become so serious? I couldn't hold it back anymore.
"Pfft—I know," a chuckle escaped my mouth as I wondered why she was so serious about my simple teasing.
"What's so funny?" she frowned, confused as to why I was laughing during such a serious conversation.
"Sorry, I lied. I know you didn't hate me," I clarified, clearing up the misunderstanding.
"Then why?" She asked, looking more puzzled.
Actually, I was trying to collaborate with Ayaka to make a mystery and deduction goose chase as an initiation process for joining the club. It wasn't that I was trying to exclude her; I just wanted to see her work for it before allowing her in. But I didn't expect her to confront me directly.
"I didn't know your LINE ID yet," I answered, perfectly crafting my excuse on the spot.
Realizing she might have overreacted a little, Aria-san's face turned beet red, and she lightly punched my chest. With a fully flushed face, she declared, "I hate you!"
"Eh?" I replied, dumbfounded.
"Is that for real this time?"
"Hey, hey, we're good, right?"
"Aria-san?"
"Aria-san?!"
Aria-san went radio silent with me for the rest of the day, unable to process how embarrassed she felt. After she calmed down, still giving me the silent treatment, we filled out her club application form, making her an official member of our club.